Page 70 of Chasing Elliott
My mother tensed up at the mention of Everett, her face turning a shade of red. “What did you just say?”
"Get out," I said through gritted teeth as I started walking toward my room, Mia following close behind me as I refused to continue our conversation.
I heard my mom sigh, and I clenched my jaw together. "You're kicking out your own mother?"
"Damn right I am," I spat as I turned around to look at her one last time. "Get out of my house."
Not bothering to wait, I turned back around and made a mad dash for my room. Letting Mia in with me, I slammed the door shut and fell onto my bed as I reached for the pillow and clutched it tightly to my chest. Shoving my face in it, I sobbed until my lungs hurt and my head pounded, but no amount of crying could ever get me back what I lost.
"Mia, stop," I groaned as I pulled my pillow over my head to try and muffle her whining. "Just five more minutes."
Suddenly, a knock on the front door caused Mia to start barking. I sighed loudly as Iswung my legs out of bed and opened my bedroom door. Mia immediately darted toward thefront door and sat in front of it with her head tilted slightly to the left.
"I'm coming," I said loudly after hearing another knock. Pulling open the door, my eyes widened before tears sprung to them, relief rushing through me. "Oh, thank god."
"I got your voicemail," my Aunt breathed out as she wrapped her arms around me. "Icame as soon as I could. I brought breakfast."
Smiling widely, I pulled back and stepped to the side so she could come in. Mia immediately started rubbing against my Aunt's legs and she cooed as she bent down to pet her.
"She likes you," I pointed out softly as I closed the front door. My Aunt smiled up at mebefore she walked into the kitchen and grabbed some plates out of the cabinet. Pulling a coupledonuts out of the bag she carried with her, she placed them on the plates before handing one to me.
"How are you holding up?" She asked as she rested against the counter and took a bite ofher donut. She looked at me intently and I knew there was no point in lying.
Sighing, I ran a hand through my hair before reaching for my glazed donut. "Not too good to be honest. I don't blame Kay for storming out and not wanting to talk to me, but it's so hard not having my best friend here. And what's worse is I don't have the slightest clue on how to fix it. Or if I even can."
I choked on a sob and put the donut back down before turning around to put the plate on the coffee table. Flopping down on the couch, I put my head in my hands and felt the couch dip beside me. My Aunt put a hand on my back and rubbed small circles there till I lifted my head out of my hands.
"I'm really sorry, bug," she said sadly as she gave me a very weak smile. "Unfortunately,I think you just have to give her time and hope that it's enough."
"And what if it's not?" I whispered as the tears started to escape my eyes.
"Then you have to find a way to move on and forgive yourself."
Taking a deep, shaky breath, I nodded my head before wiping at my eyes with the back of my hand. Staring at the television blankly, I swallowed the lump in my throat before my Aunt started talking again.
"I hope you're not mad at Nicholas, but he told us what happened with Cooper," shestarted to say slowly as she cast me a hesitant glance. "Have you tried talking to him?"
"No," I replied with a sigh as I kept my eyes trained on the floor. "I don't even know what I'd say."
"Bug, you need to find out what happened before you drive yourself mad thinking about it," she told me sternly, turning on what I called her ‘mom mode’.
Chuckling quietly, I shook my head. "I know, trust me I know. I just feel lost."
My Aunt nodded as she started rubbing small circles on my back again. Turning to look at her, I saw the sad look on her face and I tried my best to give her a smile, but it faltered. Shepressed a kiss to my forehead before pulling back to look at me once more.
"Listen to me, Elliott. I know what it feels like to live with mistakes and regret, and Idon't want that for you. While I don't like seeing you heartbroken like this, I also don't want you sitting around without exhausting all your options. My little girl is strong, fierce, and takes control. She doesn't sit back and let the world tell her what she's supposed to do, she goes out and tells the world that it better look out because she's going to stop at nothing until she gets what she wants.
"You are one of the strongest and bravest people that I know. You are so unforgivably yourself and it's inspiring to see. You need to remember who you are and decide what you want for yourself and if what you want isn't achievable, you try anyway. You have the biggest heart, bug, and I think it's time you stop being afraid of it."
Scoffing quietly in disbelief, a genuine small smile came to my face. I put my head on my Aunt's shoulder and took a deep, relaxing breath as she wrapped her arm around my shoulders and played with my hair. Pulling back after a moment, I pressed a kiss to her cheek before climbing off the couch.
"Thank you," I said softly. Walking over to the door, I slipped on a pair of sandals beforecursing under my breath, remembering I didn't have a car anymore. Feeling a tap on my shoulder, I turned to see my Aunt standing there holding out her keys to me. Taking them gratefully, she pulled me into a hug.
"Go get him, bug," she whispered before pressing a quick kiss to my cheek. Giving her asmile, I turned around and darted out the door.
Pulling up to Benjamin’s apartment, I turned off the car and sat there for a moment. A million thoughts were going through my mind, but my Aunt was right - I needed to go after what I wanted, no matter how hard it may be.
Taking a deep breath, I reached for the handle and slipped out of the car, making sure to lock it behind me. Slowly walking up to the main door of the building, I froze with my hand on the handle before shaking my head at myself and walking in.
