Always, Arlo [Published]

Chapter 30

I sit at the one across from him, watching him rub his face. I can tell his brain is messy and probably jumbled with a whole bunch of emotions. "Where did you go?" I ask again trying to get back to my original question. He gazes up at me through his eye lashes, brushing his hair out of his eyes with his tatted hand.

"I just drove my motorcycle wherever it could take me, occasionally putting gas when needed and when I finally decided to focus on my whereabouts I was out of New York and somewhere in the DMV area." He tells me a bit sheepishly, recognizing his recklessness. My eyebrows lift with shock at how far he made it by himself on solely just his motorcycle.

"Arlo you could've gotten hurt or something, Angela told me you left with nothing but your motorcycle. What if something happened to you out there alone?" I say with annoyance bubbling in my body. I'm annoyed because I care about him way too much to think about the possibility of him being hurt. Hurt somewhere alone and far without anyone knowing where he was.

He looks away, nibbling on his lip ring with a guilty expression as he notices my irritation. He looks like a child getting scolded by his parent right now with the way he avoids eye contact in an embarrassed manner.

"I understand your frustration with your father but you ran off somewhere that you probably have no knowledge about and didn't bother to answer any of our messages." I continue as I look away from his face. I stare up at the glass rooftop, looking at the sky and it's stars. I'm looking away because I don't want to see his reactions to my irritation. It'll make me feel bad which won't allow me to express my thoughts.

"I know it was impulsive and stupid but I needed to be somewhere else to clear my mind. I set up an ultimatum to my mother and I didn't want her to try and work way out of it if she got ahold of me." His voice is quiet, hesitant. He's choosing his words wisely, I can tell. I can't help but bite the inside of my cheek.

"Val, I also left to try and get my mind together for you. Everything in my life has made it difficult for me to fall for anyone but-" He hesitates and I can feel his eyes on me now. I look at him curiously, anticipating his next words. My eager eyes gesture him to go on. He inhales a sharp breathe beforehand.

"I don't want difficulty. I want to fall for you–shit I've already fallen for you. While I was gone I've made myself realize just how much I need you." His dark eyes aren't so dark anymore. They're glistening with need and want, for me. I exhale a faint breath, taken aback from his words because although I have already fallen for Arlo, hearing the the feeling be mutual & the words from his mouth are far more enchanting I ever thought It would sound or feel.

Arlo stands up from his position on the bench, making his way over to where I sit. He takes the empty spot beside me as his hand slithers it's way into mine. He grasps my hand and though I try to pull a way, still a bit annoyed, he doesn't budge. He knows i'm not actually angry with him, i'm just translating the worry and concern that I had for him into annoyance.

I'm displeased with the fact that I couldn't do anything despite my want to.

I know deep down i'm more-so hurt because I wanted to be Arlo's place he had in mind when he fled his apartment on his motorcycle. I wanted him to show up at my doorstep wanting me to be a comfort to him like he always is to me. I can't control the way Arlo copes with his hurt because we are two separate people and with falling for someone you have to learn that even the parts you wish were different will become something you have to accept in that person so you can better understand them.