Open Case File [COMPLETED]

Shutting Out (Part 1)

Donovan didn't look surprised to see her. But he didn't look happy either. Everything he felt was hidden behind his old impassive mask.

Past Donovan's shoulder Carter saw a book laying open on his couch. He'd been waiting for her. She took that as a tiny sign she hadn't completely lost him.

"What is it, Carter?" Donovan said.

"Okay," she said.

This vague response made Donovan stare at her.

"Okay?"

"Yeah, okay. We'll take a break."

The mask was thrown away and Donovan looked at her with blatant shock and confusion. She understood. A few hours ago she would have been there to fight it out, to argue until they came to some resolution.

But this conflict wasn't like others.

That meant the solution couldn't be either.

"You're right," she said. "I shut you out. I put my past on you when everything you've done has proven you deserve my trust. So...I'm accepting the break and I'm going to...to talk to someone...about my mom...about what happened and create some new habits."

Donovan opened his mouth, closed it and then swallowed. "Are you serious?"

She nodded, feeling at peace with her decision even though all she wanted to do was wrap her arms around Donovan and never let go. But he deserved a girlfriend who treated him better. She would be that. For him and herself.

When she took a step back, Donovan took a step forward as if going to reach for her, to make her stay.

But she didn't let him. This was the right path.

"This isn't goodbye," she said. "We still have work. But I need to work on me." She smiled. "I hope that when I get to the end you'll be waiting. But if not, that's okay too. Goodnight, Donovan. And thank you."

She headed away from him, taking a deep breath because she didn't want to walk away. She didn't want to leave an opening for someone else to come in and take him.

But she forced herself to keep walking.

At the elevator, Donovan called out to her.

"Carter," he said. They locked eyes. "I'll be waiting."

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*Hands you boxing gloves*

It's okay, you can beat the crap out of me if you want to.

As long as you're beating me to a pulp, might as well share your emotionally distressed thoughts with me. 💬💭🗯

This needed to happen. Too many times Carter pulls away from Donovan because of her past hurt. She still hadn't healed from it and so it was time that she did. It's take me a long time to get to the point where I could write this for Carter but I think it's a good step.

I was surprised with how she handled it. Originally, she was going to go to his place and they would talk it out. Totally shook me when she just said okay!

But then again I've never been able to control what Carter does so really I shouldn't be all that surprised. I'm proud of her though, she'd doing it for him and herself. That takes a different type of strength.

Vote, comment, follow because if you don't I could leave you on this terrible ending and not give you the conclusion! HA! He afraid!

THIS QUESTION is for those of you reading The It Girl. Do you prefer:

A long chapter?

A double update with two shorter chapters?

I have a long chapter for next week and want to know which you want.

Also this is your spirit animal for this chapter. 😁