LVI- Fate is a Bitch

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As we make it through the airport with our luggage in tow, I try to catch up to my mom, "What flight is it again?"

"I think Dianne has a private plane," She answers as she looks up to make sure we're going the right way. "If I can remember where it is."

At first I was confused as to how Dianne got so much money, but then my mom cleared it up. Apparently Dianne helped some rich family's daughter go to rehab. They were so grateful that they gave her a really nice share of their company. It didn't take long for me to figure out that the daughter she helped was Katherine. The only thing is that Shawn is the one who convinced her to go back to rehab. I guess that means Katherine lied.

"Here." My dad says, pointing to Dianne with her back turned.

We walk up to her. "Good morning, I'm glad you didn't get lost. I almost did myself." She laughs and looks to her side.

"The pilot is ready if you-" Shawn stops when he notices my family and especially me.

Dianne turns to him, "We are, you remember Olivia and Danny Gardner."

He's surprised, almost as much as I am, "Of course, Hi." He says, pulling himself together and shaking their hands.

"Mr. Morgan." I say awkwardly.

Dianne notices the tension and tries to ease it, "I hope you guys don't mind, he's who I chose to look over everything and make sure it's all in order."

My dad shakes his head, "Not at all, better you than a stranger." He jokes.

I keep staring at my teacher. He's wearing similar clothes to mine. He has on comfortable clothes which make sense for a long plane ride. I myself decided on a gray hoodie and leggings. "Are we ready?" Dianne asks.

I don't talk as we board the plane. I chose the very back while my parents and Dianne take the front. Shawn is up a little further than me and across. I guess I just assumed he wouldn't be able to take off for three weeks. Two if you count spring break, but still. I thought I was going to get away from everything and everyone but I'm going to have to be more careful than ever now.  I'm assuming the only reason Dianne hasn't outed us yet is because she's trying to protect Shawn. Why she's being so nice to me now is a different story.

Once we're in the air I pull out a book and try to focus on the story in front of me. I can feel his eyes on me so I look up at him. When our eyes meet I suck in a breath. How does he always have this affect on me? We're trying to figure everything out but it's hard when he looks at me like that, I don't know how to feel.

I force my gaze back on the book and glue my eyes on the printed ink and cream colored paper. My brain keeps me distracted so I end up reading the same paragraph over three times. After the fourth time I shut my book. Maybe falling asleep would be easier, so I adjust my neck pillow and close my eyes.






"Livia." I open my eyes to the sound of his voice. "We landed."

I take my seat belt off and stand up. I didn't mean to sleep through the whole thing but I'll take my win. "Here, let me help you." Shawn says as I try to grab my luggage above me.

"I got it, thanks." I dismiss, getting it myself. I have no reason to be short with him but I'm upset that he's here. What's worse is it's not even his fault and I know that.

The ride from the airport to the hotel consisted of a very long car ride in the passenger seat of a taxi. The man driving was creepy and he kept glancing at my legs the whole time.

When we finally make it to the hotel I can hear Dianne asking about Shawn and I's rooms. For a minute I think I'm going to end up with my parents. Then she comes back with a defeated look on her face, "Since Shawn was a little last minute he has adjoining rooms with Livia. It just means the two rooms are connected but there's a locked door so it's really up to you.

"It should be fine," My mom quips. Lovely.

"Alright then, let's get going. It's been a long day so I figure we'll meet for dinner tonight and take it easy. We'll get started with work tomorrow." Dianne tells everyone and we head up to the hotel rooms.

We're all on the same floor so I say goodbye to my parents and they make their way to their room. After Dianne goes off to her room I walk down further to try to find my number. "We're over here." Shawn says from beside me. I turn to look up at him pointing down the hall.

I nod, following him to two doors side by side. When we arrive we both just stare at the doors in front of us. "I didn't know you would be here." I whisper as I look at my room number.

"Yeah, me neither."

I walk in my room first. It's a very nice room that looks more like a studio apartment. There's a queen size bed and a dresser, a bathroom on the right, and a little kitchen area. The door that joins Shawn and I is in the corner right. I walk over to it and stare at the wood door. Dianne said it was locked so I lift up my hand and hover over the latch that keeps us separated. It would be so easy to unlock it but I force the thought out of my head and drop my hand.

Shawn doesn't even know what he wants. Besides, doing something here would be stupid...incredibly stupid.

After an hour of packing and another hour of trying to decide what to wear, I'm ready for dinner. I wasn't sure what kind of restaurant we're going to so I chose a semi-casual look. Since I had some time to kill, I curled my hair and put on makeup. My dress is a simple black dress that ends just above my knees, and leaves enough to the imagination.

I hear knocking and grab my purse before walking over and opening the door. "I-wow." I say, noticing Shawn's completely shaved jaw and combed back hair. He's wearing a black button down shirt with suit pants and a belt. I shake my head, "I mean, are we leaving?" Smooth.

Shawn chuckles, "Yeah, everyone is downstairs. Apparently this hotel has a nice restaurant in it. I was sent to come get you." He eyes me up and down, "You look beautiful." He compliments.

I walk out and turn to close the door. "Don't say that." I tell him. Not only does it confuse me more but we're here with both of our families.

"Right." He agrees and we begin walking down to the lobby.

We step into the elevator with just the two of us inside. I go in the very back and grab the rail. I don't know where to look so I watch the numbers go down on the elevator panel. On the fourth floor it stops and opens its doors for a family of five. I move to the very back corner to make room, meanwhile Shawn moves back beside me. Our arms are practically touching and I can smell the cologne he always wears. I lift my chin up to see his face but quickly look away. I'm in New York with my teacher and the man I'm in love with but I have to pretend like nothing has ever happened between us.

    We get to the lobby within two minutes. The family piles out and Shawn moves away from me, not saying a word.

    "You look gorgeous, I love that dress!" Dianne says when she sees me.

    My parents aren't with her, "Thank you." I say with a smile.

Shawn looks around the lobby, Dianne notices and explains, "Your parents are at the table, come on." She begins walking away.

We follow a few feet behind her. I lean in to whisper, "Why is she acting like she doesn't know about us?"

"I'm not sure, I'll talk to her later." We get inside the restaurant. It's a lot more formal than I'm used to so I'm glad I went for a dress.

We get to the table with two glasses per person, one filled with water and the other with red wine. My mom notices and winks at me, I'm taking that as a yes to drink the wine.

Right away Dianne starts talking about how much she's always loved New York. "Shawn's father, Henry, used to have an office here for the company he worked with. Mostly I would stay behind in Colorado but over the summer we would take a family trip here. Henry and I talked about moving here but it was always too expensive." I notice how uncomfortable Shawn looks. I had no idea he's been here before. In fact, I never even knew his dad's name. 

"I know what you mean, it's so much easier to come here for business but living here is a whole other story." My father says.

I pick up my glass and drink from it, "Is that why you chose here to invest in?"

Dianne looks at me, slightly shocked that I'm actually talking. She quickly recovers and smiles at me, "There's no secret that there's money in New York. I figured this would be an easy way to continue to grow, besides, I can manage from Colorado." She must've learned all of this from Shawn's father.

I sit back in my chair and listen to everyone talk about sight seeing and ways to design the building she bought. Since I'm sitting right beside Shawn, I can talk to him without disrupting the rest of the table. "How old were you the last time you were here?" I ask.

His body tenses, but he still answers me. "I was nine."

"Is that when-" I don't know how to ask if that's the year his dad died.

    Shawn knows that I mean though, "Yes, he died here in New York." The way he's looking at me tells me there's more to the story. However, I doubt he's ready to tell me.

After we order and our food arrives I bring up our plans for tomorrow. Shawn is the one who talks first, "Actually, I figured I could show you NYU."

"Yeah, we'll be at the new building all day so you should enjoy yourself. I won't need Shawn until the end of our trip." They want us to spend most of our time together alone?

"Okay." I agree, not sure how I'll be able to handle it. Everyone just sees shawn as my teacher. Nothing more, nothing less. He's so much more than a teacher and he's going to be guiding me around New York for the next three weeks.

I pick up my wine glass and take a bigger drink than the last time. It's gross and bitter but it doesn't matter.  I'm going to need it in order to get through this trip.

After dinner we make our way back to our rooms. My parents tell me goodnight and disappear down the hall. Dianne stayed behind to make some calls in the lobby. I get to my door the same time Shawn gets to his. I've had a few glasses of wine and my body buzzes with stupidity. "Are you drunk?"

I shake my head and feel my hair fall in my face, "Unfortunately, no." I say, opening my door and walking inside.

Shawn follows behind me, "Why do you want to be drunk?"

I swirl around to look at him. He's so beautiful and yet so clueless, "Honestly because you're here. You're here and everyone just loves you, and trusts you, and maybe I agreed to come here to get away from you." I feel bad for how I said it but it's how I'm feeling.

Shawn stuffs his hands in his pockets, "I see."

"I know that I have no right to be mean to you. We just left things off at a bad spot and I don't even know where we stand. I don't even know if you want me anymore."

He scoffs, "Of course I want you. We both know how this ends."

I take a step forward, "That's just it. It does end." I want to cry and I blame the wine. Not the man in front of me saying we have no future. I push the tears back, I refuse to cry in front of him, "Look let's just get through this trip okay? Nothing can happen between us."

"Yeah, goodnight." He said.

"Goodnight." I dryly responded. He wastes no time in walking out and closing the door behind him.

I look at the door that leads to his room and internally scream in frustration.


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