He was here, right before me looking at me with disappointed, dejected eyes.

My hand slides off from Liam's shoulder, I turn around standing straight staring into his eyes, he looked back with the same intensity without blinking.

It was as if time froze for us, giving us more time to feel the heat between us.

I brought my hand forward tracing my way from his arms to his face, he was real, he is here.

The intense yearning for him was overwhelming.

"I-Ian," I called out.

I flinched a little when he adjusted his hold around my hand.

"Didn't expect me here, isn't it, Raine," He replied sarcastically.

"Yes, I mean no," I blurt out, my brain wasn't doing the job for me.

"Of course, you wouldn't have," Another dose of sarcasm was thrown towards me.

I swallow hard not answering him, I looked back at Liam, who was still on the ground, but I could see his back moving up and down while he sobbed clutching the wet mud.

Ian held my chin turning me towards him, "Look at me," I meet his gaze.

"Come with me, Raine, let's go home," He said softly.

"We can't leave him alone, Ian, he needs someone," I said pointing at Liam.

"Why do you care so much, Raine? Why do you care so much about everyone? His parents didn't, his friends didn't, then why do you? Is it the love that you had for him once? Are you feeling for him again, Raine?" His words were like swords thrown towards me that sliced my heart.

"How could you say such things, Ian?" I say hurt by what he said.

"I know neither his parents nor his friends are here, but that doesn't mean I should abandon him too, I know him very well, his friends, his mom, and dad have no power over him but maybe I can convince him to come with me, maybe I can help him, he needs that,"

He closes his eyes taking a few deep breaths.

"I came here for you and there's no way in hell that I'm leaving you under this fucking weather, in a fucking cemetery. Your coming with me," He said, dragging me with him.

I looked back at Liam and then at Ian whose back was facing me.

What do I do? What do I do?

I remembered what Nana used to tell me.

Never abandon someone who needs help, especially if you are in a position to ease their pain.

An indescribable urge to help Liam surged through me.

I took hold of Ian's wrist and stopped him, he glanced at my hand and looked at me asking me not to do what I was about to do with his eyes.

I slowly plucked his hands that were holding me, his hands flew back to their place, he just stood there like a stone not moving or saying anything.

I took a deep breath preparing myself.

"Ian I know you've come here for me but I-I cannot leave him alone, I can never abandon someone who needs help, that's what my nana thought me, I will never do what my parents did to me, he needs a hand to stand back, and I will be there for him as a friend, I will fulfil my promise to Eloise."

The heavy wind blew up the umbrella that he was holding, it rolled over multiple times hitting the headstones and exposing us to the rain.

I glanced at Liam and then at Ian whose firm gaze was fixed on me.

He moved closer unbothered by the rain.

"Raine, just like how one becomes more greedy when they get the warmth of the fire after the thunderstorm, he'll start wanting more of you, your concern and comfort and affection," He said, warning me of the consequences.

"Don't lite that fire in him, because I told you, I told you that if you ever come back I will never let you go again, and now that you're here there fucking way that I'm leaving you again, especially when there a possibility of something that I hate to think would happen." He said, glaring at me while progressively holding me closer to him.

"Ian, I've given my word to Eloise that if something like this ever happens I will be there for him," I said, taking a few steps back.

"You should leave now, I promise to come back to you," Was all I said before walking towards Liam, I never looked back at Ian, I cannot face him.

"You chose him," I heard him mutter to himself.

I stopped but never looked back, shutting my eyes tightly.

"I'm not in a position to choose anyone, but if I can," I stopped but I know what I was about to say in my heart.

It will always be him, it will always be my Ian.

I kneel next to Liam and held his shoulder.

"Let's go, Liam, she's in a better place now, she's at peace and she would hate to see this way."

I put my hand forward, he looked at me with bloodshot eyes before pulling me for a hug, I let him hold me for a few minutes before pulling away.

"She will be okay, right?" He asked me like a kid.

I nod, "Yes, she is, let's go now," I stood up and then helped him.

He didn't say anything, he leaned on me as I guided him out of the cemetery.

I drove Liam back to his home, no words were exchanged, it was just silence, cold silence.

The gates to his home were opened, I got out of the car and opened the door for him, but he was hesitant.

"Please come out, you're soaked to your bones." He sighed getting out of the car. His parents rushed out, I could see the worry and pain in their faces.

"My boy," His father said, hugging his son, Liam didn't hug him back though. I saw the bitterness that filled his eyes.

"I'll take your leave now, please take care of him," I said, giving an awkward bow before turning on my feet.

"Wait," It was his dad, I turned around, I was startled when he held my hand.

"Thank you, Thank you for bringing him back," He said, patting the back of my hand.

"I'm glad that I could help in a sensitive situation like this, I have to leave now, take care," I said, removing my hand.

"No wait dear, please come inside, get changed and have something warm, it's the least we could do," He insisted.

"Some other time, Goodbye for now," I said turning around.

I burry my face with both of my hands once I got into the car, I left him behind under the pouring rain who came for me, I left Ian who was there through my thin.

I slap myself hard again and again.

"I'm sorry Ian, I'm so sorry,"

The lay my hand on the steering wheel listening to the heavy slapping sound of the raindrops against the window.

I picked up the phone that started buzzing, it was Blaze.

"What the fucks wrong with that man! He's standing like a bloody pillar in the middle of a cemetery under the storm not moving an inch! What the fuck happened, is this why you asked me to pick him, woman?!" Blaze's voice blasted through the speaker.

"He's still there?" I said holding my forehead.

"Of course, you know that man is damn adamant, I would never be able to convince him, you better come and fix things with him before he kills, himself," He yelled at me.

"I'm on my way," I said starting the engine, I reached my destination and waddled inside, thick raindrops stung my skin.

A few minutes later, I saw him standing in the very same spot where I left him, a few meters away from Eloise's headstone.

I saw Blaze next to him with an umbrella, he left as soon as he saw me coming giving me a death glare.

I quickly jog towards him, I tried to spin him around by holding his arms but my effort went in vain as he was way too stronger than me.

"Ian!" I said, moving around so I was facing him directly.

I shook him by holding on to the collars of his thick brown trench coat.

"What the hell is wrong with you, are you planning to get yourself killed!" I yelled, still holding on to his collar. He didn't try to stop me or was he saying anything, he just stared, stared through my soul.

"You shouldn't have done this! You shouldn't!" I broke into tears seeing him in this state because of me, our faces were inches apart both struggling to breathe.

All of a sudden he held my writs and pulled my hand down freeing himself from my hold.

"Nothing that you should be bothered about, by the way why are you here, Raine and oh, I hope Liam doing better," He spits out.

"Nothing that I should be bothered about? Nothing that I should be bothered about!?" I repeat myself.

"You choose who you wanted and left with them, so why are you here now, oh did you miss your belongings? Did you come here to find them?" He mocked looking sideways.

"Don't do this, Ian,"

"You choose who you wanted to and left with them, so why the fuck did you come back? For me? Really? Well, I'm honoured but you can leave," He grits out.

His words broke my heart, I wanted to hug him and tell him how much I loved him,

"It's not true, Ian, no, no," I choke on my words, nodding my head.

"I wanted to help him, If I can, I will never choose someone who is not you, but I can't! My life is fucked Ian, I don't want you to be a part of this chaos," Just for a second, his eyes softened before he looked away.

"At this point, you are the one who's stopping your happiness, it's just you,"

I didn't have an answer and but I know he was right.

"Please come with me, let's go," I begged holding his hands.

"Leave Raine," He pushed me back looking at something behind me.

I was losing it, "Fine! Do you want to stay here? You can for as long as you want, but I'm not going anywhere," I said folding my arms cross.

I secretly peeked at him hoping for some sort of reaction but no luck. It was just the raindrops dripping from his face.

The temperature was around 6° Celsius and the wind cold enough to freeze your blood started to show its effect on me.

My tooth was chattering, my legs shivering, I was feeling too weak, and was on the verge of fainting, and my pounding head didn't help as well, I was drenched from head to toe from the past hour.

My eyes were becoming drowsy but I don't want gonna give up, and somewhere my worsening condition did the job for me in melting Ian's heart because the next moment Ian's hands were on me, holding me tightly.

His eyes filled with concern and fear, something that I only see in his eyes.

"Damn, Raine, what the fuck are you doing," He hissed.

"Y-You care?" I say weekly.

He clenched his jaws.

"Fine, you win," He said trying to hold my hand, but I pushed him away.

"Seriously, now?" He asked.

I look away just like how he did a few minutes ago. He once again reached out and I put a fight by shoving him away again and again.

"Don't to-touch!" I said swatting away his hand.

"Hey! H-Hey! What aa-are you do-doing..' I stammered as he picked me up in his arms.

I held on to him blinking continuously because the rain was hitting me hard but I was able to tell that his gaze was fixed ahead and was not on me.

He placed me in the back seat settling next to me, and Blaze was glaring at me from the driver's seat, I squirm under his gaze.

"What about-tt my-my car? What about his?" I was worried because it's Emily's that I borrowed.

A coat came flying towards me as an answer.

"I'll ask someone to pick it up, now shut the fuck up,"

"What's up with you, Blaze?" He was getting on my nerves.

There was no reply, the rest of the ride was silent, and cocooned myself with the coat.

Blaze parked his car in front of Ian's mansion, it brought so many memories back.

Ian opened his side of the door and walked out without even looking at me. I watched his back until he vanished from my site.

Now it was just Blaze and me, he sent a death glare before starting the engine once again.

"What's wrong with you? Why are looking at me like that?" I asked confused by his rude behaviour.

He didn't answer me.

"Please Blaze," I asked softly.

He sighed heavily.

"You know what? your fucking coward who thinks it's cool to sacrifice everything that rightfully belongs to you!"

"Blaze," I whispered taken aback by his outrage.

"Shut up! You'll only listen now,"

I flinch.

"You let go of that bastard Liam easily without even giving it a fight, was that a sacrifice? No, it's stupidity, and you're doing the same thing again, your letting go of Ian for sake of your so-called selfish best friend without even giving it a fight, again!"

Blaze's words were like a tight slap across my face.

"Trust me, Ashley, Ian is in a position to get everything that he wants, and he could have forced you if he wanted to but he never did that, that's what people do when they're in love." He said.

"Listen to me carefully, you either fucking fight for Ian or get away from his life forever, don't fucking be a visiting guest. With the doors of your past with Liam being opened again, everything will collapse if you don't decide which door close and which one to open."

He dropped me at my hotel, leaving me in a whirlwind of questions and emotions.

I picked Ian's photo that I had in my wallet, tracking my finger across his face.

'Your the only one who's stopping yourself' Ian's words replayed again and again in my head.

"Your right, Ian, I'm the only one who's stopping myself," I closed my wallet, looking at the pouring sky.

"Get ready, Mr Longwood," I smile crossing my hands across my chest.

***

Hi, my awesome readers! An end to another chapter! I'm so sorry for the long wait and Thank you for sticking by this little story of mine.

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