FALLING AROUND YOU ➵ DANIEL SEAVEY ➵ SEQUEL

17 ➵ If By Chance

The only sound was my shaky breathe kissing the air. We both know she was right, but my pride dictated her words. When I left for London, it was such a volatile change. Daniel didn't call me and I didn't call him. It was almost like an unspoken agreement that it would be best if we a break, a pause. I suddenly remembered the nights I longed for him, and I hope he longed for me. To be alive means to miss. 

"Chasing after him is futile when nothing words," my words rigid as a tear strayed down my cheek.

Trista's silence was everlasting and consuming the room. She just looked at me with a type of pity or sorrow before getting up and embracing me in her arms. "Management is trying everything in their power to cover this mess up. I mean, Daniel and Marie have been spotted over and over again this past week."

Trista elaborated , "They're trying to bring the attention onto them instead of you two."

I chuckled in a smug tone, "It isn't working though. All my comments on social media are flooding with questions about Daniel and I. There's probably dozens of articles trying to uncover the truth."

Quietly, I grabbed my laptop off the coffee table before being seated on the couch once more. Trista mimicked my movements as I started typing my name into the search bar. There, I was greeted with articles dated from the last three weeks uncovering the mysteries of Daniel's heartbreaking song along with my flee to New York away from the limelight.

"Sienna Martin: Best Selling Author or Best Heartbreaker? That's ridiculous!" The brunette next to me spoke astounded.

"Even if I wanted to be with Daniel, there are way too many things telling me I shouldn't." I shut my laptop before looking at her, "Plus, there's so many complications between Charlie and I – nothing seems to be working out."

Suddenly, Trista's eyebrows scrunched. She stared at me for a moment, but only a moment before looking away deep into thought. "Do you have feelings for Charlie?" her words were quick.

"I– I mean, there's a lot more than just–"

"Sienna, it's a yes or no question. Do you have feelings for him or not?" Trista pushed looking at me with such an intensity it frightened me a bit.

I stood up feeling shivers down my spine. There was a forest in my head and all the trees were starting to burn down. "I don't know, okay! There's just so much with Charlie I don't understand. With him I could have my career back, a reputation away from Daniel, and maybe even fall in love. His father thinks we're together anyways, so it feels like he's the one I should just be with."

"You shouldn't feel like you have to be with him – it should feel like a choice," she reminded me.

I nodded knowing she was right. "I just don't want to hurt another person I care about again, Tris. Charlie has been nothing, but kind to me. If I broke his heart, I don't know what I would do with myself."

She stood up walking closer to me. Her footsteps were silent yet graceful. The older women grabbed my hands locking them into hers before she tried reading my eyes. Our parents didn't bless us with light eyes, but dark ones during the night. "I want you to look at me, okay? Tell me, Sienna. If by chance, you could be with Charlie regardless of everything going on, would you?"

Charlie was a sentiment to me. I loved him, but I knew I wasn't in love with him. That was the moment I knew I didn't have feelings for Charlie. It wasn't a startling realization, but a small one. It felt like a whisper in my ear telling me he wasn't the one. They say you'll just know when you love someone, and I was never quite sure with Charlie, but I was always sure with Daniel. I knew that regardless of everything, he wasn't the boy that my mind crossed to; he wasn't the boy I fell in love with. Trista easily read my expression slowly letting go of my hands.