Authors Note:
I'm literally have so much fun with this story, and I'm on such a roll it's crazy! Let me know what you think and leave a review! :)
Chapter Fifty Two
Time Jump – Two Years Later
Karina POV:
The last two years have been tough. I still went to the therapist, but I've only been going once every two weeks. She was really helping me work through a lot of issues that I have. Ones that resulted from the attack, and some that I didn't even think were a problem that had just been festering in me for who knows how long. She prescribed me some antidepressants when I confided in her about the nightmares, and the really low points that I was going through, and they were really helping. My parents were a little skeptical at first, but they also wanted to help in anyway, and even they saw the change in my attitude. I stopped wearing all the dark make up, and although I still wear a lot of black, I don't drown myself in it anymore. I kept the nose ring because I actually really liked it. There was also the fact that I stole Uncle Simon's money to get it, and I felt like if I took it out, it made that mistake even more horrible.
Apologizing to them was actually incredibly hard. They came in for a business trip Aunt Izzy had, and I was so incredibly nervous to confront them. I would totally get if they yelled at me, and said horrible things to me. I deserved it, and I disrespected them, and hurt them. I even gave Aunt Izzy permission to slap me, but she just laughed and pulled me into a hug. I still remember the conversation like it was yesterday.
Flashback:
I heard the car pull up to the house and my stomach just sank. I had no idea what I was going to say to them. I hadn't spoken to them since I came home, and I understood if they wanted nothing to do with me. I was horrible and misused their kindness, I didn't deserve forgiveness. The front door opened, and my dad walked in with their bags, and they followed shortly behind them, but Cooper wasn't there. I stood up and they made their way over to me.
"Hey kiddo." Uncle Simon said and I smiled.
"Hi." I said.
"We'll be upstairs getting your room ready." My mom said and her and my dad left, which only made my anxiousness worse.
"I…." I started but I cut myself off. I didn't even know how to start this conversation. "I…" I stated again but stopped. This was harder than I thought.
"Why don't we sit down?" Aunt Izzy suggested and I nodded. We took a seat on the couch and I took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry." I finally said. "I should never have done any of that stuff to you. you welcomed me into your home so that I could heal, and I just totally disrespected you and your home." I said and it seemed like I couldn't stop myself now. "I understand if you don't forgive me, or even like me really. I don't like myself for what I did to you. it was horrible, and I was being a bitch, and you two are the greatest Aunt and Uncle in the world, and I was so grateful that I got to spend more time with you."
"Karina." I heard my Aunt Izzy say.
"I'm just so sorry. You can slap me. It might make you feel better." I said. "I slapped Jack and it really helped me."
"Karina, I won't slap you." She laughed as she grabbed my hand and pulled me into a hug. "We love you Karina." She said and I sighed. "You went through something terrible. We knew that was going to manifest into something eventually, but after you took my car, and the money I had no other option but to call your mom." She said as she released me. "I wasn't doing it to punish you. I was doing it for your own good."
"I just, I feel awful. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since." I admitted.
"No hard feelings kid." Uncle Simon said. "Shit happens, and people deal with it in their own way. We're just glad you're okay."
"I'm doing a lot better." I said with a smile. "I see a therapist once a week."
"We love you K." Aunt Izzy said. "We always have, and we always will." She said and I hugged them both. It was something that I needed to hear in order to get past it, and I'm just glad that we can finally move on.
End of Flashback
I was currently in the shed, listening to some Pretty Reckless and doing inventory. I had asked for more responsibility with the facility. I graduated high school, and I didn't want to go to college, at least not yet, and my parents were totally supportive, but that meant I had to start working, which I didn't mind. I loved working at this facility, and I couldn't think of being anywhere else. I was singing along to the song that was playing when I heard someone laugh. I turned around and there stood Gallagher.
"What are you doing here?" I asked and he smiled.
"You think I'd get a better greeting after being gone for two years." He said and I shook my head and stood up and walked over to him and threw my arms around his neck. He wrapped his arms around my waist and hugged me back while lifting me off the ground. "It's so good to see you K." When he put me back on the ground we broke apart and I smacked him.
"Why didn't you text me back?" I asked feeling incredibly mad at him. "Two years Gallagher, and not a single word."
"A lot happened." He said as he rubbed the back of his neck. "You have some time to just sit and talk?" He asked.
"Um, yea. Just give me a second." I said and he nodded. I went over and grabbed my phone and called my dad.
"Hey princess, what's up?" He asked when he picked up.
"Hi daddy, I was wondering if you could finish the inventory of the snowboard shed." I asked.
"Aren't you there right now?" He asked and I laughed.
"Yes, but something came up." I said as I looked at Gallagher. "Please."
"Okay princess. I'll be right down." He said.
"Love you daddy." I said and he laughed.
"Love you too." He said and we hung up.
"Let's go." I said and Gallagher laughed. "We can just go to my house."
"Are you sure? I don't want to get in trouble." He said and I laughed.
"Nobody is home, chill." I said as I unlocked the front door. I walked in and I assumed Gallagher followed. I walked into the kitchen and started boiling a pot of water. "You want something to drink?" I asked as I saw him looking around. "You good?"
"This is going to sound creepy, but I always tried to picture what your house looked like, and this is not what I was expecting." He said and I laughed.
"It's just a house." I said.
"Yea, but there is something about the forbidden that just makes you curious. All the athletes talk about it." He said.
"Seriously? This house is that mysterious to you guys that you actually have conversations about it?" I asked and he laughed.
"Only a few have ever been able to make it inside." He said. "Most of them being snuck in by Jack, and they never came back. Sammi and Tucker are the only two left, and they never told us. And now their houses are the same way. It's like the ultimate mystery." He said and I laughed. "I just thought it would be filled with a lot more trophies."
"Basement." I said and he nodded. "My parents were never the type to like to show off their accomplishments. Except their medals." I said as I pointed to the wall. He turned around and looked at them.
"Man, I'd kill to have one of those." He said.
"Is that why you're back?" I asked and he turned around.
"There are many reasons." He said and I nodded. The water was done and I poured it into my cup and made tea.
"Come on, let's talk." I said and he nodded. We walked into the living room and took a seat on the couch. "How are you?" I asked.
"It was a tough two years." He admitted. "But I'm getting better." He said. "How are you?" He asked.
"I started seeing a therapist about a week after you left." I said and he nodded. "She really helps me."
"You still go?" He asked and I nodded.
"Once every two weeks." I said. "I had a lot more issues than I expected."
"Everyone has issues." He said and I shrugged.
"Everyone has been really helpful though. My parents have been great. Skeptical about some things, but mostly very supportive. Jack and I worked things out, and I told her she could return the slap so we were even, but she didn't." I said and he laughed. "I'm kinda scared she's just going pull it out of think air one day."
"Sounds like something Jack would do." He said and I nodded. "I owe you an explanation." He said after a moment and I shook my head.
"No, I owe you one, and an apology." I said.
"You don't K…"
"Yes I do." I cut him off. "I shouldn't have kissed you." I said. "Or at least I shouldn't have kissed you out of nowhere."
"It's okay. I just knew you were in a vulnerable place, and I didn't want anything to happen that you would regret." He said.
"And I'm sorry about ignoring you before you left, and just being a general grouch." I said and he laughed.
"I don't want you to think I didn't enjoy it, cause I did. You know I did." He said and I laughed. "I just I've liked you for years." He admitted. "Since I was 14 I've liked you. I thought about kissing you a million times, and it killed me to push you away but you were hurting, and I wasn't going to take advantage of that."
"I'm sorry I made our first kiss horrible." I said and he laughed.
"It wasn't horrible." He said. "Far from it actually." I laughed and he smiled. "I see you kept the nose ring." He said and I smiled and nodded.
"Despite my rebellious stage, and the way in which I got it, I actually really like it." I said.
"It looks hot." He said without thinking and I couldn't help but laugh. "That slipped out." He said with a laugh.
"I didn't mind." I said. "I think the times that things slip, are some of the most honest things people say."
"I want you to know K, I didn't want to leave." He said after a moment. "Being here, around all my friends, and you was what I wanted."
"Than why'd you leave?" I asked.
"My dad got sick." He said. "And they needed money for treatment, and unfortunately that meant the money they used to pay for the facility needed to be directed elsewhere."
"You could have worked something out with my dad." I said. "We have kids here with all types of financial issues that are easily helpable."
"It scares me how much you know about all the athletes here." He said and I laughed. "But that wasn't all. My mom needed helped. I have 5 sisters."
"Oh shit." I said and he laughed.
"My youngest is only 4, and she needed help, so I told her that I would do it." He said. "That's also why I never texted you back. Money got really tight, and things had to go. Including my phone."
"I'm really sorry Gallagher. How is he now?" I asked.
"He passed last year." He said.
"Oh my god." I said as tears filled my eyes. "I'm so sorry."
"He was suffering." He said. "It was hard to see him like that."
"I can't imagine." I said.
"It was tough, but we all are getting through it." He said. "Which is why I'm back." He explained. "I wanted to talk to your dad about my future, and if I still had a chance at going to the Olympics."
"Sammi went after having a baby. I think you can do it too." I said.
"I haven't picked up a snowboard in two years." He said. "I'm probably super rusty." He said.
"Yea, but it's just like riding a bike. You might not do it in years, but it's always easy to pick back up once you start pedaling." I said. "Once you drop in, everything will just click."
"I sure hope so." He said. I reached over and took his hand in mine.
"Trust me." I said and he smiled. We were quiet for a while before our eyes locked.
"I want to do something." He said and I nodded. He leaned forward and hooved his lips over mine. I wanted so desperately to slam mine against his, but I initiated the first kiss, this was all his. Finally he leaned all the way in and our lips touched. I didn't realize how much I missed this until right now. My arms locked around his neck and I pulled him to me. He laughed and I couldn't help it, I just never wanted to stop kissing him. I don't even know how long we stayed like that but it was over too soon.
"Jesus Christ." We heard from behind us and we broke apart and there stood my dad. "I could have lived my whole like without seeing that."
"Daddy." I said.
"Karina, how many times have you been told, no athletes in the house." My dad said.
"Technically he isn't an athlete here at the moment." I said and he glared at me.
"Jace." Gallagher said.
"Gallagher, it's been awhile." My dad said and he nodded. "Did you come back to stick your tongue down my daughters throat, or is there another reason?"
"Really dad? Why the imagery?" I said and he laughed.
"I'm the one who walked in on it." He said.
"I actually came back to see if I still had a shot." Gallagher said.
"At the Olympics, or getting with my daughter?" My dad asked and I hung my head.
"Both would be preferable." Gallagher said and my dad groaned.
"Come on, lets go to my office." My dad said as he started making his way down the hall. Gallagher looked back at me and smiled. I leaned off the couch pressed my lips to his. "Stop kissing my daughter, and get in here." We heard my dad called and I laughed.
"See you later?" He asked and I just simply nodded. He disappeared down the hallway and I heard the door close. I sat back down on the couch and I couldn't get the smile off my face. My mom walked in eventually and joined me.
"Why do you look so happy?" She asked.
"Gallagher is back." I said.
"Really?" She asked and I nodded.
"We talked, and figured some things out." I said.
"And that means….?" She asked and I opened my mouth to say something when my dad and Gallagher walked back out laughing at something. Gallagher made his way over to me a kissed me quick on the lips.
"Jace and I are going to head out to the half pipe." He said and I nodded. "Good to see you again Clary."
"You too Gallagher." My mom said and the two men disappeared. Once the front door closed my mom looked back towards me. "So that's why you're smiling like an idiot?" She asked and I just giggled. "Well, if you're happy, than I'm happy."
"So you approve?" I asked.
"I've always liked Gallagher." She said. "When you left I could tell he really missed you."
"Really?" I asked and she nodded.
"And when he left, I could tell you really missed him too." She said and I nodded. "Sometimes friends make the best partners."
"Like you and dad?" I asked and she smiled.
"Yea, like me and dad." She said. "Now, the rules aren't going to change for you young lady. You have the same rules that Jacqueline had. Curfew is 11, and he's allowed in the house, but no funny business."
"We aren't even together mom. We're still figuring it all out." I said.
"No one has ever been able to resist a Herondale baby." She said and I laughed. "There is just something about us that makes us irresistible." She said and I lost it. "I was going to make dinner, wanna help?" She asked after I calmed down and I nodded. We made our way into the kitchen, put some music on and started cooking. Despite how rocky things got, and the long road to recovery, I was genuinely happy these days, and I hoped that they continued, but I had no doubt that they wouldn't now that Gallagher was back.
