Love Me {Sequel To Last Hope}

Chapter Thirty One-Short Chapter

"I'm not a stop along the way, I'm a destination." - Blair Waldorf, Gossip Girl

T E L L I E

"She's been arrested as of now. I don't think there's a bail. She's being charged with fraud, identity theft, and blackmail. Apparently it's a standard case. Even if she doesn't plea guilty she's got no way of escaping the fraud charge at least." I explained carefully. I didn't watch my fathers facial expressions. I was walking down the stairs, my duffle bag on my shoulder, my head down. I'd whipped all my hair down, and was now tying it in a high ponytail.

"And when she gets out?" He asked dryly.

"I'm assuming she won't be eager to bother me again." I said. "Besides, that's a long way off. She's up for three charges that are horrible. Why did nobody tell me the law worked?"

"It's your mother, the law wasn't meant to work." He didn't sound happy. He sounded pissed. I didn't know what to do exactly. I think he was mad I had simply gone behind his back and let Zach take the reigns at dealing with my mother. "Hurry up. Or I'm not taking you to the airport."

I lifted my head and kept walking, my ponytail swishing as I walked. "Is there anything happening with the whole Bella situation?" I asked.

"She's fine, they're trying to find the guy, that's as simple as it gets. Now, you were just telling me what in hell happened with your mother?" Again, he sounded pissed off. He glared at me, and I stood at the front door, waiting. Biting my lip. I gulped. "You're pathetic." He snapped. Then headed towards the kitchen. I followed.

"I'm not pathetic!" I objected. "She's in gaol! What else could I want? She'll drop the soap and die or whatever! It's all I wanted! She can't do anything to me in gaol!"

"And you think Killian won't be pissed off when he finds out?" Dad retorted. I followed him into the garage. "He only basically kidnaped you the other day! Remember that!"

"Killian won't hurt me." I said. My voice faltered. And I realised I didn't know if I believed it anymore. I was hoping I was right. I didn't really think Killian had it in him to do anything really bad to me. I remembered Killian saying I was like a daughter to him. The more I thought about it, the more I was more sure of myself. Killian would never do anything. I doubted he could do it.

"You don't sound so sure of yourself." Dad commented.

"Not everyone is as low as your ex girlfriends." I hissed. I got in the passenger seat of the car, throwing my bag at my feet. I didn't need to take much. I would only be in New York for a week. I packed the essentials; dance clothes, makeup, high heels, club dresses, jeans, jumpers, hair things and pj's. I didn't need much. If I ran out clothes I would just borrow Hope's or buy myself more. I'd probably come back with mountains of things from New York. I always did.

"You may have ended it for now," dad said lowly, "but it's never going to be fully over until she's dead."

"I don't want to murder her." I snapped. "As long as she's in gaol, my life, is fully at ease. I'm getting this dance thing under control, I'm not being blackmailed, my wedding plans are going well apparently, and once I get back from New York, Zach and I are going looking for a house."

The car turned on, and I pulled my sunglasses on. Silence ached slowly, dad didn't say a word until the car moving. As soon as I knew Phoebe was arrested, I felt any kind of worry I had slip away. Just like that. I hadn't known it was possible to lose all that worry and anxiety in a single moment. Apparently it was. It was like clarity. It felt so strange, and unnatural not to have something to worry about. And I was growing to like it.

"So you're moving out?" Dad asked softly.

"We want to buy a house." I said. I had to admit, even I knew I sounded giddy. I was beginning to understand why some girls said this was all they wanted. I think maybe I could live with just this. I could live with just love. I could live with just Zach. He wasn't all I wanted, but he was all I needed. "We're looking around the edge of London. The plan is, Marriage, House, and maybe kids once I'm twenty-five."

"Make it thirty." Dad said dryly.

"Not eager for grandkids?"

"Keep your legs closed and condoms nearby." Dad snapped. I rolled my eyes.

***

R Y D E R

My team won and it was by a long shot. The score was twenty to nil. The goals where mostly shared between me, and Julian. Uriah and and I were back in the change rooms, changing into our clothes. The sweat had been like puddles. Even if we won by a long shot, the game was still intense. It was the first major game of football I had ever been apart of. And I loved it more than I thought I would.

"I just got a text from my dad." Uriah said. He slammed himself into a seat beside me, pushing me down the bench. I was shoving my boots in my bag. "I'm allowed to see Bella. I don't think I'm getting told what happened. But Dad said he was picking me up and he has to go back to the hospital, so I'm gonna see Bella. I'll tell her you wanted to see her. If it helps. You like her? Don't you? Like... Like like her..."

"Yeah... But don't-"

"Relax, she doesn't know." Uriah snapped. "But... I just thought you might wanna know, she likes you too... I read her diary... I've gotta go. Good game." And he left right then. Leaving me to sit by myself in confusion. I finished with my things, trying to contemplate the idea of Bella liking me. Then I decided I shouldn't be thinking of that while she was in a hospital bed after suffering through everything she had.

***

"I think we should talk." My father said slowly. He stepped onto my room lightly, and I didn't blonde to even look up from my sketch pad. I didn't say a word. I just sketched. "Ryder-"

"I'm busy." I said dryly.

"I know you were playing football today." His voice dropped, as did my pencil. My heart began to pound a million beats per second. "Look Ryder-"

"I'm sorry." I said bluntly. "I swear I'm sorry. I really am. I just-"

"Your mum and I..." He started, I looked up, trying to find a way to beg myself out of this. But he didn't look mad. He didn't even look surprised. And I just stared. "I convinced your mum, that as long as you're careful, there's no harm done..."

"What?"

He smiled a little. "You're going to play football."

(A/N

Yeah yeah this sucks okay it's close to end. The next chapter is Zellie's wedding then an epilogue

KISSES

-Paige

FYI my life is so good. My crush is complimenting me daily and I'm actually not failing school RN lol

-P