Paired

Paired : Chapter 20

Chapter 20

I walked away from the building feeling a immense weight on my shoulders. I knew I had to go back eventually, but I thought it would be with Fintan.

I was wrong.

I was now going back with Lauren, Ryan, and Liam. Well, I really didn't even consider Liam. (I had just only remembered him moments ago.)

I swallowed the lump in my throat, running away from all of this.

I couldn't run away from my future, but I could try to run away from my past. My unsuccessful, dramatic, idiotic lifestyle.

I thought I had the perfect life. I know now nothing is perfect, or can ever stay perfect.

So I did what I do best, I walked away.

I'll go home, be chastised by my father, and live a lonely life with cats.

You'd think in fairy tales that everyone lives happily ever after. Also, that no one lives with cats.

You were wrong.

My life isn't a fairy tale, just a sad life story that will never be told to my imaginary grandchildren, now that I'll never have kids.

I love Ryan. I actually do. I wasn't saying it for his comfort, but for mine.

I needed to hear that I loved Ryan. I needed that.

I glanced down at my feet before feeling a sharp smack on my forehead.

"Ouch," I muttered, not wanting to draw attention.

"Pick up the pace, Chay. We need to hurry back," Liam told me.

I was ready to smack him very, very, very hard for calling me Chay. He can't call me Chay, he doesn't know me like that.

"Don't call me that."

Liam looked at me like I had three heads.

"Apologies," he said, with an Edward Cullen kind of smile.

I turned away from the creepy smiling Liam and focused my attention on Lauren's back.

We walked for over an hour until we reached a black Mini Cooper in a parking lot.

I shot Lauren a confused look but she just smiled at me with her straight teeth. It was then I noticed her teeth.

"Lauren," I said, nudging her slightly.

"Yeah?" she asked me as we walked up to the car.

"Did you get your braces off?"

She looked at me and suddenly threw her arms around my shoulders.

"Yes, I did," she told me, her words muffled by my hair.

I couldn't breathe correctly with her squeezing me so tightly.

"Lauren, I can't breathe."

"Oh, sorry," she said pulling away, also tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

I laughed out loud. "Why did you hug me when I asked you that?"

"Um..Liam has failed to notice that I don't have braces anymore."

I was taken aback by this news. "Lauren, do you actually love Liam?" I asked her, urging to know.

She looked at me with a gentle expression.

"I thought I did," she whispered.

"What do you mean?" I questioned her softly.

"I don't even feel the spark anymore. I can't look at him like I used too."

"It's okay," I told her, pulling her inward to myself.

"We have to go," she said, pulling back and getting into the car.

So much for that.

I got into the car and quickly buckled myself in. The car started with a quiet hum, taking in the stillness.

I never imagined the way I would finally confront my dad. But on the way back, I did.

I imagined him yelling at me, and me yelling at him. Back and forth. That's all I could imagine. That's all I've ever done with my dad. He never understood me, even when he was home.

The car pulled to a stop and I quickly looked around, revealing the unchanged police station. I hopped out of the car, shaking my legs slightly (they were asleep).

I walked up to the door, took up a death breath, and walked in.

Then I saw him. My dad.

And Fintan.

I know, Fintan?

Since I haven't seen my dad in a long time, you'd think I go to hug him. But I didn't. I hugged Fintan.

I ran up to him and threw my arms around his big shoulders, taking in his familiar scent.

I felt everything come back rushing in one day. I never I thought I'd admit it, but I missed Fintan. His strong arms, manly scent, protective voice.

I took it all in, a little bit too fast.

And for once, I just let it all go.

Standing there, crying, in Fintan's arms.

And I didn't really care anymore.