Quarantine

Chapter Seventeen

Hero's POV

This always fucking happens.

We get so far and then.. Something or someone always gets in the way.

I know she feels the same way. She has to.

Before, it was us who kept getting in our own way. And now? It was like the universe had it against us because I swear, everytime I try and get close to her or even think of making a move on her, bam. Something comes up.

Maybe I should just accept it? Maybe there's a reason why all these things keep preventing us.

I'm so close to giving up, I swear.

And that scares me. Because I care about her a lot. Deep down I know I won't ever completely give up, I can't. But for now? Maybe I should just let it be.

It's up to her now. If she feels anything even remotely the same about me then.. She'll show me. I know she will.

As soon as I got downstairs, I decided to make myself a sandwich.

Truth was, I hadn't eaten and I felt sick.

I had made those pancakes from scratch earlier and was just trying to make sure that she ate.. I wasn't thinking of myself. Though that backfired on me too.

"Hero!?"

"Hey mum. You all ok over there?" I adjusted the phone against the vase on the work surface so that I could carry on doing what I was doing while talking.

"Why haven't I heard from you before now?!" My mum demanded to know.

With my hand on the fridge door and my back to the phone, I sighed and closed my eyes.

Right now I needed someone to talk to, someone who I knew for a fact cared about me 100% the same way that I cared about them.

But.. When I video called my mum, I guess I overlooked the part where I hadn't spoken to her in so long.

I should've realised.. But I guess my mind was on only one thing, as usual.

"Sorry mum!" I returned to the kitchen island and put on my most convincing smile.

"I've just been busy.." I say.

"I've been so worried!!" She speaks over me, ready to go into full interrogation mode.

"Hero? Is everything okay?" Jo appears at the doorway with the tray in her hands.

"Hero?! Who are you with! Who are you looking at?!" My mother snapped.

"I'm.." I can't stop looking at her. What the fuck is wrong with me?! Fuck.

"Hero Fiennes TIFFIN!" My mum yelled down the phone.

".. Hey, Martha." Jo came and stood beside me, greeting my mother with a timid wave.

"Oh, that explains it.." I hear my mum say quietly (but not quietly enough..) to someone else. Probably my sister, Mercy.

"Hello Josephine." My mum greeted Jo with an air of disapproval.

To be honest, no one would ever be good enough for me. Not in my mums eyes. And that just goes to show because Jo is the sweetest.

Hearing her say that though was enough to help me snap out of my obsession with Jo, enabling me to look at the screen again.

"Hey Jo!" Mercy briefly appeared in front of the screen, smiling.

"Er. What about me?!" I frowned and pointed to myself.

"Oh, hey." Mercy said flatly.

"Charming.." I scoffed.

"Like you can talk?! You don't even text back!" My sister huffed.

"Well he's texted me so I suppose that it something." My mum rolled her eyes.

"I'm sorry Merc, I'll text soon." I nod.

"Hero!!" My mother impatiently cut in. "I've been so worried. Why didn't you come home?! You know your father and I would've happily paid for the plane ticket, you only had to ask!"

"It's not. That's.. Not why I didn't come back to England mum. We both know I can more than afford the ticket." I frown. "But thanks!" I quickly add.

"Oh.." My mother responded with distaste.

"Don't worry Mrs Tiffin, Hero's fine." Jo tried to reassure my mum, placing her hand on my shoulder.

I turned to look at Jo and smiled before realising what I was doing, this had to stop. I needed to stop this obsession with her!!

Just because she's fucking touching me, doesn't mean I need to smile like a goofy little kid! Fuck.

"Hero? Should I call another time?!" My mother raised her eyebrows at me, expectantly.

"Yeah, if you don't mind.." I shrugged Jo off of my shoulder. "I'm feeling a bit.."

"What?! A bit what?!" My mother's face contorted with worry.

"Tired?" I laughed. "That's all I was going to say.."

"Hm." My mother narrowed her eyes.

"What about you though? Before you go." After all this time I wanted to at least know that she was ok.

"I'm fine. Well, I'd be better if my baby wasn't half way across the bloody world!!"

"Really mum?" I raised my eyebrows. "I'm fine? I promise.. Just look after yourself ok? I'll ring soon. Promise.."

"So long as you do!" She points.

"I will." I grin.

"I tell you, you're lucky you're so far away.." She holds her fist up, making me laugh.

I hold both of mine back up at her, scrunching my nose and making her laugh too.

"Tell me about it." Mercy comes into view again, popping a crisp in her mouth. "Sooo fucking lucky."

"Mercy!?" Our mother scolds her.

"What?! All that sun.. All that sea?!! Not to mention, all that sex-"

"Mercy." My mother hissed, making me instantly throw my head back and laugh.

"Oh my God you guys are proper cringe. Ok, I'm going now.." I shook my head.

"Okaay, love youu.." Mercy yelled and blew a few kisses.

"Love you." I sighed and rolled my eyes.

"What about me?!" My mum remarked.

"Love you mum. Love you the most." I grinned.

"Yes, yes you'd better. Love you too, darling. Stay safe my little Phoenix!" She said affectionately.

"Mum." I hissed, wide eyed.

"Oh come now, I'm sure she has plenty of her own names for you by now.."

My eyes widened even more and I waved and ended the call.

Fuck my life.

Jo had already gone over to the other side of the kitchen island a few minutes ago.

When I looked up at her I saw she was licking her thumb and folding over the top of the open packet of cheese.

She pushed my plate towards me and I looked back up at her, not knowing what to say.

Calm down Hero, it's just a sandwich. Now thank her and fuck off.

"Thanks." I grab the plate and head straight to the living room leaving her standing there.