You're ripped at every piece, but you're a masterpiece

And now you're tearin' through the pages and the ink

-Halsey, Colors

July 11, 2016 6:14 p.m.

In a perfect world, McKenna would have been the first person I saw when I came back to town.

But as my imperfect world would have it, she was busy with one last promotion before her tour. She left for Los Angeles and had barely came back a few hours ago.

That left me stuck with Cooper and he gave me the amazing privilege to bestow my newfound insight to her.

How was I supposed to bring that up?

'Hey remember when we were told we had to fake date for our image? Well, that could have ended a month in, but I'm just such a shitty person it took longer for me to come around. Surprise!'

Yup, the 'surprise' definitely brings that together.

I can't even imagine how she will take the news.

Would she regret it?

I mean, if we could've ended our relationship right when her stardom rose she probably would still be with douche face Noah and never gotten sucked into my problems.

I was so going to get Cooper back.

I sat on the subway, my knee bouncing as I went over different scenarios. The great thing about New York was that the subway could take you just about anywhere and you didn't have to deal with the traffic.

The great thing about the people here was that they just did not give a shit. So I could just sit here with my hoodie on and no one would give me a second look.

Grabbing my crutches, I stood up ready to make my way out. McKenna didn't live too far from the stop which left me with a ten minute walk.

It gave me a good amount of time to enjoy the sun, while going over how to tell McKenna. In all honesty, I would be perfectly fine to just be in her presence without uttering a single word.

God, I hated Cooper sometimes.

"Good afternoon, sir," I the doorman commented as I approached.

"Hey," I greeted back with a smile as I made my way through the rotating door.

I've met McKenna outside her place a few times when we had to go on those mandatory dates. I had never been inside, though. There was never a reason to since she made herself comfy real quick at my place.

I'm pretty sure she knew more of my neighbors than I did.

Walking into the elevator, I pushed the button for the fourteenth floor. McKenna had told me she was renting out one unit. It made sense; I started off with the same thing. In a lot of ways it was a lot better. There wasn't a lot of empty space, unlike my own apartment.

Reaching her place, I knocked on the door. I swayed on my feet using my crutches as support, waiting to see her. It was nerve racking to try and predict her reaction, but it's been a few days since I've seen her and I was getting antsy waiting.

My eyes shot back up as the door opened. Instinctively, I grinned at the sight of her. McKenna was supporting a warm smile as she leaned against the doorway.

"Hey," she said, her hazel eyes taking me in.

"Hey, yourself," I greeted back, taking a step forward.

With her in such close proximity, I stole a quick kiss. She reciprocated almost immediately, her warm ambience encompassing me.

"I missed you," I admitted as we pulled away.

McKenna scrunched her nose, her cheeks supporting a warm shade of pink. "It's only been a few days, silly," she remarked as I made my way into the apartment.

"I guess you just have that effect on me," I said walking through the hallway with her behind me.

McKenna's spot was a lot more homier than mine. Her kitchen was off to the side. It was rather big which was great since she loved to cook. The stone grey cabinets and island matched well with the white walls and wooden floor. She had a huge white couch facing her tv in the living room. She had a piano next to her sofa as well, overlooking the New York skyline. There was a hallway off to the side that I assumed led to her room.

"This place is really nice," I commented taking it all in.

"Thanks," McKenna chirped brushing past me as she made her way to the couch. She was dressed for comfort in her black long sleeve that read 'Pretty Little Thing' in simple white letters along with dark sweats. Her hair was up in a messy bun, a few loose strands tracing her neck.

"How did your interview go?" I asked following suit and making myself comfortable on her couch.

The lights were on as the sun was just about set. There was also a candle lit behind McKenna leaving faint traces of vanilla.

"It was good," McKenna admitted, leaning her head on the couch as she watched me lazily. "It's just been a long day. I was in the middle of packing," she said clearly not a fan of it.

"Packing for the road is never fun," I chuckled, "You will realize you forgot about 1/3 of what you needed."

"Definitely looking forward to that," McKenna sighed.

McKenna looked just as amazing as ever sitting there, but she was definitely tired. Much like Cooper, it was easy to tell she was not getting much sleep.

Telling her now would just stress her out more.

Should I even tell her?

I knew I was being stupid. Of course she had the right to know what Kiara and Cooper actually did.

I was just afraid she'd regret all of this knowing things could've turned out so different. Cooper managed to convince Kiara to stick to their deal for months more than we needed to. Even though he was looking out for me, it was at McKenna's expense.

"Yohoo, earth to Reece."

I snapped out of my daze as McKenna waved her hand in front of me.

"What? Sorry," I apologized shaking back into reality.

McKenna gave me a weird look before repeating what she said, "I was asking how you were, you know with everything."

"Oh," I said, "Yeah, I'm fine."

I should definitely tell her now. The more I wait, the more reason she has to be pissed. At least I can be the one to break it to her. It gives me the chance to explain why it wasn't such a bad thing.

"Yeah, okay," McKenna bit her lip looking away.

I frowned, watching her.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

She shifted in her seat, so her legs were planted on the ground.

"You know I'm trying to be okay with this whole situation, but you're making it really hard," she said rubbing her eyes with the sleeves of her shirt.

"With what situation?" I asked still not on the same page. I leaned forward to try to catch her attention, "Hey, what's wrong?"

McKenna turned toward me, folding her leg in front on the couch as a barrier. She shut her eyes, taking a deep breath.

"You kind of just left this weekend Reece to visit your ex." McKenna started her arms going up in defeat, "And I understand you felt the need to talk to Isabelle, make amends or close the chapter-I don't know, but I get that."

I nodded, urging her to continue.

"But you told me literally a day before you up and left and only because Cooper messaged you while you were with me. And now, now you don't even want to talk about it?" McKenna questioned, wide eyed obviously having thought about this for quite a while.

"That wasn't what I was doing," I shook my head denying it.

McKenna's eyebrow twitched as she raised it, "It wasn't now?"

"No," I chuckled.

"Oh God, now you're laughing? You sure got a death wish huh buddy," McKenna threatened, "Do I have to remind you I have a black belt in karate and I will not take mercy just because you can't walk."

"Okay, no," I tried to hide back a smile, "I'm sorry." I took her reluctant hands in mine. "I'm not laughing," I said a small smile escaping at her comment.

"And I admit, I should have told you earlier what was going through my head. That wasn't right, but I wasn't trying to hid anything from you. When you asked me how I was, going to Nevada was the last thing on my mind."

"Then why do you look like you're a million miles away," McKenna shot back, not believing me.

"I-"

McKenna looked at me with her big bright eyes, waiting.

I sighed, knowing it was time to tell her.

"I talked to Cooper before coming here," I started, "And he told me the truth about his deal with Kiara."

"Yeah, that he practically begged her to pretend we needed to be seen dating for like 6 months," McKenna scoffed finishing my not so secret confession for me.

I stared wide eyed at McKenna.

She already knew?

And she wasn't even mad?

What.. how?

"You knew?" I asked in disbelief.

"Kiara and I had a little heart to heart today too," McKenna shrugged.

"A-and you're not mad?" I asked.

McKenna shrugged, "I was at first, but I couldn't really blame them for anything." She looked at me, her eyes bright, a soft smile playing on her lips, "I mean it's practically because of them we were able to find each other."

"Wow," was all I could say amazed. "You have no idea how much that means," I admitted, running a hand through my hair, "part of me thought-I don't know you would start to have second thoughts."

I sighed in relief, thankful. I didn't know how I would take it if she really did regret all of this.

"Hey!" I exclaimed grabbing my shoulder in surprise. "What was that for," I exclaimed looking over at McKenna who had just shoved me. "Jesus, you know I can't support another cast at the moment right?"

"You're such an idiot, Reece," McKenna rolled her eyes. "How could you even think that I would regret these past few months?"

"Well, I don't know if you've noticed, McKenna, but I'm not the easiest guy to deal with."

"Ain't that the truth," McKenna shook her head.

"Thanks, real nice," I replied wryly.

McKenna let out an exasperated laugh, as she looked me over. "I don't know when you're going to get it through your thick head, Reece. I'm here for you, you just have to let me."

"My head is actually proportional to the rest of my body," I muttered.

McKenna shoved me again, but this time it was gentle, "And that means being able talk to me when something is on your mind. I've had a relationship where we were both oblivious in a lot of ways. I don't want that again. This needs to be real or I don't want any part of it."

I nodded knowing she was talking about Noah.

"You know, 'real' has a lot of baggage," I said in all seriousness, "I can't promise you I'll be okay every day or that I will want to talk all the time."

That was the cold truth.

All of them, McKenna, Cooper, Maia, Beck, have been able to shine light inside me again these past few months. I've been working on being okay with the past and letting go of my guilt, but there were times where I felt too much and things became heavy.

Some days the sadness isn't there. There are other days where I can push it away. But then there's days where it's a lot and I can't function the way I want. Sometimes it lasts a few hours or a day or even days.

I had to give McKenna one last chance to walk away.

But I couldn't be happier when against all the warnings, McKenna locked her fingers around my shirt and pulled me towards her.

Looking into her halo eyes and taking her in, I knew this was right in the purest form imaginable.

For so long, I worked so hard to escape reality. It wasn't a place I wanted to be nor a place I ever saw myself enjoying again.

But being with her now, nothing ever felt more real and I couldn't see myself being anywhere else.

Because she, she is art I could admire forever.

A/N: And that is a wrap! Reece and McKenna's story has finally come to an end!! Thank you so much for reading and supporting my first work.

Y'all are fantastic! And I would love love love to hear your thoughts on this chapter/story. Anything you got!

Vote. Comment.

<3