Finding you: A Christmas special

Knock knock

Ryan POV:

I took a deep breath before knocking on the door. I heard her footsteps approach before the door opened. "Ryan," she smiled, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "Hi," I said, "I brought Chinese!" I raised the plastic packet filled with three Chinese boxes, and she shook her head. "Well, come on in then." I gave her a smile as I walked into the house, I turned around before closing the door. Was it me? Why did I have this strange feeling?

"So what brings you here?" She asked as we walked into the lounge, "just wanted to check on an old friend," I said as I looked around casually. She chuckled dryly, "weren't you more my brother's friend?" She asked absently as she cleaned up the coffee table. "I was your friend too," I said nervously. Why was I feeling so sweaty? "Are you okay?" She asked, looking at me now, her hands filled with dirty plates and cups. Yet she still looked so beautiful. "Oh yeah!" My voice cracked as I nodded, and she chuckled again, "you're still a weirdo Ryan." I chuckled again, nervously. "Yes, that I am." Jesus! How was I still alive? I could die of embarrassment. I cleared my throat, "would you like some help?" I asked, "with?" She asked, her eyes narrowing in disbelief, "don't look so surprised, you know my mum was a single mother, right?" Her eyes widened, and she looked like a deer caught in headlights. Why is she looking at me like that?

"Uh- Well, I forgot." She said stumbling over her words, "my mother is coming by today," she said, "oh!" It was all I could say, "so I guess we should have lunch quickly," I said, "maybe another time," she grabbed the Chinese food and walked me to the door, "are you okay?" I asked, looking at her confused, "why are you acting so weird?" My question got another look of embarrassment on her face. Why was she embarrassed? She shoved the Chinese food in my arms and opened the door, "it was nice seeing you," she said in a rushed manner and then shut the door in my face.

What

Was

That?

I walked back to my car, the ice crunching under my shoes. There it was. That feeling again. I placed the packet of food on the roof of my car as I unlocked my car and looked around. This was really strange. I didn't see anyone, and why would I? We were on the outskirts of town, barely anyone came here. I shook my head, and placed the food in the car before getting in. I'm probably just exhausted. I started the engine, looking once more at the house Elena was staying in. Sometimes, I just couldn't understand women. I reversed and drove off.

Elena POV:

I was humiliated. I was pacing up and down in front of the cot. I was chewing on my thumb's nail. It was a bad habit, but I couldn't think about that right now. The news was travelling fast, everyone probably knew. Could they know about the abuse? My heart started racing with anxiety. No. Impossible. I've told no one about that, but what if my mum blabbed about the cheating to more than Amanda. My stomach started cramping.

I walked towards the window, and stood there, staring out, at nothing in particular. How do I fix this? The only way I know how. I took out my phone and dialed Caleb's office, "hello," I said, trying to make my voice sound confident, "how are you?" I asked, the voice on the other side was his assistant, "could you put me through to him." I listened with despair as she told me he's fully booked, and more excuses about why he can't call me or speak to me. I just hung up. She was going on about some meeting but I didn't care. I looked at Mason sound asleep. I needed to be better for him. I needed to not destroy myself. I exhaled deeply, my eyes stinging with tears. I wish I didn't have to come back to this stupid town!

I slumped on to the couch, looking at the newspaper. I needed to find a job. There was a vacancy for an antique sales lady position. I circled it with the red marker, I could do that. I looked back at Mason, "I'd have to pay for child care or ask my mom." It wasn't hard to decide, I'll just pay for child care. A knock on the door momentarily distracted me from my thoughts. Then I noticed Ryan's scarf was on the couch, he had forgotten it. I grabbed it and went to the door, opening it aggressively. "I'm guessing this is why you're -" I stopped short, a handsome man with blonde hair and deep dark brown eyes, looked at me with a smile, "Hi," he said, "Amy?" I was caught off guard, "sorry, I thought you were someone else." I cleared my throat, "I'm not Amy," I said. I was starting to sound like a proper i***t. "Okay, do you know anyone named Amy, we've been chatting for over three months, and I've sent her money, but-" I cut him off before he could finish, "woah! Buddy, I'm going to stop you there," I said, "Amy doesn't live here. This a guest house, and also I've booked it for the next 6 months." He looked surprised by my bluntness, "I'm sorry, I understand." He turned around and started jogging down the steps, I didn't see a car. "Hey!" I shouted, running after him, "are you okay?" I asked, and he nodded, "fine." I started to feel really bad, "do you maybe want to come inside?" I asked, he stopped in his tracks, "I could help you call a cab." He looked at me and flashed me a charming smile, "that's awfully nice of you." I gave him a smile, "I'm sorry for being so rude earlier," I said and he shrugged and smiled, "it's okay. I needed to hear it from someone." We turned around and started walking back, "so where are you from?" I asked, "New York." His hands were in his pocket, "Wow! My hus-" he looked at me, "I mean ex-husband works there." "That's nice," he said, "I mean that's good for him, but I can't imagine any guy who would want to divorce you!" I laughed, "you're cute, but we all have our flaws!" He smiled at me flirtatiously, "if you're a flaw then sign me up!" I threw my head back laughing, my cheeks turning pink.