Keep Calm and Carrie On

Chapter 23 - One More Day.

- ' Carrie ' -

I rotated my position from left to right and huddled onto my bolster. I grasped it with my hand, and somehow, it felt sturdy. I groaned and felt the bolster once again. Frustrated and awake, I fluttered my eyes open and found my hands splayed on Sebastian's abdomen. 

"Can't keep your hands off me?" he asked playfully, and smirked. 

I hastily retrieved my hand and flushed scarlet. "Sorry. I thought you were my bolster."

He chuckled. "Bolster, huh? You don't even own a bolster."

"I did, back in the states." I told him.

"Oh. Oh crap, I fell asleep last night. I was just going to take a power nap but I ended-"

"It's fine, Seb." I told him, and got up from the bed. "I'm going to freshen up." 

"So am I." he replied.

"WHAT?" I exclaimed in shock.

"Oh, can't I use your bathroom after you freshen up?" he asked, feigning innocence.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Sure."

I left the bathroom, towel-drying my hair. "Your turn." I told him, "I have fresh towels inside the second drawer in my closet."

He slid down from the bed and went for the bathroom. "Thank you." he said.

He finished in 15 minutes, and I could smell the strawberry scent from the bathroom. I heard the door open, and I sucked in a breath.

He stood by the closet door, hair damp. He was topless, and a towel hung below his hip. "I- your bag!" I remembered, and threw it at him.

He caught it and smirked. "Thanks."

He opened the bag and retrieved a blue tshirt and khaki pants. "Listen," he started, while changing, "I need to visit Mom." 

"Mom as in... Evalyn?" I asked. 

He nodded. "I'm going to see her right now... I mean, do you want to go?"

I blinked at him. Nathan... He never got a chance to explain. I need to talk to him. "Yes, Sebastian. I'll go with you."

"I'm surprised you still remember the way here." I told him, as we finally reached the blue mansion. 

He squeezed my hand. "I'll never forget home, Carrie."

"Carrie!" Mrs. Sykes said. Her face was filled with astonishment when she saw Sebastian. "Sebastian?"

"Mom." he exclaimed, and pulled her close to hug her. "Oh, Seb, darling, I missed you!" she said, and tears toppled down her face. 

"Come inside, both of you." 

We sat by the living room and Mrs. Sykes served us tea. "Sebastian, what brings you here?"

Sebastian turned to face me. He squeezed my hand. "I came here for Carrie. She... she needs me."

"I'm sorry?" Mrs. Sykes asked.

"Well, Mrs. Sykes, there is something you should know." I gulped. Does she know about Dionne yet?

"What is it, Carrie?" she asked. 

"Nathan's been having a clandestine relationship with Dionne." I whispered, and bit my lip. 

Mrs. Sykes turned pale. "I thought he said they were over. I thought... Nathan lied to me! To us!"

"But- you must understand, Mrs. Sykes," I started, "that he loves her very much, that's why he's been fighting for their love." I reminded her, and tears welled up in my eyes.

"But Mom. Nathan hurt her. How could he do something like that?" Sebastian argued.

"Mom? Are my Ugg boots still in the laundry?" Jess called, and trotted down the stairs. "Carrie! Hiii! And hellooo there." she whistled, eyes glued at Sebastian. "You are gorgeous. Who are you? Wait... Sebastian? SEBASTIAN! OH MY GOD YOU ARE ONE GORGEOUS MOTHERF-"

"Words, sweetheart, words." Mrs. Sykes warned.

"NATHAN! Sebastian's home! Carrie, too!" Jess called out. 

Oh no. This is bad.

Nathan emerged from the stairs almost right away. "Sebastian." he called. "Carrie?"

"James." Sebastian muttered, and scowled.

"Nathan James Sykes. You have a lot of explaining to do!" Mrs. Sykes demanded.

"About what, Mom?" he asked.

"About Dionne."

Nath turned to face me. I flushed. "I'm sorry, Nath. I just had to tell her." 

"Carrie, we need to talk." he pleaded, and took out his hand. 

I grasped his hand, but Sebastian pulled me back. "Don't. Touch. Her." he said, each word with emphasis.

"Calm down, Sebastian. He's not going to hurt her." Jess told him reassuringly.

"Better not." he sputtered.

"I'll be fine, Sebastian. It'll be real quick." I said.

Nathan led me to the kitchen and shut the door. "Carrie, I'm really sorry, about Dionne."

I frowned. 

"We broke up last year. Then, I met you. I fell in love with you. I love you, Carrie."

"I love you too, Nathan, that's why it hurts." I told him, and I felt a lump in my throat.

"I never meant to hurt you, Carrie, but I love her, too." he whispered.

My heart dropped. "It isn't possible to love 2 people at the same time, Nathan, so it must be her."

"I really am sorry. Please forgive me." he pleaded, and took my hand. 

"Thank you," I started, voice cracking, "for all the memories we spent together, especially for going to Disneyland with me. It was, in a way, life-changing."

His eyes softened. He pulled me into his arms and I dug my face onto his shoulder. "Carrie, you shouldn't be thanking me." he whispered.

I inhaled his scent, his familiar scent. He smells of leather and laundry detergent. I ran my hands through his hair one last time and pulled away. 

"Don't cry. Sebastian will kill me." he whispered, and brushed his thumb along my cheek.

I giggled. "He will. He really will."

"And now... What do we do?" he asked.

I smiled at him. "You follow your heart."

"I will. I'll talk to my mother about Dionne and..." he stopped. "What about you?"

I left the kitchen with him and went back to the living room. "I don't know. I guess I'll go back to the States. I can't stay here. London is just... so you."

"Carrie." Sebastian called, and took my hand. "Let's go. I already bid Mrs. Sykes and Jessie goodbyes."

 I took one last good look at Nathan. His face expression was unreadable. How could I say goodbye to someone I love so dearly?

"Nath. Good...bye." I told him, and tears brimmed in my eyes. 

"Goodbye, Carissa Bradley. Thank you for everything."

I held my head up high, blinked away the tears, and drove away with Sebastian. It was time to let my parents know my decision. Sebastian kept quiet; he knew that I needed space.

As I gazed outside the window, I suddenly thought that goodbyes never hurt unless it's forever.