Faces (Lannan Eacott) *Under Editing*

Chapter Eleven

I could see how nervous Lannan was just by the look on his face as we ate dinner. Dad had asked him the "necessary" questions in the short amount of time since Lannan and I had arrived. I couldn't help but notice my dad wink at me as he continued to ask Lannan questions, watching him fumble with the silverware. Now I knew he was just messing with him.

"So what do you do, son?" Lannan cleared his throat and set his fork down.

"I actually make videos for YouTube, but I used to work in construction with my dad." My dad gave a short look that gave the impression he was impressed. "I still do a little construction on the side, but not much. I'm so busy with YouTube."

"And let me guess, you make more than enough money?" I attempted to kick my dad under the table, but ended up making the table shake in an unpleasant manner. "I was just asking, honey."

"I make enough to get by. I don't really try to flaunt it around. I know how much people hate that." My dad nodded his head and continued to eat his dinner.

"So you're humbled? That's good. I only want the best for my little Samantha." I rolled my eyes and grabbed my plate off the table. Before heading to the sink I grabbed Lannan's empty plate and took it with me. I could hear the two mumbling as if I couldn't hear them. I crept to the wall that separated the kitchen from the dining room and placed my ear against it.

"Thank you for the nice dinner, sir." My dad grumbled something.

"Thank you for treating her like a human being. Her last boyfriend wasn't much to compare to. Total douche." Did he just say douche? "He was manipulative. I told her time and time again to leave the situation. Especially before it got bad. But you know girls. You can tell someone to leave a situation time and time again, but they won't until they're ready."

"Do you mind me asking why she didn't leave?" I heard some rustling before the conversation continued.

"She loved him. He came into her life when her mother first got sick. I told her that he wasn't a good kid. But she wouldn't listen. She loved him until she hated him. He took a lot of her." I moved into the room, acting as if I had heard nothing.

"So, what now?" The both of them shrugged.

"There's a game on tonight. Wanna watch it?" Lannan accepted my dad's invitation.

"Well, while you two are bonding over some football, I'm gonna visit Nikki. We have some planning we have to do." I gave Lannan a kiss and headed out the door. I could only hope that my dad wouldn't be too hard on him, but I knew it was out of the love he had. Although Lannan didn't exactly give me a reason to worry. He had handled the questions and dinner so well, despite having been so nervous. My phone vibrated and I glanced down.

You never told me your dad was a Patriots fan!

I rolled my eyes and sent a quick text back before finally arriving to Nikki's house. Upon arrival, I noticed a very familiar car in the driveway. A white Cadillac. No. She wouldn't. She couldn't. I walked up to the door, and like every time before, I walked into the house. That's when I felt my world coming down around me.

There on the couch was Jacob and Nikki. My best friend and the guy I had loved so much that I lost myself. They hadn't noticed me yet, but I didn't have the strength to say anything. What do you say when you see your best friend with the boy you had fallen so in love with who left you more broken than before? They continued to laugh at something he said and I couldn't help but notice how he hadn't changed at all. That's when my eyes met his world shattering blue ones. Nikki's eyes followed and they both jumped up.

     "Sam it's not what it looks like." I scoffed, but my eyes didn't leave his.

     "I'll talk to you later, Nikki. But you," I said pointing at him as he stood there unsure of what to say. "breaking my heart wasn't enough? You have to ruin the only friendship I have as well? Cheating on me was horrible enough, especially when you knew my mom was dying. But this is the icing on top of the cake. I loved you, and you'd stoop so low as to ruin my friendship?" Jacob took one step towards me, which made me take a step backwards.

     "That's not what this is." I couldn't tear my eyes away from his. "Sammie, I loved you. I really did. But things between us changed. We were toxic towards each other." I rolled my eyes but kept them locked on his.

     "It became toxic because I knew what you were doing behind my back. I knew what you did when you were alone. I was no longer the only girl you had. You laid in my bed, swore you loved me, but talked to girls behind my back. You drove two hours away while my mom was in the I.C.U to spend it with another girl while you claimed you loved me the whole time. You told me you loved me over the phone as you pulled into her driveway!" Jacob shook his head and took another step forward, this time I didn't mimic him.

     "I'm truly sorry for what I did. I came here tonight to get Nikks help. I wanted to know what I could do to get you to talk to me." I felt warm tears on my cheeks and frustration filled my body.

     "Why? Why now? You had every chance in the book while I laid in bed unable to get up because I was too broken. You had every chance while I waited for your text, that would never come. You left me for another girl, and that whole time you continued to tell me you meant everything you said to me. I loved you, even when you gave me every reason not to." He took another step forward. Now in front of me.

     "I love you. And even if it takes time, I'm willing to make it work." He grabbed my hands and out of the corner of my eye, I could see Nikki, wide-eyed, taking a picture.

     "I met a boy in Australia. He flew thousands of miles to see me, after a month of dating. After two years of dating, you couldn't even send me a text. I loved you, until I couldn't anymore. I love Lannan." I ripped my hands out of his and viciously wiped my tears. "And I'm so sorry I have to tell you that. It kills me that we didn't work out, because I prayed every night that we would. I spent countless nights crying. Wanting to hear your voice and see your name on my phone. But I'm happy with Lannan. And if you really love me, you'll respect that." He sighed and placed his hand on the back of his neck.

     "Can we at least try to be friends? I couldn't imagine not having you in my life at all. I can't go back to pretending you don't exist. After everything I gave for you. You owe me this." More tears flooded my eyes.

     "I don't owe you anything." And with that, I left. Never looking back. I sped home and as soon as I opened the door I saw Lannan and my dad watching the game. Fourth quarter. I couldn't get the words out, but as soon as Lannan saw me, he jumped up and raced over, wrapping me in his arms.

     "What's wrong?" But by now I was sobbing. My knees buckled and I began to collapse in his arms. He brought us to the floor and held me in his lap, looking at my dad who was also unsure of what to do. "Baby, I can't help you if I don't know what's wrong. Please, let me in." I gripped onto his shirt, nuzzling my face into his neck.

     "Jacob was at Nikki's house." With these words I melted into Lannan's embrace. "He begged me to take him back." I felt him gently rubbing my back.

     "I'm here now. It's gonna be okay. I won't let anyone hurt you." Lannan said before kissing my forehead. "I'll never let him hurt you again."