Wish You Were Here

Part 21: Want You Back

"How'd the funeral go?" I jumped as I passed the open bedroom door, not expecting someone to be there.

"Like you care." I snap as I keep walking to the bathroom, not slowing my stumbling pace.

"Did you get drunk there?" I jumped again not realizing he had followed me down here.

"You have to stop sneaking up on me." I let out an exasperated sigh and pulled a cloth out to wash my face.

"I've been home for hours, so no. I got drunk here. I don't see why you care, it's none of your business." I grumble at him as I scrub harshly at my skin.

"I'm just worried, Cass." He responds from where he's leaned against the doorframe.

"Well you weren't the past few days so why bother now." I grumble, feeling my anger bubbling up and about to spill over again. I keep scrubbing harder and harder until the cloth is snatched from my hand.

"You're rubbing your face raw--" He sighs before continuing,

"I-I'm sorry I was ignoring you I know it was selfish and stupid. I was jealous and I didn't know what to do so I just hid I guess." I can hear the remorse lacing his voice, and his eyes hold a look of sincerity that can't be fabricated.

"This is exhausting. Luke was just drunk and said he still had feelings for me and I literally told him to stop bringing it up because it isn't fair. He hurt me too much and I don't trust him, nor do I have romantic feelings for him."

My anger with him is quickly dissolving into annoyance, I can't stay mad at him and I hate it.

Regret is written all over his face, but quickly drops into anger when he realizes what I said.

"Wait, he said WHAT?!" I see him clenching and unclenching his fists in an attempt to control his anger.

I rinse my face off and notice how red and raw it is from crying and scrubbing, my eyes swollen and bloodshot. I scrunch my nose in distaste at my current state. I'm so tired of looking on the outside how I feel on the inside. I slip past him without another word and head down the hall to the guest room.

I hear him following quickly behind me, closing the door behind himself.

"Cassy what did he say, exactly?" His tone is ice cold, if I didn't know him so well I might have been scared.

"Something about how he misses me, still likes me, and wanted to kiss me I don't know. I told him it's unfair to keep bringing it up." I shrug and start looking through the suitcase Rachel brought for me when she showed up here.

When he didn't answer I looked over at him again, he looked pissed. His fists are balled up by his sides so tightly that his knuckles are white. I turn my attention back to the suitcase hoping to find what I'm looking for.

After a few minutes I let out a huff and gave up. He raises his brow at me, I can tell he's still angry, but he's curious too.

"I guess Rach didn't pack a sweatshirt for me and I was hoping she did." I shrug, and as I'm about to go back to the suitcase for a T-shirt he motions for me to follow him.

He led me to his room and pulled a hoodie from his closet, tossing it at me.

"Oh, no Cal you don't have to, it's ok." I say sheepishly,

"Take it, it'll look better on you anyway."

For the first time in days I get to see his smile. I feel my cheeks burn from his comment and I know I'm blushing bright red. I hoped the redness of my face from earlier would disguise it, but the way he's smirking tells me otherwise. I can't even be bothered though, I'd do anything to see him smile again.

"Are you done being mad at me?" I ask as I motion for him to turn his back to me. He obliges and I throw my dress over my head quickly replacing it with the sweatshirt. I decide to take my bra off as well, I'm tired of being uncomfortable. The sweatshirt is longer than the dress I had just removed, so I won't be wasting my time on pants.

"I was never mad at you." He answers once I tap his shoulder so he can turn back around.

He drags his eyes up my body slowly and I tuck my hands in the sleeves that are way too long.

"You look cute." He says as his cheeks turn the slightest shade of pink. I see a familiar light back in his eyes that makes me think that maybe he missed me too. I can't look too far into it, I can't get carried away again until I know how he feels...

"I was being a jealous asshole, and I'm still sorry about it. I just hope you can forgive me." He fixes his gaze to the floor again as he speaks.

I put my finger to my chin and furrow my brows as if I'm thinking really hard about it. I've already forgiven him, I can't stay mad at him. Hell, I was never mad. I just missed him so much that I thought it would kill me.

"I guess I can forgive you. Please don't do it again though... I missed you."

He snaps his head up so fast I could've sworn he'd get whiplash. He's smiling so hard when he looks at me that it pushes up his cheeks and crinkles his eyes. I can't fight back the smile that's forced its way onto my face.

"I promise I won't. I missed you way too much. I could never do it again."

It's like I could see the life immediately showing in his eyes again, shining with warmth, and staring right into mine. It only took him a second after he opened his arms for me to throw myself into them. I feel the sense of relief and safety that only he can provide returning. All of the weight from the past few days falls away as I fall into his embrace.

We stayed that way for a few minutes, but it felt like seconds. I could stay there forever soaking in the moment, breathing in sync.

"Does that mean I can sleep in here again if I need to? I've barely slept in days." I pout with my head still against his chest. I can feel the vibration of him letting out a laugh. I haven't told him about the nightmares, but they don't happen when he's there. He pulls away, of course causing me to pout even more.

"I'd be offended if you didn't, Cass." He leans down and tucks my hair behind my ear before placing a gentle kiss to my temple. My heart flutters at the contact and I allow a content sigh to slip from my lips.

He reaches out and laces his fingers with mine, leading me to the side of the bed. He pulls the blankets down and lets me settle in before pulling them back up over me. He gets on the other side of the bed and I waste no time at all shuffling myself over to close the space between us. He doesn't seem to mind, immediately pulling me closer and running his fingers through my hair.