"It's Only In Harmony Hollow" Or Is It?

Chapter 20

(Shubble's P.O.V)

It's dark. Like my soul.

I have been sitting here for hours. I don't even remember how long. But does it really matter?

I'm hungry... I'm definitely hungry. Maybe I should go home. I don't want to see Graser though. Maybe I should just order food. Wait, do they deliver to a beach?

I groaned in frustration. It's like I'm slowly losing my sanity by the hour... Maybe the minute. I ran my hand through my hair and heaved out a sigh.

Then, the image of Graser and that girl flashed in my mind. Tears started to appear in my eyes again. l'm numb and vulnerable. Shattered and disgusted. I forced my thoughts onto something else and made it drift away.

"Shelby..."

I turned to where the whisper came from and I saw the person I really didn't want to see. My eyes widened at the sight, I was stunned. Graser stood few feet away, a look of worry plastered on his face. Luckily, I shifted my gaze away before he could see me cry.

How did he find me?

The lump in my throat stopped me from speaking. I really didn't want to talk to him anyways. He didn't say anything either. However, I could feel his gaze on me.

"Shelby..." He whispered once more, this time he tried to take a step closer to me.

"Stay away from me..." I finally broke.

He stayed silent and took another step. I wanted to scream. Get mad at him but for what? He doesn't even know why I ran away.

"I said stay away from me!"  

I did it. I snapped. My voice cracked a bit at the end. The tears finally broke free and streamed down my face. My face never turned to him though. From the corner of my eye, I saw droplets of water plop on to the sand.

Is he crying?

"Shelby... am I the reason why you left?" 

I turned to him. Tears streamed down his face as well. I slowly stood up and stepped back.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, brushing of his question.

"I'm here for you." His voice was cracking.

"I don't want you here." I spat.

He flinched at the words but he never looked away. He stood his ground and just stared at me. It seemed like he was thinking intensely on how to reply to my cruel words. I stared back at him, staying silent as well. I watched as his mouth slowly opened.

"Are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong?"

"No." I replied instantly and went to grab my bag. "You should go back."

I dusted the sand off both my bag and clothes. I took a deep breathe and walked past Graser. Stopping in my tracks when a hand grabbed onto my wrist.

"Where are you going?"

"Somewhere..." I didn't turn back.

"Where is that somewhere, Shelby? Why won't you tell me?" His voice raised ever so slightly. 

"Why do you want to know?"

"Because I care for you, Shelby! You suddenly disappeared without saying a thing to any of us! I was so worried when you never answered our calls!" he breathed, "I thought something bad happened to you."

I turned to reply, yet he cut me off.

"I can't lose you, Shelby..."

The desperation in his eyes stared into my soul. I felt uneasy, guilty even. I didn't want to care that he was worried, but he gave me this look that broke down my anger.

"Stop that." I blurted, "Don't look at me like that."

I didn't give him time to speak.

"I just don't see why you care for me."

"Because your my friend." He quickly spoke.

I pulled my wrist away and looked away. I felt the anger rebuild itself.

"Yeah, a friend..." I trailed off, "That's all I am to you."

"Why are you mad at me?" He questioned quietly.

"I told you I'm not!" I yelled.

"Then why are you acting this way!?"

"Because that girl kissed you!"

I broke down completely. My mouth felt drier than before. Tears kept flowing. There's a ringing in my ears and I want to scream until I lose my voice. All the feelings are now spurting out my mouth.

"I was jealous! I'm broken! It hurts so much!"

I couldn't see him clearly but I knew his face was plastered with a shocked expression. 

"This feeling is killing me! I hate it!" 

I shouted all my feelings out until my throat ached. My gaze drifted onto his face. His mouth was open and eyes wide. His whole body frozen in place due to my outburst. I pursed my lips together and waited for him to say something. Anything.

"Why?" That's all he could muster up.

Say it, Shelby.

"Because I'm in love with you Graser..."

He walked up to me and wrapped his arm around my waist. I was baffled. My eyes widen at how close his face was to mine. We stared into each other eyes. His shined with mixed emotions that I couldn't distinguish. 

Before I was able to say anything, he closed his eyes and cut me off by pressing his lips against mine. My head was spinning and my eyes widened even more. However, I got lost in the amazing feeling. My eyes shut and my arms wrapped around his neck, as I finally melted into the kiss. He pulled me closer to deepen the kiss. 

Please let this last forever.

It didn't though. Graser pulled away, leaving me wanting for more. He opened his eyes and stared at me again. Both of us were out of breathe. Our hearts were pounding fast. He smiled while tears dripped down his face.

"I'm so deeply in love with you, Shelby..."