Chasing Pavements ─ Tom Holland

79| START OF TIME

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"HE'S crazy." Tom commented as his eyes glued to Ivory's phone for a while. Ivory decided to tell him about Luke's threat while he was with her so that he could be more careful the next day. Luke was the man of his words if it involved something he needed to get – yes, she was afraid, but she had to believe that her brother and friends wouldn't let themselves off guard easily. And for some reason having Tom here made her fears subside.

Next week was exactly five months Tom started emblazoning her life after the greatest misfortune she ever felt – she lied if she said that he still didn't have a special place in her heart. Probably now, Tom had replaced Luke's position. That feeling – The feelings of blissfulness and feel loved emerged from within her once again, which a couple of months ago had numbed because of Luke. She immensely longed to welcome that kind of feeling, however, hesitance still greatly shrouded her mind. One thing that she felt was right and vivid at the moment, deep down in her heart, Ivory knew she wanted Tom as well.

"For two years we dated he began to show his true colors. And honestly since then, I wondered if I could stand by his side any longer." Ivory exhaled a deep shaky breath and rested the back of her head on the couch, her fingers running through the fur of her and Sebastian's dog. "He controlled my life until it was like I was his puppet – I didn't realize it sooner because I was blinded by my feelings. Unlike my friends, they had realized it for a long time that our relationship was unhealthy, Sebastian even snapped at me for being completely dumb because I couldn't see through his false favorable demeanour. My mom and my dad also told me the same. But, they didn't understand. I stayed not because I was fine with his abusive behavior, but because I knew I loved him – it was pure love. And I believed he would change one day in the future. Sadly even after two years, he only got worse."

Tom took a moment to stare down at her and placed her phone next to him, filtering all the words. This was all new information to him and also beyond personal. He cared about her a lot and to learn that she had went through those bitter experiences with Luke literally crushed his heart. And the moment when Ivory opened her eyes, it was extremely lucid there were still sparks of dread in her blue eyes. Tom didn't want that, as cliché as it was, he wanted to be the one who effaced the fear left inside her.

"You know, my mother once told me that people don't change for others. Even if we believe in that perspective, it won't happen if the certain person has no desire to change." Tom explained, patting the empty spot next to him to get her to sit on the couch instead of the floor. Ivory complied his obsecration and waited for him to continue. "You need to throw out the belief that you can change a person because if you still think that way, you will only give false hope to yourself and you're the one who will eventually get hurt."

Ivory stared at him for a mere second before the tip of her lips tugged upward. The brunette girl knew what was said by Tom still couldn't erase her sullen past with Luke, but the moment he had been trying to give her advice meant he truly cared for her – that fact alone made her feel worthy and loved. And much to her surprise, Tom suddenly pulled her into his arms and embraced her as tight as he could.

"I'm sorry." Tom breathed out, a sincere tone hiding underneath his voice.

Ivory frowned in confusion. "For what?"

"When you went through a hard time – I'm sorry I wasn't there with you."

His words literally caught the brunette girl off guard. Never in million years someone apologized for something that even he did not know would happen. It only made Ivory believe that Tom was absolutely different from Luke. Ivory blinked her eyes a couple of times, swallowing the lump in her throat as she replied. "It was before I met you."

"That's why I feel more sorry. I feel more sorry about it than anything else – the fact that I didn't know you then." Tom admitted softly, stroking her hair affectionately. "I want only good things to happen for you and to make you happy. I'll always be here for you – you will not be alone anymore. And you won't go through that pain again, Ivory, trust me."

This time Ivory's smile grew wider. At this exact moment, she was pretty sure that Tom would never leave her anytime soon. When a guy wants to be with you, he'll be with you. Period. There won't be excuses, drama, shadiness or uncertainty. Her dad's words suddenly dashed around her mind as she tightened the grip on his shoulders. Even though they were her feelings, Ivory couldn't figure it out where they're headed.

However now, she knew.

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