Shennan walked around the park, before sitting sat on the edge of the fountain. Staring deep into the water deep in thought. Wondering if what she felt now would hurt any worse when she left.
Right now the pain is unbearable. What's going to happen when I leave? She asked herself. The thought burning her mind, singing her heart, and torching her soul.
Looking down at her hands in her lap, she noticed that she was still in her pajamas. Which consisted of gray sweat pants that were too big, a white cotton V-neck tee, and she was only in socks. But she did have a dark red jumper with her though... that she had in her hands.
Looking back at the water, it seemed so peaceful as it lapped gently against the lip of the fountain. She could hear the thunder rolling in the distance and occasionally she'd catch a glimpse of a flash of lightning.
She found herself staring intensely at the water and would have continued looking at it, if someone hadn't interrupted.
"I thought that you might be here." Isaac said softly as he sat next to her.
Shennan continued staring at the water, "I'm predictable I guess." She said shrugging.
"You won't even look at me now?" He asked.
She winced slightly. He had no idea how badly she did want to look at him, to hug, to kiss him. She just couldn't though. She'd be leaving soon. The sooner she'd break off whatever it was between them, the better it might be.
"Hey." He said as he touched her hand lightly.
Instantly pulled her hand away and continued to look at the water. "Why did you come here?" She asked shakily, and cursing herself for not being in total control.
Isaac was confused. "Because you're here." He stated simply as if everyone had known that.
Shennan shook her head roughly. "Isaac, we can't. We never could." She stated softly.
"What are you talking about? Us?" Isaac he asked slowly.
Remaining silent, Isaac found his answer. He didn't like it though.
"No." He said sternly. He put his hands on her shoulders and forced her to look at him. "No." He said softly this time. "I won't let you go, and I won't let you try to detach yourself from me like this." He said staring into her eyes.
Shennan wanted to fight him, she had to. If she didn't, leaving would hurt a thousand times worse than it did when she just thought about it. "Isaac..." She started.
He silenced her by giving her a sweet passionate kiss.
Accepting it and returning it, she forgot all thoughts of trying to detach herself now. She only hoped that it wasn't going to hurt when she left as much as she thought it was going to. Then thunder cracked loudly and lightening flashed quickly.
Taylor was sitting up with Stefani waiting for Shennan and Isaac to come home.
Stefani stared at him for a moment. "You know she's leaving, don't you?" She asked quietly.
He was tapping his fingers on the arm of the couch, when he stopped and looked at her. "Yes." He answered. "I know."
"I don't want her to go." She said as she went and sat next to him. "She's a big part of this family now." She leaned up against him and curled her legs underneath her.
Taylor slid his arm around her shoulders. "I know. It's going to be weird seeing you and not seeing her right next to you. Or out in the hammock with Mykah." He said softly.
"You know what I'm going to miss most?" Stefani asked him as she laid her head on his shoulder.
"Hmm?" He asked pressing his cheek to the top of her head.
Thunder roared loudly and lightening flashed across their faces.
Stefani went unfazed. "The little things. Her reading Hamlet, eating all the fruit, sleeping in my room, sharing my closet and drawer space. All of those." She said quietly, feeling the tears coming to her eyes.
She closed them and forced them back. Shennan wouldn't want me to cry. She chided herself.
"Yeah." Taylor whispered. "I think Ike's gonna miss her a lot too. More than us in some ways."
Stefani took in a deep breath. "I didn't think about that." She admitted. "Promise me something?" She asked softly.
"What?" Taylor asked as Stephanie looked up at him. Blue eyes to blue eyes.
She loved his eyes, and she knew he loved hers. "That you're never gonna move away from me." She said questioning.
Taylor nodded. "Okay, I promise." He promised softly before he kissed her gently on the lips.
She pulled back slightly. "I promise I won't move away from you either." She promised before she kissed him.
Then Mykah came running in.
Stefani and Taylor both pulled back, and looked at him. His hair was matted to his forehead from sweat, his lower lip trembled, and it looked like he had been crying.
"Did she leave?" He asked choking on his tears.
She went to him and hugged him tightly. "Yes, but she'll be back. I promise." She said into his ear.
Taylor got up as well, and walked over to them. He knelt down and hugged them both lightly. "Isaac went to get her Mykah. He'll bring her back." He said confidently.
Mykah looked up at him, his lower lip quivering still. "Do you promise?" He asked. His voice was thick from the tears he shed, and the ones he didn't dare to.
He smiled weakly at him. "I promise."
"Okay." Mykah said nodding his head thoughtfully. Believing Taylor for the moment. "Can I stay up and wait for he?" He asked Stefani.
She smiled and nodded. "C'mon." She said as he led him to the couch.
He lay at her feet while she lay against Taylor again. He wrapped his arms around her. "I'm truly gonna miss her sarcasm."
Laughing lightly, Stefani nodded. "Me too. I think everyone's going to miss that about her."
Shennan relaxed slightly in Isaac's embrace. "You know that I will be leaving soon. Right?" She asked looking at the ground.
"Yes." He said as his grip tightened on her.
She looked up at him. "We should go home." She said as she felt light drops of rain falling on her skin. She pulled her red jumper on.
Isaac took her hand and kissed her fingertips. "I know I've never really said this before but..." He started.
But Shennan quickly placed her fingers from her other hand on his lips to silence him. She knew what he was going to say, and she knew that if she heard it she would want to hear it forever from him and only him.
But if she heard him say it now, she knew she wouldn't leave. And she had to.
Then lightning illuminated the sky for a split second. The thunder chased after it in a deafening roar that echoed in her head. She took the hand he offered her and they started their walk back home.
Shennan and Isaac quietly walked in careful not to wake her parents or anyone else. What she saw amazed her and she smiled. Taylor, Stefani, and Mykah were asleep on the couch.
Isaac smiled and placed his had on her right hip. "Kinda makes ya wonder, huh?" He asked softly.
Feeling the tears well up, Shennan nodded. "You might want to get Taylor. I'll get Stef and Mykah." She whispered.
"I'll help you with Mykah. Taylor can get up himself." He said as he went over and picked him up.
They walked upstairs and into Ryan's room. He was awake too. "You're back." He whispered sitting up.
Shennan nodded as Isaac placed Mykah in his bed. He stirred a little and she kissed his forehead. "Night." She whispered as she left.
They walked back downstairs and Taylor was waking Stefani. "Hi." He said as she woke up.
She smiled at him. "Hi."
Soon her eyes focused on Shennan and she went and hugged her tightly.
She hugged her back. "C'mon let's go to bed." She said yawning.
Taylor nodded and kissed Stefani goodnight, and Isaac kissed Shennan goodnight, and then they left.
Stefani stared at Shennan as they walked up to their room. "So are you going to tell me what happened?"
Shennan remained quiet for a moment. "I'm still leaving." She whispered.
