Author's note: It was never, ever my intention to make you guys wait this long. Writer's block struck hard and real life struck harder. I'm so sorry. I'm also not super pleased with how this chapter turned out as a result. It feels like filler, like connective tissue and is supposed to work in the same way as the "Day in a life of Bri and Sev" chapter with time shifts except it jumps back and forth and is NOT linear. Let me know if you're confused! There is one awkward sex scene though. So there goes my no more sex scenes for the rest of the story schtick. You guys deserve it after waiting so long.
Thank you for sticking with me. Thank you for your patience. We're almost there. The angst will get resolved. I have the very last scene of this story written. I've had it for months. Seems like these characters want to take the long road round to happiness...
Characters are the property of Dick Wolf et al. Except Angie. Angie is all mine.
15 hours before shift start
Kelly didn't go to help a member of Squad when he left Bri at her apartment, distracted and upset about too many things to talk. Instead, shuffling awkwardly from one foot to another, Kelly watched Antonio descend the precinct stairs. He wasn't exactly nervous but a sense of caution radiated from his posture. This was the man who had taught Bri to punch. How to wind up and throw her whole body into her small delicate hands. She lived her entire life that way and he could only respect the example Antonio had set forth for her. Still. He was the man fucking his baby sister and causing so much drama Chief had sought Antonio's help to fix things. Kelly was not an overly proud man. He recognized in himself, a self-sufficient stubbornness, a tendency to handle his problems alone. But the man sauntering up to him had offered his boss assistance. He couldn't deny that as Antonio gave a nod in greeting.
"Hey man," Kelly murmured self-consciously
He went to shake hands but Antonio pulled him in for a backslap and Kelly felt compelled to respond with a brief hug. Just long enough to concede to Antonio's impulse without feeling vulnerable. Well, any more vulnerable than he already was about the coming conversation.
They stood quietly for a minute, Antonio sizing Kelly up because he could and had a vague idea what the firefighter wanted to discuss, or rather whom. Antonio maintained a casual guard stoic but not unfriendly. His baby sister was happy with this man. Chief Boden trusted him and was willing to go through all manner of hoops to keep the peace and Severide at Firehouse 51. Antonio had never looked too closely at Lieutenant Severide. They were about the same age, give or take a year. They had probably followed some of the same bands growing up and been on opposite ends of high school sports rivalries, though Antonio didn't care enough to check. Not unless Gabi showed up crying. It was enough that Severide was Irish and Antonio, for all his last name sounded white, was part of the large and all encompassing Latino community. He might bleed blue now but he was always going to be suspicious of gringoes. Especially any gringo who messed with his sister.
"So..."
"So this discussion needs beer and we can't go to Molly's. Your choice Detective"
Antonio smiled while Kelly cleared his throat and wondered if his approach was too forward as he followed the detective's slow saunter a couple blocks over and onto a well-trafficked city street.
ʘ
morning meeting; shift start
Boden strode into the break room irritated and excited and more belligerent by half, than any man should be after a two day break from duty. Ingrid had told him everything. That Peter knew everything. That she'd tried to deflect him and be vague but all Boden could think was right now he had two insubordinate lieutenants and now a probie seething with resentment. Retirement wasn't an option. He refused to concede to his better angels and allow someone else to handle the mess that had become his firehouse. His second home. He was always going to try and do right by his men, all of his men. And reaching out to Peter in the past had garnered him less than optimal results so now….
"Okay listen up people!"
Boden waited til the chatter died down and everyone was quiet in their seats. He scanned the room with his eyes, establishing for a moment, his silent dominion over his firefighters and paramedics. In front, a place he would never have sat before, was Severide leaning back, his arm slung over the top of Dawson's chair. She was sitting upright, the picture of propriety and attention. Boden wanted to smile in spite of all the drama. These two were so deeply wound together and yet they still tried to maintain professionalism at work. These two, who had yelled at him, disobeyed direct orders, gone off on their own more times than he could count. Not a hair was out of turn when it came to their relationship. It was that unconsciously important. They weren't even touching but Severide wanted to, he could tell. God, he could remember being the same way a long time ago.
"It has come to my attention that PD is ramping up for Battle of the Badges already. The brass wants to do an exhibition fundraiser to show we've got what it takes." This was only slightly a lie. Between him and Antonio, enough firehouses and precincts were willing to pound on each other for kicks. The bad blood from Voight's attack on Casey needed to be vented. Public servants needed to work together. There was so much distrust rife between the departments that police officers were persona non grata at Molly's except for Antonio. Which was the detective's own personal reason to help, he hoped it would kill two birds with one boxing stone.
Amidst the groans and general complaining that ensued Boden didn't glance away as Dawson's palm touched Severide's suddenly tense body. She didn't say a word. Didn't look away from Boden who was eyeing her blatantly. She'd told Kelly about the plan. He wished he could be more pissed about that but he couldn't. Not if it ensured his participation. Boden let his men quarrel and complain amongst themselves for a little while longer before he held his hand up for quiet again.
"There will be tryouts. First in each firehouse then, between them. I expect your full cooperation in this endeavour"
Boden put the considerable weight of his authority behind his tone. The bouts were meant for Casey and Severide specifically but he needed all his men to work out their issues. Their opinions on the matter and petty differences were tearing the house apart. He was not about to lose a qualified officer because the other one was sulking about a choice his paramedic in charge had made about who she was dating. It was all absurd and all part and parcel of working in a firehouse. Hadn't he elicited the same amount of drama when he was young?
Peter Mills's tight face bounced into his view and he hid a flinch at the stark look of loathing on the younger man's face. He wanted to hit Boden. That much was obvious. He wanted the opportunity to see his superior in pain. It was a normal reaction to what Mills had learned but Boden could not be cowed. His decisions had hurt more than just Ingrid. If Mills thought differently that was his own burden and nothing to do with the short burst of angina Boden always seemed to feel when Ingrid called or sighed or gave him a look like he didn't know a damn thing about anything. He still cared. So did she. And there was nothing for it but to brace against the pain and move on. Everyone did eventually.
Boden cleared his throat and moved the meeting forward, reluctant to linger in his own morose feelings. He had a job to do and the meeting before shift start was important. He quickly told everyone to see Connie about signing up for tryouts and proceeded down the long list of the day's schedule and procedures.
Dawson's hand tightened on Severide as Chief mentioned the sign-up. This was it. She and Chief and Antonio had plotted and now, not only were Sev and Casey supposed to fight but whoever made it through Firehouse 51 tryouts would be duking it out with other firefighters and on and on til the massive fundraising blowout in mid-October for the one cop and one firefighter who would compete in each weight division…
Sev's hand gripped over hers on his chest and Dawson turned to look at him with surprise. They were still cautious of contact around the other firefighters. They could each reach out and touch or comfort silently, but anything that looked like they were a couple was usually a no-go. Sev was looking straight at her, a nerve flinching his jaw. He was unhappy and she was anxious about his leg. How that injury could be used against him in the ring . She knew he wanted to kiss her palm but they were in the middle of a meeting, Boden droning on although, thankfully, not paying any attention to them. Sev's face reminded her of the night before when he'd come back gloomy and rattled in the middle of her cooking dinner...
ʘ
11 hours before shift start.
She'd given him a key so Dawson wasn't scared when the front door opened and closed, her mind set on doing justice to the linguine cabonara recipe she was improvising with bacon instead of guanciale. So sue her, she didn't have the money for fancy italian meats. She was tossing the pasta into the skillet with the bacon carefully. Dawson was concentrating so hard that it took Sev kissing her neck to remind her someone had entered the house.
"Hey…." Dawson turned around as she spoke and stopped as soon as she saw Sev's face. "What's wrong?"
Sev kissed her without replying, his mouth centered over her lower lip, devouring her as she gasped in response, his hands already rucking her shirt up over her ribs. She grabbed his shoulders to steady herself.
"Wait. Wait! Dinner..." she gasped.
He reached around her to turn off the stove, his eyes glittering in his drawn face. Something was wrong. Something was very very off and he wasn't speaking. Dawson's palm touched his cheek and she watched him collapse into it. His eyes closed. He turned his head to kiss her palm softly. Dawson thought for a moment he would slow down but he didn't. He pulled her shirt over head, his kisses open-mouthed and wet on her lips, on her neck where he used his teeth and she shuddered and cried out. Dawson didn't realized he'd moved her until she felt the wall. His mouth was on her left breast, sucking her nipple to a point through her bra, the thumb and finger of his left hand playing with her other breast. He yanked the cups down, impatient and somehow furious. And she fucking went with it. She didn't get off earlier. Maybe this was him trying again. Proving he could. She was already damp and hollow in the one place he had yet to touch.
"Baby..."she keened the word. He was kissing her stomach, his tongue licking into her navel, his hands shoving her pants and panties down. What is going on?! She wondered, her hands gripping into his too short hair as Sev kneeled before her. Her nails scratched over his scalp and he moaned against her hipbone. Dawson couldn't even watch him do it, too focused on the way her legs were shaking and she needed to hold herself up. Her back hugged the wall, Sev's hands clenched over her butt as he leaned in to lick her clit like a starved man.
The next few minutes should have embarrassed her. And it probably wasn't a few minutes but Dawson didn't care. Sev was going down on her in the kitchen. Again. But this time all the considerable force of his personality was on her. He wedged his shoulders between her thighs when they started to tremble. She rode his face until she was insensible, all babble and pleading but then she heard a zipper and a muffled groan against her slit. Dawson looked down and her man was jerking off while eating her out. His one hand clenched over her hipbone while the other stroked up and down and she finally, finally protested.
"Stop! Bed! Ohmygod what the hell..." Your leg! She wanted to say. Severide was doing too much again. She pulled his face away from her clit. He looked as dazed and needy as she felt and Dawson wanted to be full. So full of him she couldn't take anymore. She knew this man. Knew he was trying to say something with his mouth that words couldn't touch. Something had happened and she was going to figure it out. Dawson held his gaze for a long minute, his breath puffing out on her vagina, turning her liquid, dripping it down her thighs, as he kept stroking up and down on himself. Waiting.
"Couch. From behind. Now."
It was the fact that he didn't say a word that let her know something big was hurting her man. He kissed and curved over her body, slotting into it with a warm and happy sigh, fingers rubbing over her clit. But he didn't say a word. He'd always egged her on, treated her orgasm like a competitive sport because they could make a challenge out of anything. She liked it. But now he jackhammered into her like an automaton, still half clothed. She could feel his jeans against the back of her thighs while her breasts bobbed back and forth outside her bra. This wasn't intimate. It wasn't even fun. It was insatiable, painful need and he was trying to exorcise some demon with her body. She loved the feeling of him pistoning in and out of her but was worried. Sev was upset. Sev was...
"Get out of your head Bri." he growled.
Oh thank god finally. He spoke. Dawson turned her head to look at him. Face flushed. She pretended to be pissed off because he wouldn't handle her concern well right now.
"Make. Me." she threw down the challenge with a buck of her hips back into his. She watched his nostrils flare and his chest flex. Dawson felt as he took his hand off her clit with a noise of complaint. Severide kept looking at her and she stared right back. He was moving in and out of her at a steady pace. His hand on her hip tightened. He wanted to control her movement. He wanted…
She felt his thumb pressing lightly around the puckered skin of her asshole and Dawson's eyes widened a little. Sev stared right back. Goading her. He wouldn't do anything without her consent. She knew that.
"Tilt your hips up and rest your head on your arms."
"I don't have a prostate."
Dawson was officially mortified. Why did I say that?! Six months with Severide and she thought she was over feeling like a sexual novice. Clearly she was wrong. He chuckled softly. He wasn't fucking her as fast as before. The mood had changed as soon as he spoke. He nudged her legs into a wider stance, his thumb still tracing around her asshole. Dawson tightened involuntarily. Nervous. She felt Sev pause, the pad of his thumb resting just so as she closed her eyes and leaned forward on her arms.
"Do you trust me?"
Dawson blinked back into the present, Sev's hand still clutched over her own in the break room as the meeting dispersed. She loved him. Of course she trusted him. This man would walk into burning buildings for strangers and colleagues. She had no doubt he would do anything to save her life. Her heart however… Dawson cleared her throat loudly.
"I know you don't believe this idea will work"
"Bri-"
"I get it. You may not think I do but at least it's one more thing to try before we pick up sticks and leave."
The room was silent. Everyone else had left, even Boden and Dawson was not one to waste an opportunity. She kissed Sev. Short and quick but with all her passion. He held her close, willing her lips back to his own but she shook her head. They were at work. They were in the building and the door was open and anyone could pass by and complain. Not that she thought they would but she'd kissed him to get him out of his fatalistic thoughts. She was right in front of him and she believed in them. She wanted him. Even if she did have things she needed to discuss with him later.
"There are no guarantees Sev. Nothing is promised. All we can do is make the decisions that make us happy."
Dawson was vague on person. She meant the situation with Casey and getting him to fight Sev but she also meant them. She really did need to come clean but last night had not been the right time. Sev still hadn't said more than a few words about what was bothering him. It frustrated as much it hurt. So many doors were open between them but the few that remained closed were still doing damage. He needed time. She convinced herself of this every morning she woke up with him curled over her back like a question mark. And with one last squeeze of his hand she left to find Shay. The woman had been avoiding her all morning. Time to clear the air after that scene at Molly's. She wasn't going to apologize but she sure as shit was going to make sure her partner knew how things were going to go from now on.
Kelly watched Bri leave with mixed feelings. It seemed liked he was playing devil's advocate to her cheerleader. Bri remained absolutely certain that fighting Casey would help with their issues. She didn't like it but Chief had convinced her and she had convinced Antonio and now it felt like far too many people were involved in what should have remained his private business. His conflict with Casey was about more than Bri and they both knew it. Or he thought they did. Casey was like a brother to him. One whose example he could never hope to emulate and yeah, sometimes that was annoying when people said shit but Casey was more fucked up than anyone who knew him as the straitlaced firefighter could comprehend. The guy was damaged. Foster care in his teenage years because his mom killed his dad. His sister disappeared on him. All of it more messy than his own childhood by half. And the guy wanted to play like he was normal.
Kelly shook his head as he stood and followed Bri out the door. He was in a foul mood and he knew he had a hair trigger. Anything could set him off, the scrutiny that Chief and Bri were going to put on him for the next 24 hours was not welcome. He would rather anything than being put under a microscope. Expectations. They expected him to make this happen. He wondered now, if he would have played right into their hands if Bri hadn't said anything. Would he have taunted Casey into fighting if he didn't know that was what Bri wanted? He thought not. Bri had been so pissed after the bar fight. The same night she cried and Kelly flinched thinking back on his conversation with Antonio. No use dwelling on that mess right now. He strolled over to where Capp was sitting at their long dining table and asked to play cards instead.
ʘ
Casey was standing across of Boden's desk, his arms crossed and posture stiff while his supervisor sat calmly, waiting for him to simmer down.
"Where the hell did this come from Boden?"
"It's for charity..."
"That's bull. Ten years as a firefighter-"
"Casey. There is enough bad blood between CFD and CPD to power bickering and in-fighting for the next five years. Brass is trying to fix it. The scandal with Voight… they are trying to bring each department together for a good cause."
All in all, Boden thought it was a good half-truth. Even if fixing the tension between Casey and Severide was the precipitating incident for all these plans, it was a nice side effect to resolve larger department issues as well. There were more dirty cops than Voight. All of his cronies were still working for CPD and the mistrust lay thick between Firehouse 51 and the boys in blue. Never mind that Chicago police officers had a long and varied history of corruption spanning the whole of the twentieth century going back to Prohibition. Graft, it was not an easy problem to root out. He peered at Casey closely. The blonde was the picture of control and steely determination.
It was clear Casey viewed the entire thing as a distraction from firefighter duties at best and a complete debacle otherwise. The men would spend the next few weeks harassing and nagging each other about who would win in a fight until some kind of scuffle ensued. He made a show of uncrossing his arms and thrusting his hands in his pockets.
"When do tryouts start?"
"Our third shift off day from now. Franklin St. Boxing Club."
"A week. You're staging tryouts in a week? No one has trained."
"Come on it's for charity Casey! No one's expecting knockouts"
Boden was saved from more argument by a clearing throat and Connie standing in his doorway. She didn't look thrilled and Boden's face must have telegraphed his concern because Casey turned around and stared at the secretary as well.
"Connie what is it?"
Her eyes flicked to Casey awkwardly and Boden readily dismissed the lieutenant, waving his secretary to sit down across from him. He didn't miss the indignation on Casey's face but he couldn't care at the moment. Connie didn't barge into his office for minor events. Not interrupting his meetings was a matter of manners yes, but also respect. He watched her fingers twist in her lap.
"One of the brass called. Apparently you went over his head to organise the boxing matches. You've been called in to explain yourself."
Boden leaned back in his desk chair, eyes closed as his hands tightened on his desk. Just once he would like to do something for his men and have the white shirts not question him. He could guess which one had complained. Diehard Chicago native who still talked about the "good old days" with that slight sneer that sent Boden into a quietly seething spiral. Racism was not missing in CFD or CPD.
"When?" he barked.
"As soon as you're off shift."
Boden grunted, exceedingly annoyed. Just off shift Early in the morning, because of course it wasn't like he had anything better to do. Like get a full night's sleep.
ʘ
Shay stifled a groan as Dawson stomped over to the ambo. Her countenance could only be described as determined. She didn't want to deal with it. Inwardly she flinched as Dawson stood over her, eyes flashing.
"Are we good?"
Shay put it down to Dawson's temper that all she could do when she was worried and irritated was bluster and push. She cared about Shay's response but not as much as she cared about Kelly. The thought made Shay swallow tightly. Angie would have said I told you so or something. She would have been right too.
"Yes." Her voice felt small and tinny to her own ears and she physically winced when Dawson caught the tone.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Shay."
She didn't want to come clean about Angie just yet. The talk over breakfast had not gone well. Angie, her voice smooth and dark as smoke, had patiently explained all the ways she felt minimized and rebuked for her opinions. Shay had apologized for being blind and narrow in her perspective on the whole ordeal. Angie had countered with a description of what being open and accepting of all relationships meant in the LGBTQ community and Shay had flinched. Self-preservation, it was a hell of a thing and she had more than her share of it swimming in her veins. It was the end of the conversation that still stuck in her craw. How Angie had leaned across the table and kissed her forehead like a little kid. Said, Be happy Les and dropped some cash before leaving Shay stunned into sober silence.
Happy. What a strange concept. Everyone was talking about it like she couldn't grasp the theory. Like she was so selfish and broken she had to be told. That Kelly and Dawson were happy. That –
"Shay!"
Dawson pressed in, her face hovering close to Shay's indignation stripped to concern. Her hand hovered over Shay's shoulder and Shay felt her lips tremble. I will not cry. I will not… but Dawson hugged her tight. Didn't ask questions which was practically miraculous and Shay folded into the embrace, shuddering to keep the tears at bay. She had lost Angie. She was losing Kelly in slow agonising degrees and Dawson was holding her like she was fucking glass. There was no end to the embarrassment.
"I'm fine."
"Shut up and get in the ambo" Dawson muttered. "The guys are watching".
Shay didn't respond as she quickly turned to the driver side of the ambulance. She felt more than saw Dawson stare at her back as she walked away. She knew for a fact that some of the Squad guys had seen the hug. Not Kelly, thank God for small miracles, but the gossip would fly soon enough. She didn't want to face any of her mistakes just then and she shut the door of the front cab forcefully, all the anger self-directed and full of regret.
ʘ
13 hours before shift start
Antonio figured he'd given Severide enough time to get good and loose-lipped with the empty pint glasses scattered around them at his personal pub haunt. Antonio put his glass down on the bar with an audible thud and looked across at the cocksure lieutenant firefighter. He wasn't looking so cocky anymore but he figured that had more to do with Severide trying not to piss off his girlfriend's brother than anything else. Which got him thinking…
"What exactly do you want from Gabi?"
"Are you sure you want the answer to that?" Severide joked with a nervous smile.
"Kelly… "
"I care about her. I'm not trying to be a dick. I wanted to talk to you. Remember? I'm worried."
Antonio blinked with surprise. So far they'd talked around Dawson. Discussed boxing and Severide's recent workouts downtown. Antonio wasn't stupid. He knew his baby sis was trying to get her man into fighting form for tryouts. Did Severide…
"Dawson told me about the whole thing with the boxing tryouts and the charity"
"That girl cannot keep a secret to save her damn life" Antonio groaned with a scowl at the man sitting next to him. He glared until Severide fidgeted, til he drained all his beer and lifted his glass for another.
"You said you were worried." Antonio watched while Severide's blue eyes flickered. It made everything in his body tense and his hackles rise to the occasion. He watched the other man swallow and resisted the urge to rush him.
"The thing is..." Severide hedged and Antonio leaned forward. He could see this was difficult to say but he wasn't going to help. This was the man fucking his sister six ways to Sunday if his reputation was anything to go by. Severide's anxiety was not his problem even if the idiot cringed.
"I don't know how to say this except to say it. She was crying and she wouldn't tell me what was wrong and it was while we were fu-"
Severide's speech cut off as Antonio loomed over him, hand knotted in the collar of his cotton tee-shirt.
"Did you hurt her?"
"No, absolutely not." Severide's face looked genuinely horrified but Antonio wasn't so sure.
He registered Severide's meaty palm around his one wrist, his left wrist. The hand that had grabbed his baby sister's dickhead boyfriend's shirt. The man was too calm by half for a guy who'd just confessed to making his sister cry. Antonio was a level-headed guy. Mostly. But he also had his right hand on the butt of his gun. His eyes glued to the gringo in front of him.
"You must have done something. You just said she was crying."
"I don't know! Why the fuck do you think I'm asking you?"
Antonio considered that for a moment. Severide had asked to meet him, not vice versa. He was usually hands off with Gabi since she could take care of herself. He'd hoped doing so would encourage her to be same with him. It didn't work and the jackass in front of him was asking for help. That shit confused the hell out of his point of view. The one he'd given Chief Boden about both the asshole firefighters blowing up station house 51 with their drama.
"Gabi doesn't cry often. Not in front of people" Antonio admitted grudgingly as he released his grip on Severide's tee-shirt and sat back down. The firefighter raked both hands through his hair and down his face before shaking his head as though to clear it. Antonio waited.
"Shit. I know. And I didn't want to push because she was embarrassed but with everything else… "
Severide trailed off but Antonio got the idea. Everything else was the drama with Casey and all the tension between them and the rest of their colleagues. Antonio peered closely at Severide. He did look distraught. Also, obscenely uncomfortable, but the man had asked to sit down over a pint and discuss his meddling little sister because he was actually concerned. It was more than he'd thought this playboy public servant was capable of and yet… The cop wondered which way to take the conversation. He could keep it friendly and light. Alleviate Severide's concerns about Gabi and say it would all be fine because with Gabi it usually was until it wasn't and she jumped feet first into another mess.
And her relationship with this asshole was a fucking mess. He'd thought she was happy and here was a motherfucker saying his sister had cried and then done what she always did. Pretended it didn't matter and held her pain close to the vest. This shit mattered. Antonio could eventually get Gabi to open up. Her friend Shay was almost as reliable in that respect, but this dick... In the end Antonio figured he couldn't be kind because Severide was a guy, like any other guy himself included. Men didn't react to love-taps. They only learned from the knockout punch that sent them sprawling to the floor, that killed their pride. Whatever injury didn't spill blood, didn't count.
"She cried. You hurt her. Point blank. She just doesn't trust you enough to tell you why."
He watched as Severide tried to come up with a counterargument and failed. Took a long gulp of his light beer and grimaced at Antonio, his features gone stark in his expressive face. The laidback jokester of a firefighter was gone, replaced by a man that Antonio had seldom seen and didn't trust.
"Why are you helping Boden with this ridiculous boxing idea?"
Textbook deflection. Antonio almost wished Severide was a perp he could grill for his own answers. Gabi be damned. She was already beating the shit out of Severide to help him.
"She's my sister. I thought you made her happy."
"I do make her happy."
Antonio couldn't hide his distaste for the other man just then. He was pissed about the fact that Gabi had been crying and told exactly no one something was wrong. He forgot sometimes that his sister was as loud as she was private. Gabi could get in your face like no one else and then turn around and hide the most basic things from the people she loved. Like that one time in Mexico she got drunk and almost married Hector after he proposed with a beer can tab. His sister's taste in men...
"Look, Severide… shit I guess I should call you Kelly. Anyway. Gabi has always been impulsive. I don't need to know specifics to know how you found yourself in bed with her. A couple drinks. Little to no concern for what the fuck it means when you start fucking a coworker. I get it. I know your rep. But what are you doing? Do you actually know what you want from Gabi? Or is she going to be crying and hiding it from everyone because everyone is in her business. Everyone being so damn interested in your standoff with Casey"
"What I want from Dawson is the same thing she wants from me. We don't lie to each other."
Antonio snorted and watched Kelly level a glare that did nothing more than amuse him. The smile he gave Kelly in return was bitter.
"She's hiding. You don't know how you hurt her. Even if you're not lying, I bet neither of you are saying the truth."
thanks for reading! sorry again for the long wait. i'm gonna be brain dead for work tomorrow but you guys are worth it :)