A/N: I'm pulling an all nighter to try and at least get 25-50 pages done so I can get back to writing the end! I could resist the impulse so two chapters in one day:) Enjoy!
SHTL- Sticking to Me: Part 2
I toss and turn feeling as if I just was hit over the head with a bat. When I realize I'm in bed I shoot up and check for my clothes luckily, they're still there. I already knew I looked like shit before I made it to the mirror. My eyes were so heavy carrying around puffy bags hooked onto a red and brown mixture in the sockets. I couldn't help but be angry still. Ian was the only person who could make me this upset but also make me feel like the happiest woman alive. I was pissed he did this to me made me feel weak and vulnerable in the matter of seconds. I was pissed that he was the one who made me feel whole again calming me down. I was pissed because he was the one who drove me crazy and made me insane so how could yell at me as if I chose to be this way.
I walked upstairs to the living room… no one was there, I walked to the kitchen… no one was there. The one place I expected to find Ian was the office but he still wasn't there. The situation hit me in the face Ian just walked out on me. I put on jeans, a blue sweatshirt, black boots, and black sunglasses. I didn't know where I was going but I just wanted to get out this hotel room… I needed to get out.
Point of View: Ian Somerhalder
I had no clue how everything escaladed so quickly. Even when surrounded by a breathtaking scenery madness strikes. Arguing with Tiara was so exhausting maybe because it never feels like anyone is winning or that anyone's point is getting across. There were times where I wanted to bang my head against a wall or just hold Tiara close and never let her go. I couldn't help but wish for the old days where everything was much simpler between the two of us.
I kept walking and walking on the snowy sidewalk passing many faces with different expressions. I had no clue where I was but I kept walking until I reached a bridge. I stared out on the slowly rippling water that showed the reflection of a man who was broken, in need of the one thing that kept him together the woman he loved. I had never seen Tiara so upset revealing the side of her probably that I had only witnessed. When I saw how broken she was I knew the only thing she needed was to be held and loved in silence.
"Hey you're Ian Somerhalder right?"
"Um yeah why do you ask?"
The five-foot young red headed man was holding a golden envelope. "I was told to give this to you."
"What is it?"
"I don't know I was just told to give it to you." He walked off eventually disappearing.
The envelope didn't have anything on the outside but what it held was so disturbing. I pulled out a little stack of what felt like photos um I didn't buy any pictures did I? The picture on the top was of Tiara and I dancing last night, the next was of her walking through an airport, which looked like the one here, her from the back putting her hair up with only lingerie on, and us holding hands walking into the Space Needle. Every picture went farther and farther back into the beginning of our relationship. My eyes widened when I saw the picture of Tiara lying on my desk with my head between her legs. The pictures went on to her straddling me on our first date. The last picture was of us in her car the night she drove me home… two years ago.
I looked back in the envelope to find a white paper. I unfolded it and was completely baffled.
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Morse code? I was left helpless out here I had no clue how to read Morse code along with most people in the world. I didn't know what to think or what to do. Holy shit I need to go back to Tiara. If this random person knows where I am then they know where she is. I ran back to the room not stopping until I stepped foot into the hotel room.
"Hey there you are." Tiara hugged me tight when I came busting into the room. She looked up at me still holding on, "I'm sorry you're right I need you and I'm glad you didn't go."
"I'm sorry too I was wrong for saying the things I did and pushing you when you were actually right about needing to take a break."
"About that… I don't want to anymore but if that's what you prefer then I'm fine with it."
I smiled down at her, "You need to eat so let's finish this conversation over food."
"I already have that taken care of."
I sit down at the table and lean back in the chair. Tiara places a small round cake on the table, hands me a fork, then sits on the opposite side of the table.
"I was craving cake so… I got cake."
"Hmm that's what I would do if I was craving cake." She took a strawberry off the top and bit into it slowly completely without ulterior motive. "So let's finish our conversation."
"I realized that taking a break wouldn't be too bad but if that's not what will make you happy then let's not do it."
"Now that's a drastic change. What will make me happy is you happy so honestly I could go either way it's up to you. I'll be your girlfriend or we can just be friends." She said licking frosting off her fork.
"So my fiancée is out of the question?"
"…Yes I just want to be sure and not have any major issues hanging over us even though I do want to marry you I'm just not completely ready."
"Then girlfriend it is," I said with a smile. I couldn't stop looking at her lips thinking about kissing them among other various places on her body. "Oh how I want your lips wrapped around me."
Tiara blushed and her eyes widened, "Uh excuse me?"
"I so didn't mean to say that out loud."
"But you were thinking it. I can tell by the smirk you're giving me."
"Sorry that I, your boyfriend, want to have sex with you, my girlfriend, until the world ends."
"Now that's a lot of sex."
"That's the point babe."
She bit her lip and blushed even more. A minute later, it slowly faded into a look of curiosity. "Have you ever felt as if someone was watching you?"
The question surprised me then I remembered the mystery note and pictures I had in my jacket pocket. "Um what do you mean when did you feel that way?"
"Every now and again but when I woke up it was as if someone had been there. Maybe it was right after you left I don't know. Then when I walked to Patisserie Valerie, I felt like I was being followed which didn't make sense because I made sure that no one could tell who I was. When I came back here, it still felt as if someone had just left. Maybe I'm just being paranoid forget I ever asked."
I need to read that letter.
Tiara decided to get a quick shower before we went to bed. After locking every door and window and closing every door and curtain, I went to the office. I sat down behind my computer and looked up a Morse code translator. I typed each tedious little mark and pressed enter.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS VERY EASY FOR ME TO GET TO YOU AND HER. I HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING AND I AM HERE TO PROTECT HER. THE MOMENT YOU OR ANYONE HURTS HER I WILL BE THERE TO EXECUTE THE CONSEQUENCES. IF YOU OR ANYONE HURTS HER, I WILL INFLICT EVERY LAST SECOND OF PAIN YOU PUT HER THROUGH AND TRUST ME I WILL TAKE MY SWEET TIME. SOME MAY CALL IT TORTURE BUT I CALL IT DEALING OUT KARMA. TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUS MR. SOMERHALDER BECAUSE THIS IS THE REALITY YOU HAVE TO LIVE IF YOU WANT TO BE WITH HER. TREAD LIGHTLY BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE THE LAST TREAD YOU TAKE. CONTACTING THE POLICE WILL NOT HELP YOU AT ALL AND IF YOU DO NOT WANT HER IN HARM'S WAY THEN YOU REALLY SHOULD NOT GO TO THE POLICE.I DO LOVE TIARA GREATLY AND I WILL GO AS FAR AS MY FEET WILL TAKE ME TO PROTECT HER... TO BE NEAR HER.
-THE BEGINNING OF YOUR NIGHTMARE
I froze breathing becoming shallow as I stared at the screen.
"Baby come to bed!" Tiara yelled from the bedroom.
I rose slowly still reading the mind-boggling letter over and over again. I shut the computer down then walked downstairs.
"What's wrong? You look like you've just seen a ghost."
I locked the door and closed the curtains, "I'm fine everything is fine." When I turned around Tiara had an eyebrow raised. "Okay there is something wrong. What is it babe?"
I climb on top of her, "You're not kissing me right now."
She blushes and puts her hands on each side of my face, "Well, let me change that." Tiara kissed me slowly sending a shockwave through my body I wanted and need more of her.
"How about I get you naked and have you screaming my name in a minute tops."
She laughed, "Not happening mister now go to sleep before you rip my clothes off like you usually do."
"Don't act like you don't like it." We turned out the lights and I pulled her close against me pressing our bodies together. A little piece of normalcy returned. "I love you Tiara."
"I love you too Ian."
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