Chapter 7: The Fight

I didn't say anything for a long time, and neither did you. I stared at the land, the heat coming around us like a blanket, almost suffocating. "I'm not glad, Ty. No, I'm more than not glad. You should have let me stay."

"You know how it was in London. It's not life there. Just money and concrete. Nothing more." You reached over with your hand hesitantly sliding over mine. "Gem, I thought you had understood before. I thought that you were beginning to like it here."

"I have no future here."

You closed your eyes tight. "Don't say that. Don't say something that isn't true."

But it was the truth. Whether it be here or London, I was going to fade like an old photograph. I did like it here eventually, but I never planned on staying. if I knew what I needed, where I could go other than here, I would have told you. "I wish things were different, Ty, I really do."

"Things are different this time around. You don't have to be scared. You know me, you know this desert."

"I'm the one who is different, Ty." I was different. I didn't hate Ty, but I did't like him either. I didn't like any of this. I looked down to his hand still on top of mine. I jerked back without thinking and held my wrist to my chest.

"Gem," You faced me but I wouldn't look at you now. "You know you don't have to fight it this time. You can embrace everything, you can be happy."

My head snapped to look at him. "What? What do you think that i'm fighting exactly?"

"Your love for this place. Maybe your love for me."

I clenched my jaw. "Don't say stupid things like that." You instantly looked hurt, but I held firm. "I don't love anything here. I just want to go home." I got up but you grabbed my wrist. I looked down at your grip with a sneer.

"Oh, like when you got bitten?" Your tone became sarcastic. "And how did that turn out?"

"You should have given me more time!" I shouted at him. "I was almost done, almost free enough to live without them and then you do this again! Even after I begged you.." My words were drowned out by my tears. "You messed everything up! It would have been easier if you just waited!"

"I couldn't wait! I couldn't wait any longer." Your eyes were beginning to look wet as well, but you turned your head before I could really tell. "I just missed you, Gemma. That's all. I just wanted to be back here with you." You looked back at me, and never before had you looked this vulnerable, this scared to me. You looked like one word would crash and break everything you built to oblivion. "Is that really to much to ask from you? For us to be together?"

I looked down at your grip of my hand. I snatched my wrist back and looked you square in the eye. "It's a ridiculous thing to ask from me." And it was. It was like asking a million dollars from a homeless man. There was no limits to your demands, Ty. You wanted me, you wanted my life and now you wanted my heart. What more could I have that you would claim as yours? You stared at me with pain in your eyes.

"You don't mean that." You took hold of my shoulders. "I know there was something between us. And I know that you missed me too." I shook you off.

"The only thing between us was friction." I sighed. "Please, Ty. Take me home. Just take me home."

You narrowed your eyes. "No." You grabbed your glass and opened the patio door. "No, you are going to stay for a while and face what you are running from, Gem." You closed the patio door with a slam and walked inside without another word.

I burst into tears.

...

I sat out there for hours. My blood had cooled and so did my head as the sun went down. The sunset here was unlike anything I had ever seen before. The lights in London demented the colors and the lights took away from the beauty. But here, everything was natural and clear, as if this part of the world was untouched by human life. I closed my eyes, anxiety winning over the peace. What was I going to do about you? What was I going to do? I got up from my seat and rubbed my sore ass. Now that we were unwilling roommates, we could at least find some good furniture.

"Gemma?" I jumped at the sound of your voice. "Come inside."

I looked away. "I think i'll just stay out for a while, thanks."

"It wasn't a request. There is supposed to be a sand storm coming soon. Get inside."

I ignored you. You came out and grabbed my wrist without hesitating. "Let me go!" You scooped me up when I proved to difficult to be dragged. "No! Don't touch me!" I pounded against your chest but you simply kept going until you reached my room. "Put me down now, Ty!" You dropped me on my bed and left the room as fast as you came in. I jumped up only to be stopped by your closing of the door and a click. I tried to turn the doorknob but it wouldn't move. I banged on the door but you ignored me. "Ty! You can't just lock me in here! TY!"

A/N: Well, things are getting interesting. I like a little friction myself :) Thank you for reading and stay tuned for the next chapter.