Aster

Chapter 22

SAREN'S POV

"Jack, can you take me home? I don't feel well," I asked, after he finished a set of exercises. 

"Yeah of course. What's wrong?" he asked back. 

"Um, just a bad headache. I just want to go home to sleep, if that's okay with you." 

"Okay, yeah let's go." 

The entire drive home I was quiet. Jack had the radio playing lightly, and I could see him tapping his fingers to the beat, from the corner of my eye. I however, just rested my head on the window and stared out, letting my thoughts run a mile a minute. 

Random thoughts floated through my head, causing a headache to appear. Thoughts I didn't fully understand. Memories that flashed through my head scarcely, not giving my enough time to comprehend them fully. 

I didn't want to tell Jack this however. But I did have this yearning to tell someone else, but I couldn't figure out who. 

Finally, after what felt like forever, Jack's car pulled up to my apartment. I grabbed my small bag and opened the door. 

"Want me to walk you in?" Jack's voice brought me out of my thoughts. 

"No. It's fine. Just let me go get some rest," I replied before stepping out of the car and closing the door. 

I didn't want to be rude, but I had to figure out what was going on in my head. I walked up to the door and let myself in, and out of the rain. 

I trudged my way up to my apartment and practically collapsed on my couch once I entered. Next thing I knew Louis was laying down on my chest, giving me small kisses. 

"Hi Lou," I said softly, while rubbing his back. He leaned his head further into my palm, making me giggle lightly. 

I stood up to go retrieve some water and some pain meds for the headache that was increasingly getting worse. As I rounded the corner from the living room into the kitchen, I saw it. 

A bouquet of aster flowers. I gasped. I hadn't noticed them before, and I don't recall buying myself any. 

I cautiously walked over to where they were placed on top of the counter. I noticed there was a card. I picked it up and opened it. 

My dear Saren, 

I'm so relieved you are okay. I know for now it will be difficult considering the circumstances, but know I will always love you. You mean the absolute world to me. You've made me into a better and happier man, and I could never thank you enough. Give Louis a cuddle for me. Love you baby! 

Finley 

Tears brimmed the corner of my eyes. I sniffled, trying to keep myself together. 

And suddenly, everything became so clear to me. 

Every encounter I had with Finley rushed through my mind. 

When we first met, our first date, when he kissed me for the first time, his song he wrote for me, our last night together before this mess, his words while I was in my coma. 

I want to be your forever. 

I stood up immediately, grabbed my keys, and left without looking back. 

_______________________________

My breathing was heavy and my heartbeat was beating rapidly. I was soaking wet. Since I don't have my own car, I ran. I didn't have the patience to wave down a taxi in the pouring down rain at midnight. 

By the time I had reached my destination, my teeth were shattering and my body was shaking from the absent of heat. My shoes were standing in a small puddle. I pulled back my gross hair and took a deep breath.

I raised my arm to knock on the door, but backed out right before my knuckles hit the wooden door. 

I need to think about what I'm going to say, I thought to myself. 

My feet began to pace. I walked back and forth down the hallway. My thoughts were jumbled as I tried to piece together sentences that made sense. 

My hands aggressively tugged on my hair multiple times. My breath continuously hitched in my throat. My hands were shaking and clammy. 

At some point I sat down, my back pressed up against the door, because my feet were numb. I took a slow, deep breath. 

How about I just wing it?  I asked myself. 

I felt useless by this point, so I decided on that idea. 

I checked the time on my phone, two am. Wow. I paced for two hours straight.

My legs slowly brought me up to a standing position. I stood right in front of the door, staring at it with fear and determination. I took another deep  breath and raised my arm to knock on the door. Only this time I did in fact knock. 

It wasn't until after I knocked, I realized they could be sleeping, as it was two in the morning. 

I sighed in defeat and was about to walk away, but a soft noise of movement caught my attention. I pressed my ear to the door to hear more clearly. 

I heard soft footsteps and a creak of a door. I raised my arm once again and knocked, this time more firmly. I took a step back from the door. I stood up straighter, my back popping in the process. 

Finally, after what felt like centuries, I heard someone on the other side of the door. And then the door opened. And he saw me. And I saw him. But most of all, I love him.