Second First Chances

Chapter Two

I kept walking towards the parking lot near Trinity College deliberately avoiding eye contact with the people around me in case he was around.
But fate had other plans.
Someone brushed past me, making me drop my bag. I bent down to collect all my things, just shoving them into the bag and I stood up, looking ahead for my car, when I saw the familiar brown orbs looking at me.
My heart skipped a beat.
He is here; standing two cars after mine looking straight at me.
Why is my heart is beating so fast?
He has changed. His features...so much more sharp. He looks more handsome, if that was even possible. But his eyes look tired, blood red, now glistening with tears. He is not smiling, just waiting for me to react; just standing there holding his gym bag, staring right at me with that same intensity that made me blush.
I knew I would not be able to stand much longer from this intensity but I couldn't stop looking at him.
He didn't move, throwing the ball in my court.
He knew me too well.
He looked as if telling me that it is my choice to run to him or away from him right now.
Like the one I had three years ago.
I walked right ahead, I could see his jaw clenching, and then went to my car like the coward I was and drove away, watching him, standing like a statue, through my rear view mirror.

I was heading towards the parking lot to go home when I got another message.

Sarah, Keira's Mum, messaged me. She was like a second mum to me. I knew how difficult the past years had been for her and it hurts that I was part of what made her life miserable. She still loves me like her son. She was the first one to ever truly see what her daughter meant to me. She never questioned me about it but I knew she could kill me if I let anything happen to Keira.
I did so much worse.
She is back now.
Has she changed? What do I do?
I entered the parking lot with all these thoughts trying to spot my car.
My heart skipped a beat.
She is here; on her knees a few feet away putting her things in her bag.
Why is my heart beating so fast?
I cannot move. All I want to do is go right there and hug her and never let her go but I know I have lost that right.
She gets up and looks right at me with her hazel eyes and I am broke all over again.
Why can't I just hold her?
She hates me now.

Does she?
I know it is right to force this interaction, when I could clearly see she was not ready. So, I stand there, looking at her, being near her, as near as I could; trying to keep my head sane and heart steady.
She is walking closer.
I think I am gonna die.
She stops two cars from where I am standing and gets in the car, driving away.
I don't move. I can't move.
How many times can I survive after I keep losing her?

I located my car and headed straight home making sure I give her enough time to get home first.
This is difficult enough. I don't know how she will handle living across the street from me again.
I do not know how I will handle living across the street from her again.                                                        

I stopped the car when I was at a safe distance from the building trying to calm myself down. I knew Mum would have invited him to dinner tonight but this; this is not what I had expected. There is so much to say, so much to talk and yet words failed me.

This was a bad idea. I should have stayed in Cambridge.
I missed home. I missed everyone. I missed him.
I would have been less miserable.
Without them is the most miserable I can be.

**********

Author's Note:

This is it, The end of second chapter. I understand if you guys are confused right now. Just remember, that the two of them have had a lot of history together and let the story unfold all of it in time. 

Also, I will be continuously jumping between the point of view of Liam and Kiera. Let me know your thoughts on that.

Also, the references to places and certain words, such as 'mum', are English (U.K.) since the setting of story is England and might be confusing for some. So, do let me know if you need any list of references for a better reading experience.

Thank you for reading!

Hope you like it ❤❤