Take Me Back

Chapter 11

It was the faint sobbing that got me out of bed.

I rolled over to see Kayla's side of the bed to find it empty, the red numbers of our alarm clock glowing 2.24am.

I pulled on a shirt and made my way down the hallway, she was sitting at the kitchen table, the light from her computer illuminating her tear streaked face.

"Darling?" I said quietly, she didn't acknowledge me so I spoke again, "Darling what's the matter?"

She looked at me, startled for a moment, then her cheeks coloured red, "I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

I sat down next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, "Kayla, what's going on?"

She buried her face in my shoulder and started to cry, "I just don't understand why you would want me, who would? I'm an absolute mess. No one wants to hire me, I'm in debt up to my eyeballs and you're, god, you're you"

I stroked her hair and held her tighter, "And what on earth is that supposed to mean my love?"

"You look like you don't belong with someone like me. You're supposed to be with someone daintier and prettier who's hair doesn't look like a rats nest half the time"

I scoffed and tugged her chin up, staring into her eyes I couldn't help but smile, "you think way to highly of me Kayla. You are the kindest, most talented person I know and I love every goddamn inch and curve of you. So what you've got a little debt? We're going to get through this together. Trust me darling, you're going to take this fucking world by storm"

She wiped her tears away and pressed her lips to my own, "God I adore you"

"Likewise"

oOo

"Well you've done a whole lot of dumb shit since I've known you Jace but picking a fight with Hottie McMuscles takes the cake"

I groaned as I held the bag of frozen peas to the black eye that was quickly swelling. Jonathan and Charlie had managed to get me back to the apartment and tossed me onto the couch, "I mistook him for someone that's all"

Jonathan paused for a moment before laughing dryly, "If you keep mistaking people for other people and picking fights, you're going to get yourself killed"

I hung my head, I had acted irrationally but I was so angry. At him, at my situation, at everything. I couldn't catch a break.

"Seriously though, what gives?" said Charlie, "How do you know Grant?"

I had dug myself a hole and to be entirely honest, I was unsure how I was going to get out of it. I simply shrugged and continued my staring competition with the ground.

"Man, I hate that guy, I don't know how Kayla puts up with his shit"

My head shot up. It has been weeks since I had heard her name, for her to be mentioned by someone I knew gave me hope, Charlie had met her, everything was on track, I hadn't completely screwed up my future yet.

"Actually", Charlie continued, "Fuck it she needs to know. I'm going to head round to her place now. Mind if I grab that bottle of tequila Jon? I think we're going to need it"

Jonathan nodded mutely, he was staring at me, an odd expression on his face.

Charlie grabbed the bottle and beelined for the door, "see you tomorrow babe!"

And then it was just us.

"What?" I muttered as Jonathan continued to stare.

"You're not actually crazy"

"Wow thanks Jon"

"It's her isn't it? Kayla's the girl", Jonathan spoke quietly, "I thought you were just having a breakdown. I played along because I thought you would lose it but Jesus, it's true isn't it?"

It was like a weight off my chest. I had always suspected he was skeptical, "trust me mate, until I saw her the other week, I thought I was crazy too"

"How is this possible though? Did you piss off a Time Lord or turn down a witch?"

"I have no idea dude, it's all just fucked"

He nodded, "right, well I don't know about you but I'm going to grab some whiskey and we're going to watch every time travel film we can so we can figure out how to get your miserable arse to where it needs to be because frankly, sulking Jace is a party pooper"

"Sounds fucking fabulous"

oOo

"Jonathan, 17 Again is not a time travel film"

"It still magic type voodoo shit", Jonathan slurred next to me, "Plus we both win, Zac Efron is a baaaabe and I know you've still got that weird mum fetish"

I threw the cushion at him, "So what if I can appreciate a more mature woman. Like you can judge, you should see some of the older guys I have to drag you away from in the years to come"

Jonathan screwed up his face and drained his glass, "well at least they know what they're doing I guess"

It was in the early hours of the morning, we'd watched the few sci fi films in Jonathan's collection and had made nil progress except for inebriation.

I perked up when I heard his front door slam, "I thought Charlie wasn't coming back tonight"

There was the sound of crashing from the front room and heavy footsteps making their way down the hall.

"Wait!" I heard Charlie's voice call.

"Which one?!" a feminine voice yelled, a voice I would recognise anywhere.

I looked over my shoulder to see Kayla standing there, she was wearing her unicorn pyjamas, mascara streaks down her face and swaying obviously from alcohol consumption. She was a mess but she was so goddamn beautiful. I was on my feet walking toward her before I knew what I was doing. I barely noticed Charlie running in behind her, telling her softly to calm down.

"Was it you?" she demanded, "did you get in a fight with him?"

I should have corrected her, told her it was more of me getting socked in the face than a fight but I couldn't string a sentence together, I just nodded.

"Right", she nodded in return, a fierce determined look on her face.

She grabbed my collar and pulled my face down to meet hers.

oOo

A/N: Argh sorry for going mia on this story! Life's a bit hectic and I've rewritten this chapter about 6 times

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