Gangster's Paradise // Rio (Good Girls)

20.time to start a new chapter

Isla stood, leaning heavily against the worn wooden counter of the kitchen. Her heart was pounding like a wild drum against her ribcage as Mason, worked on fixing the broken shower head in the bathroom. Today was the day she had decided to lay bare her feelings and end things once and for all. She was finally going to tell him that they wouldn't be rekindling their relationship.

As Mason walked back into the kitchen, a satisfied smile on his face, Isla managed to give him a half-hearted smile. "I think I got it," he said, his voice echoing around the empty kitchen.

"Thank you. You really didn't have to come all the way here for that," Isla responded, her fingers nervously picking at her lips. She took a deep breath before adding, "I think it's time to talk." A heavy sigh escaped from Mason's lips as he nodded in agreement.

"I know," he replied, his gaze falling to the worn-out tiles of the kitchen floor. Isla moved towards the cabinet, her hands shaking slightly as she picked up a bottle of aged whisky and two glasses. "Outside?" Mason suggested, his voice barely above a whisper. Isla nodded, and they made their way out to the old porch, the wooden boards creaking under their weight.

They sat down on the weather-beaten chairs and poured themselves a glass each. A heavy silence hung in the air between them, punctuated only by the occasional chirping of the crickets. Isla took a deep breath and broke the silence.

"Mason, you know I love you, and I always will," she started, her hand gripping the whisky glass tightly. "But... I'm not in love with you anymore." She watched as Mason downed the rest of his whisky in one gulp and refilled his glass.

"And I can't keep asking you to wait when I know what will happen," she continued, her voice barely a whisper. Mason sighed and nodded, his gaze never leaving the glass in his hand.

"Is there, um... is there someone else?" he asked, his voice barely audible. Isla bit her lip, the name Rio flashing in her mind.

"No, it's not that... it's just not fair for you to keep waiting for me to be ready when I know I won't ever be," Isla admitted. "Mason, we can't get back together. I have tried so hard to convince myself that we can, but I just can't do it."

"Okay," Mason muttered, nodding slowly.

"So, I'm going to get in contact with a lawyer, and I wanted to make sure there was nothing you wanted. I mean, the house is in my name, and my car," Isla said, gesturing towards the Victorian-style house behind them. "And your apartment and car are yours... I just want to make this as simple as possible." Mason nodded again.

"The, umm, wedding band and engagement ring," he stammered. Isla didn't blame him for asking for them back; they were family heirlooms, passed down from his mother and grandmother.

"Yes, of course," Isla responded, her fingers moving slowly to remove the rings. As she handed them over, she asked, "Is that, umm, is that all?" Mason gave a slow nod. "Alright, I'll have the papers drawn up, and we'll go from there."

"Alright," Mason said, standing up. His usual strong and confident demeanor seemed to have faded away. "I'll see you around, Izzy," he said, his voice barely above a whisper as he made his way down the porch.

"Mason," Isla called out, walking after him. "Just... keep in touch and let me know you're okay." He paused, turned to her, and leaned down to give her a chaste kiss on her lips before pulling back and offering her a small, sad smile. Then he walked to his car.

Left alone on the porch, Isla watched as Mason's car disappeared down the road, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. Pulling out her phone, she dialed Emma,  tears welling up in her eyes.

"Hey, Isla," Emma answered, her voice a soothing balm to Isla's tumultuous emotions.

"I did it. It's over. I told him," Isla said, her voice choked with emotion.

"Mason?" Emma asked, and Isla gave a small affirming hum. "Oh, Izzy, I'm sorry," she said, her voice full of sympathy. Isla wiped the tears spilling down her cheeks.

"No, it's okay. I made this decision," Isla said, attempting to reassure her sister, and herself. "I just didn't expect it to be so hard, so... sad."

"It's a big step, a big chapter of your life. It's going to be sad," Emma said, her voice filled with understanding.

"Yeah," Isla said, letting out a sigh. "Well, on the happier side of things, me and a couple of other residents are going out for drinks this weekend to celebrate us making it through the year. It's our four-year anniversary."

"Oh yeah! You're like three months away from your fifth year!" Emma said, her cheerfulness a stark contrast to Isla's melancholy.

"Yep! I just wanted to know if you and Levi wanted to come?" Isla asked, a hopeful note in her voice. "I don't think Axel's up for it yet," she added.

"Yes, yes, we would love to!" Emma said enthusiastically. "I think it would do us good for a night out, get our minds off... everything," she added, and Isla could only nod in agreement.

"Great, I'll see you this weekend," Isla said. "Love you, bye."

"Love you too!" Emma responded, her voice full of warmth as Isla hung up the phone. Alone on the porch, Isla leaned back in her chair, staring blankly at the empty road where Mason had disappeared. It was done. The chapter of her life with Mason was finally closed. Now, it was time to start a new one.