Aubrey POV

"No fucking way" he grits gripping onto me tighter. 

"Ian-"

"Aubrey" he says staring me down challenging me to disobey. Before I can say anything else he says "So now care to explain why you had blood all over you?"

"Ian we need to have space for a while just so we can figure it out" I say looking him back in the eyes, letting him know I won't back down.

"I already said no and answer my question." he says coldly his silver eyes darkening. 

"You can't trap me, Ian I need space and you can't fight me on this." I strain in his grip and try to say confidently.

"You have a week" he relents but grips onto me tighter and his face twitches. 

"Gee thanks" I roll my eyes.

"That starts after you eat breakfast and tell me why the fuck you had blood all over you."

"Ian" I sigh and stab some egg.

"Aubrey" he insists with a demanding tone.

"You can't get angry at me" I say looking into his eyes pleadingly.

"I can't promise that, you had fucking blood on you. And I'm really hoping it's not what I'm  thinking." he says running his hands through his hair. I make no move to say anything so he grunts "I'll try"

I look away from him and stare at my food "After I ran, I decided not to go straight home." I pause and move my face to look at him "Because I knew you would be there." He sighs but I continue "So I went back to that alley."

"Of course you fucking did!" he says clenching his jaw and furrowing his brow. He brings his hand to grip my chin.

"I had to see if he needed help and he did, hence the blood" I say.

"You are fucking crazy" he scoffs shaking his head in disbelief. "You never do that shit again, FUCK Aubrey what if something happened?"

"Don't tell me what to do" I spit back.

He releases his grip from my jaw and grabs my shoulders instead. "I'm trying to keep you safe."

"I don't need that Ian" I sigh

"I have to do it angel, I care about you-" he starts but I interrupt him.

"Well you can do that from a distance" I say coldly. 

He growls and stands up "One fucking week" he spits and the storms out of the kitchen and I hear the door slam shut. 

I feel bad he opened up and I just shut him down. But I need space to see if this is what I really want, he won't let me break up with him so space will have to do for now. Ian always made me feel safe but I can't just let the fact that he freaking shot someone be ignored, especially when he wasn't open with me about his life from the beginning. 

Before I can be distracted by my guilty thoughts my phone buzzes.

            Spence: wow princess please tell me why an angry ian stormed out of your house??

            Aubrey: i told him we are on a break :/

           Spence: come over right now 

           Aubrey: bahahah ok see you soon :)

--15minutes later--

"HOLY FUCKING SHIT AUBREY. HE SHOT SOMEONE?" Spencer gasps, sitting up taller in the couch.

"Shhh" I say flustered, hoping none of his family heard his little outburst. "So yeah kinda why we are on a break and he is not too happy about it" I sigh falling back into the couch letting it try to swallow me.

"Yeah, holy shit princess" Spencer scoffs. 

We spend the rest of the day watching shitty romantic movies and talking. He manages to distract me from Ian, but somehow I miss him despite all this shit he has pulled.

We are halfway through watching 'After' when Spencer interrupts "So Aubrey"

I hum in response turning to face him.

"I was uh wondering if maybe you wanted to um...go? ...like go on a date with me tomorrow?" he says nervously rubbing his hand on the back of his neck and struggling to maintain eye contact.

Seriously? Nooooo I really don't want to have to deal with this. And I literally just told him about Ian and how we are on a break. I'm not sure what the terms of the break are...

I only look at him with widened eyes and a agape mouth so he adds rushed "Just because you know you deserve better than Ian...I'm not saying I'm better...but really I think it's good you found out for yourself what a horrible guy he is before it was too late" 

"Spencer, Ian and I are still trying to figure things out. Plus what happened to you being on team Riley?"

"I was only on team Riley so you would stay away from Ian, really I've been on team Spencer the whole time" he sighs.

"Spencer I really don't-" I start but am interrupted.

"Just say yes. You're on a break so there is no harm done." he smiles at me expectantly.

I love being emotionally manipulated into a date. "Sure" I offer him a small smile before I add "Are you sure this won't make things weird?"

"No, only if you make it weird. Aubrey I have every intention of fighting for you." he says grabbing my hands and the combination makes me feel warm, but not as good as when Ian does it. Shit what am I thinking? Ian is so different, we would never work. Maybe Spencer really is more my speed? But I feel shitty doing this so fast after, but I also don't want to hurt Spencer's feelings. Ugh.

"Spencer I'm not-" I start to say but he interrupts me.

"Ok princess, let's just do something tomorrow we don't have to label it ok?" he says smiling at me warmly, but I can see the hope in his eyes.

"Ok"

Ian POV

"Boss" a frail boy whimpers from the doorway. I look up from staring at the computer I just smashed onto the ground to meet his terrified gaze.

I narrow my eyes on him and he gulps. "Uh b-boss, um C-chase is h-here."

I offer him a stiff nod and he scurries off. Fucking pathetic.

It has been exactly 73 minutes since Aubrey declared we would be going on a 'break'. A fucking 'break'? 

I feel absolutely horrendous my entire being is consumed with guilt and regret. It felt like she ripped out my heart, but she fucking owns it anyway. 

The thought of having to spend a week away from her and having her scared of me made me trash my entire office and punch one of my best men in the face. God she has me so wrapped around her finger that without her I crumble.  

I know she needs space and I'll try my best to respect that but any longer than a week and fuck, I don't know what I would do. Kidnap her? 

Fuck why did I even seriously consider that.

"So this is the fucker that is whipped by a little brunette huh?" Chase snickers from outside my office leaning on the door frame with his arms crossed.

"Oh fuck off" I scoff.

"Trouble in paradise champ?" Chase smirks and moves into the office, sidestepping the books and giving me a knowing look.

"Yeah the fucking paradise it's currently on fire in a dumpster and for the extra glamour of it all falling off a cliff" I say exacerbated running my hands through my hair.

"Wow man, you really have a way with words." Chase laughs.

"Oh fu-" I start but am interrupted.

"'Fuck off'" he says with air quotes "yeah yeah I get it. You're in a mood" he rolls his eyes.

I look at him balling my fists, he just laughs in response. 

"Now whatever you have done, you aren't going to win her back my proving your anger issues and instability" he says waving his hands about.

"I'm not unstable" I grit out.

He laughs and when he sees I am not laughing back he stops and just pointedly motions to the mess of my office. When I just narrow my eyes at him he holds his hands up in surrender and chuckles "Fine then. You're perfectly fine"

"Perfectly fucking fine" I lie hitting my pencil cup off the table.

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yoooo only have two exams left so updates from now on are gonna be a bit quicker (hopefully!)

thank you for reading and if you enjoyed it would be awesome if you could please vote!

Q: how old are you?

A: i am 18 🤪