The Grass Is Always Greener

Chapter 12 - Make it a Sweet Goodbye

Alex's Point of View

I pulled up outside my house, choking back tears. If i so much as breathed without concentrating i would break into uncontrollable sobs.

He had found me. And if he knew about Gillian... He'd get her. He'd get me if i stayed here.... Which Is why I have to leave for Baltimore.

To protect myself. To protect my friends... To protect Gillian.

I saw the car parked along the street slightly. His car. Waiting. I knew I had to leave soon... But I didn't think he'd find where I lived this quickly. I have to leave before its too late....

I have to leave tonight.

I walked into my house as nonchalantly as i could be whilst feeling his eyes boring into me. I closed the door behind me calmly... Then ran upstairs... I couldn't take all my stuff.. That would be too obvious that i was leaving... Just a small rucksack would have to do.

I started packing. My jumper, a couple of pairs of pants, a few teeshirts, 2 pairs of skinny jeans and a pair of shoes. I was left with just enough room to fit the picture of all of us in the top..

Emma's cousin took it when we all went out to the safari park for the day. At the time we never knew Amy and Christian.. But everyone else was there. I studied it and saw all the faces I'd grown to love and would never see again. Rhona getting a piggyback off PJ, Heather and Phil sat in the grass smiling, Hayley and Dougie kissing below a tree in the background, and if you looked closely Emma sat in the tree on a branch laughing, and the blur of a foot above the long grass at the bottom... Dan... After gracefully falling out the tree trying to get to the same branch as Emma. Then... Finally.. Me and Gillian at the front.. My arm around her waist, smiling at her.

I gulped and placed it on top of everything and sealed the bag... I looked around my flat and all the possessions... Memories... I had to leave behind...

I walked out. Locking the door behind me... I dropped off the keys at my landlords flat on the way down the stairs.. And then walked to the car. I got in it and drove away.. Taking one last glance at the place I'd called home for the past year and a half.

It wasn't like I wasn't used to this happening... I mean... By now i should just be able to cope with it... It should feel like a routine... But this was the first place I'd made proper, real friends... Relationships...

I pulled into the airport car park. Ditching my car. I checked in and sat in the departures lounge... Waiting... My backpack still on my back...

A few hours later, they called for boarding on my flight. After I'd found my seat and got comfortable, stowing my baggage.. I realised the flight was Half empty.. There wasnt anyone directly next, behind, or in front of me..

The plane taxied down the runway... And took off, my hands gripped the armrest, my knuckles going white... We took flight.... I looked out the tiny window..

There the park, and Emma's street.. And the school... And Gillian's House..

And finally, as we took of higher into the sky, i let all the feelings loose. I sat in my seat, clawing at the arm rests, tears streaming down my face and sobs racked my body. As i watched Gillian's house get smaller, and smaller, until it was out of sight.

"Bye Gillian.. I've thought about it.. And I want you too move on... To forget about me... But the fact is... I'll never forget you... No matter how hard I try"

I was fully aware she couldn't hear me.. And I was fully aware everyone else on the plane thought i was a lunatic.. But i needed to get it out there.

He has to ruin everything for me. He won't rest until my entire life's destroyed... And right now... Leaving her...

It feels like he's succeeded.