It's Not All Roses

Chapter 18

Hero POV

Two solid weeks have passed since we all helped Mae move her stuff into Kiya’s apartment. Those two are now closer than I’ve ever seen anyone Kiya be friends with. They both smile all the time, and it makes me happy, even if I don’t show it all the time. I know that Mae is safe and I know she will stay safe if I’m not here. Tom’s also been with her while she studies.

Niall has been all about his music lately, so we haven’t really seen much of his Irish face around here. He has a show this weekend at some random pub down town, so Mae and I are hanging out at the cliffs tonight to get away for a bit.

“We haven’t been here for some time,” Mae speaks softly.

I nod and look at her, her legs are crossed and her hands are in her lap. God, she has to be one of the most beautiful girls I’ve ever laid my fucking eyes on. “It has been sometime since we were last here,” I say. “Figured it would do us good to get out of the apartment and school surroundings.”

“Yeah, it’s nice to be able to get out and do things. I love to go fishing with my Nana or spend the day outside doing some gardening,” she smiles at me.

She has been telling me a lot of stories about her and Lana, her grandmother. She sounds like a wonderful woman. I can tell Mae looks up to her grandmother as a role model and I can tell how much she misses her.

“Are you ready for Niall’s show tomorrow?” She asks me.

I sigh and lay back in the grass. “Fuck no. But I promised Kiya I would endure it for her, or you know, she’ll cut off my balls.”

She giggles and covers her mouth in the process. It’s a cute gesture she does, one that I’ve grown very fond of over the time I’ve spent with Mae.  Then I notice she looks at me and bust out laughing. “Oh god, she will!” She laughs harder. “If you don’t stop pouting she will cut off your balls.”

I glare at her. “I do not pout!”

She laughs again, with a snort, “Umm, yes you do! Or you get a look so serious on your face that it can be kind of scary.”

I roll my eyes. “Okay… Okay, moving on. How has your family been since your grandpa’s funeral?” I ask her.

She looks down at her hands in her lap. “Mom and Jordan had to move to Washington; they just got a place. I guess they stayed with my aunt Sarah for a while.”

“Who is Sarah?”

“Elle’s mom,” she sighs. “She hasn’t been the best mother figure to Ellison though… What is the word I’m looking for?”