Two New Yorkers in LA

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

William's POV

2 weeks later

It's been 2 weeks since Jack and I had that quarrel, and without surprise, we haven't spoken to each other since that awful day.

We don't talk even when my sister or Gilinsky — the best couple as I called them — are in the room. We just ignore each other... like I'm invisible to him and vice-versa.

My sister, who's drunk with love spirit, had enough this morning when both I and Jack refused to sit near to each other, and so she dragged me to my room.

— You're being so childish! — she said leaning against the door. I looked away acknowledging what she said.

In fact, she's right, as always. But I refuse to say that out loud. My pride doesn't allow me.

She sat by my side, forcing me to look at her. I was sad, feeling completely low, feeling that I had ruined one of the best things that ever happened to me.

— I love you very much, my brother. — I turned to her. — However, you need to connect all the dots inside you. You can't be William and Viscount Arkwright at the same time. You're an amazing person, really, but you have been putting yourself under so much pressure since you were a little boy... and is that that tear other people away. — she hugged me tightly. — He's not here, Will. You are free! Really free. You are only my brother, the future historian that loves European History, that faced his father to be here. Don't let your past haunting you. — she finished and then we were stuck in silence.

Jasmine's words were floating across my mind like the waves in the sea. She was right, 110% right. I let my past dictating all my life until now. However, it's quite difficult not to do that, when all your life is basically dictated by the figure of your father.

And I know that I should not let my father say what I have to do, but every time that I try to do it, to forget everything, his voice comes to my mind, and I just froze.

Suddenly, Gilinsky entered the room and Jasmine left. They were probably switching between me and Johnson just to make sure that this stupid situation was over as fast as they can.

— He really does like you. You know? — he said after a short period of silence. — The first time that he came home and told me that he had seen the most handsome man ever I just laughed. Then he told me all the story, and I saw his eyes sparkling with something. — I turned at him, he was smiling. — When he found out that you and your sister were not a couple his hopes went to the sky. He was happy, he was smiling, he was, I believe, in love.

His words hit me in the face, like a slap. I always knew that Johnson had a little crush on me, but I never expected that he was in love especially because we hadn't met for that long.

— He had planned a full week of knowing each other, really! It was so annoying seeing him asking your sister about what you like or don't like, or about the fact that he had to dress more formally for the time that he would finally reveal that he was in love with you. He was really worried about all the little details, he wanted everything to be perfect, and I'm not saying that you ruined everything, because you did. — I look at him in disbelief and the laughed, but I silently agreed with that because I did ruin everything. — But you're so in love with each other, but you are so insecure, William. — Jack said and left my room.

-x-

It was late in the afternoon when I decided to leave my room. It took me a long time to get my thoughts together and to absorb all the things that my sister and Jack had told me not only today but during the past month.

I went downstairs, heading to the garden, where I could have a better view of the sun, that was slowly starting to disappear.

Suddenly someone sat close to me and I knew who was because of the smell of his perfume.

So we stayed there for a few minutes without speaking. I had so much to say, but I didn't know where to start.

— She told me everything. — he broke the silence, but I didn't answer. — I'm really sorry if by any means I made you feel uncomfortable or sad because quite frankly that's everything that I don't want to make you feel. — he said truthfully and I just smiled.

— I'm sorry too, Jack. I should have been more William and less Viscount. — I answered turning to him. — Sometimes that boy, that I thought that I had buried, is still here. That day when my own father put me in that hell I promised myself that everything was going to be different, that I wouldn't let all those thoughts coming to my mind and that I was going to be just William. However, that day is still fresh inside my mind. I have nightmares. I cry. And for a long time, I just wished that I hadn't been born at all. — I was being the most sincere possible. Since he already knew the story I didn't need to tell it again.

— Don't say that, William. — he said and used his hands to clean some tears that were dripping down my face. — You are amazing the way you are, and you should never doubt that. — he holds my face between his hands, our eyes were locked in each other.

At that moment I was wishing for the kiss. I wanted that kiss. I needed that kiss. I needed to feel secure, to feel loved.

— You know that some days I will wake up and I'll be William and I will be happy and confident, and lovely, and sweet, and in others, I will be cold and distant and the worst person that ever walked in this planet, right? Are you willing to take this to the next step? Even after knowing that I am a complete mess? — I was so unsure at that time that I tried to pull his hands away from my face, but he grabbed me with so much strength, making me realize that I don't need to fear nothing, that he accepts me the way I am.

— I read and accept the terms and conditions, William. I promise. — and I kissed him deeply, passionately, fiercely.

And know under this amazing moonlight, while the wind's blowing and my hair's dancing with him, I'm being held by the guy that almost broke my phone, that almost thought that I had an incestuous relationship and that I almost lost because I had been for so long under a pressure that I should be.

Jack is the one that I want to have by my side. Bring it on destiny, I won't give up on him.