Changing | SM

Part 36: telling him

Adriana:

I knew at some point he'd confront me about not opening up to him. But I don't really know where we're standing right now.
I don't know what we are of each other or how to handle what's coming in the future.
I just know I want to stay with him, he makes me feel safe even though we both know we aren't.

"Have you ever talked to Cody, asked him what he did?" I looked over to him, but he shook his head. I sighed, letting out a deep breath.

"When you first came to our school and I saw you were friends with Cody, I thought you had a criminal record against your name as well." I saw the confusion on his face. "You once asked me why Liam and I are that close. Well, they were best friends." "Who are they?"
"Liam and Mason."

He shifted in his seat before I felt him holding on to my hand even tighter. As if he wants to claim me as his and not let go to give me away to other.
"Hey, chill. I'm not going anywhere." I chuckled, giving the story a pause so he can take a breath. "Okay. Continue." He scooted closer.

"For about a year, I was known as the 'widow' of the school. That all happened after Mason, who by that time was my boyfriend. Liam and I were best friends probably since we were in diapers, through him I met Mason. We dated for almost four years, and he was the best. He treated me like no other, he made me feel like I was the only girl in the world and the only one he ever saw. The only one he ever loved." I clamped my hand over my mouth as I started crying again.

"You never truly know how much something means to you till it gets taken away from you." I croaked out. "What happened? Why did he leave you?" By now I couldn't contain the tears any longer.
I was a sobbing mess.

I quickly tried to get myself together before continuing with the story. "One night we came back here to the station, mostly to just be alone. But the gang showed up. Cody was friends with Mason but they weren't the best of friends and I asked him numerous times to just let him go but he didn't had the heart to do it. Cody arrived with his gang and of course he was drunk. He ruined the peaceful moment and then it got wild."

He moved uncomfortably where he sat, but I couldn't sit any longer, my legs were restless and I was aching to move around.

I stood up.

"When Reece touched me in the hall that day afer the math test it brought back pain. I remembered back to that night. Cody came on to me and started touching me but Mason punched him. With Cody being drunk and not really responsible for his actions, a fight broke out and it did not end well." By now he got up as well, leaning against the railing as he looked at me.

"A punch only made him more angrier and he punched back, but with the sloppy movements within him, he pushed Mason back and he fell on the tracks- he-" I broke down again.
Not able to breath.

"Hey hey hey." He rushed up to me, pulling me in to a hug. "Fuck." I heard him mumbling.

"You don't have to go any further. I'm so sorry Adriana, I can't imagine what that feels like." I just kept on crying as I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close. "I'm so sorry." He mumbled again.

After some time of him just rubbing my back and holding me in his arms, I calmed down.
I never thought his affection would make me feel this way. And I never thought he was capable of showing care.
But that was me judging a book by its cover, not to know that I'd be so interested in what's inside.

"Funny how the past can catch up to you." I said after pulling away and wiping my face clean.

"I kind of feel guilty for being in your life Adriana, because you were going on so good till I came and made you tell me." "Please don't feel bad. You're the only I actually ever talked to about this." He gave me another hug, softly pecking my cheek.

That's new.

I blushed though, feeling butterflies in my tummy as our eyes locked on each other's.

"Shawn?" "Yeah?" He took my hand in his, "Please don't leave me." He smiled, "Never. And Adriana, always remember that if love can fade, so can pain. Try to move forward because you were there before I pulled you back. But I want to help you. Just let me." I nodded, letting out a shaky breath.

"Okay."