Turn Away | c.h

Chapter 39 - In The Light

I watched as Stella slowly walked up to me, shirt in her hands. She extended the piece of clothing out to me, giving me a soft smile. I took the item from her, my tired body calming down slightly, as she touched me.

In the light of the lamp, her eyes lit up and shined as she looked up at me. Her side was illuminated in the most perfect silhouette of light I'd ever seen. She looked like something from a movie scene, she was the most incredible woman I'd ever touched. And no matter how beautiful she was, she still held innocence to her traits. She'd never know how beautiful she truly was; she doubted herself way too much. And though the thought saddened me, it also made me kind of proud to think that only I was ever capable of making her believe she was truly wonderful.

"Are you okay?" She simply asked, eyes studying mine. I softly nodded, reaching out to place my fingers against her forearm.

"Are you?" I asked. Stella also nodded, but I could tell there was something wrong. Even I couldn't understand her thoughts, and usually, they were incredibly easy to read. But they were running a thousand miles per hour. Something had happened, and I knew it for a fact.

"Stel, what's happened?"

"It's nothing." She instantly spoke, shaking her head. I stepped closer to her.

"Stella."

She looked back up at me, guilt laced behind her eyes. It irritated me to the core that she never would tell me what's wrong, as if it would affect the way I saw her. But nothing could ever change that. I just wished she'd tell me what was wrong so I could help her, it physically hurt me to see her upset.

"Cal... My dad is sending me away. He's leaving me." She simply spoke. I paused, my body coming to a halt, the second the words left her mouth. Instantly, once again, I went straight to denial.

"He's not." I spoke, pulling away. I slipped off my damp shirt, placing it down on her table as I turned back to her. Stella's eyebrows furrowed.

"What... He is, he's sending me to a boarding school for delinquent teenagers." She said, her voice sounding absolutely drained. She watched as I pulled on my fresh top, tugging it over my head as I moved over to her. She stared up at me, a glimmer of hope caught behind her eyes.

"He's not taking you away. I will not let him." I sternly said, watching as her shoulders slumped, eyes falling to the ground. I walked over to her, instantly wrapping my arms around her small frame. But Stella gently pulled away, shaking her head.

"Calum, you don't get it." She said, pacing over to the window. I folded my arms over my chest, watching the way she moved, studying every inch of her. "He's taking me away whether you like it or not. It's not up to us."

"You're right, it's up to you." I said, watching as she glanced out the open window, tired eyes searching the city below her. "If you don't want to go, then you don't have to. Your father can't force you there, he can't send you away thinking you'll sit tight for two years. You're not going anywhere... I'm keeping this a promise."

She slowly looked up at me, eyes studying my features. I could feel how much she longed for me, and I wanted nothing more than to hold her close. But I knew I had to let her come to me. If she wanted me enough, she'd come to me. I couldn't force it upon her.

"You don't understand, Cal." She softly spoke. I shrugged my shoulders at her statement.

"Then tell me more about the situation."