Repression ▶ M•C ▶ 2/3

Chapter 71

                  

Gwyneth's POV

Although it had been a long time since Georgie and I had been alone together, she wasn't acting like her regular self and I could tell that something wasn't right. I wasn't stupid, I was aware that the demise of her father would affect her in some way but it seemed to me like there was something more than that, I was surprised that she hadn't opened up to me yet, after everything the two of us have been through together I was sure she would tell me everything soon. I walked alongside her, watching her every move and analysing her actions. She was scuffing her feet along the concrete, her hands in her pockets and her head handing low. I needed to say something; I had to start a conversation that would take her mind off of whatever was going on, I just had to think of what I could say. I barely know her anymore; I don't know what would interest her or cheer her up.

"You know Ashton and Gracie broke up right? I know she wasn't at the wedding but no one has really told you what happened" I spoke up, catching her attention and smiling as she looked over. "No, what happened?" She asked, the wind pushing her hair away from her face. "Basically, Gracie was applying to art colleges while the boys were on tour last year. It was very lonely, for all of us, not knowing if they were safe or being careful. I think that maybe Gracie just wanted a distraction from it all. Anyway, she got accepted into a really good art school in London and when Ash came home she was getting ready to leave. After a long talk they decided to try long distance, like the relationship wasn't distant enough. A few months later they broke up because he had cheated on her one night whist on tour. No one has heard from her since, I was going to try and look for her while visiting but I have no idea where she could be" I sighed. She was looking at the trees and I felt like we were seventeen again, walking home from school gossiping about all the things that were happening. Georgie wasn't really the one that liked to gossip, I normally did most of the talking whist she listened happily and watched the nature around us. I missed this, it made my life seem less stressful, the peace and quiet of being in a place where not many people recognised you made me feel as normal as anyone else. "How did you manage?" She said surprisingly. I scrunched my eyebrows and thought about it for a second.

"Well I got my degree, and I spent all the spare time I had in making a career for myself. I became a public relations specialist and whenever Calum is away I worked constantly, building my reputation so much that I am now a professional in the field I work in" I smirked proudly. "What the fuck is a public relations specialist?" She laughed. "I work on the art and social science of analysing trends, predicting their consequences, counselling organizational leaders, and implementing planned programs of action which will serve both the organization and the public interest. So basically, I talk for a living" I grinned. She burst out into laughter and linked arms with me. "Out of all the jobs in the world, I think that is the perfect one for you" She scoffed, resting her head on my shoulder as we walked. We were heading back to her parent's; well I guess it was her mum's house now so I could stay there for a few days until the funeral. I squeezed her arm and we walked across the driveway until she had to let go to take out her house keys. As soon as the door opened it was like going back in time.

Do you ever get the feeling you're returning to the scene of a crime? A place where you know some terrible things have happened yet it had been made to seem like it never existed. This whole house was poisoned with awful memories. Just from standing in the hallway I saw flashes of the people we used to be. I saw the both of us, walking down the stairs with all my suitcases on our way to the airport so I could run away from my problems, I saw that huge fight between Michael and Ashton over who loved Georgie on the day we were going home, but I also saw the good memories, all of us chasing each other around the house, watching tv together and waking up each morning and making coffee whist we sat around the kitchen and talked for hours. I missed those days. But this house was now so clean it was like none of us had ever stepped foot inside it, all the memories had been scrubbed away by bleach and disinfectant. "Where's your mum?" I noticed I that I hadn't been shouted at or forced to leave yet by the blonde skinny woman that always wear way too much red lipstick that I assumed she must have a whole stash somewhere hidden in the house. "Oh, she's probably gone to buy more cleaning products or something" She shrugged, shutting the door after us and tossing her keys on the table beside it.

"Right, go get your mean girls dvd out while I get the wine and we can get drunk and laugh at our favourite film" I smirked, patting her back and pushing her to the living room. She nodded and giggled with me down the corridor. "You know I've really missed having you around right?" She stopped in the living room doorway and grinned at me. "I do, me too" I sighed, before she disappeared into the living room and I went into the kitchen. I shuffled to the fridge and pulled out the large bottle of white wine sitting on a shelf ad placed it onto the spotless counter. I was in the process of looking for the wine glasses when there was a loud knock at the front door that echoed through the house. I stopped and walked out into the hallway, checking in the living room and quickly. I couldn't tell if she was sleeping or just sitting on the sofa, I thought I should at least answer the door. I turned away and hurried to the front door, whoever was here had probably been waiting a while now. I pulled it open and gasped before glaring at the figure in front of me. "What the hell are you doing here?" I snapped pushing him back as he tried to walk inside. "I've sacrificed a lot to be here so can you please let me see her?" He sighed. His eye contacted moved to behind me and I turned my head and saw Georgie standing in the living room doorway. "Ashton?"