--= Preston's + POV =--

"Hey, where'd you head off too? You alright now?" Lachlan wondered. A worried expression shining in his face I forced a smile at him as I nodded slightly.

"Yeah, just needed to let out some steam." I grinned. My hands heating up at the discussion we were having I clenched my fists, shoving them into my pockets as I thought of my lips against Vikk's.

He killed Rob. And I kissed him.

Smacking a hand onto my forehead I wiped it down as I laughed quietly at myself. Lachlan shooting me a glance, silently asking if I was okay I closed my eyes and nodded.

"I'm fine Lachlan, don't worry about me." I notioned. Lachlan seeming unsure, he pushed it aside anyways, sticking close to my side.

"So, have you been enjoying the walk to Mitch's and Jerome's?" Lachlan asked, wanting to stir up conversation I huffed out a small laugh as a smile stuck onto my lips.

"It's been beautiful." I commented. Lachlan nodding, agreeing with me I let out a sigh, staring down at the grass I closed my eyes, continuing to walk beside Lachlan.

"Preston? I want you to be honest with me when I ask this....Okay?" Lachlan questioned. My eyes snapping open I looked over to see him with a nervous look on his face.

"Okay, shoot." I ordered.

"...Do you think seeing Mitch and Jerome will help?" Lachlan wondered. Heart ripping in two, I tensed as I looked back down at the ground again.

"...........I don't know. I'll certainly be happy to see them again......But.....Mmph..." I whimpered. Squeezing my eyes shut tears dripped down my face and trickled down onto the grass.

Slowing down to a stop I intertwined my hands in front of me, drooping I felt my shoulders drop. Unsure of what to do, I hid in my hands as more tears fell down my face.

The whimpers slowly growing louder soon enough I began to hiccup as tears furiously ran down my face, causing my face to shine with tear streaks I kept my eyes closed.

"But I don't think anything will help! Lachlan, he's...He's gone....I didn't even get to...."

"Be grateful for what you had with him Preston, he's gone now. Stop grieving, start cherishing the moments you've had with him." Lachlan snapped.

Freezing, I dropped my hands so I was looking at him. Disbelief and anger churning inside of me I narrowed my eyes, gritting my teeth as I bit back a remark.

He's gone.

Echoed in my mind repeatedly as Lachlan continued talking, anger and exhaustion flashing through his expressions back and forth I scrunched my eyes shut.

"SHUT UP! LACHLAN! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS LIKE TO SEE SOMEBODY YOU'VE LOVED FOR SO LONG DIE IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES! BLEED TO DEATH! 

NEVER GETTING TO SAY I LOVE YOU, NEVER GETTING TO DO WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED! A LOVE SO STRONG YOU SEE A FUTURE, AND IT'S CRUSHED! 

CRUSHED BY THE INHUMANITY OF FRIENDS! OF GUNS AND KNIVES!OF REJECTION AND LOSS! YOU HAVE NO CLUE HOW HORRID IT IS!

 IT'S BEEN A YEAR AND I'M STILL NOT OVER IT! TRUE YOUR LOVER RAN AWAY BUT AT LEAST YOU KNOW HE IS ALIVE! SO KINDLY, BACK! OFF!"

Flames swallowing me whole I raised a hand, aiming at Lachlan heat swirled around me, biting every vein of anger, fueling me whole Lachlan stared wide eyed at me.

"No...No idea.." I hiccuped. Slashing my arm down I set fire to the grass around me. Clawing at my face with my fingers I crumpled to my knees, the fire dying slowly and surely.

Lachlan remaining silent, I extinguished myself. Wrapping my arms around my stomach I hunched over, a sickening feeling racing in my gut I felt as if I was going to be sick.

"Preston...." Lachlan tried, clearly not knowing what to say I looked up so we were staring each other in the eyes, a single tear falling down his face I looked away.

"If you didn't want to deal with me Lachlan, you could have just said so. I'm used to being abandoned."