Cliché to Original

Chapter 23

Michael's POV

I thought it was only for a few days, not a few weeks," I mumbled.

"She just needs a break.." Kaylee said, cleaning her kitchen counters.

"A break from what? We just got back together."

"Yeah and then you asked her to move in, and she's nervous and scared."

"About what? I wasn't forcing her to do anything she didn't want to do. Yeah I would've been disappointed if she ultimately decided she wasn't going to move in with me, but it was up to her."

"She had so many thoughts and feelings inside her that she didn't know where to even begin sorting them out."

My eyes narrowed, and I could see Kaylee wince like she just revealed something she probably shouldn't have. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing."

"You said something about feelings.."

"Yeah, people have feelings, they feel things; right now I'm feeling a little nervous. What are you feeling?"

"Curious as to why you're nervous."

"Hey, Calum! Look it's Calum, my amazing fiancé."

He laughed and went to go kiss her. "What's going on?"

"Nothing. We were just talking about feelings."

"Like your feelings towards Rae?" he asked.

"What feelings?"

"You're completely in love with her."

I blushed and shook my head. "I'm not.. There's absolutely no way... I can't-"

"You're totally, completely, insanely, truly, madly, deeply in love with her."

I sighed. "Okay, yeah. I'm in love with her."

"Why didn't you tell her that before? Like, I don't know, maybe when you flew to LA to see her because you knew she wasn't going to come to you?" Kaylee said.

"I don't know. I was worried that she didn't feel the same way, or that she wasn't quite at that point yet." My eyes widened. "Do you think that's where I went wrong? Should I have told her as soon as I knew?"

"Don't freak out!"

"I'm just, I'm feeling like I could've done more and this is all my fault."

"So she's not ready for a serious relationship, that's not a big deal," Calum said.

"It's not that she's not ready, it was just that things have been so up and down with you guys.. She was just psyching herself out."

"Have you talked to her lately?" I asked them.

"No."

"Sorry mate."

"I don't think she's talked to anyone, honestly. Maybe Niall, but I wouldn't count on it."

I took a deep breath and stood up. "I'll be right back."

They nodded, but I could tell they were a little curious as to where I was going.

I headed into Rachel's old room. I ignored how much it hurt to just be in here, and took out my phone. Not to call Rachel, because I know she won't answer me, but Niall.

"Hey!" he answered, happy like he usually is. "Here anything from Rachel?"

"No, that's actually why I called you."

"You want to know if she's called or texted me," he said, phrasing it more like a statement than a question. "Sorry mate, but the last thing I got was a text when she landed, letting me know she was safe."

"That's more than I got.."

"Sorry. I wish I could tell you more but..."

"You're telling me the truth, right? I don't want to find out that she's called you a lot more and has actually explained why she left."

"If she did, then I'd probably be over there right now, telling everyone what's going on."

"Okay.."

"Do you think she's talked to Madi?"

"The only people she'd talk to would be you and Kaylee."

"That's true."

"Thanks Niall.."

"No problem. And I'm sorry for anything I did to kind of.. create issues in your relationship."

"You didn't do anything; it was just my... stupidity that made it worse than what it should have been."

"Bye."

"Bye."

I hung up and went over to the bed. I wish I would have ran after her. I started to, but then everyone was asking me questions, and I started second guessing myself. I want to know if she still feels something towards me, anything. Even the slightest bit of feelings would be great. In the few weeks that she's been gone, I've probably texted her a hundred times, and called her double that. It sucks not knowing if it's helping or only pushing her farther away. I would give anything just to see her. I've even tried to convince Calum and Kaylee to move the wedding closer, but they just keep saying it's close enough. And then they thought that switching her back to Luke would be a good idea, and I told them I refused to be in it if they did... I'm walking with her. Of course, Kaylee was more worried about it not being an even number of guys and girls than me not being in the wedding. Thank god for that little part of OCD in her. I heard a thud, and looked down at the floor. I sighed, realizing it was my phone and bent down to get it. As I picked it up, I saw something give off a glare... and my heart immediately shattered as I realized it was the ring I gave Rachel.