Let Yourself Fall // sequel to My Ethan Karpathy

Chapter 89.

BRAIS POV:

I don't know what goes through my head, but it all goes at the same time. Paisley. It's definitely Paisley. She's looking at the flights, she's going to leave for real. I knew she was going away, but I didn't think she would go this far. My instincts win over, and my legs begin to move. Before I even know what I'm doing, I'm standing behind her, battling with myself whether to announce my presence or not. I move and stand next to her, waiting for her to see me, but she doesn't.

"Paisley." I say as softly as I could, not wanting to scare her.

"Oh my god, Brai, why are you here? what are you doing? how did you kno-?" She starts, but stops, looking up at me with these sad eyes.

"I'm going home. What are you doing?" I ask, wanting am explanation.

"I'm, i- I need-" she stutters.

"To get away?" I ask, quoting her from the phone call. She nods.

"Where are you going, may I ask?" I ask.

"I don't know. I had to get here first." she says quietly, looking at the ground.

"You don't know?" I ask, wanting her to repeat.

"I'm waiting for anything cheap."

"So you don't know where you're going? You don't have any plans? Nowhere to stay?" I ask, getting an idea.

"No." she says sadly, looking at her feet again.

"Come with me." I say without even thinking.

"What?" She asks, looking up at me with a shocked expression.

"Come stay with me. At my house, it will be free."

"You would do that for me? What about your parents?" She asks. I realise then that she doesn't know about my parents. She doesn't know that my 'mum' isn't really my mum and neither with my 'dad'. My 'dad' isn't around much anyway, he's always off doing something with work or whatever.

"It'll be fine." I insist.

"Thank you, Brai." she says, giving me a half hearted smile.

"It's all good, but we need to get you a ticket." I say, putting my arm around her shoulders. She turns and gives me a tight hug, making my stomach hurt. It's still bruised on the inside, but that's okay. She pulls away slowly, like there's something on her mind.

"What is it?" I ask.

"Ethan." is all she says. I know what she means.

"Gate fourteen. Hurry, meet me back here." I tell her, letting her run off.

ETHANS POV:

I'm sitting in a seat as everyone else is lining up to get on board. Something is telling me I should wait until the end. It's undeniable, and I'm going to trust this. There is about two minutes until I know I have to get up and on. Whatever's coming better hurry up. I count down the seconds, and my feeling dies every single one. Maybe my senses are off. I sigh and stand up, joining the end of the line. I'm just getting my boarding pass scanned when I hear someone calling my name. I turn around and get the biggest surprise of my life. I ignore the lady telling me I have to get on the plane and turn around.

"Excuse me, sir, you need to board now. We are already running late." she says. I turn around, getting an idea.

"Five more minutes." I say, holding out a few notes I had in my pocket. I don't actually know how much money was in it, but I don't think it was a little amount. The lady smiles and takes the money from my hand, walking away to occupy the other workers. By then, Paisley had reached me. She literally threw herself around me, hugging me as tight as she possibly could. It takes me a little while to register that she was sobbing into my chest.

"Hey, hey, hey. We were all so worried, where did you go? Please come home with me, please." I say into her hair, hoping like hell that she will.

"No, Ethan. I'm not going home." she whispers in my ear, burying her nose in the crook of my neck.

"Please come home, with me." I repeat, ready to beg at a moments notice.

"Ethan, I'm not leaving. I want to be with you more than anything, and this is the only way. Give me a month or two, don't give up on me. I am coming home, and when I do, I will be ready." she explains.

"But, Paisley. I can't-" I start, but she cuts me off.

"I love you, stay strong." she whispers, kissing me softly and quickly, leaving me wanting so much more. She kisses me again, making me feel even worse. She pulls away slowly, the tears slowing down. She let's her hand linger around my neck as she slides if down over my shoulder and chest. She drops it by her side and gets an idea.

"Take this." she says, pulling her jacket off.

"It's for the shirt." she adds as I remember our conversation after that night.

"I love you." I say, kissing her forehead.

"See you soon, okay? Just wait."

"Okay. I'll be waiting for you. Remember to call me if you need anything." I tell her. She shakes her head slowly.

"I love you. Bye." she says before turning and running.

PAISLEYS POV:

I had to go. I had to go before I agreed to anything I shouldn't have. I run right back to where I said I would meet Brai. This doesn't seem right, not right at all. I'll stay for a bit, just while I sort things out. He's standing there, another boarding pass in his hands. He's already got one.

"Got it." he says, handing it to me.

"How much?"

"Nothing." he says, trying to avoid the subject.

"Brai," I warn. "I'm serious."

"Paisley," he replies, mocking me. "I'm serious."

"Braiden James." I say in the same tone, trying to sound serious, but failing.

"Paisley Arrons."

"I will get it out of you."

"Yeah, I doubt that." he replies sassily. We spend the short wait by the gate just on our phones, playing some random online multiplayer game. I actually feel better now that I've talked to him. I don't know how I'm going to show up one day out of the blue like 'yeah, I'm back now. Love me Ethan'.

But I'll sort it out.

BRAIS POV:

The sun was setting as we took off over the ocean, the water sparkling like little gems. It was so pretty, and I couldn't stop staring at it. I feel a weight on my shoulder and I realise it was Paisley's head. I look down at her, but she's just staring ahead at the water, not blinking, looking tired.

"You can sleep if you want." I tell her.

She doesn't answer, but she continues to stare ahead at the window. I look back out and see the ocean turning into white fluffy clouds. That's when I think of something, something that actually makes me feel good about myself. She could've gone with Ethan, but she didn't.

She chose me. Then I think of the real reason, and it makes my heart drop, but only a little bit. She didn't choose me, but she didn't choose Ethan.

She chose herself.

Peace, love and Ethan Karpathy.