Breaking Hope (Finding Sky edit)

Chapter 24 - Part 1

Okay before we get started I just wanted to apologise for how long it took me to get these chapters up, I honestly thought I was putting them up as I went along, turned out I never actually pressed the publish button, so we're going to do it like this. Make some sort of event out of my stupidity.

7 chapters, 2 days, 20756 words in total (before editing, which will add more). Chapters left to go; Chapter 20, Chapter 21, Chapter 22, Chapter 23, Chapter 24 - Part 1, Chapter 24 - Part 2 and Chapter 24 - Part 3. Enjoy!

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Two weeks after the shooting in the woods, and there was still no news about the gunmen. Despite me pestering Oscar anytime I could see him, but he could only give me limited replies. Apparently, the man who was the main enquiry in both the FBI and the English investigation had not returned back to his office since a few days before the shooting, which could mean two things; it wasn't him and his absence was simply coincidence or he was still out there. I don't know which one would be better – if he did return it would near enough place blame on him and we could at least have warning if he left. Knowing he's just waiting... it lead to a sense of dread. Something was bound to happen eventually but each day just dragged by with him having a no show.

Sure enough, the weekend rolled around when we were meant to be dress shopping in Denver, and only Ella and I were on edge and we did as much as we could to put off the weekend. But to no success. Lauren and Amy were pushing us both to go, arranging plan and booking tables in a restaurant and all the dress fittings in various boutiques and dress shops, putting down all the deposits. We were effectively guilt tripped into going onto this shopping day. Thankfully, though, Ella talked to both of her brothers in these organisations and they both said that it should be safe enough to go, just make sure we have our phones on us at all times and to keep our heads down in public. So, reluctantly, we both agreed to go shopping early Saturday morning with Ella driving us all there.

I woke up at 6:15am, knowing I would actually have to get ready properly for trying on dresses. Half asleep, eyes still not adjusting to the light, I grabbed my phone flicking through the Whatsapp messages that was sent to me last night, with the last message sent was from Ella, half three this morning simply saying "better shave my legs, then". The plan for the day was roughly like this; I was meant to get picked up a bit earlier than the other two, and we'd both go around to Ella's, before leaving at nine to pick the other two up. I have roughly an hour to get ready, then. On that thought, I quickly jumped up and headed towards the shower.

At quarter too eight, I heard the sound of a car engine outside cutting off outside my house. I was in loose fitting clothes – just a pair of black leggings and a baggy marl grey shirt which would be relatively easy to take off when in a tiny changing room with a selection of dresses. I did spend a bit of time on my makeup, actually bothering for once to put foundation and powder on as well as mascara and a bit of chapstick. I grabbed my small rucksack, a plain black backpack with a small NY logo embroidered in the bottom corner, but sat inside. I knew it could have been an easy mistake if I went outside and it wasn't Ella who had come to pick me up. But sure enough, I got a text from Ella saying she was outside. Promptly, I grabbed a pen from the sideboard in the living room, and walked promptly into the kitchen grabbing a spiral-bound notepad and wrote a simply note to Maria and Mark.

You wasn't awake when Ella came to pick me up. Not too sure what time I'll be home, but I'll text you when I leave Denver. Love you xx