Detour

25: Hello England

"What are you doing here?" The moment those words came out my mouth, I regret the tone I made jus now. I cleared my throat. "I mean, how'd you know I live here?" It was still summer break and after the fight Vince and I had at the beach last weekend where I threw a handful sand in his eyes, he haven't talked for a while.

I felt sorry for what I did but he doesn't have to be a dick you know!

"How d'you know I live here in Manchester?" I repeat myself as I lean on our doorway, still can't figure out why is this guy out here on our porch?! I know it's really hard to pretend I don't miss the guy who became my best friend in a long period of time but someone should really put a facade right now!

And that's me!

He sighed as he put his hand in his pocket. His other hand with his bracelet on was left raking his hair. "It's not that hard to ask your mom your address, you know." Right. My mom is always a traitor to me when it comes to Vince. "Just because we met each other in Cambridge and became best friends for over sixteen months now, doesn't mean you live there and i'm not apologizing for what I did." He sure do know how to connect things! He stepped forward, skipping our stairs and come up in front of me. "I know where you live now so I might as well set your house on fire."

My eyes widened in that! "You're such a..."

He just laughed it off. "Your face is always priceless Shay." He shook his head. "No, seriously. I'm sorry if I told you I wasn't coming that day—"

"No! I'm sorry! I overreacted. I shouldn't have done that to your eyes after you TICKLED me." I rolled my eyes and smirked.

"You really know how to be innocently sarcastic. Well, if there's a word." He smirked. "I should've known better." He nod slowly and smiled.

There was silence and all we always do with that, is to stare at each other(like we're talking with our eyes) and laugh like idiots in the end.

"I'm really, really sorry Vince. I felt guilty for what I did, if that's what makes you happier." I almost put my 'sheesh' at the end of my statement but I don't want to be sarcastic.

"Accepted." He grinned. "Oh you don't know how happy I am with that statement Shay." He smugly said and smirked afterwards. Now he's being a demon. His every word is dripping with sarcasm!

I noticed he sat down on one of our chairs. "So how many 'sorry's' you actually want for you to leave, Powers?" I also sat on one of our chairs and cross my arms on my chest. "Feeling at home huh?"

He put his feet above my leg like i'm one of the chairs where you put your feet on to relax! "Who says i'm leaving? I'm invited for dinner tonight, if you must know."

"What?" With that surprise, I instantly stood up. 1) I don't know why i'm the one who apologized earlier when he's the one who came over for that. 2) This is my house and how dare he invite himself for dinner just like that?! And 3) Why am I panicking like I need to go and take a bath now?! "Who invited you? Yourself—"

"I did." Both our heads turned to the door where I saw mom in her new set of clothes. "Hello Vince." Vince stood up instantly and kissed mom's cheeks.

WOW. JUST, WOW.

"Good evening Bethany." That didn't even surprised me. I know they're close and I know Vince is respectful but what the hell?!

"You invited him?" I ridiculously asked mom.

"Yeah, so you better take a shower now lady, before we can smell you over dinner." She turned to Vince who is now laughing. "How do you like my daughter's behavior Vince?"

"Mom!" I shrieked. This is not happening right now!

"Go upstairs now Jess and i'll accommodate your suitor—"

"Mom! Vince is Therese's boyfriend!" I groaned as I made my way upstairs. God, this is so embarassing.

"Oh." Mom, feigning innocence. "Jess mentioned Therese to me once but I never met her before. Jess told me she's her best friend. Is she your best friend too?" They both settled on the couch now and I glanced at Vince who nods in answering mom's question. She also glanced at me so I also nod at her, hesitating a bit. She faces Vince with a smile now. "So, you're hitting with your two best friends Vince?" Mom chirped.

Fuck! I almost bang my head on my door in her question if I didn't looked my way!

Vince's face blushed. "No. I'm not—"

"I'm just kidding." Mom laughed at her own joke. That's awful! Vince just chuckled and scratched his neck. "Where do you live in England again?"

"Bradford..." That's the last line I heard before I fully went inside my bathroom to prepare myself for dinner.

I sighed for the fifth time now as I looked at mom, now getting out of the car to get our baggages in the passanger seat. For the last time, I glanced at our house. I still can't believe i'm now here. Back in England.

I lay my head back in my seat, hitting it intentionally as I felt tears are starting to trickle down my cheeks.

The travel is so long and we're both exhausted and tired but it doesn't mean i'll forget what had happened before we hit the road to leave Amsterdam. Everything's going backwards. How Astrid cried—how we both cried in each other's shoulders with Cole talking to mom. How Cole kissed my forehead in the hallway early in the morning after the ride from the cliff and how I woke up in Cole's arm while he, cuddling me.

Fuck. I've never been intimate to a...stranger before.

He hit the record of my experience when it comes to men. And I hate to think he's a spoiler to my future boyfriend. I think I won't ever going to feel anything way pass to it for the rest of my life. And that's what scares me. It's just a cuddle. Waking up with a guy with his scent all over you. His strong arms. That...intimacy. His kisses that didn't even made it officially on the lips!

I'm going nuts. I feel terrible leaving something like that! God help me, i'm going crazy thinking 'bout it for seven hours now!

I opened my eyes as I heard a knock coming from the window on my side so I immediately rolled the window down after wiping my tears. I'm such a crybaby! "Yeah?"

"Don't yeah me and start getting your luggages at the back so we can eat already. Your dad's still sleeping and I want to surprise him that we're already here." As mom said that, she carried all her bags to the porch and leave it there as she scrambles for the key in her pocket.

I unclasped my seatbelt and went out from the driver's seat. I took my luggages out one by one and closed the door without me saying anything. I first took my trolly and two bags with me as I took the stairs one after the other, almost panting now. I stopped for a minute and gazed my eyes at our house. I still remember we had our chairs here from where I stood back when i'm still in my first year college—back when Vince first stepped inside our house. And now it's gone.

Even Vince.

Just as I was picking up the bags mom had left, I heard a car stopping by and the door of it closing. Must be my neighbor Shally. I didn't give a second to see if she's gossiping about my arrival or what and I went inside the house anyway but stopped when all the bags I carried can't fit the doorway. I crouched to pick it up but stopped when...

"Can I help you with that?"

And stopped breathing. Literally, I felt the world stopped revolving too.

Seriously, this is more than of a welcome surprise I have expected from him.