"Kill me slowly baby"

O N W A R D S;

It had been two days since Daniella had stormed out of his pent house with a cold rage and to pass the hours he threw himself into his work, to avoid feeling the guilt eat away at his gut. He should have never led Daniella on, he should have ended their 'relationship' the minute he saw she was getting too invested with him. He sighed as he stared at the white clock on his wall, 9:54 pm. Caleb got up and walked towards his wine fridge.

Taking two bottles out with the intention of downing every last drop. He was going to get drunk tonight; fuck work tomorrow! Caleb grabbed the wine bottles and a glass and headed towards the couch. It had also been a few days since he'd last seen Georgia and suddenly at the thought of her, he felt the urge to go and see her, talk to her, even. Before leaving they'd exchanged numbers and looking at the blank screen of his phone he was itching to pick it up and call her.

One text couldn't hurt right..... I mean she may not even answer— Caleb chided himself as he had this internal battle. He finally decided that these two bottles of wine in front of him, they would have all his attention tonight. And after downing at least three glasses, his mind suddenly drifted to today's date, 25th of July. Caleb suddenly frowned, four days from now would be the third year anniversary of his father's passing.

Caleb groaned, Thomas Hearst was not someone he talked about at all. An amazing businessman but the shittiest father. Caleb didn't have a single good memory with him, as a child, Caleb felt as though he was raised only by his mother and the maids as his father barely spared him a glance. As an adolescent, Caleb remembered causing so much trouble in his prep school to get his father's attention he nearly got expelled twice. Not even that got Thomas' attention.

Caleb had wanted nothing but his father's approval but at the age of seventeen had given up any hope he'd ever have of having his father give a shit about him. Caleb found solace in painting and for many years had used that as a means of centering himself when he was in a bad mood or wanting nothing more than to smash his father's face in. But right now the memory that was suddenly pushed into his head was the one when he'd returned to Greece after five long months, four of those months which had been spent with Georgia and now he was the prodigal son returning.

Caleb had dark bags hanging from his eyes, his blank eyes that now held no emotion. He felt as though all the life had been sucked out of him. He'd spend at least three days looking for her. Seventy two hours of his time wasted on finding some girl he loved and now as he exited JFK airport he drew a breath taking out a cigarette to light. He stared off into the distance going over the last few hours he'd spent with her in his head.

Had he done something wrong? Why did she just leave? Caleb's fist tightened around his suitcase as he'd seen the board with his name written on it being held by his father's driver, Frank. And at Frank's side stood his father, Thomas. Looking similar to how he'd last seen him five months ago. His eyes weren't on his approaching son but his phone as he typed away. As Caleb stood in front of Frank, the driver offered to take his bags but Caleb just shrugged him off and headed to the exit.

It was only in the car that Thomas had spoken to Caleb, "We have a board meeting tomorrow at eight in the morning, if you intend on running this company you need to start learning and fast. You're already months behind on preparation!"
Caleb's eyes were on the road as Frank drove them to the house, "Nice to see you too Dad." He muttered bitterly.

His father who hadn't shown any sign of hearing him continued to scroll through his phone and Caleb felt his anger rising. The only reason he'd even considered coming back was because of Georgia, she was in the wind and Caleb didn't have anything to keep him in Greece any longer. He knew Georgia like him, was from New York and he had hopes that if he'd come back he'd find her. Only he knew his father would immediately be notified of his return so he'd go along with his father's plans until he found her and convince her to come back to him and like they'd planned they'd run off together.

If only Caleb knew that, that wouldn't happen.

Staring out of the window now he casted his gaze over to his father, who much to his dislike he took after in looks. It was said that the two looked so much alike that if they were the same age they could have been twins and that was something he hated. He wanted nothing to do with this man, as far as Caleb was concerned he was just the man that stuck his junk into his mother and managed to conceive him.

Unable to take the silence anymore Caleb spoke up, "I met a girl."
When Thomas didn't respond, he spoke up louder, "I met someone!"
Looking up from his phone, Caleb was met by the eyes of his father, "Is that so?"
"Yes and I love her."
His father looked thoughtful, "Do I know her father?"

Caleb shook his head, "She doesn't come from money."
Then Thomas laughed, a sickly laugh, fake, "Then why are you with her? Please son, if this girl can't offer you anything why are you with her?"
Caleb was flabbergasted, "I suggest you end it and I'll set you up with one of my dear friend's daughter. She's a lovely woman, Daniella I think her name is,"

"No, I won't."
"Oh please Caleb, you do what I tell you. Plus this girl where is she now?"
When Caleb didn't answer Thomas grinned, "Exactly."

Caleb was brought back from the memory by the buzz of his phone.

10:02 — r u up?

It was Georgia.

Caleb stared the message, in shock.

10:04 — yea what's up?

10:05 — ik it's late but can I call u?
10:06 — its just I wanted some1 to talk too & I thought of u

10:06 — yea that's fine

Caleb stared at the screen for awhile and then when her name popped up on the screen he drew a breath before answering.
"Hello... Caleb?"
"Yeah, yeah I'm here."

There was a pause before she spoke again, "I'm sorry for bothering you this late but I just needed to talk to someone other than my nurse."
Caleb chuckled, "What, missing me already? I've only been gone a few days" he teased.
Through the phone he could see Georgia rolling her eyes, "Oh shut up Caleb! Don't act like you didn't want to hear from me"

Caleb shook his head not denying it, "How are you?"
"I'm doing better," "But ever since I told my parents I remembered them they haven't left me alone. I'm being smothered!"
"Mhm" he mumbled through the phone.
"I just need some space you know, but I don't have the heart to tell them to back off."

Caleb sighed, "Don't take them for granted, Georgia. These people however annoying they might be they love you and want the best for you. It just shows they care, they just got their daughter back so yeah, maybe they'd stick to you for the next few days but it's worth having people care than having no one at all."

There was silence on the other end of the line until she spoke up, "Damn Hearst, since when did you become this wise?"
Caleb chuckled, "Comes with age."
He heard her laugh over the phone and suddenly he knew that was the best sound he'd ever heard. They talked into the night until Caleb checked his watch for the time, 2:23 in the morning. He sighed as Georgia rambled on about french fries not being French.

The conversation was one of familiarity to him and suddenly his heart felt whole again. Now looking at his bottles of wine now untouched for more than a few hours, Caleb felt uneasy. It scared him, what she could still do to him scared him. Goddam, he'd let his guard down, you fucking love sick asshole.