FALLING AROUND YOU ➵ DANIEL SEAVEY ➵ SEQUEL

11 ➵ Don't Let Us Fade Into a Memory

"How long until I need to leave?" my mouth felt dry.

"Three weeks max."

I didn't know I could physically feel my heart stop until that moment. Three weeks was the same amount of time I had with the infamous Seavey boy before the first time I left him that winter break. It felt like everything was going full circle, and all I wanted was for time to stop playing its tricks and stop for moment. Just a subtle moment so I could collect my thoughts. The thought of leaving again after having so much left unfinished between Daniel and Charlie, it just seemed too cruel.

"Three weeks? That's all she has? Dad, talk to Aunt Nat. There needs to be more time," Charlie's voice had nothing more than venom. He looked my way one more time trying to see if this was affecting me as much as it seems to be affecting him.

"Mr. Gray, with all due respect, I'm starting to have a life here again. That was the whole reason I stayed here so long," I paused trying to find my words, "This was home before London, and I don't know if I could just pack up my things and leave again."

"Ms. Martin, be honest with me here, is it really because you don't want to leave home or is it because you don't want to leave someone that makes you feel like your home?" his words sunk into my skin feeling every word he said.

"I've kept my distance from him, you know that."

"Distance doesn't mean feelings will fade so easily." I could feeling Charlie's gaze gashing holes in my head.

"If you shall know, I've started seeing someone else." the lies caused everyone's attention including Charlie's.

"And, who might he be?" Mr. Gray seemed conspicuous.

"Your son."

–

"You told him what!" Christina jumped up from my bed as I wanted to hide under the covers.

"I know it was bad! I just didn't know what to do! I panicked!" I hid under my pillow, but it didn't stop from the chaotic brunette to yank it from my hands and start hitting me with it.

"You can't say you're dating someone while you're still completely in love with someone else!" Christina told before hitting me with the pillow once more.

"Why not? That's what Daniel's doing anyway!"

"His was a forced relationship, yours wasn't." her words were simple only making me feel worse. Slowly, Christina put the pillow down sitting on the edge of my bed when she finally realized now much of this mayhem has actually hit me.

"I could still undo it, right?" I tried seeing that glimmer of hope.

She stayed quiet obviously not wanting to give me false hope. There was this look Christina had, a look of worry and judgement. I could tell she was trying to think things through just by her aneurisms. The way her nail was in-between her teeth along with her constantly running her fingers through her hair. She's been my closest friend through these rough patches, and I already know that I've made her go speechless.

She sighed having her posture more sloppy, "I just don't understand how two people are able to dance around their feelings for so long when it's obvious you both are still thinking each other," she paused, "It's ridiculous."

There was spice in her comment. It was a sort of backhanded annoyance that caused my skin to burn with aggravation.

"C, I'm not dancing around my feelings. I–"

"Why can't you just tell him you still need him?"

"Sometimes are better left unsaid– for his sake and my own."