In Your Dreams

Part 55

*Shennika's POV*

"And you're sure you don't want to come back with me...?"

This was Bethany trying again for like the 5th time tonight since we left to take her to the airport. Chris had bagged the trunk of his car with polka dot suitcases and American handbags and headed down the freeway pretty fast for a guy in a fitted suit. No sweat. The drive there seemed shorter than how it was when we first arrived and took that over exaggerated vehicle to the penthouse 2 months ago.

No matter how much Bethany asked me, my answer was always going to be the same. Ultimately I had become a broken record for the amount of times I'd gone over the same reason to why I couldn't go back with her- I had things to sort here, with Ross and with Kelli. So in order to fix things with them meant I had to actually be here. Leaving wasn’t going to do it for me and in this specific situation, it was ridiculous!

Ross wasn't a thing that could be removed with time and vast distance. He was a person, someone I really cared about.

My best friend may think me going back to England for a break- a breather whatever, is what's best for me and for how to deal with Ross. But I knew better, Ross isn't a problem. If he was, he'd be mine, which meant it's me that's got to sort it, no one else had the right to tell me what to do about this. So I keep telling myself...

I'm staying right here. I'm not running or going anywhere without doing what I need too first. I couldn't imagine what it'd do to Ross if I left without a word like Bethany so highly insisted, and besides I'd never do that to him.

I thought it through the majority of the car journey and exhaled deeply re-hopping onto the same old reasons. They were as clear to me as they were 20 minutes ago. With Bethany I couldn't tell whether my explanation was getting through to her or not. So I guess it's either I'll have to keep going on like a broken record or Bethany's got a really bad case of severe memory loss that triggers at the words: 'I'm not going!'

Sitting in the airport, I inhaled and exhaled the cold air that the hidden air con machine provided and looked away from Bethany to the automatic doors that just let another couple- with their trolley of suitcases- pass through.

I turned my gaze elsewhere as I sat tapping my fingers against the metal armrest of the chair I’ve been plastered too since we arrived about 15 minutes ago. Next to me, Bethany was talking about how she was looking forward to seeing her mother again. I was happy for her, since she was homesick and maybe being home will do her some good. She didn't need me to return with her.

"...I just think it's best for you right now to come back with me, you don't need to stay and go through this on your own...Shennika are you even listening to me!?" Oh here we go again!

"Yes Beth!" I sat up straighter, feeling more uncomfortable than I was before, "I don't know what makes you think that I'll change my mind, look I get that you want to help, but I need to stay!"

"No you don't!" her tone sounded anxious and this was the second time tonight I'd caught sight of her fists clenching. She pulled her leg up and twisted her body so she was directly facing me, "Shennika you must come back with me, at least for a while, just please! Ok!?"

"Why?" I narrowed my eyes at her with uncertainty, tilting my head as I watched with caution at how she was growing more and more anxious. "Beth, what's going on? Has something happened?"

She pushed off her seat and took off, heading for this small kiosk as if it were calling her name. There was a slight whimpering or scowling coming off her breath- I couldn't tell.  Hair flapping she took power-strides through groups of travellers that stood around in multi-sized packs. The heat coming off her frame contrasted dramatically with the coldness of the airport atrium.