His to haunt or his to protect.

Part 2

MIA'S POV

A WEEK LATER.

This week was incredibly exhausting yet wonderful. The wedding was perfect. I spent a lot of time with Kate and Liam. Liam is a good man; he's ideal for Kate. He's attractive, respectful, and always the first to apologize after any disagreement. Yet, as her best friend, I feel it's my duty to believe she deserves even better, despite having a perfect partner.

Today is the day I depart. I'm headed to Scotland, a magnificent destination for wildlife photography. It boasts charming small forests, an ideal habitat for various animal species, which I plan to explore and study extensively this time. My stay will be considerably longer; hence, I've been provided with a house and a car. My boss is being too generous this time, it's so unlike her. I'm not going alone, there'll be some of my colleagues to accompany me.

I have tonight's flight. Right now, I'm packing my stuff, which most of it is not even unpacked. Kate is sitting on the edge of the bed, looking down with an obviously sad face. 

"Kate..." I called her name to capture her attention, and she looked up at once. "We've already had this conversation. You decide whether you're going to say 'Saayonaraaa!' with a smile or 'Bye, Bitch' with a grimace." I said, arching an eyebrow. "Mia...!" Her tone was clearly irritated. "I realize we've discussed this, but it doesn't change the fact that your job is dangerous. I won't try to stop you from going, but promise me you'll take care of yourself and remember to call me, okay?"

"Okay, Mother! I said standing up straight and saluting her, as we both laughed. " By the way, Kate it is not going to be much dangerous this time." I told her, because that's what I thought.

Time Skip to Airport

"Mia, you still haven't told me when you'll be coming back," Kate said, asking me the same question for the hundredth time. "Kate, for the hundredth time, I'm telling you I have no idea," I replied, walking hurriedly to check my boarding pass. I can't believe I'm late. I was late because of Kate. She wanted me to have a meal with me before I left. I couldn't say no because she made my favorite Blueberry pie. Liam was also with her to send me off.  

Kate's POV

I watched as Mia was leaving. Soon she turned back and immediately hugged me. I saw her face when she broke the hug. She held tears in her eyes. "I'll miss you very much." she said with a sweet smile on her face, trying her best to hold the tears back. Damn! I'll miss her too. "I bet you will." I said as we both laughed. "You better take care of yourself there." I insisted. Liam was looking at us while smiling. Mia turned towards him and shook his hand and whispered something in his ear, while he simply smiled at her and nodded. And then she entered the gate. "She threatened you to take good care of me, didn't she?" I asked him while I already knew what she said. "She did. But this time she surprised me by telling me to take care of myself too." He spoke while he shook his head amusingly, as we laughed. Mia's impossible.

Mia's POV

Upon boarding the plane, I searched for my seat and noticed Chloe, James, and Kyle seated together. Chloe and James were engaged in their usual petty squabbles, while Kyle sat exactly behind them, his expression stoic as ever.

"Hey, guys," I called out, settling into the seat next to Kyle, much to my dismay. "Hey, Mia!" James and Chloe chimed in unison. I anticipated a greeting from Kyle, but he remained engrossed in his stupid book, not sparing a glance.

"He's a stone," I whispered to Chloe and James, gesturing toward the stoic man beside me. "Mia, if you think I can't hear you, you're mistaken," Kyle finally looked up and retorted with that characteristic smirk of his. 'Okay, now that's embarrassing,' Chloe gasped as Kyle's words broke the silence. "This is the first time Kyle has spoken since we arrived," she said, while James nodded in agreement. "And it will be the last. I have better things to do than converse with you all," Kyle remarked, his gaze fixed on the book in his hand as he slipped on his headphones. I rolled my eyes on his comment, while James and Chloe gave me a thumbs up mouthing a 'good luck' as they turned to buckle up their seatbelts.