Heya :) Chapter 21 is up. Sorry it's been like ages since my last update but there's reasons for that :P
80 comments guys! Thank you so much :D
sleepingmoon: Thank you very much. I have a few tricks left to put into this story which will hopefully not dissapoint XP
pumpkinqueen33: Thristy AND hungry for more? I'll try my best to fufill that. Thank you very much xxx
ouranhmfan10: No worries 'cause here is the next chapter :D
Anyway guys I have good news and two lots of bad news. So Imma start with the first part of bad news and that is, this is the last chapter until the end of January because I have to focus on my exams *sigh*. However, the good news (and one of the reasons this chapter has been so late), I've been writing a very special one-shot to be uploaded on christmas day :D SO you won't see the last of me really and this particular one-shot is closer to my original writing style :)
As a spoiler the title of it will be called - Once Upon a December.
Anyway, here's chapter 21.
Happy Reading xxx

It was Wednesday. A rainy, dreary Wednesday. Chelsea was not looking forward to seeing Vaughn. Her alarm started bleating off. She zoned out from the hassling noise and replayed Sabrina's words. The alarm's noise shouted through and she sighed. She lazily put her alarm clock on snooze and dragged herself out of bed. She threw on her usual clothes and set out to work, avoiding Vaughn at all costs.

-/-

Chelsea got to almost four in the afternoon before Vaughn caught up with her whilst she walked past the pet shop. She quickened her pace as she heard Vaughn come out.

"Chelsea!" He called out to her. Chelsea tried to walk quicker, "Wait up!" He ran in front of her. She immediately looked away from him.

"Um. Hi." She said quietly as she stared down at the ground.

"I haven't seen ya all day. Is something wrong?" He attempted to hold her hand but she swiftly pulled away.

"N-no. I've just been busy is all. Nothing to worry about." Chelsea looked into his purple eyes and then looked away again.

"Is that so?" Vaughn folded his arms and raised an eyebrow. Chelsea nodded. "Julia said ya didn't look happy the other day. Care to elaborate?" He questioned.

"Just an off day. It's not like you've never had one." Chelsea tried to brush past him but he got hold of her and lifted her chin with his finger so she would face him.

"Chelsea?" He asked sternly as if it were a parent telling off their child, "I'm not stupid. What actually happened?" Chelsea narrowed her eyes and pushed him away.

"Nothing. Just leave me alone and go play happy families with Sabrina." She huffed, Vaughn widened his eyes.

"What? Where did that come from?" He spat.

"I was told you kissed her and the only reason why you've been helping me is 'cause you feel sorry for me. I don't need your help anymore, thanks for everything but I'm done with it." Her voice continuously rose up. Vaughn became quite taken back with her allegations and then he lost his temper.

"Who the fuck told you that?!" He shouted, "Because that's fucking bullshit. That fucking weirdo came up to me being all humble and then kisses me. I didn't fucking kiss her. I didn't fucking help you because I felt sorry for you. I helped you because I fucking love you. You know that!" Chelsea looked into Vaughn's hurt eyes and held her hands against her mouth.

"I'm sorry, Vaughn. I just…well…" Vaughn rolled his eyes.

"Save it. Three guesses who told ya that. Sabrina." Chelsea blushed and ultimately nodded. Vaughn put his arms around Chelsea and sighed. "What's the matter with ya Chels? You know what Sabrina's like. Why?" Chelsea shook her head.

"I-I don't know. I just don't seem to feel like, well, me." Vaughn's eyes became wide again.

"It's not your dissociative-" He held her back.

"No." Chelsea interrupted him, "No, I haven't had any headaches in weeks. It's like I'm happy but I'm not. Do you know what I mean? It's only a phase, I'm sure." She quickly said.

"Still gonna keep an eye on ya though." Chelsea's mouth formed a straight line at the thought that no one trusts her to be a stable person. It seemed that once diagnosed with a mental illness, it will forever stay. Because of society. It looked as if Vaughn felt the same way.

"Right…" She said sadly and looked away. Vaughn realised what he said and shook his head.

"No. No. That's not what I meant. I just don't want you falling down the same hole again." Chelsea bolted back to face him.

"That's even worse than what you said before. It just boils down to the fact that you and everyone else don't trust me to be me." For the first time in ages, Vaughn pulled down his hat ever so slightly.

"That's not fair, Chels." Chelsea narrowed her eyes at him.

"But it's true!" She shouted. "I have to go now." She said as she strode past him and didn't look back.

"I'm sorry Chels…" He whispered and lowered his head.

-/-

Vaughn tapped on the door of Sabrina's mansion. He waited for a few seconds when there was no response. He rattled his knuckles against the door without stopping. It suddenly opened.

"No need to be so rude," Sabrina looked up as she realised it was Vaughn, "Oh, hey Vaughn. Come back for me?" Her face became flirtatious and her eyes held something sinister but Vaughn glared straight into them.

"Cut the crap. What the fuck do ya think you're doing?" He asked as barged past her into her hallway.

"I have no idea what you are talking about. Would you like a cup of tea?" She quickly changed the subject.

"I ain't staying long. What gives ya the right to tell Chelsea that I kissed you when in fact it was you and that I've only been helping her because I feel sorry for her? Who the hell do ya think you are?" He shouted at her but of course she remained calm and edged closer to him. So close that her glasses steamed up as he breathed.

"Same concept really," She placed her index finger against Vaughn's mouth. "Your lips touched mine as much as mine touched yours. And you're telling me you didn't feel an ounce of pity for her?" Vaughn remained silent as Sabrina lowered her hand. "So I thought. I never lied. Emphasised the truth? I can accept that. When will you be truthful with yourself and us?" Vaughn pressed his eyebrows together.

"When will ya get it through your thick skull? I want nothing to do with ya. I want you to stay away from me and if you even go near Chelsea, I'll give ya a reason to leave." He spat as he headed for the front door.

"Are you threatening me cowboy?" Sabrina giggled evilly but Vaughn chose to ignore the nickname she gave him.

"Take it any which way ya like. I mean it." He sneered as he slammed the door behind him.

-/-

It was almost six o'clock and so Vaughn gathered Chelsea would be back at home. He knocked lightly against her front door. She opened it almost instantly. He saw a police officer stood behind her.

"Chelsea?" He asked her as he stared at the officer. He seemed to be in his late thirties with dark brown, almost black hair. It was short but not shaven.

"Hi Vaughn, he just got here, I think you've arrived at a bad time. Mind if you come back later?" She said quietly. Something told Vaughn to leave and do as she says, but a small part of him said to demand to stay.

"I'd rather look out for you and I just wanna say I'm sorry, I didn't mean what I said before. I just care about ya." Chelsea smiled and nodded, she looked at the officer.

"Is it ok if he stays?" She asked him.

"Might be better to have someone with you, Miss Johnson." The officer had a refined tone of voice. Chelsea kept relaxed after what he said but Vaughn's heart skipped a beat. He took off his Stetson as he stepped inside. Chelsea and Vaughn sat on her sofa where the officer sat on the armchair opposite.

"This is a part of my job that I've never liked to do but it must be done." The officer said. Chelsea gripped onto Vaughn's hand. "Could you confirm who Mrs Stella Johnson is to you?" He asked her.

"S-she's my mother…" Chelsea stuttered and squeezed Vaughn's hand tighter which made him almost want to wince.

"She was found in her house at 4.47pm yesterday. She was surrounded by empty vodka and whiskey bottles," Chelsea's heart sped up and her head started to pound. She gripped hold of her forehead and her breathing became heavier. Vaughn rushed up. "Miss Johnson? Are you ok?" The officer's voice became concerned.

"Chelsea, where's your bag?" Vaughn asked. She pointed over to the coat rack. He rummaged through her bag and brought out her pills.

"Is everything ok?" The officer asked. Vaughn gave Chelsea her medication. It took a few minutes before her headache started to recede.

"I suffer with migraines." She said quietly. The officer nodded.

"Are you ok for me to carry on?" He asked her. She nodded slightly and nestled close to Vaughn. "Mrs Stella Johnson seemed to have been unconscious for at least 12 hours before she was found. I'm very sorry but she is in an extremely critical condition and may not have long."

Oh yeah. I said there were two lots of bad news. Ok so the second lot is that I've very evilly left you all on a little cliffhanger :P Ya love me really xxx
Well I won't say my goodbyes because for one, this is not the end and two, I've still got the one-shot to come. But I will say, you've been brilliant readers and I appreciate all of your comments and support. So all I really have to say is...
Until next time xxx