The moment the taxi pulled up to the curb, I tossed him a 50 and darted inside. I was greeted by the young girl at the front desk but was in too much of a hurry to respond. I was inside the elevators before she even finished her sentence, and the speed of the metal box as it moved upwards was killing me. What if she's already gone? The thought was killing me. There was no way she could have left already. She can't when there's still so much that needs to be said.

The doors slid open and I darted inside, my eyes catching onto a gleam casted off by one of her heels that she had worn to the event. If her shoes were still here, then so should she.

If she was still here, there was only place she would be. I took the steps three at a time, my foot slipping on the last one. I caught myself quickly and moved to the door at the end of the hall. I paused, took a breath, and then walked in.

Mia froze. Her watery blue eyes found mine, and hate flashed across her face. The emotion is so sharp that I felt like it could slice right through me.

"What," she hissed, the rage flowing through each word, "Do you want?"

"The event-"

"Made plenty of things clear to me. Now leave me alone."

"Will you for once let me say what I have to say?"

"You already said enough." She slammed her suitcase shut and started walking towards the door. I waited till she was close, grabbed the handle of the suitcase, threw it to the ground, and shoved her against the wall. She began to struggle, but I knew her anger was keeping her from thinking clearly; keeping her from figuring out the right move that would take me down but at the same time not cause too much damage. "Let go!" She screamed, the pitch high enough to make me ears ring.

"Just listen to me!"

"You told me to leave! I'm leaving! Just let go!"

"I didn't mean it Mia! I was pissed off, both of us say stupid shit when we're mad!"

"But I've never said I didn't need you!"

"I was wrong, I know that but-"

"No buts! It's like you said in your speech, people are abandoned. My mother left me, and so have you. I don't care. You want me out of your pathetic life, then I'm gone. Don't ever expect to see me again."

"Mia stop this!"

"Let go!" She screamed again, this time shoving me away in the process. I paused, my head spinning as I thought of a way to get her to stay. I could hold her down, force her to be calm, but I knew what happened when Mia was forced to do something she didn't want to do. She'd retaliate...with her fists.

"Mia please, I'm begging you, just talk to me. Five minutes, that's all I need-"

"What for? So, you can tell me more about how you don't need anyone. How you're all grown up now!?"

"I told you I was pissed off. I know it looked like I was defending the girl, but in a way, I wasn't. What I did was for you.... until the end...the words slipped out, I didn't mean any of it-"

"Look," she sighed angrily, "I really don't care. I have a plane to catch. It's time I went home. Coming here was obviously a mistake, one that I can promise I will never make again. I'm sorry I got in the way of your sex life. I didn't think it would matter that much because you know...I'm me...but people clearly change, and now I see that you don't value the past as much as I do. But like I said before, don't worry I've learned my lesson, I'll be gone here soon."

"Mia please, please don't leave, just let me fully explain myself and then decide if you want to leave." I was repeating myself, we were just going in a giant circle.

"No more talking Killian. Goodbye." She walked out of the door and my stomach dropped to my feet. I couldn't think, I chased after her, praying that something would come to mind to get her to stay.

"Mia!" She was at the bottom of the stairs by the time I caught her. I saw her pause, but it was only for a moment. She was moving before I could reach out for her. Desperation hit me hard. I didn't realize what I was saying until she went eerily still. "Mia please...don't leave me again...please...I...God damn it! I love you! Do you understand that? I love you Mia. More then anyone in this world..." The room went silent, but it didn't last long. My mouth betrayed me, words gushing out like water from a ruptured pipe, "I was pissed off because I was jealous okay? I saw that man basically all over you and I couldn't stand it. All I could think about was that it should have been me. I should have been the one next to you, the one trying to calm you down because someone hurt you or made you mad.

"And when I shoved you...I didn't do it because I was defending her...trust me, I didn't even want to see her tonight...I did it because I knew you. I could see the anger in your eyes, the slight shake in your clenched fists. So yeah I shoved you away...I didn't want you to do something that would fuck up your career, I know how much it all means to you! And then yeah I said some shit that was mean...but I was just so...you were hiding behind him...I was pissed that you were hiding behind another guy from me.

"Mia I didn't mean anything from the event. I love you, I always have, it's just been-" her suitcase crashed onto the ground, clothes spilling out onto the floor. I opened my mouth to ask if she was okay but she was gone in an instant. The elevator doors closed slowly, tears dripping down her cheeks as her blue eyes met my own. They closed, the condo completely empty. No...

***
Mia

"To the airport then?" Jake asked. I shook my head and gave him an address. He paused at the order, his brown eyes finding mine from the review mirror, "Is everything alright Ms. Renee?"

"Drive." I snapped, instantly regretting my tone. He didn't deserve any of my attitude.

"Of course ma'am." He didn't say another word; the car slipped into traffic and we were off.

"Sometimes I wonder if true love exists...you know the whole soul mate ordeal and what not." She said from the other side of the office. As if it were his cue, Chief grabbed a few folders and practically stormed out. I grinned at his fleeting figure, only answering Carden once the door closed behind him.

"Why do you ask? Michael causing problems?"

"Nah... I was just thinking..."

"Is this about the fact that you failed for the fifth time at finding 'the perfect man' for me." Carden sent a glare my way. I gave her the bird from my side knowing she'd see it.

"I swear, you are going to be alone forever! What was wrong with this last one? He had an amazing sense of humor, and a six pack, and a freaking chiseled jaw! Here let me repeat that in navy terms for you...a mother fucking jaw-comma-chiseled!"

"If I wanted all that in a man, I'd go bug my old friend Killian."

"Ah, you mean the man in the picture that you're always staring at...?"

"I do not stare at it!"

Her grin twisted, "So that's why you always push the guys I give you away? You're in love with the boy you grew up with? That is so adorable Renee! You know I'd never put for for the sentiments type." I was glad she couldn't see my face; I felt like I was on fire.

"Carden, I do not love him! Hell, I don't even like him-"

"We are here ma'am..." Jake's voice broke me free from the past.

"Thanks." I said softly and exited the car. The condominium was just like Killian's, but a few floors shorter. Whenever I walked inside of the Silver Lights, I would be met with more of a silvery tone. Blacks and whites and silvers all over, but here, it was gold, pale marble, and a soft mahogany red all over. I walked up the the front desk; the wood wrapped all along the wall, a soft velvet covering the outside, with tassels of gold chains looped around. The place was calming, a dimmed lighting above.

"How may I help you ma'am?" A young man asked. His blue eyes gleaming. It was clear he loved his job, either that or he was just a really good actor.

"I'm looking for a Veronica Delerano."

"Ah yes, Ms. Delerano." He types something into his computer, "She would be on the 24th floor, second from the top."

"Thanks." I smiled and turned away. The inside of the elevators was almost an exact replica of the outside. There was no velvet though, just the dark mahogany red that the place was practically covered in.

The elevator came to a stop and it paused. There was a screen about the doors, words filtering across saying that they were waiting for permission to open. A few moments later, there was a low toned ding, and I was brought face to face with one of the most important blondes on the planet. She grinned like a child, but dropped it the moment she noticed my puffy red eyes and the fact that I didn't give her a smile in return.

"What's wrong Mia? I tried to call you earlier...your phone was off...your uncle said everything was fine...but... " she looked slightly panicked. I just shook my head and crashed into her, tears soaking her tank top as my wall started to crumple again.

Slowly we lowered to the ground. Veronica didn't say anything, she simply held me close and let me cry. Eventually she started rubbing my head, pausing only to send a text message. I didn't know what it was about, and I didn't really care. My head was killing me, the memories within causing havoc on the little sanity I had managed to hold onto to all this time.

"Mia..." I knew the voice, but I didn't understand why it shocked me; I knew that if Austin was in town he'd being staying with his little sister.

"She's fine," not really, "Did you get what I asked?"

"Yeah." I felt her hand lift off my back and reach up. My nose caught onto something familiar, and I instantly looked up. With a soft smile, Veronica took the glass of wine from her brother and handed it over. I took only a small sip, tasted a sample, and then downed it.

The red wine warmed my stomach. I waited for the wine to settle and then just laid out on the floor, the bottom of my dress keeping my legs together. I started pulling it up so I could get more freedom but was stopped.

"Would you like me to get you some sweat pants and a tank top?"

"If you bring me something glittery, I might strangle you."

"Please," she scoffed, her brother helping her to her feet, "Don't deny that you would secretly love it." She didn't wait for me to respond; she was gone before I could even think about a come-back.

Five minutes later I was sitting at Veronica's bar in a pair of grey sweatpants and a black tank top that had the word 'fabulous' written across the chest in gleaming white gem stones. I couldn't stop glaring.

"It was the least sparkly one. Get over yourself woman!" I didn't respond till the glass in front of me was empty.

"Do you mind if I crash here till I leave?"

"Sure...but...is everything okay Mia? Your cute, red, puffy eyes tell me you were crying earlier..."

"I'm fine." I love you! His words perfectly clear inside my head, Do, you understand that?

"How did feel when Aaron told you he loved you?"

"Pretty happy actually...I was grinning for days. Why do you ask?"

"No reason."

"Chief," I caught him by the door, "I was just told we had another run to do?"

"That's what they said at khaki call." He sighed.

"You're not happy about it?"

"Just a bad feeling-"

"Oh my god Mia," Carden rounding the corner with too much enthusiasm. Her body collided with mine, my back slamming into the wall, "Have I ever told you how much I love you!?"

"I'm assuming you received the tickets? And no, this is actually the first time I've heard those words directed at me and not Michael."

"Yes I did, and we all know that-"

"You're thinking about her," Veronica's voice filtered into the memory, "Aren't you?"

"How can you tell?"

"The look in your eyes give you away."

"She's been on my mind a lot lately. Too many reminders..."

"Is that why you were crying?"

"Yes, and no."

"Are you going to tell me what happened? Or is this going to end up like before?"

"This time and that time are two different thing!" I snapped. It didn't phase her.

"I'm sure it's not, but that doesn't mean that you aren't going to start sulking and push away everybody because you don't want a pity party."

"I am not sulking!"

"Says the girl who came to my doorstep in tears."

"You don't have a doorstep!" I corrected her.

"But you get my point...just tell me what happened and we will go from there." I looked away, his words still ringing in my ears. "Did you and Killian get into another fight?" My body went rigid.

"N-not exactly..."

"But this whole ordeal does have to do with him?" My head shook in response.

"Come on Mia." She wrapped an arm around me, pulling me till I was right next to her. "I know I'm not Carden, but you realize that you can tell me anything right?"

"He told me he loved me." I whispered.

"What!?"

*🍷*

Alright be honest...how many of you saw this coming? I'm glad that he finally admitted his love for her. We all can gladly admit that they make an adorable couple all ready. They are perfect for each other.

But there is more to come....

And I can wait for you all to read it!!!!