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Cʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 39
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2.1k words

(Y/n)'s POV
"Stay strong and don't fall for his eyes, his lips, or his—" Josie's eyes dropped subtly, hinting at the nature of my relationship with Anakin, "You know, his manhood."

I rolled my eyes and playfully swatted her arm as I pulled a shirt over my head. "We're just having a conversation; it won't go any further than that." I needed to hear him out, especially since my anger had clouded my judgment and kept me from seeing his side. I was curious to find out if he would try to manipulate me with a sob story instead of taking responsibility for his actions. But if he could face his mistakes honestly, without making excuses, maybe I could start to consider the possibility of forgiveness—maybe.

I knew that giving him a second chance might not be the dma choice, but Satine had a point; he was young and bound to make mistakes. Even now, despite everything that had happened, my feelings for him were still strong. I didn't want to walk away and carry the burden of regret without at least hearing his full side of the story.

"Have you talked to Piett?" I asked, reaching for my car keys on the dresser.

She looked down and shook her head. "No, he's reached out, and I do plan to talk to him eventually—just not right now."

I nodded, fully aware that we were both facing similar struggles. I grabbed my purse from the corner of my bed and slung it over my shoulder. "If he really cares about you, he'll give you all the time you need," I reassured her, and she smiled gratefully in response. "Alright, I need to get going before I'm the one that's late. Are you staying here?"

She nodded and sank onto my bed. "Your aunt is cooking something that smells heavenly, so yes, I'll stay until you get back, and you can fill me in on everything."

"Make sure they save me a plate before you eat it all," I teased, chuckling lightly as I moved toward the door.

With each step closer to leaving, my anxiety grew. I knew this confrontation was necessary, but the fear of disappointment was terrifying.

"No promises." She joked back.

Anakin's POV
"What do you think?" I asked, turning to face my little sister.

She scrutinized my outfit for a moment, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "It could be better, but it'll do," she replied with a casual shrug.

I raised an eyebrow, "But you chose this one."

Another shrug followed. "It seemed better in my mind. I can't explain it." A yawn escaped her lips, and suddenly, everything clicked. I glanced at the clock; it was just past her bedtime. The only reason she was still awake was the nap we had taken earlier, but not long ago, she had been racing around the house with boundless energy. Now, she was on the verge of passing out.

Scooping her up, she nestled her head against my chest. "Let's get you to bed. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow."

She let out a long sigh. "Okay," she murmured, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

I carried her to her room and gently laid her down, tucking the comforter around her. "Obi-Wan is downstairs if you need anything, alright? I'll be back soon." I glanced at the clock again; I had to hurry if I wanted to make it on time. She nodded silently, her weary eyes fixed on me. "I love you," I said, brushing my thumb across her cheek.

One of the things I cherished most about my sister was how much she resembled our mother. It brought a sense of comfort that was hard to explain. Sometimes, I felt that if I needed my mom, all I had to do was look at her. "Love you too," she replied with another yawn, finally surrendering to sleep.

🤍

"Be careful out there," Obi-Wan called out from the porch, his voice firm as I swung my leg over the bike.

"I always am," I replied with a grin, slipping on the helmet that usually sat neglected in the corner. But with my brother's piercing gaze fixed on me, I knew there was no way I could leave without it.

As I revved the engine, he stepped closer, his voice rising above the roar. "What time should I expect you back?"

I shrugged nonchalantly. "Maybe an hour? Not entirely sure. But I promise I'll be home before midnight, cross my heart," I said, saluting playfully as I kicked the stand up and got ready to roll. "Is everything alright?" I asked, noticing the worry etched on his face.

He hesitated, the silence stretching between us before he finally nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Yeah, all good. Just—" He furrowed his brow, "Just please take care. You've given me enough scares lately."

I felt a pang of guilt. He had been doing his best to look out for us, and I knew I hadn't made any of it easy. Each time I left, I could see the shadows of my past misadventures flicker in his mind, and I understood how hard it must be for him to watch me go. "How about this? If things go well, I'll see if she wants to come over. That way, I'll be back even sooner."

His expression softened, a grateful smile breaking through. "I'd really appreciate that."

I nodded, lowering the visor to shield my eyes from the night as I finally set the bike in motion. I flashed him an 'L' with my thumb and index finger, our secret sign for 'I love you,' before speeding off down the dimly lit street.

(Y/n)'s POV
I sat on the edge of the rocky outcrop, tossing small stones into the water below, each one creating a brief splash before vanishing into the depths. A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I looked up at the moon hanging high in the sky. Thirty minutes. That was how long I had been waiting, and how late he was—thirty minutes.

I had promised myself I wouldn't stay a moment longer than the time I had decided for our meeting, yet here I was, clinging to the hope that perhaps something unexpected had held him up. Life had a way of throwing surprises our way, and I wanted to be understanding, but surely thirty minutes was more than enough leeway.

As I lowered my gaze, a few tears slipped down my cheeks, tracing paths of sorrow. The moonlight shimmered on the ocean's surface, and for a brief moment, I was transported back to that day by the bonfire when he had come to check on me. But the truth was stark and painful—his concern had been a façade, a mere act. He hadn't genuinely cared about my struggles. This realization weighed heavily on my heart. It was one of the reasons I had wanted to confront him, to sift through our shared memories and dissect which moments had been real. I knew it would be painful, yet I felt I deserved that clarity, which is why I lingered a little longer.

Turning to scan the horizon for any sign of him, I found only emptiness. With a heavy heart, I faced the ocean once more, a quiet whisper escaping my lips, swallowed by the roar of the waves crashing against the rocks, "Where are you, Anakin?"

As ten more minutes slipped away, realization that he wasn't going to show up settled in, and I decided to head home. Rising to my feet, I felt the tears I had fought to hold back finally break free. I hastily wiped them away with my sleeve, carefully making my way down to the sandy shore, mindful of my footing. Disappointment coursed through me, mingling with anger and a deep sense of loss. My heart hurt because there was still a part of me that had hope we would somehow work things out.

The hope I once clung to had slipped through my fingers like sand, leaving me with a sense of finality.

It took me another five minutes to reach my car, a stretch of time that should have felt insignificant but instead felt like an eternity. Each passing moment was a reminder of his absence, and as I settled into the driver's seat, the radio emitted slow love songs that made me want to break it. I glanced at the drawings he had made of me, now crumpled and discarded on the passenger seat, and in a fit of frustration, I tossed them into the back, as if banishing the memories along with them.

A nagging thought crept into my mind—was this all part of some twisted game? Had he been wagering on my willingness to forgive him? It was a petty thought, I know, but once again I had anger clouding my judgment. How could he have put in so much effort to win me over only to vanish when it mattered most.

With a deep breath, I wiped away the remnants of my tears and shifted my car into drive, determined to leave this moment behind. As I turned onto the road, I instinctively hit the mute button on the radio, silencing a love song that felt like a cruel joke. Perhaps love was simply not meant for me; every time I dared to open my heart, it seemed to invite only pain. My mother, Clovis, and now Anakin—each departure left a scar, and I couldn't help but wonder when this cycle of heartache would finally end. What had I done to deserve any of this?

As I paused at a red light, I leaned my head back against the seat, surrendering to the cruelty of my thoughts. The glow of the traffic light blurred into a haze, and I found myself lost in its radiance. The events of the past few months had drained me, leaving me feeling hollow and exhausted. Perhaps a week of sleep would be the remedy I needed to gather the pieces of my shattered self.

The traffic light shifted to green, and I eased my foot off the brake, only to jerk it back down as a convoy of police cars, a fire truck, and an ambulance barreled past me from the right. My heart raced as they zoomed by, and I silently thanked my quick reflexes for the narrow escape. After a brief pause, allowing about ten seconds for the chaos to clear, I pressed the gas pedal and resumed my journey home.

Upon arriving, I stepped out of my car and let the door slam shut with a hint of frustration. The thought of walking inside and admitting that Anakin had stood me up filled me with embarrassment, even though I knew my family would only offer sympathy. It was the sting of feeling foolish for reaching out to him again that gnawed at me; perhaps I should have just let it go, sparing myself this fresh wave of pain and humiliation.

As I entered the house, I tossed my keys onto the small table in the foyer. "I'm home," I sighed, shrugging off my jacket and hanging it on a hook.

Suddenly, I heard hurried footsteps, and my best friend and Aunt rushed into the foyer, their faces filled with concern. "(Y/n), oh my god, we've been so worried about you," Satine exclaimed, pulling me in a tight embrace.

I knitted my brows together, a wave of confusion washing over me. "I told you all where I was headed, didn't I?"

She released me from the embrace, her gaze dropping to the floor. "I know you mentioned seeing Anakin, but your dad called and—"

"Yeah, and that jerk didn't even show up," I shrugged off my aunt's hands, making my way toward the kitchen in search of dinner.

Josie seized my wrist, spinning me back to face them. Their expressions were grave, and I could see tears threatening to spill from Josie's eyes. "That's why your dad called," she said, her voice quivering.

"What?"

"There was an accident, sweetie," Satine interjected, stepping forward as she noticed Josie struggling to find her voice. "It seems Anakin lost control and went off the road—"

Her voice faded into a distant hum as a sudden ringing filled my ears. I pressed my hand against the wall for support, feeling a wave of dizziness crash over me. Nausea twisted in my stomach, threatening to spill over onto the foyer floor.

"—I'm so sorry, sweetheart, but it doesn't look good."

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Wow I've had this half-done for months and I finally finished it. I'm so sorry for taking so long!
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