Time After Time

Chapter 12: Secrets

'... Beneath the sound of the city traffic, Lacey could hear her footsteps splashing every puddle. The rain poured from the dark sky, the drops beginning down at a rapid pace. The cars drove past her quickly, the tires forcefully hitting the large puddles, and spattering the pavement. She was so completely wet and numb that she didn't mind the wind that began to blow or the splashing of the vehicles that passed her.

She quickly walked through the streets in a frigid blur, knowing she couldn't go home after what just happened, especially if John was waiting for her there. Her tears were the only thing keeping her soul alive in this furnace of pain.

What just happened, she realized she could not extinguish but try to carry her forward until the time came when her mind would bring her back to this moment, a mistake she regretted the very second it happened. It was something she wanted and looked forward to but was frightened of at the same time - fearful of the one person she longed to be with abandoning her, forever.

Her knuckles met the mahogany-colored door, loudly knocking a few times, hoping he was home.

A light flickered on, shining brightly through the window next to the front door, indicating that someone heard and was on their way. Lacey understood it was late and felt like a bother, especially at a time like this, but she didn't know who to go to anymore.

The door slowly creaked open, revealing the dark-haired man, one of her best friends, Paul.

"Lace?" His eyes squinted while the rain poured down outside, having difficulty seeing, "Is that you?"

Without a word, she nodded, feeling the cold, wet drops splash against her body, "I'm sorry, I should've called."

"No, no," he replied, pulling the door open, and stepping off to the side, "Come in, then, love."

After she stepped through and into the foyer, Paul couldn't help but notice the puddle forming on the floor from her soaked clothes. When he finally gazed upon her face, this time he saw the black trail of mascara as if she was crying, "You're soaked to the bloody bone, ya are," he pulled at the sleeve of her sweater, "Here, let's take off your jumper and warm you right up then."

He quickly rushed into the sitting room and snatched a blanket from the brown leather sofa, unfolding it, and promptly returned it to her, wrapping it around her body, and gently guiding her into the sitting room.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know where to go," she sniffled, a tear running down her cheek, "I don't want to upset Jane if she's bothered..."

"Jane isn't here," he whispered, flipping on another lamp, turning back to her once more, "Her family is keepin' her company in Hertfordshire while she's filmin'," he gently sat down next to her, his eyes studying her face once more.

Lacey felt broken and didn't know just how she was going to fix this mess. Once again, her emotions turned jagged, and her insides tight - tense and bulky to where she felt she couldn't even breathe anymore.

"What did John do this time, love?" He could easily sense it had something to do with John - it always did. Their love affair was an emotional rollercoaster from the beginning and just knew from the bloodshot pain in her eyes, that something happened.

She paused, gripping the ends of the blanket, "You have to swear, Paul, that what I tell you doesn't leave your lips. It is a secret between you and me, you promise?"

The shaky tone in her voice made Paul nervous, wondering what happened between them tonight, "You have me word, Lace. Come 'ead then, what's goin' on?"