Chapter 14
Gavin’s POV
In our third week in NY and I already found a place to stay and Rainne is the one who helped me with my things. It feels like we came back to those years that everything between us is okay. That there comes a point that I forgot why I put boundaries between us.
I got an apartment and I really liked it, I liked it because Rainne is the one who chose the place. I am not expecting anything, I just want to be with her. I even asked her to stay for my housewarming party, and she gladly said yes. She even helped me in all the preparations.
Housewarming party..
My best friends are there, my sister, Lorrie, and Rainne.
“Your apartment is so cool bro.” Seth handed me a wine.
“I know right. Anyway enjoy enjoy.”
“And look who’s with you.. Bet you’re having a good time here in New York.” Brix pointed his lip to someone who is sitting next to Eleona.
I just smiled at him and tapped his shoulder.”Don’t say anything that may put her into an uncomfortable feeling.” I warned him and he just smiled at me.
“How was it living NY life?” Seth asked me, who was sitting next to Brix and Lorrie.
I sat next to Lorrie and she smiled at me.
“Quite good. I am still exploring the place.”
“I feel envious.” Lorrie said.
“Why?” Eleona asked. I know El doesn’t like Lorrie, but she was too obvious.
“Well there’s a lot of opportunity here and Gav is here too.
I saw how El raised her left eye brow and smirked. This girl doesn’t know how to control her emotions and facial expression. I gave her a sweet smile, just to remind her that she needs to chill.
“I see. Anyway, thank you Rainne for helping my brother in looking for a good apartment. You really are the best.” She gves Ranne a sweet smile and hugged her.
“C’mon El, we’re friends and Gavin is like a family to me.”
“Ahhhhhh. Sweet!” Seth playfully acted so clingy and hugged me. I pushed him and he ended up on the floor.
“Hey…” He gives me a soft punch before sitting next to me. “Now I know why you two broke up.. Sadist!!!” He yelled at me without realizing what he said.
I gave him a glare and he bte hs lp when he realized what meant.
“That was a joke. Joke, okay? Don’t take my words seriously.”
“Funny you.” Brix said. “So, when are you going back to Forks, Rainne?”
“Next week, Friday. My internship will start on Monday. I don’t want to disappoint Uncle Mguel since he's the Director and of course my parents.”
“Can we go back together?” Lorrie asked Rainne out of nowhere and we are all shocked.
“Go back together?” I confirmed, she smiled at me and put her hand on my lap.
“I want to stay here with you before the start of adult life. May I?”
She wants to stay here with me? Why? We’re not a thing. I saw how shocked they are with what Lorrie just said. I smiled at her, but with a questionable expression on my face.
“Can we talk about that later?” I asked her, she just smiled at me and nodded.
“Didn't know that you are that into my brother.”
“I love him.”
I was shocked with the sudden confession and my eyes automatically landed at Rainnes’ direction. What is wrong with Lorrie? Why is she like this? Grab her hand and squeeze it.
“And I know you love your boyfriend too, right Rainne?”
“Enough! Help me get some drinks.” I pulled her up and then Rainne suddenly spoke.
“I love him.”
“Then I wonder how he feels right now knowing that you are here with your ex fiance’.”
“Wow! Do you..” Brix held El.
“We’ll just get some drinks.” I pulled Lorrie to the kitchen and when we’re finally alone, I looked at her. “What was that?”
She crossed her arms on her chest and sat on the side bar. “Why are you with her?” I can see how mad she is.
“She helped me look for a good apartment. What’s your problem?”
“What’s my problem?” She gave me a smirk. “Let me stay here until next week.”
“And why? I thought you don’t want to be here in New York?”
“But I want tobe with you.”
“Lorrie… we’re not what you think we are”
She laughs.. The kind of laugh that is full of pain. “After all these years that I am by your side you are telling me that we are not what I think we are? Then what I am to you then? A toy? A toy that you will use every time you feel like?”
I lower down my head before looking at her. There’s a tear now on her cheeks and I wiped it before holding her hand.
“I’m sorry… I really don’t know what to say..”
“Just say you love me too..”
“Lorrie.. You know I don’t” She slapped me, I caressed my cheek where her palm landed. “I deserved that.”
“Why? Why can’t you love me? I did everything for you, I stayed by your side, hoping that if I waited patiently, you will also look at me the way I look at you.”
“I wish I could..but you know I can not. “
“So, it’s still Rainne.. After all these years it’s still her. “
“I’m sorry!”
“You heard her.. She loves Axel.”
“I know.. And I have no plan of ruining their relationship.”
“I don’t usually swear, but you are bullshit. I hope Axel and Rainne will last forever because with that, I know that you will be forever in pain.”
I nodded at her..” She knows that we are together, can you just please act that we are together?”
She laughs and gives before standing and walking passed through me. “ You know I love you.” She walks out with a beer on her hand.
Lorrie is right, I am just using her for me to avoid Rainne, but she is important to me too. She’s always by my side and never leaves me, she didn’t complain every time I asked her to act with me. I don’t want to give her wrong ideas or what, but she is the only person who can help me overcome this situation of mine.
I come out with the beer and Rainne’s apple juice. She smiles at me when she sees the juice.
“Here are your drinks…” I put down the beer and handed her the glass of juice.
“Thank you..” She said and I just smiled before sitting next to Lorrie.
“So, what to play some games?” I asked
“Cool.. let’s have the truth or dare.” Seth suggested that everyone laughs.
“What are we kids?” El said.
“Why? It’s fun..” Seth replied...then he elbowed Brix. “Righ, bro?”
“Okay.. As you wish.” Brix got an empty bottle and motioned everyone to sit on the floor in s circle form. Everyone follows.
In the first spin of the bottle, it stopped in front of Brix.. He chose dare and Seth asked him to kiss El on the cheek that made me punch Seth. I know Brix has feelings for El, he just doesn't make a move because it’s part of our bro code “Never fall for your Bro’s sister.” which only applies to him and Seth because I am the only one who has a sister. The game continues and we all had so much fun with all the questions and dares. I can’t help but laugh every time Rainne does her dares because she doesn’t want to answer any questions. The next game we played is have you ever and makes us all look so serious about it, because we cannot lie. We need to drink if we have already done the statement given.
“Have you ever cheated on your partner?” Seth asks… and for a moment I want to drink my beer because Rainne is there and she knew that I had cheated on her a million times, but my heart says not to drink it, because I never cheated on her. No one from us drinks except for Seth which is already given because he is really a notorious playboy. I saw that Rainne was looking at me and my beer, but I just gave her a shrug.
“Wow….given for Seth..It’s not a question it’s a fact.” And everybody laughs.
“Okay. My turn…” Lorrie says.. “Have you ever fallen in love with your friend?”
Everybody drinks except for Seth..
“Interesting…” El said. “So we all went into the friend zone or risked the friendship.”
“And who is that friend, El?” I asked and looked at Brix.
“We’re done with truth or dare, bro. So I have the right to remain silent.” She pouted at me and everybody laughed.
“Whatever. Okay my turn.”Then Rainne's phone rings..She grabbed it on the table.
“Excuse me..” She stood up and answered her phone..while walking in the kitchen.
“I think I need to send her home now, maybe it’s Aunt Jhen.”
“She can stay beside it’s already late.” El said..”I can call Aunt Jhen to ask permission.”
“Or maybe it’s Axel..” Lorrie said that makes Els’ eyes into a tiny line.
“So what do you mean?”
“Maybe Axel wants Rainne to go home because it’s uncomfortable on his part knowing that…..”
“Enough!” I said with a pissed voice. “Don’t ruin the night.. It was supposed to be a happy party. I don’t want any of you to ruin my party because of your tantrums.”
El sits next to Brix and drinks her beer while Lorrie goes to the bathroom.
While waiting for Rainne to come back, we just play some card games.
Rainnes’ POV
I have no plan of staying the night here even if Axel allows me to. I know that he is not comfortable that I am with Gavin until this late at night. As I returned to the living room, I apologized to them for waiting.
“We can ask aunt Jhen if you want.” El said.
“It’s okay, El. Besides I really need to go home because we have an early appointment tomorrow.”
“I’ll drive you home..” Gavin insisted, but I saw how Lorrie’s face turned into red.
“No, it’s okay. I can call a cab, besides this is your party and your house, how come that the owner is not around.”
“I insist.. They are not others and besides El is here… I’ll just send Rainne home.” He walked to his room before I said anything and got his leather jacket and car key. “Let’s go..”
“See you again next time..” I waved bye to them and gave El a kiss on her cheek before following Gavin outside.
We have a silent way to the parking lot.. When we finally reach his car, he opens the passenger door for me before making his way in the driver's seat.
I want to ask him about our game a while ago.. How come that he didn’t drink his beer where he obviously cheats on me for a million times. I want to ask him, but I refrain myself knowing how hot tempered he is.
“Spill it and stop peeking at me..” He said while his eyes focused on the road.
I looked away and cleared my throat. “I am not peeking..”
He smirked and laughed sarcastically. “I’m in the mood to answer questions, don’t worry.”
“And what makes you think that I have a question?”
“Because I know you..”
He is right.. He knows me more than anyone else. He knows me more than my best friends do.
“It’s nothing..”
“It’s bothering you, so it’s nothing.” He counter said
He is right again.. His action a while ago is bothering me. And damn me because I don’t why am I being bothered. I didn’t reply to him and just focused my eyes on the road.. And he did the same until we reached my place.
“Thanks for the ride.” I said before I unbuckled my seatbelt. He opens the door for me.
“Thanks for helping me in everything.. And thanks for tonight.”
“My pleasure. I’ll go inside now.”
“Goodnight, Rainne.”
He waits for me to get inside our house before driving off.
What the hell is wrong with me? Am I affected by Gavin? Jesus, No!
I immediately texted Axel the moment I reached by bed. I missed him and I wish he was here.
To be honest, I am having a hard time with the situation of our relationship now. Aside from the timezone, him being with Ashton is bothering me and me being with Gavin here is bothering him, but none of us open the topic.
It sucks that the first month of our relationship is long distance, now I don’t know if answering him knowing that he needs to go back to London is a good decision. I felt that I rushed everything and now both of us are suffering.
Days had passed and I spent it with my family, but when they are both busy I am with El and the others.. One day we decided to visit El’s new University together with Brix and we had so much fun exploring New York..While El was busy processing her papers, I and Brix waited for her in the library.Actually I missed hanging out with them because we became apart during our college days and now it seems like we are back to normal.
“Are you really not going to pursue, El?” I asked him, because I know how Brix really likes El.
He was choked with his own saliva because of what I have said.
“Are you serious?” He asked me back.
“Why? I know and everyone knows that you like El.”
“And she doesn’t.. So let’s keep it that way.”
“He will be staying here in New York and you in Forks.. You will not see her liked how you used to be before.”
“And?”
“It may be easy for you to suppress your feelings for her because you can see her everyday..but what about now? She will be out of touch for a long period of time. Can you handle that?”
“Wait.. wait.. Since when did you become good in relationships?” He teased me.
“C’mon! I just don’t want you to regret anything.”
“And why is that?”
“Simply because you are my friend..”
“I see.. But El is out of my league.”
“Why?”
“Because she is not.. I don’t want to risk the friendship..”
“Friendship..” It put me into a deep thought and then suddenly Brix waved his hand on my face.
“What are you thinking?”
“Nothing.. I just realized that I already risked two friendships of mine and I hope this one will last.”
“𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜, 𝚁𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚎.."
“𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘𝚘."
"𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠.." 𝙷𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚜..
"𝙰𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙶𝚊𝚟, 𝚘𝚔𝚊𝚢 𝚗𝚘𝚠?"
"𝙰𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝?"
𝙷𝚎 𝚐𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚊 𝚜𝚊𝚍 𝚜𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚎.."𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚍, 𝙸 𝚐𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚜."
"𝙲'𝚖𝚘𝚗! 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚢 𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚘𝚘. 𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚞𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚝."
"𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚏𝚕𝚛 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝?" 𝙸𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚜𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕..𝙵𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜?
"𝙷𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝.. 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚒𝚝 𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎."
"𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝙰𝚡𝚎𝚕?" 𝙷𝚎 𝚊𝚜𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚘𝚋𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜.
"𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚠𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚐, 𝙱𝚛𝚒𝚡?"
"𝙽𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐.. 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍."
"𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝙶𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎..𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚋𝚕𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚏 𝙸 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚞𝚝.. "
"𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚕..𝙷𝚎 𝚕…." 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚍.
"𝙷𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝? 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠?"
𝙷𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚞𝚙.."𝙻𝚎𝚝'𝚜 𝚐𝚘 𝚗𝚘𝚠.. 𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝙴𝚕 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚎."
"𝙱𝚛𝚒𝚡?" 𝙸 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚋𝚋𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚖, 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜..
𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝙰𝚡𝚎𝚕.
~~
𝙷𝚒,
𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝙶𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚁𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚎'𝚜 𝙿𝙾𝚅, 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝙶𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚘𝚘.
𝙶𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚋𝚒𝚐 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢, 𝚜𝚘 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚙𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝.
𝚂𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚞𝚙𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚎. 𝙰𝚗𝚢𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎, 𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚢𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚗𝚜.
𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎,
𝑊𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐵𝑎𝑚
