Fragile Fire

Chapter 3

"Nes?" His green eyes search my face for something. Anything.

"You don't get to call me that anymore. You lost that the moment you left." I growl. His eyes fill with sadness and he nods.

"What do you need Kaiden," Detective Greenspan asks.

"Jules is looking for you."

"Well tell her I'm busy," he snaps.

"I did, she said it was important." He reply's rubbing his neck.

"Fine, you finish up here" he growls impatiently as he pushes the table towards me. Kaiden just nods as his dad slams the door.

"Nes... I mean Vanessa. I'm sorry about your family." His eyes plead with me to respond. I just nod.

"I get your upset with me," he starts.

"Upset?" I laugh, "upset isn't the word I would use." He rubs the back of his neck again.

"I get that I fucked up, I'm sorry"

"You're sorry? You should be more than sorry. You left. I depended on you and you left!" I yell starting to cry.

His eyes look away. He never could handle seeing me in pain.

~ 10 years ago ~

"NES!" Kaiden yells running towards me. "Are you okay?" His eyes look over my entire body. Scanning for any sign that I'm in pain.

"I'm okay, Kaid" I whisper trying to mask that my arm is twisted the wrong way. His eyes studied me and saw me turning away from my left arm.

"Nes, show me your arm" he demands crossing his arms over his chest.

"I'm fine, Kaid" I say preparing to bolt.

He slowly takes my arm from behind my back and notices the weird angle it's at. Taking a deep breath in he leans down and his lips touch every bruise and mark on my arm. When he backs away I can still feel the softness of his lips against my skin.

"Come on," he says as he takes me to the hospital.

~ Now ~

"I'm sorry..." he whispers as he looks back at me. I just look away and pretend he isn't effecting me.

He left and he expects me to just forgive him? To just run into his arms saying how much I need him in my life? He lost every right of being my best friend the moment he left.

~ 3 years ago ~

"Nes... there's something I need to tell you..." Kaid says taking his arm of off my shoulders.

"Yes?" I say as I rest my head on his shoulder. The light from the tv screen barely allows me to see his face, yet I feel him tense up.

"I... I'm leaving." He says and I feel like every fragment of air has been ripped from my lungs.

"What?" I whisper lunging for his hand so he can't. He squeezes my hand and puts his lips down to each of my fingers.

"I have to go." He whispers, pulling himself from me.

"Kaid!" I yell.

He stops.

"Don't leave me," I whisper as tears start to run down my face.

"I would never leave you," he says.

"What do you mean?" I yell, " that's what you're doing this right now!"

He sucks in a breath and continues through the door and taking my heart with him...