Page 135 of Always Be an Us

I cock my head. "Why do you think something is wrong?"

"Because you're clearly down about something. Come on, tell your Grandpa what it is."

On one hand, I don't really want to talk about it but at the same time, I want to share the burden pressing down on me. I feel like I'm going to snap into two if I don't talk about it.

"Declan and I broke up," I finally admit.

My Grandpa's eyes go wide. He remains silent for a few seconds, the air tainted with his confusion. "I'm sorry, kiddo. I didn't know you two were together."

I nod. "We weren't, at least not officially. Declan doesn't do relationships. And he told me about this already." I shrug not knowing what else to say.

"But you still fell in love with him," Grandpa concludes quietly.

I open my mouth to deny it, but nothing comes out. The tears I fought so hard against are pushing behind my eyelids.

Grandpa leans over and takes my hand. Then he gets up, moving to the chair closer to me.

"Grandpa you don't have to–"

"Heck I have to move sometime," he says. "I can't just sit over there when my little girl has her heart broken."

I shoot him a watery smile and sniffle as I duck my head. "Thanks, Grandpa."

The tears finally start rolling down my cheek and I look away, considering the view through our window instead.

Grandpa doesn't say anything to acknowledge my crying, simply squeezing my hand in comfort. It's one of the few times we've sat together in silence, enjoying the low sound of the televisions mixing with the outside chirps of the cicadas.

Remy eventually sits on his haunches, with his paws in my lap. He whines and licks my face.

"You know what this reminds me of?" Grandpa says quietly.

"What?"

"Madam Thornley's diary. You know her fiancée didn't seem like a romantic man at first. He was very cold and dismissive of the town, and all its inhabitants. Kinda like your Declan. But in the diary at some point, he started believing in our lores, in the magic of the Pink Pearl, and most importantly, started believing in love. Madam T brought the romantic out in him, I suppose."

"Did he ever actually tell you that though?" I ask.

Grandpa shakes his head. "No. Outwardly he was still as cold as ever, and still didn't talk to us much. But at least to her, in private, he probably treated her a lot better." He smiles sadly. "Things aren't always as they seem, and anyone can change at any point, even without warning. Just something to think about."

I'm not really sure what he's getting at, but I swallow and nod.

"Anyway, I'll go make us some tea," Grandpa rises and then waves me down when I try to get up too. "It's the kind of night for it."

Later that evening, with Grandpa's hot chocolate on my bedside table, I prepare to tuck in and read more of the journal.

I leave my windows open to allow a breeze, and I spot Cross, sitting in a car a little up the street. I feel a little bad, but Cross insisted on staying there even after I offered to bring him inside.

"Just in case there's an intruder, I don't want him to see me coming," he said.

Grandpa hasn't asked any questions yet about the car up the street and the man inside, but it's only a matter of time before he notices something is odd.

I need to figure out what to tell him by then.

But until then, I let Madam Thornley and V weave me into their wonderful love story, trying to forget the disaster that became mine.

My Dearest Madam,

I'm sorry for all the lies and the deceit. I'm not a man prone admitting the truth of my feelings, for I've lived so long in the shadows.

---