Chapter 35

It's always so good to have time alone with friends, especially friends like mine. Theresa hasn't stopped asking questions about my time in Aspen, wanting to check up on me the minute she heard I was back. She literally had James leave whatever he was doing and come over with snacks and stuff. London must have told Theresa about my arrival.

Speaking of London, he hasn't spoken a word since he came by, only ever looking at me. I could only manage a small smile because I didn't know how to start the conversation, it was quite awkward and I hated it so much.

" Kea you didn't miss me did you?" Theresa speaks up.

"Ofcourse I did. Why would you think that?" I say frowning.

" Well how could you forget to bring me a little something, you were in Aspen for crying out loud." She huffs, folding her arms.

" I know, I'm sorry. It's just that things got a little um complicated over there, forcing me to come back home." I trail off.

"Complicated?" She arches her brow.

" Yes, I was held hostage at the house for a bit but I'm now fine." I can see London's head snap to mine with the corner of my eye.

" What do you mean held hostage?" James says, coming back from the kitchen.

I sigh before I begin telling them about the Jason situation, receiving a gasp from Theresa, a frown from James and a blank face and tight jaw from London. Right when I finish the story, I'm met with silence before I'm pulled into a hug, by Theresa, other arms follow, enclosing us in.

"Are you okay?" She asks, breaking the hug.

" I'm fine." I smile a reassuring smile for her.

" Good thing he's dead." James comments.

" James! " I scold.

" What, he threatened my little sister, almost killed the mother of his best friend's daughter and to top it all off, used a baby as an in for his crimes. I have a right to say it." James says.

"Even so, he didn't deserve to die, no one does." Death is a very touchy subject for me, I would never wish it on anyone.

"Excuse me." London speaks up for the first time, rising to his feet and walking on to the kitchen. He leaves us to look after his retreating back.

" You should go talk to him." Theresa says, the minute I turn back to face her.

I nod, glancing at James, who gives off a nod with an encouraging smile.

Making my way to the kitchen, I stop by the doorframe, watching him pour himself a glass of water and sitting on a bar stool.

" Can I join you?" I ask, now having walked over to the opposite side of the counter.

He nods, his eyes following my every move, till I've settled down. We stare at each other for a few seconds, my mind screams at me to say something but my mouth is sealed shut.

"Are you really okay?" He asks, his eyes now on the glass of water.

I know he's referring to the whole Jason thing.

" Yeah, a little shaken up but yeah. I'm okay." I say.

He sighs, looking up at me." I missed you."

" I missed you too. I miss my friend."

"I thought you hated me, after that day." He mumbles.

" No, I don't, I couldn't. You're a very dear friend even if we haven't known each other for long. What happened might have shocked me, leaving me speechless, but hate, no." I shake my head no.

" I shouldn't have tried kissing you, it was stupid of me and- ."

" Damn right you shouldn't have. How could you do that London!" Theresa storms in the kitchen, looking upset, followed by a sheepish looking James, who rubs the back of his neck .

"You were eavesdropping again, to something private." London says, not even looking at her.

" Kea is married, what were you thinking?"

" I wasn't bloody thinking that's why!" He snaps, pushing the stool  back where it falls, he then storms out of the kitchen and out of the house, the door slamming hard, making me jump.

We are left in silence.

" I had my suspicions but now that I heard - how could he do this." She mumbles.

"Suspicions?"

" Yeah, London has the tendency to fall in love with the wrong girl. Exhibit A." She points to me. "You're taken, married even. He literally had hearts in his eyes, just by looking at you." She takes a breath. " When you left, I could see it, no matter how much he tried to hide it, he was heartbroken. He didn't talk to me  until yesterday, didn't even want me to mention your name. Now I know why."

My chest tightens at the picture of London going through pain because of me. His situation is similar to how it was at the beginning for me, only thing is that I can't return his feelings like how I did with Keith.

" Well it isn't really that hard to not fall in love with Kea." James says, sliding over next to Theresa, who frowns at him.

"Don't tell me you're also - .""

"No." He chuckles. "She's my sister, it'd be incest. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, Kea, you're one of the most amazing people I know, you're innocent and a little naive, you're pure and everyone around you can't help but want to protect you. You grew on London and his heart made a place for you, so I get where he's coming from, though I don't think trying to kiss you was the best way to go about things. "

" Worst of all, Keith saw and punched him, I was afraid he'd seriously hurt him. Gosh he looked so mad." I mumble.

" With good reason. Gosh my brother can be so- ."

" Don't insult him." I warn, pointing at her, while she rolls her eyes at me.

"Crazy things happen when you're in love. Oh sorry." James excuses himself to answer the phone.

" James is right and my brother is an example of that, he can let his heart take lead and forget to think. He almost ruined something good coming for You and Keith."

" Well it's not the only thing that might ruin things," I mumble, looking down.

" What do you mean?" She asks.

I sigh looking up at her." A lot has happened, that's why I'm here and not back at the house with Keith."

Before she can question me, James comes back.

" That was my mom. Damn she is so adamant on me going to Lizzie's show." He groans, rolling his eyes.

" Oh your cousin Lizzie, the one who's a dancer?"  I say, now becoming familiar with the name.

" Yeah, her show's tomorrow afternoon, I can't imagine myself sitting there for hours, watching dancers."

" You have to go, she's your family." I say.

" Well then go with me." He suddenly says and I arch my brow at him." Please." He mouths.

" Why can't Theresa go with you?"

" I've got plans." She says.

" Okay fine I'll go with you." I say to a now relieved James.

" Thanks lil sis, well I've got to run, lunch date." He says, kissing my cheek and walking over to do the same to Theresa." I'll call and come fetch you, bye." He says before walking off.

" Bye!" I call after him.

" So you have something to tell me, relationship wise?" Theresa reminds me.

I sigh." Yeah that, could you come sleep over tonight, I don't really want to be alone."

"Ofcourse."  She says, reaching over to take my hand in hers. Squeezing it.

I've just realized that I need a girl friend right now, someone to pour my heart to. Theresa is that friend.



Closing my eyes later on in the night, in the middle of Theresa and I's girls night in. Relaxed is what I feel, this is surely what I need. Now sitting leaned back on the couch, I block out every concerning thought and everything leading to stress.

I just want to enjoy tonight, no stress, no worries.

A ding sound knocks me out of my near sleep moment. The peanut butter cookies.

I rush over to the kitchen to take them out, while there's a knock on the door." Could you get that please!" I call over to Theresa.

" Yeah."

The peanut butter aroma fills the kitchen, making my stomach to rumble. Meaning to start on the smores, I'm startled by Theresa, who yells a firm no.

"No!"

I can't hear the person on the door, but Theresa's voice.

" No, you can't do this to her." I decide to investigate, so I leave the kitchen and walk on to join Theresa, who's blocking my view of the person.

" I just need to talk to her." Wait, that's -

" London, she just got back, give her a break will you?"

" Theresa, what's going on?" I speak up, stepping forward now.

She sighs when the door is pushed open, revealing London, who's eyes quickly find me.

" I need to talk to you." He says to me.

" Tell him to go so we can continue on with our girls night." She points at him over her shoulder, looking at me.

" Theresa, that's your big brother." I warn.

She groans, stepping away from the door." Fine, 5 minutes and then we get back to a nice, relaxed ( she emphasises on the word), night." She walks past me, not before throwing a narrowed glance at her brother.

" Take out the cookies please!" I call after her, before turning to face her brother again.

" Could you step out please, so we can talk?"

" You won't storm off again, and we'll actually talk?"

" Yeah," he nods, taking a step back.

Taking his word, I walk out, closing the door behind me.

With my back against the wall, I take a real good look at him, noticing the dark bags under his eyes. I hope what happened isn't the reason.

" You don't look so good." I say.

" Just some rough time at work, nothing major." He shrugs.

"About what happened- ."

" It shouldn't have happened, I should have never tried ki- , " He stops mid sentence when I avert my eyes to the floor." It was wrong and to be honest, a part of me doesn't regret it because I'm in love with you."

" London." I sigh.

" Wait, I'm just being honest. Look, your heart belongs to him, I wont deny nor doubt that. That's why the guilt ate me up when you left and you never answered my calls."

" I didn't have my phone on me, Keith took it, he didn't want us to be in contact."

" I get where he's coming from because I would have done the same." He mumbles. "Look, I still don't think he deserves you." My head snaps up to him.

" He doesn't and because he has you, he's a lucky bastard. I won't talk anymore about my feelings, because I don't want to upset you or let it be in the way of mending our friendship."

" Our friendship was never broken London, you're still my closest friend and I'm sorry for - ."

He shakes his head." No, you have nothing to be sorry for, I should be the one. Buttercup, you're a committed, loyal person and I'm sorry for making you look otherwise with my actions. "

"All was forgiven a long time ago, I just didn't have my phone on me, to call and tell you."

He nods in understanding.

" So are we cool now, can we go back to how things were?"

" We are cool." He cuts me off, looking at his feet, hands at his back pockets.

I feel like there's something he's not telling me." London, is there something else you'd like to tell me?"

" I'm leaving." He suddenly says, looking up.

My heart drops to my knees.

" Leaving, as in for good?" I ask, my voice trembling now at thought of never seeing London again.

" Just for a few days. " I internally sigh in relief. "I need to sort some things out." I nod in understanding.

" When do you leave?"

" Tomorrow morning."

" Are you flying?"

" Yeah."

" Will you see me before you leave?" My eyes have moisten now.

" I'd never leave without seeing you first."

" Oh well that's good." I whisper out, looking down again while pushing back tears.

Silence envelopes us for a few seconds before I peek at him from under my lashes, the face mask now dry on my face.

" Can I hug you?" I ask, not even sure on what to do or say next.

He opens his arms for me and I rush over to him, my arms around his waist, head against his chest.

" I'm messing up your shirt." I murmur.

He chuckles at that." Don't care."
I breathe out through my nose, stepping back and out of his arms.

Opening my mouth to say something, my eyes move behind London, where a blank faced Keith stands, his hard eyes boring holes on London's back.

I tense up, not knowing what to expect.