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The steam of my fresh cup of peppermint tea smothered my face as I blankly stared into the depths of the mug. I picked up the mug and put it to my lips, taking a sip of the hot liquid and almost burning my tongue in the process.

I glanced at the empty plate on the table. I was meeting my Dad just after lunchtime but I wanted to eat beforehand. I didn't want anything from him but answers.

Today was the day, I sighed.

The day Jace came back but also the day I was going to get answers from my Dad.

Normally, I wouldn't get my hopes up with my Dad but this time it was different. I allowed myself to be hopeful because he was the one who reached out, so why wouldn't he follow through with the offer? I quickly checked my watch; I had 45 minutes till I needed to be there; it would take half an hour to drive there. I knew I was cutting it fine, I just- I needed to mentally prepare myself first.

I downed the last of my tea, grabbed my bad and car keys and left.

I pulled up at the agreed destination just in time. It was a large coffee shop that I used to go to all the time with Sydney. It's a familiar place and today, I needed some type of familiarity.

With no sign of my Dad being here yet, I decided to sit in the car for five minutes before entering. Five minutes passed and there was still no sign of him. He had always been late to things though, so not much had changed. I mentally sighed, I was already making excuses for his behaviour again. 

I climbed out the car with my phone in my hand and walked into the café. I ordered myself a frappuccino and chose a table set back from everyone else. I impatiently sipped on my chocolatey drink. I flipped my phone onto its back when it lit up with a text message.

I'm proud of you. See you soon!

Seeing that message from Jace calmed the nerves I had formed down. I couldn't wait to see, smell and hold him again - but I had to get this done first. I carefully placed my phone face down against the wooden table I sat at and stared out the dirty window of the car park. I was desperately searching for a sign that he was just late.

Many hours and frappuccino's had been wasted as I still sat at the same table just waiting. 

Waiting for my father to show up and not just leave me again.

The café had calmed down now. The once bubbly and upbeat vibe now matched my own disheartened one. I pushed a smile onto my face as one of the waitresses I had chatted with a lot asked if I had still not had any luck. I shook my head.

With my phone grasped in my hand, I distracted myself by going through the many supporting texts I had received from my friends. This time a genuine smile stretched my lips as I read through the stupid but hilarious conversation everyone was having in the group chat.

But my laughter was interrupted by the noise of a chair being dragged against the ground opposite me. I nervously glanced up. It was the worker shutting the café for the night - I was the last one in here.

I grabbed my stuff and got out of there as quickly as I could.

My car still sat idle in the car park, I sighed deeply. I honestly only had myself to blame for feeling the way I do. I should have known that, I alone are not enough for him to show up. I felt the same way I did all those years ago, all those buried emotions resurfacing. I had agreed to pick Jace up from the airport, but there were still hours and hours before that time. I turned the key of my car, starting the ignition and manoeuvred my way out the car park.

I just drove.

I had no idea where I was going but that didn't matter. I was taking random turns and I was guaranteed to get lost, but that's what I wanted - to be lost. Be somewhere with no memories attached. So that's what I did and when I drove past a forest, I stopped the car, jumped out and wandered into the forest.

I walked over crispy leaves, hearing the crunch of twigs  snapping under my foot. I wondered in a straight line with the hopes I wouldn't get too lost. But there came a point where I couldn't walk anymore.

The edge of a cliff.

I carefully sat down just behind the daunting and long fall. I picked at the grass that gathered between my crossed legs and watched a flock of birds fly in front of the flamboyant sunset. The breeze howled, whizzing off the abundance of tree behind and all around me. I took a deep breath in through my nose. Something about the fresh air always relaxed me.

The cluster of trees felt... lonely. And I related to that.  

My phone tiredly sang the same tune whenever someone rings me. Feeling drained, I slid the device out of my back pocket and held it to my ear. I leaned back further and further till my back connected with the grim ground. I inhaled long and slow, closed my eyes and answer the call. 

"Hey, Princess." My body reacted to purely the sound of his voice. Oh, how much I wished he was here with me right now. And I wanted to tell him, but I just whispered, "Hey." instead. 

Jace is a very observant person, and I often forgot that, so when he stated about it not going well with my Dad, I was slightly taken back. 

"Huh?" I questioned as I didn't hear a word of what he had just said. 

"Where are you right now?" 

A frown mirrored my confusion as I sat up and looked around, "I don't know. Why?" I stared at the time on my screen and felt my heart drop. "Shit! You're at the airport now, aren't you? I'm so sorry." Too consumed in sulking, I forgot about the time. 

I recognised the way he silently laughed before speaking. "Don't apologise. Um maybe you could turn on your location?" 

"Why?" 

"So I can come be with you," he explained as if it was nothing. I wanted that, I truly did, but whenever something happens, I push people away. 

"I want to be alone right now." 

I didn't want to push him away; I didn't want to be alone, no, I wanted him more than ever to be here right next to me. I don't know why I said that when it wasn't true. 

There was a moment of silence between us both resulting in me feeling regretful of what I just lied about. I deserved that, he didn't. "Well, I guess we will just have to be alone together, huh? Now turn your location on." 

Through a sad smile, I answered, "Already have." 

"I know." I could hear the smile in his voice. "I'll see you soon, okay?" 

"Okay." He hung up the phone. 

-

Leaves rustling behind me caught my attention immediately.  The sun had now set, the only light coming from the lone moon, making everything appear more magical. I turned my head to look behind me. I wasn't at all nervous or panicked. Even though it was dark and I was in a forest, I wasn't scared. And my lack of worry was justified when I saw Jace approaching me. 

I rose onto my feet and slowly wandered over to him, being extra careful with my footing. As soon as I was within a close enough proximity, I was finally held in Jace's arms. I needed this right now. 

I felt his lips press against the top of my head before he held me at arms length, using his middle finger to brush strands of hair out of my face. I stared into his eyes and mirrored his smile. I positioned my hand on the back of his neck and gently pulled him into a soft kiss. I pulled back, creating space between our faces; I took his hand in mine and silently guided him to our spot. 

I sat in Jace's lap, my arms and legs wrapped around his torso, my face in the warmth of his neck. Neither of us had said anything yet, but it felt like he still understood me as much as I had told him everything. 

"He didn't show up, did he?" I silently shook my head as tears unexpectedly threatened to spill. Jace held me tighter. 

"I'm glad you're here with me," I quietly admitted, my face still buried in his neck. "Even when I acted bad towards you, you still came." 

I felt his hand gently stroke the back of my hair as his other hand rested on my thigh - I really missed this feeling. "And you know what, Princess?" 

"What?" 

"That's not going to change for a long time because I'm going to be here for as long as you'll have me." He kissed the top of my head as if he was sealing his words. I sat back and looked him dead in the eye; the colour always captured me. 

"I want you with me forever." 

"Yeah?" 

"Yeah," I smiled and leant in for a long, lingering kiss. "I love you," I whispered onto his lips. He stopped and held me back. I laughed at his nonsense ways. A grin split his face, "You don't know how long I've been waiting for you to say that. Say it again." 

"Noo," I laughed as I playfully and harmlessly hit him on his arm. "I mean it though." 

"I know you do. I love you too." We sat staring at one another, both our faces lit up with smiles. I threw my body forward, tackling him to the ground in a tight hug as both of our boisterous laughs echoed through the dark, lonely forest. 

Me and the forest no longer had anything in common as I was not lonely as long as I had Jace with me.

(A/N) Hey everyone!! I wanted this chapter to end on a happier note kinda signifying how they make the hardest situations easier for one another. I hope I delivered that way. 

Jace and Ivy's story is so close to completing - there's only one more chapter now :')

What did you think of this chapter? 

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Thank you for reading :)