Crazy Stupid Love

Chapter 69: The Blame Game

Ross' POV

I'm getting her back. I'm done staying away from her and pretending every piece of my heart doesn't long to be as close to her as possible. It shouldn't be up to our families to decide what happens to us. I want one last chance to win back my princess.
Sneaking up the stairs of the Ratliff house; I am careful not to wake Ellington. As silently as possible, I slip into Marriya's bedroom.
My heart free-falls into my stomach as my eyes land on her empty bed. It hasn't been slept in.
As I approach the bed, I see a white slip of paper lying on it.  With shaking hands, I pick it up.

My Dearest Ellington,
Please know that I love you, and this decision was in no way an attempt to hurt you. It was to protect the small amount of happiness you boys have left. I feel myself spiralling more with every passing day, and I refuse to take you down with me. Thank you for giving me the best year of my life. You took me in when I was at my worst and loved me unconditionally, and I will be forever grateful for the lessons you taught me and the relationship we shared. You were the best big brother I could have ever asked for. When mom and dad died you became my guardian, and have never once failed to support or care for me. Your love was truly unconditional, and you are the strongest person I know.
By the time you're reading this, know that I am long gone. Please do not try to find me. I had to go, and I need you to understand that. I'm not strong enough to stand by and watch Ross with someone else, and it wouldn't have been fair of me to ask you to leave everything you've ever known and come with me. I am irrevocably in love with your best friend, and that's why I can't stay. I really care about him and he deserves to move on.
I promise you I will be safe, and I can take care of myself. Please do not worry about me, just live your life as you did before I became a part of it. All the love.
Riker, I don't want you to ever stop playing music. We share a connection I can still barely fathom, but I appreciate every moment we spent together. All the love.
Rocky, you are an annoying piece of shit that needs a hair cut. I do think you're kinda cool sometimes though. Although most of your jokes are incredibly inappropriate and at my expense, I want to thank you for never failing to put a smile on my face when I am at my worst. All the love.
Ryland, you were my best friend. While the band toured we got to spend so much time together and I wouldn't trade it for the world. You have a heart of gold, and I promise you the right girl is going to come along. All the love.
Ross, we can't help who we fall in love with and I don't regret falling in love with you. Not for a second would I consider taking back all the moments we shared. You gave me the best year of my life, but that's over now. I'd say I hope you and Courtney are happy together, but I really don't. You're a liar and she's a bitch, so I guess you deserve each other. I still can't believe, after everything we went through, it's ending like this. I hope you get chlamydia.

I wish you all the best with the rest of your lives.
~ Marriya Mitchell

The paper slips from my fingers. Tears blur my vision, but it's impossible to miss the two small objects sitting neatly on the duvet. Marriya's necklace and promise ring. Of all the gifts I have romantically showered her with, these two hold the most meaning. The necklace as a symbol of my love, and the ring as a promise it would last eternally. What have I done?
"Ross?" a voice yells.
"In here," I scream back; my voice breaking on the simple syllables.
Within a minute, all three of my brothers have filed into the room with Ellington following close behind.
"What are you doing here?" Riker asks.
"She's gone," I whisper.
"What do you mean 'gone'?" Ratliff demands aggressively.
Silently, I hand him the letter. His eyes scan Marriya's messy script; emotion building up with each word. With dark eyes, he looks at me.
"She signed it 'Mitchell'," he whispers.
"Like she did before she was part of our family," I add softly.
"This is your fault," he seethes.
The letter slowly passes between each of my brothers; all of their expressions turning to anger as they register what it means.
"I didn't cheat on her, you need to understand that," I say slowly.
"She's the only family I have left, and now she's gone!"
"Stop getting mad at me for this!"
"You should be the one leaving!" Ratliff screams. "It should be you out alone in the streets not knowing where to go. It should be you never coming back here because you're the one that screwed up. That's all you are, Ross Lynch, a screw up."
Opening my mouth to speak; I take a step forward. Before a single word escapes my lips, Ellington's fist connects with my nose. Blood splatters as he makes contact, my body doubling over and smashing against the wall.
As I stand up, I use my sleeve to wipe away the blood. I feel the warm liquid smear across my upper lip, but I leave it.
Rocky's hands grip my arm tentatively, warning me not to make a move. I relax into his slight embrace, really needing my brother right now.
Riker restrains Ellington from taking another swing, but the rage in his eyes tells me he's far from finished with me.
"We don't need to fight, we need to find her," I state.
"Wow, really?" Ellington bellows. "I wish I had thought of that!"
"You don't need to be an ass about this, we both want the same thing!"
His glare is icy, but his lips stay pursed.
"Okay, we need to try to track her cell phone," I begin.
"Credit card too?" Rocky questions. "Should we get it cut off?"
"No. I don't want her to be in trouble and not have money. I doubt she will use it, but I want us to be notified if she does."
"Oh will you shut the hell up?" Ratliff booms.
"I'm just trying to help," I spit venomously.
"You have no power over this situation, Ross!" Ellington screams.
"Actually, I do!" I retort angrily.
"Are you in charge of being an asshole?" he seethes. "Cause you're doing a great job!"
"We both love her, and we've both lost her!"
"And who's fault is that?" he asks quietly.
Mine. It's my fault she's not here. Thinking to myself; I twist the promise ring around the tip of my finger. The cool sliver of the heart shaped pendant is pressed flat to the inside of my hand, and it weighs on me. My entire world is enclosed in the palm of my right hand because I messed up. If I wouldn't have broken that guitar string when I was playing, none of this would have happened. I wouldn't have met Courtney and my life wouldn't be falling apart in every possible way. My band is over, my girlfriend left, and my family all hates me because they believe I cheated.
"Please," I sob. "Just bring my princess back to me."

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Marriya's POV

I've been sitting at the airport for hours now, and I have no idea where to go. The California sky is now bright and the city is alive. My brother could show up at any second to bring me home and I'd never get another chance to leave.
Scrolling through my contacts, my eyes register a number that I've had since I've moved here but have never once used. Feeling completely out of options, I debate calling it. Sighing, I realize I have absolutely nothing to lose.
It rings three times before a confused voice questions, "Hello?"

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Hey guys! Sorry for the long wait for this chapter, I've just been extremely busy lately. I hope you all are doing well.
If you liked this chapter, please give me a vote and a comment. If you can figure out who she is calling, I'll give you a shoutout in the next chapter. It's a character she's met before.

All the love. Always.
~ Hannah xxx