LAST FOREVER( Complete ✅️)

Chapter 7: Clash of Wills

The sun streamed through my bedroom window, casting a warm glow over the scattered thoughts that filled my mind. I had spent the night tossing and turning, the weight of the previous day's revelations heavy on my shoulders. School, boxing, and therapy seemed like distant realities, distant enough to escape, at least for today.

As the minutes ticked away, I made a choice. I would skip school, boxing, and therapy. I would take a break from the chaos, a break from the expectations and the tangled mess of emotions. But as I descended the stairs, I found my grandmother waiting at the kitchen table, her expression a mix of concern and disapproval.

"Sierra, we need to talk," she said, her voice firm.

I crossed my arms, my own frustration bubbling to the surface. "I don't really feel like talking right now, Grandma."

She raised an eyebrow, her gaze unwavering. "You can't just run away from your problems, Sierra. Avoiding them won't make them disappear."

I sighed, feeling the weight of her words settle on me. "I just need a break, okay? A day to myself."

She leaned forward, her eyes full of a wisdom that only came with age. "I know this is hard, Sierra. Losing your parents and your brother, it's unimaginable. But shutting yourself off from the world won't heal your pain."

I felt a mix of anger and vulnerability, a battle between wanting to scream and wanting to curl up in a corner and hide. "I can't just keep going to therapy and pretending everything's fine. It's not fine."

"No one expects you to be fine," my grandmother said gently. "But we all have to find ways to cope and heal."

I turned away, unable to meet her gaze. "I'm not ready to face it all yet."

She reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder, her touch both comforting and firm. "You don't have to face it all at once. But you can't keep shutting everyone out, including yourself."

The argument left a bitter taste in my mouth as I stormed out of the house. I wandered aimlessly, the streets around me a blur of colors and faces. The weight of my decisions pressed on me, the unease growing with each passing moment.

And then, as if the universe was playing a twisted game, I spotted Haden standing outside my school. My heart raced, a mix of surprise and something else I couldn't quite place. What was he doing here? Had he been waiting for me?

His gaze met mine, a mixture of intensity and uncertainty in his eyes. "Hey."

I stopped in my tracks, my voice barely above a whisper. "What are you doing here?"

He shrugged, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Thought I'd wait for you. We could grab coffee or something."

The offer hung in the air, a strange mix of temptation and apprehension. I wasn't sure if I was ready to face him, not after everything that had happened. But there was something about his presence, a magnetic pull that I couldn't ignore.

"Sure," I said, my voice stronger than I felt.

As we walked to a nearby cafe, a silence settled between us, a silence filled with unspoken words and lingering emotions. The cafe was quiet, the aroma of coffee filling the air as we settled into a booth.

"So, how are you holding up?" Haden asked, his gaze searching mine.

I shrugged, not quite sure how to answer. "It's been... a lot."

He nodded, his expression a mixture of understanding and concern. "You know, you don't have to go through this alone."

I looked at him, a mixture of vulnerability and determination in my eyes. "I'm not used to relying on anyone else."

He reached across the table, his fingers brushing against mine. "You don't have to rely on anyone. But having someone to lean on can make the journey a little easier."

The warmth of his touch sent a shiver down my spine, a mix of conflicting emotions swirling within me. "I pushed you away."

Haden's eyes held mine, his gaze unwavering. "You weren't the only one."

As I looked into his eyes, I saw a truth that was both painful and liberating. We were two broken souls, navigating a path filled with uncertainties and secrets. And in that moment, I realized that maybe, just maybe, we could find solace in each other's company.

The cafe door chimed as a gust of wind swept in, ruffling my hair and sending a shiver down my spine. Haden's eyes remained locked on mine, his presence a source of both comfort and unease.

"Sierra," he said softly, his voice a whisper that sent ripples through the air between us.

I leaned in, the distance between us closing in as if drawn by an invisible force. The world around us seemed to fade, leaving only the intensity of our shared moment.

And just as our lips were about to meet, the cafe door chimed again, a new arrival stepping in and breaking the spell between us.

Time seemed to stand still as our gazes locked, a mixture of anticipation and frustration in the air. And then, without a word, Haden got up from his seat and walked away, leaving me sitting there, my heart pounding in my chest.