FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE HEART.

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

I WISH I COULD CRY AT THIS POINT. BUT THE TEARS REFUSE TO FALL. BUT HER'S DID.
 
Mike stared at the screen of that stood at the end of the courtyard, the sounds were not playing loudly but every pair of eyes in that place stared directly at it. Some looked at Mike disbelief not understanding how this was happening at this moment.

But he wasn't bothered about anyone around him. He didn't care about that environment.

What shattered him were sign of a shattered trust across Anna's face as she looked at Mike. He couldn't move, he couldn't reach her, he wanted to hold her, take her away from all this, to the lake or to the balcony of Saturn Rooms. Anywhere away from this terror.

Anna...

She turned and ran, ignoring the dress she wore and dashed for the exit. Everyone cleared a path for her to pass but said nothing as she did or didn't reach to touch her.

Mike's eyes widened as he realized she was leaned the place. He moved forward to run but instead of the crowd doing the same for him, they closed up and shoved him back to the ground.

"Let me through!" He shouted as he got up and attempted to push through. "Let me through!"

A laugh broke through the noise he was generating and he turned to see Sidney holding the microphone to her lips. "Hello, honey. Why are you stressing yourself over her? This was just last night, weren't it?"

She pointed to the screen. "What's suddenly gotten into you? You started the kissing first, Roland. You wanted this. You wanted us."

As Sidney spoke Mike's fear slowly began to become to anger. "You." He turned from the crowd and faced his ex, "You're nothing but a one night stand! You have no use! You're just a problem! A thorn-."

"A thorn in your side you haven't haven't had the balls to pull out." She cut in, "A pain you find enticing. You wanted this. You needed this..."

Mike stepped forward but then claps began to echo from the back of the court. Mike looked back to see Gerald Vonn sitting at the far end with a devilish smirk on his face. He raised a glass of champagne in Mike's direction.

"Bravo, Roland, true work of art here. After being her knight you still ended up breaking her heart in the name of uncontrollable libido." He chuckled before tipping the drink into his mouth. "Three cheers to, Fiesta Roland. The biggest prick that ever lived."

Mike didn't know what to do. He wanted to just sit down in that place and bury his face in his palms.

What have I done?

The doors opened and Fred appeared. He seemed to have come in a hurry because he had on a baseball cap and he never truly wears that. Then he saw Mike, "She's already outside. Go and deal with that issue. Owen is already taking down the video."

The screen flickered off and Owen popped up with a set of pliers in between his teeth, "Let's just pray the charges aren't put up for damage of school property."
 
Mike wanted to thank them, but seeing the situation he quickly did as Fred ordered. He ran out the door and continued till he was outside, the only thing aiding his sight was the moonlight and the security lights around the school ground.
 
He turned to his right and saw Anna dashing down the side walk, holding up her dress so she wouldn't trip, but this made her slow so Mike catching up to her wasn't a challenge.

Talking to her will...
 
"Anna!" He screamed, "Wait!"

She didn't reply his call. She just kept on running and shaking her head in disbelief. Mike wish it weren't true. He didn't want to keep living this nightmare.
 
"Annabelle. Please."

He reached to hold her. It's what he had been praying for all night. But she pulled away and with a swift movement gave him a slap so hard it left a mark on his face as well as caused him to turn in the forces direction.
 
He couldn't move. Even the pain was much than expected he didn't dare to touch it. He was frozen in that moment with no thoughts in his head. He just couldn't. Not when she was crying so hard.

"Why?" She whispered, not looking up at him but at his feet. "Why do this to me? What did I do to deserve this, Micheal? Didn't you love me? Didn't you love us? What was I to you? Was I like one of the others? A play thing? A phase? Just a moment of joy? Didn't my words mean anything to you? Or was I nothing? Because you were something to me. Or at least I thought you were."

She turned to walk away and Mike didn't raise his hand to stop her. For the first time, he was completely speechless, no words. Just pain. Just tears that refused to roll out.
 
But then Anna looked back at him, no more sadness lurked in her gaze. It was pure hatred. "Players never change. I was stupid for believing in that opposite." She disappeared from his sight and Mike just stood there. Hating himself more than she hated him.

*********************************************
 
🎼 "The good in me" Jon Bellion

The next evening Mike sat on the bonnet of his new truck at the road next to the airport and watched as the plane Anna was on vanished into the clouds.

She hadn't wasted much time. The second she got home she told her parents about everything and that she wanted to leave. They didn't argue, in fact they all left taking their business back to France.

His mum and dad were disgusted by his actions and so were his friends so he had to stay in the hotel away from everyone. It hadn't been easy though but he also got back to his house and picked up the things to place in the back of his truck and now he only had one stop.

Two hours later Wills sees Mike's new vehicle pulling up in front of his lake house and he knew what was happening.

"Where are going to go?" He asked not looking up as Mike lowered the window. "My grandparents in Cardiff. I guess I can chill there until I move on."

Wills sighed. "I guess if you find it necessary, mate. I understand."

Mike's truck began to move forward but he stopped and looked in the side mirror at his best friend. "William Mortez...thanks."

Wills nodded slowly. "Just remember to visit and call. And if possible, move on."

Mike didn't reply. He just pressed the gas and drove off leaving dust in his tracks and Wills didn't look away until he was certain Micheal Roland was gone for good.