Chapter 29: the first encounter

“excuse me” I rushed back out as fast as I could, barely holding the tears there was no way he said all of that to me, mot after...

I chocked back the sob that was caught in my throat.

I walked around, the weather becoming a little bit colder, I had only one thought in mind though.

‘I couldn’t go back there, at least not now, not when they were all there together’ I wiped the tears off my face not even knowing that I was already crying.

I found myself back at the restaurant I met up with my dad yesterday, I hadn’t meant to go back, there, it was like my legs just had a mind of their own, plus I guess that was the only familiar place I knew by memory

I walked in, desperate to get out of the cold, but not willing to go back to the house.

I took a seat furthest away from everyone, away from the window. It was kind of secluded, giving me the calm I needed desperately at this point.

A waiter walked up to me and dropped a cup of water along with a plate of sliced cake.

“umm, I didn’t order for it”

The waiter smiled at me. He was handsome, looked like he walked out straight out of the magazine, tall, lean but the muscles were evident, a little more than Ben

“I know, you looked like you needed it, it’s on the house.”

I nodded, I watched him go, the restaurant had this homey feel, one I could just get comfortable in, only that in the two times I had been here, I was in no shape or form to mentally enjoy the scenery.

I stayed for an hour maybe five more, before standing up to leave.

I stood up to leave, going to pay the man that had offered me a pastry earlier, he looked a year or two older than me but somehow seemed younger, as he seemed to smile a lot.

“Here, thank you for earlier,” I stretched a £20 bill his way, he shook his head. “it’s fine, it was on the house, remember?”

“oh” an embarrassing blush covered my face as I put the money back in my purse. “Well then” I awkwardly walked away. I had not realised how cold it had become over the hours since the inside was warm. But I sure got the cold burnt of it as I stepped a foot out, I had worn another pair of short-sleeved shirt to see my dad since it was warmer then, and I thought I was comfortable, that was until this afternoon

I checked my phone, no call, no text from Ben, I was disappointed, but I tried to tell myself otherwise, “it didn’t matter” I said to myself “maybe he’s just busy” I convinced myself harder. Even after everything he had done, I still wanted to hear from him, to know that he still cared about my feeljngs.

It was currently 7:30pm, normally, Ben didn’t let me out of his side for that long without calling or checking up on me. So this was new.

“You care for this?” It was the guy from the café, he was offering me some thick gloves. “They wouldn’t do much, but at least your fingers won’t get frost bites.” I smiled. Taking it from him and putting them on, it wasn’t much, but it made a whole lot of difference

“I’m Tobias”

“Allison” we continued our walk in silence, taking in the cold evening air. “Thanks for earlier, the cake” i explained further when I realised that he didn’t get what I was trying to say.

“It’s fine. You looked like you needed it” he didn’t pry, he didn’t ask what happened he just walked with me.

“that I did” I smiled we continued walking in silence. There was no words, but there didn’t need to be words, it went that way till I got to my house.

“I would stop here,” I smiled awkwardly at him, “thank you” I said pulling the gloves to give him. He put his hands over mine, effectively stopping me from pulling them.

“you can keep them, you could think of me anytime you use them” he gave a boyish grin and continued his walk down the road.

I walked in, thinking of how I was going to face them inside there.

I walked in, expecting to see all of them lined up like they had been earlier but no, Ben and Elias were watching TV, looking a lot less sober.

“Hey, you’re back” Ben asked half assedly.

“Hmm” I went straight to my room, swinging it open to find Emily there wearing a dress I had yet to wear. “What the hell!!” I was ready to snap. “You are wearing my dress!!”

She didn’t look fazed, like she had expected this to happen, “and? It’s obvious that I am staying the night I would need something to change to”

I walked right back into the living room.

“Ben! Can I talk to you”

“sure, what’s up”

“Alone please” something with the way I said it seemed to have been funny since Elias snickered.

We went to a secluded part of the house “what”, he said impatiently,

“Emily is in my room, and wearing my dress”

“so?”

“She’s in my space Ben, my space. I am not comfortable with her around”

“You’ll get used to it, love. If there is nothing else, I have to get back to my guest. He said leaving me there.

“seriously? You just want to leave?” I had never felt so ignored in my life.

I went back to the room, “you need to leave, totally ignoring what I said?” I said in a shaky voice.

“I see he didn’t take your side in telling him” she was so infuriating with her miss know it all snobbish attitude.

“I. Said. Leave!” I grabbed her hair and it turned to chaos from there.