Chapter sixteen

MARCUS'S POV

That summer had changed everything between us. It felt like it happened yesterday but it's been years and the pain is still fucking raw.

Her smile still haunted me in my dreams even if I didn't want to admit my thoughts always drifted to her and a part of me missed her.

I placed the cigarette between my lips and inhaled the smoke. The darkness inside me roared with excitement. It loved being fed hate,anger,regret, it just craved nasty emotions.

She had left a big scar on my heart. I don't even know why I allowed her inside in the first place. But it's been years and all I feel for her is hatred.

She created a monster and left it untamed. My favourite song played in the background as I recalled the last memories of Chelsea.

Cold and broken down
It’s all I knew
I let it corner me in
And hide where my tracks lead
Now I’m waking up
And all I do
Is getting lost in the past
To find where I’d first hear

[Pre-Chorus]
That I was never gonna be somebody
That I was never gonna feel light, come around
And they rise again as I am told that I should see

Chorus]
Red now
And to fear what lies ahead now
But I know that I will
Do everything for you again
I will do everything for you again
And I bet now
You will see that I will burn what I don’t need here
And I’ll know it’s alright, alright, alright
I’ll know it’s alright, alright, alright

Verse 2]
How I faded out
’Cause I never knew
That all the thorns in my bed
Were passed down and taught me

[Pre-Chorus]
That I was never gonna be somebody
That I was never gonna feel light come around
And they rise again as I am told that I should see

[Chorus]
Red now
And to fear what lies ahead now
But I know that I will
Do everything for you again
I will do everything for you again
And I bet now
You will see that I will burn what I don’t need here
And I’ll know it’s alright, alright, alright
I know it’s alright, alright, alright

[Bridge]
What if the years won’t come?
It’s caught up in my head
What if I’ll be outrun?
It haunts me down instead
It has gone one way
It was bound to break
And it all reminds me of a time I
Fooled around but now I’m fighting

Chorus]
Red now
And to fear what lies ahead now
But I know that I will
Do everything for you again
I will do everything for you again
And I bet now
You will see that I will burn what I don’t need here
And I’ll know it’s alright, alright, alright
I know it’s alright, alright, alright


She had changed and she wasn't the same girl. She was beautiful and confident.

Her departure had changed everything.
Her memories only brought back the pain that filled my miserable dark soul. I was just an empty living she'll of the man I used to be.


FLASH BACK

Chelsea had bit her lower lip that only meant that something was wrong and that she was feeling nervous to tell me.

We sat in our usual spot near the lake sitting on an old faded picnic blanket.
It felt peaceful.
She closed her eyes as the music played in the background humming the song slowly. She swayed her head side to side and my gaze lingered on her face.

She was beautiful.
But something was definitely wrong. Getting her to talk wouldn't be a challenge.

I placed my hand on her shoulder.
Her eyes slowly opened and she gave me a small smile.

I offered her my hand.

"Will you dance with me?"

She grinned and blushed. Placing her small hand in mine our eyes met intensely and I put my hand around her slender waist. I pulled her closer and our bodies connected Chelsea gasped but never took her eyes off me.

I liked that I affected her.
A smile tugged the corners of my lips.
"Try to keep up."

She snorted and rolled her eyes at me.
Our dance was slow and passionate; it slowly built anticipation.

I couldn't be the only one feeling what it was doing to us.
The air was intense. Let in the night by kensington studios played loudly in the background.

I cupped her cheeks as the song was coming to an end.

What was she turning me into?

She looked away and I released her something was definitely wrong.

"Chelsea."

She let go of my hand and it dropped to my side swiftly.

The darkness resurfaced but I held it back.

"Chelsea what's wrong?" I asked worriedly.
Everytime I tried to kiss her she kept pulling away from me.
Sometimes I wondered if we shared the same feeling's or not.

She moistened her pink lips slowly and turned to face me.

"I'm leaving New York," she said softly.

I stared at her in disbelief.

"what?
"You can't leave me."

Her face went completely pale.

" Marcus…"



CHELSEA'S PERSPECTIVE


When Marcus asked me to dance with him I gladly expected his invitation and I didn't want to leave his embrace.

It made me feel protected and safe.

How would I ever tell him that the holidays I spent with my grandparents had opened a big opportunity for me.

I couldn't say no to the scholarship I was offered by a very prestigious fashion school in Paris.

It was the best school in the region and the opportunity was right in front of me.
I couldn't say no to the offer plus it was my dream school.

After I accepted the offer my grandparents and parents were so happy, especially my father. When he mentioned about Marcus I wanted to drop the plans I had and be with him but something stronger held me back.

It was stronger than me and I couldn't stay back.

I moisten my lips nervously and turn to face Marcus and look him in the eye.

"I'm leaving New York" I muttered softly.
He gave me a puzzled look and shook his head in disbelief.


" What?"
" You can't leave me."

His words made my chest swell with affection for him. We were just teenagers but what we truly felt for each other was beyond our understanding.

I wanted us to graduate together but it wasn't possible and that dream was now beyond my reach.

I wasn't happy anymore.

"Marcus..."

He became silent and my heart shattered. I had lost him.

When I tried to touch him he took a step back and smiled coolly at me.

I was confused.

"I thought you-you were angry or something worse than that…"

He smirked.

And I swallowed hard.

He took me by surprise when he engulfed me into a tight hug, a hug that almost made me pass out.

It was like he didn't want to let me go.

"Ummm Marcus... you're kinda squeezing the life outta me right now I don't want to end up in the Er."

He chuckled and released me.

I couldn't read his facial expression. He hid his emotions very well. I had a feeling that his darkness had been involved.

My departure must have triggered it.
A wave of guilt filled me miserably.


MARCUS'S POV

My emotions had gotten the best of me. This girl in front of me had become my weakness and I became vulnerable.

She could easily break if she wanted to but I couldn't let her see what she was doing to me.

She was going to be the end of me.

My gaze lingered on her.

"So when are you leaving?"

Chelsea gave me a small smile as we sat down.

"In less than a week" she said quietly.