With my heart in my stomach, I stormed out of the office. Because I needed to get away from Evan as quickly as possible, my brain couldn't even process what was happening to me.

I never would have believed that something like this could have transpired between the both of us. After believing him, I was shocked to learn that he was lying about his feelings for me. He was the first person I had ever poured my heart out to, and to have him play me and treat it like it was nothing had me crushed beyond belief. The only person I could trust from this point on was me.

Crying didn't help me anymore, I had cried enough. Long before Evan made it here and even after. The video his father had shown me tore at my insides. There was no denying that it was authentic.

That was Evan saying he didn't care about me. That was him ratting out the secret I had practically begged him to keep. He promised me he wouldn't keep secrets from me anymore, and he promised I could heal from the trauma my parents inflicted on me without being forced to confront it. Even though he promised I could do things my own way, he didn't even give me the chance to do so.

Making my way down the stairs I started to think of possible solutions to the matter at hand. I had some cash on me, so it was possible I could stay in a motel overnight and figure out a way to get to my grandparents if I needed to. It wasn't ideal but it was better than staying with my parents. My mind still shuddered and I thought about the vile threats they made against Evan.

I would have to make it clear to my Dad that Evan and I weren't bound to one another, at least not anymore. Once he saw that then hopefully he would leave him alone.

My heart hurt at how much I still loved him, even after everything he said and did. At first, I didn't want to believe it but those were his words and they were pretty damn convincing.

As I turned the corner I spotted a house phone. I could use that to call a cab and head to a motel.

Because my eyes were so clouded by tears, I didn't even notice Evan in my hindsight. He grabbed my wrist, spun me around and I flinched, whimpering in pain and instantly yanking my arm away from his grip.

I took my wrist in my own and caressed it. Evan's father had really done a number on me with those ropes, and now that I looked back at it they were wildly unnecessary.

He gave me an apologetic look. "I-I'm sorry sweetheart, I forgot"

Moving closer to me he made an effort to cradle my bruised wrists in his own. "Let me help".

"I told you I didn't want to talk to you".

I saw how hurt he looked at my words and felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly went away as soon as I recalled what he said about me to his father. This was all an act, he didn't care about me.

"I know. I know Rosie but at least let me drop you off somewhere, you're in no shape to be wandering around the city like this".

Maybe it would have been smart to let him drop me off. It wasn't as if he would physically hurt me, although Evan had proved his distaste for our relationship he had also proved that he wasn't the kind of person to do that and moreover he had no reason to, but I decided against going with him. I didn't trust him right now and in my state, I didn't trust myself to go with him.

I looked up at him, channeling my emotions through my words. "Why are you doing this?"

An incredulous look overtook his features as he stepped closer to me, but before he could say anything else I beat him to it.

"Why are you pretending like you care about my safety? You got what you wanted. We're not engaged anymore and you're not responsible for me, in fact, you never were. I can take care of myself and you would know that if you ever let me"

"I know you're hurting right now baby, but I want you to know that whatever my father showed you is a lie"

I shook my head, distancing myself from him. "How is it a lie exactly? Evan, that was your voice on that recording, your face. Those were your words, and you said that we were nothing"

"And I lied. I lied to him because I needed to convince him that we were nothing if he was ever going to put your parents behind bars. I did it because I know they said something to you. Something that made you want to leave me".

By this time his hands were positioned on both sides of my face and he softly caressed my cheek.

I let him touch me. I let my body relax to the muscle memory of having his skin against mine and as I let my eyes dart between his own, I knew he was telling the truth.

Part of me felt relieved at his words and I didn't even trust my voice as I spoke. "So you and I? T-that was real?"

I guess deep down what I really did want was to know if he lied when he told me he loved me, or if he ever even loved me at all. All my feelings were confirmed through his next words, his voice was filled with emotion I didn't think I had ever seen before.

"You and I, sweetheart, are the most real feelings I have ever experienced. You're the best thing to ever happen to me, and I mean that Rose."

I felt a tear run down my face which was quickly wiped away by Evan.

"And I know you're hurting right now. That's my fault because I was an asshole for going behind your back and asking my dad for help. I take full responsibility for it but also I'm not sorry for doing it. I would have done anything to get them away from you"

My expression returned to its depths as I looked at him in disbelief. Evan was still trying to justify telling his dad about my problems, problems he promised he would let me address on my own terms. The rage I had once felt before returned to my body in an instant and his hands fell from my face because of my expression.

"Do you understand what you did Evan? My entire life has been poured out to strangers and people who want to profit off of it, and I understand you're reasoning but you should have let me do that on my own. You telling me you're not sorry shows me that you clearly don't understand or care about that"

My arms fell limp at my sides. I understood what I had to do now, it was painful and I dreaded it but I needed to do it because this was all too much. From all the secrets to my parents, I couldn't imagine the amount of backlash that was going to catch up to me over the next few days and I needed time to process that. Alone.

"Evan I- I think it's best if we- If we stay away from each other for a while"

The words felt like poison on my tongue. I kept my gaze fixed on the floor avoiding all eye contact because I knew that if I did I might break.

"What?"

My body shook. I had suffered my fair share of anxiety in the past but nothing compared to what I was feeling right now. The way my heart pumped blood through my chest at twice its normal rate and how I could feel my palms shaking as they grasped to one another.

"I think that's what's best for me right now. I just, I need space"

I was met with immediate silence, which then coaxed me to look up at Evan; something I regretted as soon as I did it. His mouth was slightly agape and eyes red, I could sense anger in his expression, one that wasn't directed towards me. His hands were trembling, same as mine and he looked like he was about to throw up.

"I know I fucked up but that doesn't mean- that doesn't mean we have to be apart Rosie. I'll find a way to shield you from the media, I'll find a way to protect you I promise. Please don't do this."

The tears that I held in fell for the umpteenth time this day. What he said was sweet but it was exactly why we needed time apart. He couldn't keep fixing everything for me. He didn't have to take care of me all the time, I could do that myself.

"I don't want that. I don't want you to shield me from anything Evan I just need my own time. Please."

The desperate tinge to my voice was necessary because being away from him hurt me just as much as it did him but it needed to be done.

Almost like a switch had gone off in his mind Evan composed himself. His trembling hands were now in his pockets and he made no effort to close the space between us. He gave me a gentle nod and a pained smile.

"Okay. If that is what you want then I'll respect that."

I nodded, not even being able to return the courtesy because of how pained I felt on the insides. We stood there now. He with both hands in his pockets and I with my arms wrapped around me. I still hasn't made that taxi call, and it wasn't exactly like I could because Evan stood right there.

I allowed myself to stare at him for a moment, as he did me.

"Can I at least know where you're staying? So that I know you're safe?"

I could hear the tone of desperation in his voice and I knew that this wasn't Evan trying to control me, because now, hopefully, he knew I wouldn't budge. I wondered if I should tell him I was probably going to stay the night in a sketchy motel, I wondered if I should tell him anything at all, knowing that he might freak out at my initial answer.

"I, um" before I could get the words out my mouth another boomed from behind me.

"She's coming with me."

Whipping around in record time to see who the deep voice belonged to, my eyes were met with the man who moments earlier was in the dark cellar with me. He looked down at me with twinkling eyes and my face morphed into one of confusion. He was the one who gave me water and I remember him saying that I would make it out of there, which again, now that I look back on it, was wildly necessary.

Looking at him, he wasn't even fazed by my incredulous expression. He just stood there like it was a normal day and like I had asked him to give me a ride during the aftermath of my literal kidnapping.

"You ready to go Callie? Should I get the truck"

My eyebrows furrowed at this strange man and his expression stayed unchanging, before I could even question him I heard Evan's voice speaking from behind. It was only then I turned to look at him. His once broken font from before was exchanged with a protective stance and he looked at me expectantly.

"Callie, do you know this guy?"

I didn't miss the way my heart fell as I heard the was Evan said my first name. It sounded foreign and it made me realize that we weren't us anymore, not for now at least.

I now stood between them both as I felt the mystery man put an arm on my shoulders.

"Calm down lover boy. We're family, come on tell him, Cal"

The crease in my forehead deepened as I stared at the man, recognition slowly sweeping my features. I didn't know how I hadn't seen it before but now I did. Jamie. 

I felt Evan place his arm on my own before moving us both backward. 

"I asked her, not you." 

His voice was clipped, clearly indicating menace to the guy standing right across from us. Deciding that I needed to take matters into my own hands I stepped out between them, noticing how the situation portrayed that they were outright cavemen, somehow fighting between a common goal, me. 

"Evan, it's okay" My gaze darted between the two men. "He's a friend".

Evan's fury-filled gaze that was directed at the guy sunk as soon as the word's left my mouth. He was back to being heartbroken and I was left dealing with the aftermath of our separation. If you could even call it that. 

I could tell he didn't want to leave, and if I was being honest I didn't want him to leave either, but this is the decision that I had made. I had to deal with it now because I believed it was the right thing to do.

Evan nodded, getting the memo of the unspoken words my eyes conveyed. Before I could process what was happening his hands were grabbing mine and I felt a soft but firm kiss being placed on my temple. My body trembled and embraced his touch, knowing this kind of contact would be absent for a while. 

Evan's voice dulled to a whisper and he brought his lips to my ear, in a manner that only I could hear what he was saying. "I love you. Come back to me soon sweetheart."

He didn't let me respond, I myself didn't have the heart to. He simply walked out a door I assumed was the exit to this room.

 "Well, that was... intense."

I returned my attention to Jamie, allowing myself to really look at him.

Compared to the boy I had known long before Jamie was grown. He towered over me in height and had a small stubble on his chin. I couldn't even properly think back to the last time I had seen him or Luna. All I could remember were the great times we had spent together, and how quickly we had been torn apart. 

"J-Jamie?"

Jamie gave me a small and genuine smile. "The one and only princess"

I could feel my brain line up with more confusion. How possible could it have been that we would meet again several years later, in Evan's dad's house for that matter? I figured Jamie could sense the questions swarming in my brain because he immediately chuckled rubbing his arm behind his head.

"I know you're confused as to why I'm here and I promise I'll explain everything in due time, but for now you can trust me"

I looked between him and the phone. I didn't know what was better. Risking my safety with a long-lost friend or staying overnight in a really sketchy motel.

Jamie's eyes twinkled in endearment, "C'mon. Luna and mom would be thrilled to see you"

At the mention of Luna, I instantly perked up. It would be good to see her again, especially after all this while. 

I smiled at Jamie, allowing him to lead the way. Today had already been an overwhelming slap in the face, what was one more?

---

A/N: For those of you who may not remember, in the first few chapters Callie does mention Jamie and Luna. They were her first and only friends, their mom used to work for her parents as well. 

How are we feeling about Callie's decisions? How are we feeling about Evan's decisions?

Hope you enjoyed the chapter, until next time beautiful people.