Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Haley was heartbroken by the death of Harvey who I was still trying to remember was also my brother but I never got the chance to meet. I had to give it to my ma. She was pretty creative with our names, Harvey, Harley and Haley, pretty amusing if you had to think about it and not that impressive at the same time. But Haley didn't want to believe that our brother just couldn't handle the stress of bringing a child into the world or the past due bills that were piling up in their mail she created a conspiracy in her mind that someone killed him and she was going to find out who, we didn't bug her much but even Sue was coming to terms with her husband's decision but Haley's shenanigans were like salt rubbing in a wound for Sue and I felt terrible for her loss.

It had been two weeks since Harvey died and Haley demanded an autopsy so today we got the results back and she was happy to see that there were no drugs in his system the day he died so the card for him being murdered was on the table.

"I fucking told you so," she had gloated straight to my face doing a mini happy dance,

"Good for you now get off the table before you break something," I told her annoyed with her childish antics, the police could handle this now it was their job after all. I wasn't being insensitive or anything but how could I cry for a guy I didn't know sure I felt bad and grieve for him anyone would but it didn't go beyond that for me.

While everyone was in fowl or depressed moods I was slightly in a better mood flying above the sky and not because things were exceptional with Randall and me but because Cole was coming back tomorrow and I was like a yapping constantly active dog the whole day just wanting to speed time up even if it didn't work like that. Time was one of my worst enemies. When I wanted it to stop it just seemed to speed up and when I wanted it to speed up it took aeons to get to the next hour let alone day.

"What's got you all high and mighty?" Haley asked grumpily while I was humming to a tune and helping with making lunch.

"Oh nothing," I smiled, making some salad for Kyle who was beaming ear to ear to have me over. The kid loved me like I was his second mom.

"Whatever but keep smiling makes you look less ugly," Haley joked making gasp at her

"We have the same face dufus so you're just calling yourself ugly," I said sticking my tongue out at her,

"Na uh my face is prettier," she laughed carefreely, I was just glad she was smiling again. The only downside was her constant un-child friendly talk with Tyler while Kyle is around, sure I could understand their new lovers and want to spend every waking second together but they also had to consider that there was also a minor in the house not just forget about him and expect the nanny to raise him what was this Jesse.

"You wish," I scoffed dressing the table,

"Auntie look," Kyle drew my attention showing me his new electric car Tyler got him

"Wow that's one fast car," I awed, placing the plates down to pay my full attention to him.

"It's so cool," He excitedly said using the remote to make the car go around me

"Very cool now go put it away it's lunchtime, "I told him

"Ok," he said and ran with it to his room

"Wow he agrees to everything you tell him," Haley said she almost sounded jealous

"Not always but he's a kid he'll disagree with you on most things," I reassured her

"Tell me about it," she sighed before she flopped in a seat like she's been on her legs all day. The woman was barely four months yet she acted like she was eight months pregnant, such a drama queen. We had a pretty nice lunch date mainly Tyler was carrying most of the conversation since he was such a talkative guy and I come to find quite funny as well like Trevor Noah funny it was also such a bonus that he made Kyle laugh so much it brought joy to my heart and I could see how much Haley adored this moment. I enjoyed these random lunch plans they brought the old me back and with Cole coming back I couldn't be happier, he had been gone for four agonising months and now he was finally coming back I felt like a schoolgirl on crack.

By the evening I was already rushing out of the place just wanting to get to my empty lonely flat since I told Lila and Sarah they could stay in Cole's place as long as they didn't break anything they moved in right away. True to my word I took all of Cole's personal belongings and kept them in my flat for safekeeping till he got back which meant all his stash as well and he had a lot of hidden drugs.

When I got home I was already twirling and dancing out of joy just waiting for the day to end. I hummed in joy as I started cooking my meal which was a simple chicken stir fry with some Italian pasta. Little by little the kitchen sink was filled with plates that I was planning on washing after making everything, so once things were cooked and just simmering I began washing the plates hating how I made so much of a mess with using so much kitchenware. I was busy washing a plate when there was a loud knock on the door. I was a little shocked to hear it because it was pretty late and who would be knocking on my door unless it was my neighbour asking for something again. I was just glad to have installed those burglar bars for my safety.

I didn't have a peephole which was a downside so I got a chain hook instead on the door, when I unlocked it and slowly opened it making sure no gun was aimed at my head there wasn't a person in sight so I figured it was just one of the kids who lived in my estate playing ding dong dash. I was about to close the door again when a figure jumped in front of the gate nearly giving me a heart attack,

"Surprise!" Cole yelled with his outstretched arms holding a bunch of flowers in one hand

"Cole," I happily yelled, fumbling with the keys trying to unlock the door and gate at superman speed. My heart was racing through the roof just happy to see him and his goofy smile. The moment the gate was unlocked I jumped him like a koala bear with my arms and legs wrapped around him.

"I'm happy to see you too," he laughed, stabbing back a bit in shock when I jumped on him.

"You sneaky little devil," I beamed hugging him tighter

"Ya I know I couldn't wait another day to come back," he shrugged, walking inside rolling his suitcase with one hand. He kicked the door shut with his foot and walked to my couching sitting down while still holding me,

"So what I miss?" He asked rubbing my back soothingly

"Oh my gosh where to start," I scoffed, sitting in his lap admiring his slightly messy hair and stubble chin, he had bags under his eyes which worried me but maybe it was just from the jetlag.

"What about why the heck two people moved into my place?" He asked teasingly with a raised brow

"You are barely ever there," I said rolling my eyes

"Fair point but it's still my sanctuary," he said

"Sorry but they had nowhere to stay and it was getting way too cramped in here," I said

"That's their problems, not yours," he said

"There are my friends so of course, I had to help," I argued, sure Sarah wasn't exactly my friend but I still felt responsible for her well being.

"You're too soft for your good you know that," his eyes bore into mine with such intensity I didn't even realize I was leaning closer till our lips were a mere inch away.

"I missed you," he softly said above a whisper making my stomach churn,

"I missed you too," I answered, feeling my breath labour as he held my waist pulling me closer.

Randall

Shit his face just popped into my mind and sobriety washed away my desire for Cole as I realised this was cheating and deception in a way and unfair to Randall. He was my boyfriend now and I couldn't have this moment with Cole as we used to no matter how bad I desire them.

"What's wrong?" Cole asked me as I pulled back with a sigh getting off his lap and sat next to him.

"I have a boyfriend," I said, not sure why that sounded like a bad thing, there was an awkward moment before he spoke again.

"And why does that sound like a bad thing?" He asked, tracing a pattern on my exposed thigh, a shiver ran up my spine.

"It's not," I sighed staring at the ceiling wondering why my heart had to complicate things

"Then what's the problem?" He asked as he could easily answer it

"You are," I said aggravated

"And how am I the problem?" He didn't seem hurt but confused as to what this had to do with him, naive boy.

"Not exactly all your fault, it's just, remember when I told you I didn't have those feelings for you a couple of years back?" I asked him

"Ya, why?" He asked

"I lied I still do," I said ashamed, scrunching my face in shame

"Ok," he simply said with a shrug of his shoulder

"Ok?" I asked with a scowl like that was all he had to say when I just told him how I felt, his tone made me a little mad.

"Ya let me make it easier for you," he said getting up, the spot he was sitting in suddenly got colder.

"How?" I asked but he didn't answer me just grabbed his suitcase and headed to my bedroom,

"Excuse me I was still talking to you," I called after him but again he ignored me and continued walking to my bedroom whistling a tune just to aggravate me further. I rushed after him but he closed the door right in my face, rudely.

"Cole I know what you're trying to do and it's not working so open the damn door," I yelled trying to open the door but the damn fool locked it. He didn't answer me but I got a text message from him,

Cole: You sleeping on the couch, it's very comfy and I'll give you some blankets

"Are you serious?" I asked in belief loudly for him to hear me and most probably the neighbours as well.

Cole: Deader than a doornail

He typed it out so I guess he was going to give me the silent treatment. I had nothing to worry about. He would soon crack; he couldn't go five minutes without hearing his voice, so I let him be and continued to wash the plates in the sink and put them away after drying them. I had my share and left Cole's in the microwave since I heard the shower running so I had mine while watching some tv to pass the time.

I was wrong so very wrong the entire night he kept quiet, ate his dinner watched tv and went to bed without a peep meanwhile I was twitching like a cockroach just wanting him to speak but he never cracked what was most surprising was he didn't touch one single drug I brought from his place. He simply placed them in a box and locked them in my safe which was very embarrassing to have to tell him the password was his date of birth. A week passed since he came back and he managed to keep his distance even though we were staying in the same damn flat, I was at a boiling point just wanting him to speak to me even if it was to yell at me for being stupid or just anything but he never cracked just kept texting me like he was deaf.

The day I introduced him to Randall I was a sweating mess. I mean Cole was unpredictable but I was more astonished to find him acting all cool, Randall didn't mind me having a guy best friend in the slightest since we were in the twenty-first century his words, not mine.

"He's good for you," Cole had texted me that day when we came home, he had this serene look on his face that just confused me. Good for me, what did that even mean? Did he mean Randall was a good match for me or was he truly happy for me, men, I would never truly understand?

"Cole?" I begged dragging his name out loud, he looked up from the book he was reading an actual book, he never read what the hell happened in France while he was gone cause sure as hell this wasn't the Cole I knew. He changed quite a lot actually, he was calmer than usual which scared me because I liked his reckless behaviour. It's what made me fall for him in the first place.

He stared blankly into my eyes while I stared back annoyed for being ignored for so long.

"Talk to me," I cried rolling over to his side on the bed, he stopped my movement by placing his stinger feet in my face.

"Gross," I cried moving away to wipe my mouth in disgust, he snickered at my discomfort, "Jerk," I spat getting off the bed as I headed to the bathroom to rinse my mouth. He went back to reading his book so I decided to go watch some tv in the lounge and give him some space, true to his word the couch was comfy and I was so glad to have bought it. I didn't get five minutes of peace when my phone rang the caller ID reading my sister's name,

"Hey," I answered sitting up from my lying position

"Don't hey me we have a problem," she quickly said sounding out of breath

"Are you ok?" I asked her worriedly

"Oh ya just had a little tag game with Kyle," she said making me smile

"Awe that's so cute now what do you want?" I asked

"How the hell have you not been on your phone seriously the hospital has been calling us for the past hour," she angrily said, for the past hour my phone had been on silent and I was annoying Cole just for fun so explains why I didn't hear the phone ringing.

"What does the hospital want with me?" I asked

"It's ma, she overdosed on sleeping pills," my blood went ice cold