Her Safe Haven

Chapter 20 - Attachment Issues

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hi guys, I'm alive! So sorry for the very long wait. I finished my exams last November (yay!) and was planning to update more since last year but surprise, surprise: university preparations were killing me half the time. I'll try to update weekly from now on, so you can expect HSH updates every Friday/Saturday/Sunday (but no promises, sorry :( I may still miss updates every couple of weeks). In the meantime, thank you for all of you who have stayed faithful to this story <3

As always, a longer update to make up for lost time ;)

Previously on Her Safe Haven: The boys were helping Gray with choosing a birthday gift for Rose (see Chapter 16). The Garrison siblings went to Lakeside to settle the crisis of the rumour of Rohan and Winter being published on Coffee Break. Rohan and Winter then had a talk at the edge of the Cove of Two Lovers. Things finally seemed to be getting better before Rohan, realising his attraction towards Winter, abruptly left Lakeside after touching her cheek.

The Garrisons leaving early left everyone in a confused state; though the state didn't last long because as soon as Winter left with Seth — who offered to take her home — Rose, Jonah, and Tria quickly shrugged it off and the three ended up staying longer at the restaurant to talk and enjoy McLean's desserts. It was almost midnight when Jonah called it a day and they parted ways.

Rose, though, stayed behind at Lakeside Town Park, and walked barefooted on the edge of the Lake, carrying her sandals on one hand and feeling the tickle of small waves of cool water on her feet. The night was warm, but it wasn't hot enough that it was stuffy — it was a comfortable Spring warmth and Rose walked smiling. It was midnight now and was hence officially the twenty-eight of February, Rose's birthday. She was thankful for the friends she had, no matter how stupid they could be at times; thankful for her family, no matter how chaotic they were; thankful for school, for the air, the water, everything.

It was past midnight and she was officially sixteen; and she was grateful for everything.

So she walked and felt the night wind tingled at her hair, tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, and was just taking in her calm and peaceful surroundings when her phone rang.

It was almost one a.m. and Gray was calling her.

She raised her eyebrows. Winter texted her an hour ago saying that she was fine and she was at home with Gray, so if Gray was calling her now, did that mean something had happened to Winter? Because otherwise, Gray and Rose were childhood friends, neighbours, classmates and everything, but they never really had a close enough relationship to call each other for a mere midnight talk. What was going on?

Feeling her worry quickly piling, she picked up her phone. "Hello?"

"Rose."

"Gray?" she questioned, her eyebrows knitting together. He sounded urgent — calm, like how he always was, but alarmed. Almost desperate. What was going on? Why did he call her this late? "What's wrong? Why are you-"

"I have to see you."

She paused, trying to process what he just said. "...What? Why?"

"I have to see you. Now."

She was confused and at the same time getting impatient by his lack of explanation and the way he placed his statement like a command. "Gray, are you crazy? It's past midnight and— what's going on?"

"Rose."

This time the voice didn't seem to be coming from her phone. She turned around towards the source of the voice and her heart almost jumped out of its own cavity when she saw Gray McHalen standing right there, behind her.