Shawn's P.O.V

The vodka wasn't of much help. 

Maybe it was the ear-splitting bass of the music or strobing blue-red-green disco light of the nightclub that scattered across my eyes that accelerated my resentment.

I made my way towards the dance floor and was immediately surrounded by girls, who seemed to be sexy, whilst some of them wriggled their asses against my torso, swaying it to the beat of the song, and some grabbing and running their hands through the naked tattoo sculpted across my neck and arms. I smirked at their childish attempts and began retrieving back to the bar but was rudely interrupted as a pair of lips crashed into me, devouring as much as it could in the bare three seconds before I kissed back and pushed whoever that chick was.

I joined David and Lexi back at the bar while they chuckled, shaking their heads.

“What?” I asked as I motioned to the bartender.

“Five Dry Martini on the rocks.” I ordered.

“Enjoying yourself, I see.” David teased as he took the cocktail glass from my hands.

“You bring me to a strip club kind of nightclub. Is it my fault that more than half of them are just looking for a random hookup that I don't wish to fulfill today. I am not in a mood tonight.”

“Does that have to do something with what the doctors said today?” David questioned but his words barely reached my ears due to the blasting music.

“I can't hear you. Let's just go now. We had enough for a day, I suppose. I have to do some packing as well.”

“Yeah, let's just go. MADDIE! ANDY!” David screamed out their names who were drunk dancing with strangers without a care of the outside world.

David walked up to them, pulling and dragging them out of the dance floor but from what it seemed, they were drunk enough to retort back and argue not to leave, Maddie poking her fingers into his chest and Andy attempting to get rid of the grip of his hand.

After a quite long argument, David managed to pull them both out of the nightclub and I heaved a sigh of relief and followed them, leading towards the exit.

“I want to dance. Let me go, you asshole. I want to dance and drink more.” Maddie whined in an annoying tone narrowing her eyes.

“Yes! We want to dance more. We won't move until you let us in there again.” Andy dragged Maddie down with him and stooped down in the middle of the road with crossed arms as if striving for some strike.

“You guys are unbelievable! Fine then, you two sit here while we three go back to Shawn's place and order ourselves a pizza.” David shrugged for validating his point as he started to walk away.

“Pizza? You guys are going to order pizza? And that, without me? Hell no! I ain't letting that happen.” Andy exclaimed, grabbing Maddie's hand, and stood up instantly.

“But-” Maddie tried to protest but Andy cut her off.

“Nothing is more important than food! Let's go.” Andy began to march towards the direction of my house.

I watched them walking as I stood glued to my position.

“Aren't you coming with us?” David asked.

“I will. I just have to stop by Matthews's house real quick. I need to tell Ms. Matthews that I'm leaving for a few weeks tomorrow.”

His expression changed on the mention of it. It struck me skeptical but decided to say nothing, nonetheless.

“I need to tell you something, Shawn.” He uttered hesitatingly.

“What is it?” I raised my eyebrow in question.

A phone call beeped in and I checked to find Dr. Zephen's incoming call. He was Chloe's privately assigned doctor and he was monitoring her for a year now. I excused myself and walked away to attend the call.

“Hello, doctor. Is everything okay? Is she fine? Did something happen?” I shot a peak of endless questions as soon as I entered the connection.

“Calm down, Shawn. She's okay. We've conducted some chemotherapy to observe any change. Let's hope for the best. Are you ready for your little trip?”

I sighed in defeat. I hated to feel this powerless. The last one year had been nothing less than an utter hellhole that I couldn't escape as much as I wanted to.

For over a year, all I had been doing was to circle around between hospital, pharmacy, and home. Everything for my little sister. She didn't deserve this at such a young age.

“Are you there?” His voice pulled me out of my deep thoughts.

“Y-Yeah. You were saying?”

“I asked if you are ready for your trip to Dr. Dannell Davis?”

“Yeah, I am. I'm leaving tomorrow early morning.”

“I see. I've already informed him about your arrival, but feel free to use my name, just in case it slips his mind. He's a very busy man. And Shawn, try to bring him as soon as you can. We cannot risk delaying the surgery any further. He's the best to handle such complex cases.”

“I understand, doctor. I'll look into the earliest early dates he could be available for us. I just pray that luck permits and we find the earliest days possible. I can't afford to lose my sister too, not after my mom. Not after… her too.” My words trailed off by the end of the sentence, almost inaudible.

Some memories and some people are just too painful to remember.

“I understand. I'll leave you to it, now. Have a safe journey kid. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, doctor.” I cut the call.
                                 ~

I sank down on the bouncy couch as I nibbled the best cookies of the universe. Not that it was only baked with the perfect ingredients, but also with the most selfless and motherly love of Mrs. Matthews. There wasn't a day when I didn't stop by Matthews House to visit both Mr. and Mrs. Matthews.

It seemed that the Matthews family lost its charms and liveliness. They were the most terrible actors. They might have been successful to outsmart others, but their bogus guise of a pretense of being happy with their lives never worked for me. Not only she crushed my heart into pieces, but she also robbed away their smiles with her. I had never seen them genuinely happy, ever since.

“Do you like them?” She asked as she ran her hands through my ruffled hair and attempted to arrange them in a proper fashion.

“Why do you even ask this when you get the exact same answer every time? I am telling you, it's amazing!” 

“I'm glad you liked them. Are you set for your trip for tomorrow?” She asked, taking a bite of the cookie.

“Almost. I have some reports to stuff in, that's it.” I answered.

“I see.” She got quiet all of a sudden. I looked over at her and I could say she wanted to say something that she was holding back, pulling it away from the tip of her tongue.

“What is it?” I asked as I held her hand.

“Maya called this morning.” She whispered with a weak smile.

I let go of her hand and turn aside facing the main door.

“Oh. I see.” That was all I responded with.

“She sounded happy, from the other side of the call.”

“Mhmm.”

“She asked about you today. First time in one and a half years. She asked if you were doing fine and were happy with your life. Even though she whispered it to herself, I clearly heard her mumbling that she missed you.”

“Mhmm.”

“Shawn… I know you are still mad at her for leaving or probably hate her by now but please, just try to understand her, maybe?”

“Understand what, Mrs. Matthews? Understand why she left when I have absolutely no clue? Understand why she wouldn't pick up my call or reply to texts for six months until one day she decided to change her phone number and made you swear to not share it with me, or anything of her whereabouts? Or understand why she left me right before the worst news cracked about my sister. I didn't sleep peacefully a single night after that. All I've been doing was trying everything possible to save my little sister. I was broken! I didn't have anyone to share anything that I felt inside, because no one was there to hear it. You know why? Because Maya was the only person I felt close enough to talk my heart out, let out everything I had inside. And she took that person away from me and left me all alone when I needed that person the most. Am I wrong for being furious and not willing to forgive her?”

There was a deadpan silence dissipated across the room. I tried to maintain my cool as I spoke but as I continued, it escaped more like a lash out.

“I am sorry. That came out straight rude. My apologies, Mrs. Matthews.” I apologized with a teary eye. I blame it on the Vodkas.

“Don't be. You're not wrong Shawn, circumstances are. Nobody deserves to endure what you've been through. You're a strong person, Shawn, and a good one. All of your good deeds will pay off one day. Everything will happen for the best.”

“I don't know. I guess we'll have to see about that.” A hushed silence surrounded us, but oddly, it felt comfortable.

~

I scuffled to pack my bags by the unstoppable rings of a phone call. I peeked into the phone screen to find the same name that had been calling me for the past fifteen minutes. I snarled before giving in and finally swipe the green button.

“What is it, Quinn?” I growled out before allowing her to complete the ‘hello’ formality.

”Woah, I missed you too!” She responded snarkily. “Can't I even call my boyfriend now?”

Boyfriend. The word felt more of confinement when it escaped through her mouth.

I wasn't thinking straight after her departure. At the same time, Quinn asked if we could go out for a movie that evening, and I, for doing absolutely anything I could to take my mind off Maya, agreed.  She imagined it as something else when I was very clear with my intentions. I didn't need any more romance, but she never understood it and began addressing me as her boyfriend. I retorted for a while but then I stopped. There wasn't any point in doing so.

That was a mistake. It had gone way too far.

“For the millionth time Quinn, I am not your boyfriend! Why is it so difficult for you to understand?”

I could feel the change in tone by the rapid breathing from the other side of the call. For all this time, the only thing I could figure out about her was, she did that when she was hit on a sensitive spot or rather calmed down her nerves.

“Why is it so hard for you to understand that you are my boyfriend. You're not seeing it right now but what we have, is something very rare and special, that surely that skank couldn't have given you.” She spat in a desperate tone.

“Stop it, Quinn. I don't want to hear anything about it.”

“She left you, Shawn! She fucking left you, like a little coward she is. Pathetic. I can't believe you still have a thing for her even after everything she has done.”

“Don't! I said, DON'T! I do not want to hear another single word leaving your mouth. Just leave me the fuck alone and let me do my rest of the packing peacefully.” I cut the line before she could respond with another one of her tantrums.

I heard a sharp knock on my door and I yelled at the person to come in.

David walked in with a somewhat apprehensive face.

“What's wrong?” I asked as I inserted the last piece of my clothing.

“I… I-I have a confession to make, brother. I had it in me for too long. But since now you are going to Boston, there is something you should know.” He stated culpably.

“Confession about what?” I asked nonchalantly as I placed the bag near the nightstand.

“The day of the prom… When Maya left all of a sudden… There's something you should know about that night.” 

My vision abruptly shifted towards him and my muscles tensed in reflex.

“What about it?” I kept a straight face, trying not to juggle about the endless possibilities of confession.

“That night, when Maya went inside her room, hurling and pacing around her stuff and suitcases, I climbed into her room through the pipes.” He paused to examine any reaction from me. But he didn't get any.

And so, he continued.

*Flashback*

The night of the prom.

David's P.O.V

I landed on the marbled floor and my eyes meandered around to lock Maya's sight. But instead, I found the room swirled upside down, her stuff deranged around with clothing and suitcases were thrown mindlessly around the corners.

Her eyes dropped anchor upon me, staring at me cluelessly for a few instances. Suddenly, her body made a flinch, and her mouth began to phrase a few words.

“David? Wh-What are you doing here?” She questioned, scratching her head in puzzlement, and walked towards me.

“I-I… Will get to it later. But the more important question is, what are you doing? What is up with all this stuff and the suitcase? Are you going somewhere?” I bombarded her with piles of questions.

She looked around, thinking about some sort of answer perhaps, before turning back to me.

“Sort of. I'm leaving.” She stated in a straight tone, maintaining her expressions stoned.

“Leaving? What do you mean by you are leaving? Are you going for some vacation?” I attempted to make out another possibility of what I had just heard but my mind wished to believe as stated.

“No. I am just… leaving.” She uttered in disdain.

“ Like, “leaving” leaving? You can't just leave. This had to be some sort of joke.”

“Do I look like I'm in a mood to joke right now, David?”

“Maya you cannot leave us, like this. We are your family as well, remember? You can't leave us, you can't leave me.”

Her now furrowed eyebrows shot a puzzled stare as she was taken aback by the last sentence I expressed.

Before I could think of an excuse, I found myself immediately crashing my lips into her, moving it in urgency to deliver some kind of warmth and desperation and a need for her to stay. I did my absolute best to convey the refusal to hold it any longer inside me that I held back for a very long time in those few seconds before she pushed me off.

“What the hell, David? What's wrong with you?” She squeaked in frustration, her face painted in incredulity.

“I am sorry, but I had to do it before I ended up driving nuts. I like you, Maya. I have liked you ever since my eyes landed on you when you threw off Lexi's phone into the pool. I've found myself growing my attraction towards you. But I swear I didn't know that Shawn liked you too before I asked him if he did. It felt like I was betraying him so I tried to get you off my mind but it was more difficult than I imagined it to be.  My system crashed when I saw you in that dress, looking so beautiful tonight and I couldn't help but feel the jealousy scratching inside me imagining Shawn asking you out and you saying yes. I remained quiet only because I didn't want to betray him. He is like my brother. But anyhow, I did because I just couldn't hold it any longer and I needed to get that off my chest.” 

She stared at me in awe for a few minutes for what felt like torturing hours. 

“Get out, David.” She blurted out coldly, but her words held strong authority. 

“Maya, I-”

“Just leave before I forget you were even a friend of mine. I can't imagine what Shawn would go through when he learns about it.”

“You are going to tell him?” I asked nervously.

“No. I am not going to tell him anything. I am going to leave this for you to tell him. I can't imagine what would go through his head when he knows this. Leave, David.” It was the last words I had heard of her.

**
David glanced past my irises, in an attempt to find any reaction but all he got, was a death stare.

“Shawn… I'm sorry, brother. I never meant to do it. I just… couldn't hold it anymore and consequently found myself in her room. I am-”

Before he could finish the sentence, my fingers curled up into a fist, and reflexively strode back, crashing with his jaw. A loud thud echoed around the silent room.

“Okay… I deserved it.” He muttered under his breath while attempting to stable his disrupted balance, scanning the drop of blood flowing down his lips.

“You bloody TRAITOR! How the fuck could you do that? And you've been keeping this from me for over a year? I fucking trusted you and you betrayed me by sneaking into her room? I thought we were brothers!” My voice aired out louder and angrier than I would have liked.

I felt an inevitable urge to beat the shit out of him until he begged me to stop but something inside me held me back from doing so. My blood boiled picturizing David's lips all over her and the thought of her letting him plant it, even for a millisecond, pacified it.

“I am so-”

“Leave. Leave my room right now, I do not wish to do something that I might regret later for the sake of our years' friendship, although you would deserve it.”

He opened his mouth, to say something perhaps, but a hint of guilt flickered around his face, and he decided to unopen it.

“I hope you find what you are looking for in Boston.” He mumbled before leaving the room.

Something about his tone hinted that he wasn't talking about Chloe solely.

Hey guys! Thank you so much for reading! I know I'm updating way too slow but right now, school is the top priority and I can't find time to manage both writing and studying.

I will update as soon as I can, I promise♥

I hope you liked this chapter. Dropdown your views on this chapter.

Don't forget to tap on the star icon right at the bottom.

Feel free to vote and comment.

I'll see you guys soon.
Stay tuned♡.

~Loveya~( ˘ ³˘)♥