Behind the Mask

Chapter 19: Blind Love

Chapter 19: Blind Love

Isabel’s POV

My stuff was piled into the chair next to me. I closed my eyes listening to all the sounds. Everything had its own noise, all in perfect harmony.

“Flight 1475 to Rome will begin boarding in five minutes.” Sighing I began to collect my stuff.

“ISABEL!” someone cried. Narrowing my eyes I glanced behind me. I saw no familiar face among the crowd. Shaking my head I began towards the gate.

“ISABEL!” they yelled again. I knew I wasn’t imagining this, but the accent gave all away.

“What do you want James.” I hissed not even turning around.

“Hear me out.” He begged turning me around.

“Why?” I asked avoiding his gaze, I took two steps back.

“Because I screwed up and I need to make it right.”

“Well I don't want to hear anything you have to say so go away and leave me alone.” I turned away walking towards the gate. I didn’t want to walk away, and with each step my heart hurt but he lost his chance with me.

“Isabel wait,” he said gripping my arm spinning me around to face him. “Please just let me make you understand. I can’t live my life with this going unsaid.”

“Why?” I asked my voice barely above a whisper. He gripped my chin making me look him in the eye. My breath caught in my throat as I took him in. I lost my self in his eyes, all of me buzzed. But then reality came zooming back, I tore my eyes from his.

“Please, Isabel.” He whispered.

“You have three minutes.” I said stepping back. I wasn’t sure why I said yes but I guess I wanted to know why, why he left me.

“Thank you.” He breathed.

“Get on with it.” I muttered.

“At first you were just another girl a conquest even,” his words sparked anger down in my chest but also hurt I thought back to those moments with him and that girl.

“Another conquest huh?” I hissed gritting my teeth.

“Isabel please just listen,” James sighed taking my face in his hands. I wanted more than anything to be able to look away but something in his eyes stopped me.

“But then it changed, everything changed.” He paused his voice filled with realization “It started with the library. The day at the carnival was one of the best in my life. So when you told me off that next week I wasn’t sure where my feelings lied. I was confused and hurt,” He paused. I wondered what the best day in his life was, but it was odd that I made the top. Wow, Isabel? Really? More important things going on here.

“But when I saw you in my room that night I knew. I knew for some reason I wanted to be with you more than anyone else in my life. But then you left, and thought you didn’t feel the same, that you couldn’t be with me. So I acted rashly and made stupid decisions. Oh god I’m rambling aren’t I?” He asked shaking his head.

“Just a little,” I said holding back a small chuckle. My emotions were up and down lately it was hard to tell how I was feeling.

“The point is, Isabel I'm in love with you. I need you in my life one way or the other. You stole my heart Isabel Jones, and I love you for it. I was stupid and hurt, but I couldn’t keep living my life without telling you that.” His breathing was labored from him pouring his heart out to me.

“And that night was the best in my life, and I want to make love to you and only you.” He added quickly. We both knew what night that was. I stared at him, my face a void of all emotion. And then I knew something I’d known for a longtime but had denied.

“I would never leave you.” I whispered moving closer taking his big hand in mine. The words caught at my lips. “I could never leave the man I love.”

Everything in this moment changed. I loved him; I loved the man I swore not to love. James’ face went from one of admittance to joy. He surged forward lifting me off the ground firmly in his arms.

Peals of my laughter echoed into the airport. People gave us side stares; some had even watched the entire confrontation. A few girls around my age were in big happy smiles.    

“I LOVE YOU ISABEL JONES!” he yelled making people turn their heads. This made me smile even bigger. We had both been stupid and blind. I loved him and that was the only thing that seemed to matter.

He set me back down on my feet still keeping close. In that moment I lost myself, I lost myself in James. For so long part of me was gone, missing was a better word. James cupped my face. But I beat him to it. I eagerly smashed my lips to his.

I absorbed his every touch; it sent tingles to my toes. Each place that was skin to skin was on fire, which meant my lips were ablaze. His hands held me close in a lover’s embrace.

“Last call for flight 1475 to Rome, last call.”

Sighing I pulled away still keeping him close, touching my forehead to his. Now that I had him back I didn’t want to have to say goodbye.

“I have a plane to catch.” I whispered. More than anything I wanted to stay in his arms. But I had made a promise to my father, a promise I couldn’t break.

“Then I’ll catch it too,” He paused lifting my chin. “Now that I have you back, I'm never letting you go. I’ll follow you to the end of the world.” His words spread a smiled across my face. My heart had begun to fill the hole he had left.  We walked hand and to the gate, and I produced my ticket but then realization flooded over me.

“Wait you don't have a ticket,” I said my voice dropping low. James just gave me a cocky smile and held and ticket between two of his fingers.

“I had to have a ticket to get in. Ironically enough I purchased a ticket to Rome.” He shrugged handing the ticket over.

“I think that’s fate.” I laugh giving her my ticket.

“Let’s go to Rome.” James smiled tugging my hand. I laughed, everything was easy again. I had started my day heartbroken and ended up heart whole. 

We are so close to the end and I know I know lagging its going to get better when school's out.