All Chapters of How We End II: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Chapter 02 I remained frozen in my spot. My eyes stayed fixed on him and I didn't, for the life of me, know how exactly to react. Dean Ryan was the last person I expected or, quite frankly, wanted to see in the time of my visit here. So, I felt it really surreal that he was standing in front of me at that very moment. Maybe it was just me, but he had grown taller. He was dressed in a neat three piece black suit with shiny black dress shoes to match. His dark brown hair looked well groomed and so did the beard which he had grown on his face. I felt my breath get stuck in my throat when my eyes made direct contact with his. His gaze didn't shift from mine, he let his ocean blue eyes stay piercing into mine.His entire aura seemed different, more intimidating.I’d have to admit it felt a bit nerve-wracking trying to hold his gaze. Sasha's voice snapped me out of my trance, "Wait, you two know each other?" I quickly gathered myself, clearing my throat, "Y-Yeah, um, Dean and I are old

Chapter 04 It was Monday the following week. Chris had spent the entire weekend apologising for how the night at the bar turned out. I wasn't even mad at him but he really felt bad for how I left that night. He solemnly swore not to try to play Cupid and set me up with anyone ever again. I wasn't looking for a boyfriend and even if I was, I wouldn't need his help finding one. The three day conference I was invited to by the Ronald brothers started today and just as I had promised, I brought Chris along with me as my plus one. The building in which it was being held was as large as it was beautiful. The lighting was phenomenal and it was adorned with a lot of breathtaking artworks. The ceilings were high up above our heads and the marble tiled floors were almost spotless. And that was just the waiting hall, where everyone who had been invited stayed socialising and pacing around. The conference was yet to start and people were still filing in. A lot of successful people wer

Chapter 06Dean was having a panic attack.That was clear by now.Apart from the mental breakdowns I used to witness after Dean would have a nightmare about Charlie, I honestly had never seen him like this. He looked completely disoriented and frantic.Luckily, I was familiar with panic attacks. Tommy used to suffer from them when he was younger and I watched my parents handle him enough times to know exactly what to do.Dean and I had found ourselves on the floor of the bathroom, his back against the wall. I pulled away from the hug so that I could face him squarely.Holding both his arms in each of my hands, I looked to him and said, "Breathe, in and out."He tried to do as I told."Dean, look at me." I whispered as calmly as I could manage. "Look at me."His ocean blue eyes met mine."Breathe." I instructed slowly. "In and out."He was able to do it this time."In and out." I said again, my eyes searching his. "Come on."He repeated the action but his body was still trembling.I pl

Chapter 08It was the anniversary of my father's passing.Three years.My father had been gone for three years.It all still felt surreal, really. It still felt like yesterday when my mother called me to give me the most heart wrenching news of my life. It still felt like yesterday when my father and I were trying to rebuild our father-daughter relationship. It still felt like yesterday when I was a little girl and he would tuck me in every night.Death was a thief of a different kind.It was the most wicked thing to happen to our loved ones. The pain of having to live with the fact that you might never see or touch that particular person for the rest of your life. The grief that washes over you when you think of a million things you wished you had said to them but didn't. The things you would do just to speak to them one last time. The hope that maybe you'd see them when you die too.The uncertainty of it all.It was crushing.I had promised myself that I wouldn't feel sad today but

Chapter 10"Got this for you." Julian said, handing me a gift wrapped present."Thanks, Julian." I smiled at him and gave him a hug.Chris threw me the party against my better wishes. At first, I was adamant about him having the party but seeing how much effort he put into planning it all, I started to love the idea of it. He made an effort not to do anything he knew I wouldn't like. He didn't invite too many people, he kept the guest list exclusive, just as he had promised. He kept checking things with me to make sure I was okay with everything he was planning and things he wanted to do.I don't know what I did to deserve Chris, really.The party had recently just started and few of our friends were still yet to come. I was already having a good time as it was. I felt really grateful to the people around me and the people that showed up. I had received gifts from Harry, Chris, my mom and now, Julian."I think that's another great perk of having a going-away party." I said to Harry