Chapter Five

The front door slams and soon after, I can hear heavy footsteps, loud chatter, and laughing. I roll my eyes and close my laptop.

The Boys are here.

I leap to my feet, glancing in the mirror at my appearance. I'm wearing a pair of leggings, a tight, lilac-coloured top that had a Calvin Klein logo on it, and a black cardigan. I head downstairs, to see what everyone is up to.

The smell of sweat and boy's deodorant abuses my nostrils as I enter the kitchen. Finn and his two best mates, Alec and Jai, are raiding the fridge and cupboard for any food that they can find.

"Hey," Alec grins, giving me a broad, charming grin. "How's the better twin going?"

"I knew I always liked you the most," I tease and before I completely lost myself in Miles, I really did. My first ever kiss was with Alec, before my brother found out and sucker-punched him in the stomach. I somehow had a crush on both Alec and Miles, simultaneously. Alec seemed interested in me when we were about fourteen, but after a few threats from my brother, our two-second romance faded pretty quickly. Then my infatuation with Miles happened. "I'm good. Great, actually. You?"

I'm half lying, but with my cheery tone, he doesn't notice. Jai gives me a brief wave, before sticking his head back into the fridge.

"Always good," he replies.

Finn comes over to me, before punching me in the arm, semi-lightly.

"Ow," I whine, stepping back. "Don't touch my precious cargo."

Finn makes a face at me, reaching around and grabbing the rest of the muffins mum baked for us. I had planned to have some after dinner, but once the boys sniffed them out, the rest were gone in a matter of seconds. I let out a sigh, shaking my head. There goes that plan.

"Oi, you holdin' up okay?" Jai asks me, his mouth full of muffin.

"Yeah, why?"

"Miles," he replies simply.

"Oh," I say bluntly. "Yeah. I'm okay."

"We'll drop that mother fucker, just give us the word," Alec pipes up.

I grin, loving that The Boys always have my back. "Thanks, guys, you're the best."

"You heading to Wesley's on the weekend?" Jai asks. "Everyone is gonna be there."

"Is he having another party?"

"Yeah, his parents are away for a month so he'll probably have a few," he explains, before sculling an entire water bottle in about three seconds.

"I'll probably go, if Finn lets me," I roll my eyes.

"Fuck Finn," Alec smirks, earning himself an elbow in the stomach. He is always the one to test my brother's patience. It used to be Miles, but Alec has pretty much taken his spot.

"Okay, well, you guys have fun. I've got a date with my Biology notes." I groan.

Alec gives me a sympathetic smile as I turn.

When I get to my room, I flop belly-first onto my bed. I reach for my phone.

Isobel: We're going to Wesley's party on the weekend.

Samara: I already know that and I have a plan.

Isobel: A plan? Do tell.

Samara: You're going to look really hot and make Miles wish he never did what he did to you.

Isobel: I like the way you think.

Samara: I'm not just a pretty face.

Isobel: I know ;)

Grinning, I toss my phone to the side and pull my Biology notebook towards me.

It's time I start taking control of the game.

***

The next day cruises by uneventfully.

Miles doesn't talk to me. I notice a few lingering stares, but he left me alone. Finn was on patrol, his boys flanking him at all times, pretty much watching me all day. I feel weirdly smug about that fact. With these guys acting like my bodyguards, no one can try anything, and even though it's a terrible thing to think, because of Bentley, I don't mind spending time with Alec. We've always gotten along really well.

As soon as the bell rings after the last class, I quickly hurry to my car. I drive straight to work and get dressed in my scrubs.

I work from 4-8 pm on random weekdays at a dental office, as either a dental assistant or on the front desk, whichever they need on the day. I work at a privately owned practice the purely runs for people who work full-time jobs and can't make appointments during regular hours. We also run a community health regime, for people who can't afford dental treatment by offering discounts, vouchers, and payment plans.

My shift flies by and not long later, I'm out the front, wearing a pair of jeans, my vans, and a big coat. I rub my hands together as I wait for Bentley to pick me up. After a few minutes, I see headlights, before his car pulls up in front of me.

"Thank God," I say, sliding into the passenger seat. "I was almost ready to bail."

"Sorry, got caught up," he apologises, quickly turning up the heat. "How was work?"

"Busy, but good. How was football practice?"

"Hard," he admits. "And tiring."

"Sounds fun. What's for dinner?"

"I got us Chinese," he replies.

"Ah, that's what I can smell," I say, inhaling the scent.

Flashing me a grin, Bentley drove us up to the lookout, before cutting the engine. We exit the car and make our way over to one of the tables. The paint is chipped and there are pieces of chewing gum stuck under the table surface, but it's still one of my favourite places to come. I like that you can see everything from up here.

"You going to Wesley's?" he asks me, piling food onto his plastic plate.

That seems to be the question everyone is asking this week.

"Sure am."

I don't bother to ask if he's going, because all the football boys are big partiers. I have never seen a party without them there.

"Good," he smiles. "I was hoping you were."

"Why's that?" I ask him with a smile.

He jerks his shoulder up, a smirk dancing on his lips. "Will make it more fun."

We continue small chit-chat as we eat. I enjoy spending time with Bentley, he's easy-going and our conversations are effortless.

Once I finish eating, I pack up the food, before leaning on my forearms, watching the flickering lights of the town. The cool wind slapped the loose bits of my hair on my face. I tuck them back in annoyance.

Bentley's hand finds my thigh. I can feel the warmth of his skin, through my jeans. I flicked my eyes up to him, to see a devilish smirk lighting up his face. He leans in, pressing his warm lips to mine.

I can taste the sauce of the Chinese food on his tongue as the kiss deepens. His hand continues to move up my thigh and soon, his fingers are rubbing against me. I suddenly jerk my head away, startled.

We had made out, but he hadn't done that before. This was the first time, since Miles, that I have kissed anyone sober. I always felt much more confident whilst drunk, so it was taking me a bit of time to get used to how forward Bentley is.

"What?" he asks, a dirty smirk on his face.

"Nothing, I'm just-" I blink a few times, trying to gather my thoughts. I have been thinking that Bentley will only be satisfied with make-out sessions for so long - but I'm not ready to give over myself to him. The last time I was prepared to do that, I was left hurt, confused, and alone. I need to know Bentley a little better, before handing him a part of me that I can never take back. "Cold. I'm really cold."

His eyes narrow for a moment before he nods. "Yeah, it is cold and it's getting late."

"It is," I agree, quickly getting to my feet.

After throwing out the empty containers, I follow him to the car and climb in, greedily waiting for the warm air. The trip home is much quieter than the way there, but I don't really mind.

I like sitting back and watching him drive, while I listen to the hum of the radio in the background.

"Thanks for dinner," I say to him when he pulls up at my car. "I had a good time tonight."

"Me too. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah," I smile, before leaning in and stealing a brief kiss from him. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Isobel."

Once I'm back out in the cold air again, I run to my car, seeking the warmth it holds. After sliding in behind the wheel, I plant my keys in the ignition, before turning the key. A strange, groan sound emits from my engine.

"What the...?" I say to myself, trying to start the car again. After swearing loudly and hitting my steering wheel a little too aggressively, I jump out of the car and stomp around to the front, popping the hood. I've never had a problem with it before, I have no idea why it would be doing it now.

Using my phone light, I try to figure out what the hell is going on, but realistically, I am clueless about cars.

"Might go better if this was connected," a smooth voice says behind me.

I whirl around, to see Miles holding something in his hand.

"What the hell?" I exclaim. "Did you break into my car and steal that?"

"I didn't break into it."

"How did you pop the hood?" I demand, folding my arms across my chest.

"You had your spare key tied underneath the car."

"And how did you possibly know that?" I snap, narrowing my eyes at him.

"Because your mum does the same thing. I remember when we went to Dreamworld, Finn lost the car keys, she said it was alright because she always kept a spare underneath the car."

"Well aren't you intelligent," I say sarcastically. "Why did you do that to my car?"

"I wanted a chance to speak to you."

"Did you follow me?"

He shrugs.

"You're a psycho," I growl, jabbing my finger at him. "This is stalking."

"I just wanted a chance to talk, considering your brother's army won't let me anywhere near you."

"Yeah, I wonder why," I deadpan. "Put that thing back in my car. Right now."

"Is," he says softly. "I'm really, really sorry for what I did. I don't think you understand just how sorry I am."

I close my eyes and lean back onto my car. "An apology eighteen months later doesn't change or justify what you did."

"I know. I would have apologised sooner if I could get in contact with either of you."

"You seemed to find my number pretty easily."

"Only because I asked around. No one even knows who you are, where I was living before," he explains, digging his hands deep into the pockets of his dark hoody.

There are bags under his crystal, blue eyes. The stubble on his chin has grown into more of a beard, making him seem even older. I hate that I still want to reach out and run my fingers through his hair, just like I used to. I hate that he makes me wish I could forgive him and have him hold me, again.

"Okay, so you wanted to talk to me, to apologise, right?" I ask him.

"Yeah."

"Okay, you've done that. Can you return that thing to my car now?"

He exhales. "Are you ever going to forgive me?"

"It's not just me, Miles," I snap. "Even if I happen to forgive you, you still have Finn and my mum to worry about."

"You're the one who matters."

I feel my heart clench. I look to the ground, blinking furiously. I have wanted to hear him say these words to me for so long and now he finally is...

I hear the gravel crunch underneath his shoes as he strides towards me. He slides a finger underneath my chin, tilting my head back, my eyes meeting his harsh, blue ones.

"Forgive me," he whispers. "Please Issy, forgive me."

His warm breath fans my face and his scent wash over me. It's still the same as I remember.

Before I can stop it, a tear rolls down my cheek, and my bottom lip begins quivering. His thumb slides across my cheek, capturing my tear.

"Don't cry," he murmurs.

Soon, tears are falling down my cheeks rapidly. I shove him backward, hastily wiping at my face.

"You can't just say these things to me!" I cry, hating myself for showing weakness. "I hate you."

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I do!" I yell, crying even harder. "I hate you so damn much. I don't want anything to do with you."

"That's a lie."

I bury my face in my hands as I continue to cry. I hiccup loudly, feeling mortified that I'm breaking down in front of him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you," he murmurs.

He began to walk to me again, but I jerk back.

"Don't," I warn, trying to see him through my blurry eyes.

He presses his lips together, before going to my car and reconnecting the part that he took out. It takes a few moments and while he did that, I desperately try to pull myself together.

"You can spend the rest of your life hating me, but I'm back and I'm here for good. You can't pretend I'm not."

"I can try," I whisper brokenly, my voice raspy, my eyes stinging.

"That would be a shame," he tells me, before turning and walking from me.

I stand there, watching as he retreats, his darkly-dressed figure disappearing into the shadows.

I hop into my car and press my hand against the steering wheel, repeating his words over and over in my mind.

That would be a shame.

Yeah. It would.