right where you left me

Chapter 13 - No More Lies

But I knew there was one thing that would make it all feel better. I knew there was one person who could do that: her.

She was sitting on my couch as I walked through the door, and as soon as she heard my footsteps, she hopped up, coming over to me at the door.

"Hey," she said, leaning against the wall.

"Hi," I responded, and before I knew it, my arms were around her. Feeling her warmth, and love, and support, it only reminded me of how much I lacked that throughout my life. My family had always been fucked up, but maybe, now, this was my new family. Leah, and Arsenal, and London. Did I need who I had back home? I had Finn; that's all I needed. At least, I thought it was.

"You alright?" Leah asked, as she noticed my apprehension to end our hug.

"It was- I'm glad to be back is all," I replied, looking deep into her eyes, placing my hand on her cheek, and placing a small kiss on her lips.

The next day, I was back on the pitch. I had ignored the several messages I had received from Finn that went something like the following:

Finn: I'm sorry Tipps. I didn't really know how to say it.

Finn: Tipp, don't ignore me. I'm sorry. But, come on...

Finn: Tippah Jones, istg answer your god damn phone

Finn: i'm going to call ur gf in a moment.

I knew he wouldn't be able to (only because he didn't have her number.)

As I lay on the physio bed, getting a message on my lower left calf, I had a face look at me, as my head lay in the hole on the bed.

"Hey," the person said. It was Caitlin.

"Hi," I said, trying not to laugh. She was laying on the ground, so our faces were aligned.

"May I ask, why did I get a message from your brother?"

"Why the fuck does Finn have your number?" I asked, laughing softly.

"Honestly, I don't even know."

"What did he ask?" I questioned.

"He wanted Leah's number..."

"Far out," I said, grabbing my phone. "I'll talk to him."

"Your a star!" Caitlin replied.

"For talking to my own brother?"

"No, for clearing my inbox." Caitlin soon slided out from underneath the massage table, and I could finally relax.

"Hey!" another voice said. I opened my eyes, to see Leah looking up at me.

"What do you want?!" I joked.

"Hey! I wanted to know what I should cook for dinner," she said.

"Babe, you know just as well as I do that I will eat anything and you will not. So, you choose."

"Hm, fine!" Leah replied, sliding away. I chuckled slightly, trying to focus on my upcoming task: talking to my brother.

I texted him.

Tippah: you're so annoying. And leave cait alone! We're fine, Finn. Just leave it.

I threw my phone over to the side, not wanting to deal with the response I would most likely get.

"You chose violence today," the physio said, laughing softly. I chuckled with a reply.

"Siblings," I said.

"Right... I've got my fair share of those," she responded.

"How do you deal with them?" I asked her.

"I don't," she laughed. "They just deal with themselves, and in the end, I love them, and that's all that matters." I nodded my head, understanding that too. I loved Finn. And, in that sense, I loved Darcy too, despite what she did.

Later that evening, as I sat on the couch, eating my food that Leah prepared, I wanted to tell her something. I wanted her to know, or at least, I wanted advice.

"Question," I said to Leah.

"Okay..."

"Hypothetically, if someone named their child after an abusive asshole, who was really horrible and broke your family apart, would you forgive said person?"

"Um.. Tipps, I think you're going to need to explain that a little better."

"Ready for a story? Or, an autobiography more like."

"Tippah..."

"No more lies?"

"Okay... or secrets?"

"Or secrets."

"Okay, I'm all ears," Leah responded. I took a deep breath, and started to speak. Started to tell her; tell her everything.

note:

- i hope everything is starting to piece itself together a little bit... and i hope its interesting <3