Chapter 57: Chapter 57

LVII

"Where do you want me to take you?" Theo asks once we're both seated in his car.

Axel is nowhere to be seen, which means that he left, gave up.

"I, um,-" where can he take me?

Axel's place is no option, obviously. I don't even want to look at him right now. Neither is my parent's house. I could go to Amber or Liam, but a part of me is scared that Axel would burst in again. Not that he will, it's obvious that he doesn't want to see me right now, either. I don't really want to see his uncle again, however. He would be there if I stayed with Amber. Also, they just left me there. Sure, Theo was with me and I have no right to be mad at them, especially because I don't know why they just left me, but I'm still sad about it.

"You could crash at my place if you have nowhere else to be, you know." Theo says and brings me out of my thoughts. "We wouldn't sleep on the same bed, I know you're not comfortable with that. I have a couch I could crash on, it'd be okay."

I think about it for a moment, and come to the conclusion that he's basically the best option I have. "Are you sure?" I ask him and he laughs, nodding enthusiastically. "Yeah, my parents wouldn't mind and nor would I, trust me."

Oh, he still lives with parents.

Of course he does, he's only 18. Not everyone's like Axel, you know.

"Well okay then." I grin at Theo and he begins to drive down the road I've never been to before. A few minutes later, we stop by a nice house, about the same size as Axel's.

Goddamnit, why do I compare everything to him?

I sigh inwardly in exaparation at myself and step out of the Prius. "So, this is where I live." Theo smiles at me and with a hand on my lower back, he leads me to his house. It was already dark outside by now, and it's gotten colder, so I'm glad when we enter a cozy, warm house.

"My parents have their bedroom downstairs, and I have mine upstairs but unofficially, the whole place upstairs is mine and this is theirs." he explains to me and slowly leads me upstairs.

It does actually seem like an apartment. He has his own livingroom and bathroom, except for the kitchen which is downstairs.

"This is really cool." I comment and he grins.

"Thanks."

However, I can't help but notice that his apartment is much more messy than A...

No! Stop thinking about him so much! This is borderline obsessive, Sophie.

"I'll just crash on the couch for tonight, and you can take my bed." Theo says and I immediately shake my head.

"No, please, let me take the couch. You're already letting me stay here and I can't take your bed as well."

He chuckles. "It's no problem, Soph, really. I can't let such a beautiful g-" he stops, his cheeks red, mirroring mine. We stand there for a few moments, both of us silent, before I speak up, breaking the awkward tension. "I'm taking the couch, and that's final."

He gulps and doesn't look too happy, but nods nevertheless.

"Do you have something to sleep in?"Theo asks and I shake my head.

"No, but don't worry, I'll just sleep in this clothes."

"I could lend you mine if you want." he offers.

"No, it's okay, really." I say and smile. I can't really imagine sleeping in anybody but Axel's clothes. The rest of the evening goes by quickly. I take a shower and then Theo takes one while I watch TV. When he comes, he leads me downstairs to get us something to eat. We both just make ourselves a bowl of cereal and eat it, and by the time we're done, it's already nine PM.

"Come, let's watch telly a bit and then we can go sleep." Theo smiles, but just then a beautiful big cat comes by and I'm sold.

"Oh my god, is this yours?" I ask, completely in awe of the fluffy white cat. I stand up and slowly approach it, holding my hand in front of me so that she could sniff it and see I'm not dangerous.

"Yeah, that's Snow White." he replies and the kitty scratches her big head against my hand and behins to purr.

"It's so cute! I didn't know you had an animal."

He chuckles. "Me? I'm the biggest animal lover around here. I'd like to have a Boxer but my parents don't allow me."

"Yeah, because he'd bite my skin off." a new voice suddenly says and I look up to see a beautiful woman join us. "Hi, I'm Johanna, his mother." she introduces herself and I straighten myself up, and offer her my hand.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Sophie, a friend." she takes my hand and shakes it slightly, smiling at me.

"Nice to meet you, too. I've been waiting a long time for Theo to bring a girl home now."

Oh. Of course she thinks we're a couple.

"No, mum, she's just a friend." Theo quickly says and Johanna looks between me and him a couple of times.

"Oh, well okay then." she laughs and I want the ground to swallow me up. "You guys have fun, if you need us, we'll be downstairs." she smiles and leaves the kitchen.

I look at Theo, who's looking of into the distance, a sad look in his eyes.

"Are you okay?" I ask him and he looks at me.

"Yeah, I'm fine." he says and forces a smile. "I'm just really tired. Are you?"

I nod. "Yeah, me too."

"Let's go sleep, then." he tells me and walks by me, heading upstairs with me following him. He's suddenly turned so cold, is it because his mum thought we are together?

"Here, I'll bring you covers and a pillow." he says and exits in his bedroom, returning a moment later with two pillows and a comfty looking cover. He lays them of the couch and smiles at me. Reaching out, he tucks my hair behind my ear. "Sweet dreams."

"Sweet dreams."I lay down on the couch and watch him disappear into his room and turn the lights off. Sleep doesn't come for quite a while, and it leaves me alone with my thoughts.

Thoughts about my parents and how I need to check up on them and tell them I'm moving. Thoughts about Liam and Amber and how they are. Thoughts about how I'm going to move and sign in yet another school. And mostly thoughts about Axel.

Will he barge in again, drunk?

My question is answered when I wake up the next morning, still on Theo's couch. I don't know whether I should be happy that he didn't embarrass himself again or sad that he didn't even try. Does this mean that we're done? Or what if something happened to him?

Stop it, Sophie, you're thinking too much into this. Just go check up on him and make sure he's fine, and then you can get your things and leave if he doesn't want you anymore.

I stand up from the couch and peek into Theo's room to see him sitting up on his bed, looking like he just woke up. Wearing a shirt and boxers. I quickly hid behind the wall, praying that he didn't see me.

"You know that I saw you, right?" he says and I sigh.

"I didn't know that, no."

"Why are you hiding? My hot body too much for you to handle?" he asks and laughs.

I don't reply and just shake my head, smiling. "I was just wondering if you could take me back." I say, biting my lip.

I hear shuffling and he comes out of his room, still in his boxers. I look away.

"Back to where? Axel?" he asks and his voice is suddenly not that kind anymore.

"I need to get my things." I tell him and he frowns.

"Your things? Why are your things at his place?"

"Because I have been staying at his place." I answer and take a small step away from him. He takes a small step closer to me.

"And you won't be staying with him anymore?" he asks and I shake my head, because I really won't much longer. "Are you two over?" he finally asks and I exhale.

"I don't know."

"I don't get it. If you don't know then why are you so sure that you won't live with him anymore?"

I shut my eyes. "Because I'm leaving, Theo. I'm moving."

I feel him take a step back away from me. "Where?" he finally asks.

"Spokane."

I finally dare to look up at him and I wish I didn't. He looks sad and I hate myself for it. Why do I keep on hurting people?

"Why?"

"Because I need a fresh start, away from here and mostly because I need a stable place to stay since my parents kicked me out." I explain and he just nods, not asking further like he knows it's a sensitive topic for me.

"Does he know?"

I shake my head and he gives me a disapproving look.

"You need to tell him. I'd want to know if I were him." he tells me and I gulp.

"I know."

Not many words were exchanged after that, as I put the covers and the pillows back in his room and he gave me a drive to Axel's house. Right before I got out of the car, he put his hand on mine, stopping me.

"Will I see you again? Before you leave?" he asks, a single curl falling on his forehead from his perfect hairstyle.

"Maybe." I reply, honestly not knowing.

"You know, if you ever need anything, just call me. I'll be there." he promises again and I smile, leaning over and giving him a tight hug.

"Thank you." I say in his ear.

"Take care of yourself." he says and sadness fills me up. This feels like a goodbye and I've always hated goodbyes.

"You too. Bye." I tell him, opening the car door and getting out before anything could stop me. He waves from the inside and I wave back, turning towards the house I've had so many moments in.