It Will Always Be You

Chapter 5

*Tyler*

Axel just dropped me off at my house. He has to take my car home and said that he'll drop it off in the morning. 

I'm standing in front of my house. Standing and staring. Tonight has been one shit stain after another. I've broken two fingers in my right hand and its full of cuts. I haven't let my anger consume me like that in ages. Since I met  Camilla. I guess all that has changed now. 

I walk up my front steps and struggle to get the key in the hole. "God dammit, this fucking hand."

Eventually, I get it right and I walk inside my house. Everything is dark, meaning everyone is sound asleep.

I walk into the kitchen and put some water into the kettle and grab two mugs from the cupboard. Riley loves my hot chocolate. I find mini marshmellows and put it in the drink. 

I creep into her room and turn the light on, making her stir.

She opens her eyes and sits up. "Hot chocolate?" She asks, rubbing her eyes. "What's the occasion?"

I slowly walk over to her bed and hand her her mug. "Do I want to know what happened to your hand?" She asked, eyeing me.

"Let's just say I ran into some-" I paused to let out a sigh, "Unavoidable things." 

I sat down next to her and started to make myself comfortable.

"You smell like smoke."

"That's because I smoked." I say, not able to look directly at her, so instead I'm focusing slightly to the left of her face. 

"Okay Tyler. I think it's time you tell me what's going on. You walk into my room at 3 in the morning looking like a mess. What the hell happened to you?"

 "I saw Camilla with her new boyfriend."

I must have looked as if I was about to burst into tears because next thing, I'm wrapped up in Riley's arms. She's hugging me so tightly that I can bearly breathe but it's comforting. It's what I've needed.

"It's Michael."

Riley slowly pulled away and stared at me in shock. I sniffed and shrugged, "I guess I deserve that one."

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

I let out a laugh, "Yeah, that's what I said, too."

"This isn't funny Tyler." Riley said with a huff.

"I know, I know. There's just nothing I can do about it." I say with a sigh. "Maybe I should just forget about her and move on."

"You can't do that."

"Why not?"

"She was so good for you! She needs you just as much as you need her."

"Yeah, well somebody should go tell her that." I scoffed. "I refuse to run after someone like that. Someone who is going to take my love for granted. I don't deserve that. I've never put so much fucking effort into anything like this before. And what do I get out of it? A dick slap in the face. It's not fair."

At this point the tears are streaming down my face and my hands are shaking. I can feel Riley staring at me. I don't think she has ever seen me like this before. I finally get the courage to look at her and notice that she is crying too. 

"Riley, no. Why are you crying?" I chuckle and scoop her up into my arms. 

"It's just so sad." She mumbled into my chest. 

I pursed my lips and stared up at the ceiling. "I know kiddo."

*Camilla*

 I found out that the girl's name was Jen. She listened to me as I ranted my sob story to her. The only person who knows the full story was Tara. And Michael of course. Jen and I sat in her car outside of my house as I cried my eyes out to her. She listened and it felt great to have some of the weight be taken off of my shoulders.

"Hun, I think you need to tell your brother. He knows you best and he will be able to help you through all of this."

I sniffed, "James will kill me if he knew the whole story."

"That may be so but he will still love you. Trust me."

"I guess I might as well." I sigh. "Thank you. For everything."

"Anytime girl."

She gave me a warm smile and pulled me into an embrace. "You have my numer, call me anytime."

"Thanks." I take a deep breath and step out into the cold air.

 Looking up at my house, illuminated by street lamps, I couldn't help but wonder how my life got so crap. I had the boy of my dreams, where picturing the rest of my life with him didn't seem too bad. I knew it was time to tell James the truth. Scared was an understatment but it had to be done, I can't keep this weight on my shoulders anymore. Sooner or later, it's going to send me running of a cliff. 

I turned and watched Jen drive away and stared until I couldn't see her anymore. I sigh and walk up the front steps. The door is open so I know he is awake. Silently thanking God that my parents are away on a weekend business trip, I walk in and see him sitting there with a blanket wrapped around him, drinking what smells like coffee.

Hearing me come in, he turns and quickly puts the mug down and walks towards me. 

"Cam." He said while hugging me, "Are you okay? What's wrong?" 

"James we need to talk."

He gave me a puzzled look but went to sit back down, waiting for me to join. Sitting down, he covered me in the blanket and brought me down to his chest, stroking my hair. "Talk to me. I'm all ears."