Choices

Chapter 12

The song is You're Not Alone by CMA!

(Craigs POV)

     I walked out of the hospital, honestly expecting her to have run away by now but no, she was sitting on one of the concrete benches hugging her legs as she was smoking a cigarette as she said she was going to do. She glances over at me before looking away and putting the cigarette back between her teeth and taking another inhale.

     "You know, smoking's bad for your health," I say standing in front of her. Up close she looks at me with dried tears for a few seconds before looking back out to the road. She flicks the half-smoked cigarette away and continues to hug her knees.

     "I just got claustrophobic in there really quickly is all. Go tell Evan I'm fine and don't need a bodyguard 24/7." She says. I sigh and sit next to her. 

     "This wasn't Evans doing, this was me going to check to see if you were alright. It wasn't just the crowded room there was something else to it. I watched you in the room Hope, did Brian say something to you?" I ask her. She turns her head to me as new tears are starting to form.

     "How about you mind your damn business okay? You...you want to talk to me now after what a week?" she wipes the tears away and glares at me now, "I'm sorry about what happened in your bathroom if that's what you've been wanting to hear, but not talking to me for a week is a little ridiculous over a kiss." She rolls her eyes and turns away from me again. I forcefully stand up from the bench and grab onto her arm. She whips her head around and looks at me now.

     "First off, since you came into my life you kinda are my business now. And second, you're saying sorry about what happened in the bathroom? Hope, please tell me your joking, YOU'RE sorry about what happened? Did you blackout or something? Did you not see how I acted when I saw you!? Hope, I should say sorry to YOU for walking out like I did and ignored you for how long I did." I kneel in front of her, still holding onto her arm, "I did it because... I was scared, I didn't want Evan finding out because I knew he would've beaten me to a pulp if he found out. That and how you and Brian broke up not too long ago, I just... I'm sorry okay." I sigh and look at the concrete ground now, thinking of what else to say. I look back up and see her blue eyes still looking at me. She carefully pulls her arm away and looks back out to the road again.

     "Remember when we were leaving the clothes shop and I asked if I could take you somewhere special? I want to do that for you now. I'll make it a quick trip I promise, just please, come with me I promise it'll put a smile on your face." I almost want to get down on my knees and beg. She sighs before looking back at me and nodding her head yes. I stand up and smile at her, as I hold out my hand to her, she takes it and I help her up from the bench. I let go of her hand and walk back to my car, her walking by my side.

     I take the back roads up to the spot as quickly as I could. I asked Hope to cover her eyes so she couldn't tell where we were going. Once at the spot I get out of the car and run over to her side to let her out, her eyes still closed. I grab her hand as I take her to the ledge and stop a couple feet back.

     "You can open your eyes now." I let go of her hand as she opens up her eyes. Her eyes turn into amazement as a huge smile comes to her face, the one I've missed. She turns and looks at me.

     "The city looks amazing from all the way out here Craig, and the sun that's starting to set, I swear this is like a scene in a romance novel or something." She looks back at the city and sits down on the ground. I sit next to her.

     "I usually come out here to think about different things when Evan doesn't need everybody. It's where I came after what happened when you were at my place. I sat here and I just looked out at the city skyline and thought about what happened." I say as I readjusted my glasses. She sighs and lays her head on my shoulder. I wrapped my arm around her lower back, as much as I wanted to hold her, I only allowed myself to do this.

     "That night never leaves my mind you know. Every time I close my eyes the scene plays over and over again. Every time I go to bed I dream about what happened. Craig, it won't leave my mind." She looks over at me. My heart melts every single time that I see her eyes and sometimes I wonder, how I got so lucky that I met her when I did.

     "Then we need something to block that memory. Maybe a better one, one where I don't leave?" She tilts her hear like a confused puppy which makes my heart melt even more.

     I bring my finger underneath her chin so she looks at me as I lean in and kiss her for the second time in my life. I close my eyes as thoughts of what our life would be like if we were together flash in my mind almost like a strobe light. I feel her turn as she wraps her arms around my neck just like the first time. I smile into the kiss as I kiss her deeper, more passionately. I stop for a second and pick her up, to have her sit in my lap. Before I can go back in for another kiss I feel us fall back. My head hits the dirt beneath me as she's laying on top of me. We both laugh for a second as we look at each other.

     "God, you really are beautiful. I say this all the time to myself, but your eyes could make any guys heart melt, mine included." I admit. She starts to smile as she leans in and gives me another kiss, I gladly accept it.