Who We Were | ✓

chapter twelve

Everly Clark

RUNNING AWAY. That has always been the answer for me. If something seems too hard, I run. If I can't handle something, I run.

I am a coward.

I was wheezing for air, the room spinning around me. I laid my back against the cold, brick wall; feeling the cold air brush my hair off my shoulders.

"You idiot!" I screamed, gaping at his bicep in horror. Ricky only laughed, smiling as if he had no care in the world.

"Baby relax," he chuckled once again.

"Relax? You got a freaking tattoo with my name!" I yelled, still not believing my eyes.

He smiled at me, "Yes I did,"

I let out a deep breath, trying my hardest not to scream, "Ricky. Why would you do that? I-I mean what if you regret it in the future?"

"Trust me, I won't" he mumbled, looking at me with not an ounce of regret.

It hurt. The way he had his arm wrapped around her waist.

"Damn, if it isn't Everly Clark,"

I turned my head faster than ever, wiping my tears. I stared in shock at the girl in front of me.

"Rose?" I alleged in pure shock.

"The one and only," she grinned, tucking a piece of her dark black hair behind her ear.

What would you do if you saw your ex-boyfriends best friend after nine years? I certainly had no idea whatsoever.

"Wow look at you," she took a step closer, leaning against the wall as well, "Funny seeing you here."

I let out another breath, leaning back on the wall, "As you,"

"I'm guessing you saw Ricky and Gwen?" she asked, taking out a cigarette from her purse.

I watched in horror as she lit the stick, bringing it into her mouth and inhaling. Rose was the head member of the 'Stop Smoking, drinking, and doing drugs' club throughout high school.

She let out a puff of smoke, smirking at me, "You aren't the only one who's changed, Clark,"

"Life had managed to screw us all up," she let out another smoke, "Everything has changed."

"Ever since you disappeared, everything tumbled down the hill," Rose chuckled dryly, "It was as if you were our anchor, holding us all together."

I bit my lip, trying to keep myself from crying all over again. I was afraid that if I would start crying, I would never be able to stop.

"R-Ricky's married?" I asked, my voice cracking in the middle.

She snorted, "Hun, that's old news. Rick's been married for quite a while now and I don't think I've ever seen him so happy,"

Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry.

"Gwen is actually such a sweetheart," Rose laughed slightly, "In fact, I'm jealous of how sweet she is."

I closed my eyes tightly, I felt like strangling Rose.

"Oh," was all I could say in response.

She smirked, "You know, you could've lasted. You really could've lasted,"

. . .

"A-Are you sure you are okay?" Gwen asked, her eyes filled with concern. Ricky stood beside her, his face lacking emotion.

"I-I'm fine," I lied, forcing a small smile.

Her frown deepened, "Are you sure? You don't look-"

"She said she's fine," Ricky interrupted his voice hard.

"Just a bit tired you know," I laughed lightly, "The usual."

"Yeah, the usual," Ricky glared at me. I quickly looked away from him, my heart thumping in my chest.

Gwen nodded hesitantly, "Well, I've got to go do something, I'll be right back,"

I nodded, watching her scurry off into the building. I refused to look back at him, I could feel his burning gaze.

"You had to make a scene," he contended, "It was my wife's moment and of course you ruined it."

"I-I'm sorry," I mumbled under my breath, looking at the ground nervously, "I swear I didn't mean too."

Ricky let out a dry chuckle, "Of course, come on I knew you were selfish but how low can you really be?"

I clenched my jaw tightly, closing my eyes, "You don't understand,"

"No! You don't understand Everly," he yelled, "You got the easy way out, the rest of us suffered!"

I finally looked up at him, blinking away my tears, "Is that what you really think? You think that I've been living happily for the past nine years?"

It was my turn to chuckle dryly, "I have been in pain for nine years Ricky! Every single day I have been getting t-t-these memories and they keep breaking me!"

"I'm trying so hard to get rid of these stupid flashbacks," I yelled, the words tumbling out of my mouth.

"My life is miserable," I sniffed, wiping a tear away, "I never had to go through any pain, because you were there Ricky. You made sure that I didn't go through any pain."

"I-I would thank you for that, except for the fact that it didn't prepare me for anything, it was more of a c-curse than a blessing!" I added, looking at him in disbelief.

"Now, I can't even hold your hand, yet I love you with a love that no one; not even me will understand." I finished, breathing hard.

The look on his face broke me, I don't think I've ever seen one man in so much pain. It was like this whole thing was just a facade.

"You're not funny," I lied, biting my lip to keep from smiling. He grinned at me, raising an eyebrow.

"That's cause I'm hilarious darling," he winked, his dark eyes sparkling with joy.

I smiled, gosh I couldn't help it. Everything about him made me smile like a fool and that scared me.

I mean it's a frighting thought, that in one fraction of a moment you can fall into a kind of love that takes a lifetime to get over.

"Stop it," he whispered, his voice slightly rising at the end, "Just stop it."

"I'm taking this to court. I'm throwing you in jail Everly Clark." Ricky confessed, his voice hard.

. . .

a/n: i hate tests. screw u tests.