Chapter 2: Please don't go

Cal POV:

I heard my door slam and the immediate cry of tears that I knew so well.

"Well thank god she's gone now", Layla said as she rolled her eyes.

"Get out." I said quietly.

"What?"

"I said get out!" I yelled. I could feel my skin getting hotter and hotter as my anger rose.

She quickly grabbed her clothes and scurried out of my room.

I slowly got up. Why did she come back? I thought she left me. For good. And now I ruined it again.

When I stood up off my bed I could feel the room spinning because of how much alcohol I had drank. Pulling on my sweatpants once again, I lit the room up in a familiar orange glow with the candles on my desk. It wasn't until then that I noticed the shreds of paper on the ground. Some pieces were damaged beyond repair, but I could still read a few words. I picked a larger piece up and read it. My heart sank. On it said, "I love you. You are my home" in my handwriting

"Shit" I cursed.

She found the letter. My letter professing that I loved her no matter what. I could just imagine her finding it, realizing how much I loved her, and then coming back and seeing me like this. I had to go after her. I couldn't let her leave me again.

I looked at the drawer of my desk and pulled the ring out and into the pocket of my pants. I knew what I was going to do. Running out of my room I cursed as I didn't realize which direction Mare had left.

"That way, your highness", Derrick said quietly.

"Thanks, you're a lifesaver"

I ran as fast as I could to make sure she didn't leave before I said what I needed to say. Almost tripping and collapsing off the stairs due to my intoxication, I found her at the doors of the castle preparing to leave.

"Mare!" I yelled

She didn't turn.

"MARE!"

She still didn't acknowledge me, but instead turned to open the doors.

I just couldn't let her do that.

Before I knew it, I had grabbed her hand. She flinched.

"What?", she scowled.

"What do you mean what?" I said, my speech slightly slurred. Suddenly everything felt so dizzy, and I almost collapsed.

"What do you want from me? I see the letter and think that I should change your mind, so I come back to talk to you, but it seems you've already moved on."

"Wait, no! Mare you have it all wrong!" I said desperately. Pleading almost. I grab both her hands and turned to block her from the door.

"Oh, so tell me. What have I gotten wrong?"

"I- I meant what I said on that letter!"

"Clearly you've moved on", she rolls her eyes.

That just makes me feel angrier at her. The fact that she just completely disregards my emotions.

"You left me!"

"And you told me to go"

My heart sank. She was right. I had told her to leave me.

"You tell me to leave, and then get drunk off of alcohol, and then have sex with someone. Forgive me if that doesn't warrant forgiveness for you on my end." She says coldly. "You hurt me Cal. Even after I chose you."

"You hurt me too, Mare! You can't deny that! You called me suffocating!"

She doesn't respond to that.

My drunken mind tells me to kiss her. So I do.

My lips land on hers and before I know it I'm pushed back forcefully.

"Don't." She says. "You want someone to kiss? How about the person you just slept with?"

"But I want you Mare." I say, a sad smile on my face. "I want you."

"She looks sadly at me. You already ruined your chance.

Drastic times call for drastic measures.

I take the ring out of my pocket and kneel down in front of her.

She scoffs. "Really, Cal? Even I didn't expect this move from you"

"Mare- Please. I love you, and I can't stand to be apart from you. Will you please just marry me?" I can tell that my speech is still not capable of passing as sober.

"No." she states.

"No?" I look down at the ground dejected, but with anger rising.

"Not like this." She tells me. "I have to go, Cal."

"Please- Don't leave me" I say, almost moved to tears. Not again…

She looks down at me almost as if she pities me. When she reaches for my hand I take it.

"Goodbye Cal" she whispers before pulling me into a hug.

This time she opens the door and I don't stop her. I just stand there, petrified.

"And for the record, you smell like cheap perfume", she adds before shutting the door on me and leaving me in complete and utter silence. To break it, I throw the ring across the room with such a force that it shatters. I don't regret it.

Dejected, I return to my room and take a shower. The heat calms me even at a scalding hot temperature. I wash off all the scent of Layla, and my deep binge of alcohol. After a year, I was finally alone. With no one by my side. The thought frightened me. I didn't know how to be alone.

Getting out of the shower, I pulled on my pants once again before closing the door to my room. I couldn't be in here tonight. Instead, I beckoned Derrick to follow me, which he did willingly to Mare's old room. The entire space was strewn with her belongings. Her pictures and her smell were also prominently present. I felt the urge to cry over my loss. Once Derrick positioned himself outside, I closed the door and collapsed onto her bed. Wrapping myself in her sheets, I felt the pang against my heart. The reality finally sunk in. She actually left. And there was no way she was coming back to me this time. With this thought in my head, I cried myself to sleep.

(A/N) Hey guys! Thanks for reading! This update came a little bit faster than I thought I would finish, but I felt really inspired to write, so I just kept on going! Please Review with your thoughts and tell me if you have any recommendations! Also, how deep I should go into intimacy, etc because I want to go with what you guys are comfortable with reading.

Love you all,

Katelyn