I was laying on my bed, facing the blank wall above me. I couldn't stop thinking, but for once in my life, I needed to stop thinking. Especially now when I actually don't have to think. I don't have to think about money, because he clearly has a lot. I don't have to think about my parents because I don't live with them anymore. I don't have to think about Ellie because she is probably the happiest girl on earth right now with her mother. I don't have to think about Mike because well, Kevin seemed sure about the fact that he won't come back again. I don't have to think about that asshole because he clearly doesn't fucking think about me. I don't have to think about Lucy because now I know for sure that Kevin and I have no chance.

Not that I wanted one to begin with.

So i just have to stop. 

Stop thinking. 

The problem with me is that I just can't stop thinking, it doesn't come that easily for me. The one thing I do that makes me stop thinking is running, and I was going to do exactly that. 

I changed my clothes and my shoes and I even managed to find a good hair tie. 

What a good day! 

I was about to my open the door but someone managed to open it before me. And let me tell you, my heart managed to beat a little faster and I hated myself for that.

I knew it wasn't Jane.

The asshole opened the door, almost hitting my face while doing it, when he saw what I was wearing his eyes widen with anger.

"Where do you think you are going?"

I ignored and walked to the bathroom to fix my hair, even though I didn't even need too. He followed me and said the last thing I wanted to hear:

"Your parents are here."

He was behind me but I could see his face and his hickey from the mirror I was facing. I could tell from his hickey that I shouldn't ever trust what he says but from his face I knew he wasn't lying. 

My parents were really there. 

I wanted to yell at him, hit him so hard that he won't be able to show off his beautiful hickey and face to the world. But I didn't. I had to keep myself together. I turned around and gave in to my brain.

"I don't give a damn. I am going for a run and you can't do anything about it, neither can they."

"They came all the way here just to make sure you won't ditch again and decide not to show up for a dinner. So you better go change and come down stairs whenever you are ready." He sounded mad, but at the same time he sounded like he was talking to a 3 year old girl.

"I am not coming. If you adore them so much, go have dinner with them by yourself." I yelled and tried to push him out of the bathroom but he stayed still.

"Go change Mariah, I don't want them to see you like that."

Mariah.

"And I don't want to see them and you at all." I stated. One good point for Mariah!

"Is it about the hickey?" He looked down at me, waiting for an answer. 

I would never answer that question I told myself and walked past him. In a matter of seconds he took my wrist and turned me around so I was facing him.

"Tell me"

"Tell you what?" I rolled my eyes.

"You are impossible." He rolled his eyes, but I could see that he was a little bit annoyed.

He let go of my wrist and we just stood there, nobody moved. A loud cough was breaking the moment and I turned around, watching my amused mother.

"What?" I snapped at her.

She saw what I was wearing and her eyes widen. Sudden sadness was the only thing I could see on her face. The asshole probably saw it too because the next thing he did was standing in front of me, blocking any kind of eye contact and further arguments.

"You should go back to your husband Mrs.Evans, Mariah will get down soon."

She quietly left the bathroom, leaving him and I alone. He turned around, his body really close to mine.

"Go. Change."

*********

"So Mariah, how is work lately?" My dear father asked.

I looked up from my silver rings, maybe I would get something out of this dinner I thought and smiled.

"Happy that you asked, I actually lost my job just about a month ago." I said, not looking at Kevin's warning eyes but looking at my mother's smile.

"What do you mean you lost your job?" My father sounded confused.

"I mean..."

"She passed out multiple times during her work and I decided it would be the best if she stopped for a while." The asshole stated, making my blood boil.

"My wife and I really appreciate it Kevin." My father sounded proud of him. How could he be proud of such a liar?

"I am glad that you take care of her Kevin, I can see that you guys are getting along even more than just fine." My innocent mom added looking at his hickey.

That was my chance.

"I didn't give him this hickey!" I said quickly and loudly so he wouldn't stop me from telling the truth again.

"Yes you did babe, I gave you one too this morning, remember?" His voice sounded so loving that even I was not believing my own words anymore.

My parents just stared at us.

"No you didn't!" I yelled like a baby in the freaking restaurant. Ops.

"Yes I did." He sounded calm.

"So where is it then?!" I asked, catching him off guard.

He looked at me and smiled.

"Do you really want me to show you in front of your parents?"

Oh

My

Fucking

God

"Mariah you don't have to deny it, there is nothing wrong with being in love."

I was too shocked to answer. Kevin's words. My mom's. It was all just too wrong and mixed up. So I just sat there waiting for the ground to swallow me. But when the food came and the focus was no longer on me, I saw it as my chance to escape so I walked to the fancy bathroom in the fancy restaurant. I stayed there for about 10 minutes before I decided to head back to my amazing, loving and supporting family. I sat down and looked at the plate in front of me.

Pizza.

I looked at Kevin but he didn't look back. He was staring down at his food while I wondered:

Did the asshole order this for me? Because I clearly didn't order anything since the minute I got here.

I stared at my pizza for a very long time and before I decided to take a large bite from it. My parents were staring at me like they just saw a pink alien and Kevin was sitting there confused. It was an unusual thing for them to see me eating pizza.

"What?"

I attacked them and their stares but they just smiled at me and looked back at Kevin, what got me even more furious. They thought he was the reason for my unspoken change, but it wasn't true! It was me and my stupid brain.

That dinner was a total disaster.

After saying never ending goodbye to my dear parents that were so fucking happy for some mad reason, Kevin and I got into his car. When he started laughing so hard in his car I covered my ears and showed him my beautiful tongue. It took him some time to breathe normally again but once he did, he started talking and I didn't know what was worse.

"I love your parents."

I ignored and took my hands off my ears. I hated him so much at that moment.

"You barely ate a slice from that pizza, ask Jane to make you food once you get home." He stated, trying to get my attention.

I didn't show him that his words affected me, but they did. Did he care? No he didn't. How could I possibly think of that and look at his hickey at the same time.

"Are you actually mad at me right now?" He asked when he understood that I am ignoring him, and I ignored. The thoughts about his hickey making me mad and hurt for some damn reason again.

"Whatever." He rolled his eyes and an uncomfortable silence fell between us. 

I looked out of the window and prayed that maybe, just maybe, I could get my old life back again and forget about every single thing that the one and only Kevin Jones made me ever feel.