erik menendez // if you love me..don't let go

chapter twenty-four

Scarlett's POV

Later that night when I went into Erik's room, he wasn't there. His shoes and wallet were gone. His suitcase was packed and ready.

"Erik?" I called, just to make sure. He might've been hiding in the bathroom, even though the door was open and I didn't see anybody.

I didn't get a response.

I tried to calm myself. I tried to take deep, slow breaths. But every time, they came out shallow and more breathless than the one before. 

Erik's POV

Park benches weren't the comfiest thing. But it was what I had to do. At least I had the view of the bridge from the first night me and Scarlett were here. 

The wind rustled the leaves and left my body cold. My light jacket wasn't helping me. Drops of rain fell. One fell on my eyelash. I didn't brush it off.

I was used to Scarlett being there. She would keep me warm just with her presence. She would wipe away a drop of water on my face. She would kiss each tear that slowly fell down my cheek, catching it.

To any passerby, I looked like a normal guy. But in reality, I was going through the worst war. And that was the war in my mind. Do I listen to Jose and save my self from being torn into pieces, or do I go where my heart and mind want me the most? I kept thinking that finally I thought of a new solution, but then I realized the cons about those "solutions". So for now, I was just trying to save myself from my brain completely exploding with different notions.

Scarlett's POV

Erik's bed smelled like him. Like hidden emotions and secrets. And that made me think. What else was he hiding? It was two in the morning and he wasn't sleeping in his own bed. He didn't even come knocking at my door. So where was he? The thought that he could possibly be in Jose's room felt like a dagger being stabbed into my heart. But with Kitty there, Jose couldn't do anything to my boy. Right?

I wanted to believe Erik was going to come back. He would find me sleeping in his bed and he would come and snuggle me. He would whisper a few sweet words, thinking I was asleep. But in reality, I would've woken up when he walked in and pretended I was asleep, so I would've heard everything he said. And then I would smile to myself and sleep soundly and peacefully.

My imagination was getting the best of me, but I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't get my hopes up just for them to be squished and broken.

Erik's POV

I stood outside my room. Our room. Scarlett and I's room. But I didn't go inside. I couldn't get myself to. And so I stood there for what felt like an eternity.

Then I walked away.

Scarlett's POV

Erik was not there when I woke up. He had in fact not snuck in while I was sleeping. Disappointment ran through my blood. I told myself this would happen. I told myself to not get my hopes up. Yet it still hit me like a big wave crashing down on me.

He. Wasn't. Here.

It was the big day. The day where we flew back to Beverley Hills. Where we could finally really explore our relationship.

He. Wasn't. Here.

I tried my hardest to push back all thoughts of Erik. He was going to have to show up at some point in the next hour. Everything would be okay.

***

"Tsk tsk." Jose shook his head, looking down at his watch. "Of course he's late. He has no respect."

Dad, Kitty, Jose and I were all standing around in the lobby. We were all ready to leave, our car was outside. But, something I hadn't expected, Erik was late.

"I told him to meet here at nine!" Jose muttered, mostly to himself. "Does he not listen?"

I was instantly perked up. Jose had told Erik to meet at nine? Jose talked to Erik? After last night's dinner? Even though I didn't want it, something that seemed like jealousy was felt. Erik had been with Jose last night but he couldn't even talk to me? Once again, an image of Erik in Jose's room was pictured in my mind, but I quickly brushed it away. Erik had told me, promised me, it wouldn't happen again on this trip. He couldn't just break promises.

The sound of shuffling feet brought my head up.

Erik.

It looked like he'd walked through the Amazon rain forest with the state he was in. His under eyes were dark, almost purple. He was wearing the same clothes as last night, a suit, but it looked so tattered. There were dirt splotches on his once white shirt, and the pants had tiny rips on the bottom of them. His hair was beautiful. It always was, but now it was so ruffled and messy, making it look ethereal.

"Hi guys, sorry." He looked at each and every one of us, except me. It was like he was full on avoiding me. First, he wasn't in his own room the whole night, and second, he couldn't even look at me.

I thought Jose was about to start screaming his lungs out at Erik. But instead he just gave him a look that was like paper cutting skin. It was scary.

As we walked to the car, I tried to stay by Erik. "Hey." I greeted him.

He didn't say anything, just nodded his head and pursed his lips. He looked at me, yet his eyes looked distant. And it was only for a split second. Hurt coursed through me and absolutely crushed me. I was crushed. How could you sleep in the same bed as someone for eight nights and share such intimate moments, and then completely ignore them? You can't just do that to someone.

Feeling like my presence wasn't wanted anymore, I hurried my step to catch up with Dad. And when we got into the car, I sat in the middle seat with Kitty. I didn't even bother looking behind me to see what Erik looked like. To see if I could decipher what was going through his mind.