One Step Closer

The coffee shop was a beehive of activities. It seemed like everyone needed a dose of their morning coffee. Scarlett sat quietly across Declan in a booth next to a window overlooking the park. As expected she had another coffee in hand. She knew that she would have to talk to someone.

Of the only two people, she could talk to, one was sitting across from her, worry written all over his features. The other one was Lou but she knew all her best friend could comprehend at that point was the white party. Ugh, the white party! The last place she wanted to go to yet she had to be there for Lou's sake.

Having a hyperactive best friend was both a blessing and a curse. It meant being dragged to all kinds of places whether Scarlett wanted to or not. Deep down she was grateful for Lou. She couldn't imagine how dull her life would be without her. Not that she needed to imagine though. The one year they had lost contact after graduation was enough to show her exactly what that meant.

Scarlett looked at the worried guy across from her. He was still handsome even with his frown. She wanted to reach out and touch his cheek but she knew that wasn't what Dec needed. He needed some answers. Some sort of explanation to help ease his mind.

"So I may have left out a few details about the text I received yesterday" Scarlett finally spoke startling the worried Dec.

"I figured as much," Dec said after recovering from the initial shock. "You know you can trust me." He continued making sure the sentence was more of a statement than a question even though he wasn't sure Scarlett trusted him that much yet.

Scarlett took a sip of her coffee, let out a sigh and spoke, "I have a sister, her name is Abigail Victoria. She hates her first name so everyone calls her Vicky or Vic" She smiled as she said the words, she had not talked about Vic in 6 years and saying her name warmed her heart a little.

Declan was happy to see that smile although it only lasted for a brief moment before it turned into a sad one. Deep down he felt all kinds of emotions. On one hand, he was glad she finally talked about her family it meant she trusts him right? On the other hand, he felt sad because he knew that whatever happened for Scarlett to avoid her family must have been very bad. He wished he could do something to ease the pain that the memories brought to her. But he also knew that she could only avoid her past for too long before it caught up with her. Little did he know that it already had.

"So the friend's wedding I told you about, well, it wasn't so much friend but more of a sister." Scarlett finally said it. She could tell that Dec had a million questions but she appreciated the fact that he did not ask anything. If she was going to do this she had to do it at her own pace.

"Sorry I lied"

"It's okay Scarl am sure you had your reasons."

"I haven't spoken to my family for 6 years. I left home when I was 18, never looked back" She was looking out the window as she said this. She felt ashamed to admit it out loud. She had always felt guilty for leaving her family the way she did.

Declan was quiet. He wondered what would cause a teenager to leave home for good. His heart ached for her.

"I had found a way to move on but yesterday when my mother texted me, it all came crashing down." Scarlett continued. "It was the last thing I was expecting, I don't even know how she got my number." By this time, tears had threatened to start streaming down her face, so she looked up at the roof to keep them from falling. "I don't know what to do Dec, I can't miss Vic's wedding but am not ready to face them, am not ready to face my past." Her voice cracked at the last words and Declan could tell she was on the verge of tears.

Declan was never out of words but this time they seemed to have gotten stuck in his throat. Even without knowing the full story, he could tell that this was very difficult for Scarlett. It was a side of her he had not seen before. The Scarlett he had come to know was always a happy person, she was confident and always seemed to have the answer to anything. However, the girl sitting across from him not only looked weak but she seemed scared shitless. She was on the brink of tears and one could tell that it took all her strength not to let them fall. Her voice cracked when she spoke causing Declan's aching heart to break into many pieces knowing that he couldn't do anything for her. He could only listen and offer his shoulder hoping it was enough.

Declan stretched his hand and placed it on Scarlett's. He hoped that the small gesture would convey what he felt. That it would show her that she wasn't alone, that he would be with her through it all.

If it were any other time, Scarlett would have pulled her hand away and make a silly comment. But at that moment the warmth from Dec's hand on hers was comforting. She could tell that he did not know what to say. And who would blame him? If the situation was reversed, she wouldn't know what to say either.

She wondered what Dec would think of her if she told him the whole story. Would he still have held her hand? or would he turn away ashamed to look at her? Would he think any differently? She was thinking too much again. She often wondered whether her decision to leave home was a show of wisdom and independence or it was just the childish move of a spoilt brat.

"My mother actually invited me back home for the entire week." She finally spoke again.

"A whole week? Isn't a wedding supposed to be a one-day thing?" Declan asked.

"It is... but as usual my family has a way of making everything bigger and better. I can imagine my mom inviting all kinds of people, having 10 different events before the main ceremony" Scarlett remembered how they used to have birth weeks instead of birthdays. They would celebrate their birthdays for an entire week. Not that she was complaining. Their mum would invite all members of the extended family.

"What are you thinking?" Dec brought Scarlett back from her trip down memory lane. He could tell that this time though, it was a happy memory because her gloomy face had started to light up a little. He was hoping that she would talk about it.

"I just remembered how mum used to make a big deal on our birthdays, instead of celebrating the birthday, we celebrated the birth week."

"Birth week?" Declan was amused.

"Yeap, courtesy of my mum. They had venues and themes too. So I can only guess how excited she is about the wedding"

"Wow... That's an overkill" Declan teased.

"Tell me about it," Scarlett joined. "It used to be fun though, the more the guests the more the presents."

"Lucky you, in our family we would be lucky if anyone remembered. My mama would bake us our favourite pie after leaving work. We would eat it for dessert after dinner and call it a night. No muss no fuss about it. Once or twice we got presents but that was it." Declan replied.

"That was sweet and intimate," Scarlett mused silently as if she was voicing her thoughts. She had always admired those kinds of families growing up. Where the mum and dad would take their kids to the park for their birthday. Just a couple of balloons and maybe a cake. Her childhood was the exact opposite. Ballrooms and themed parties. Sometimes it looked more of a business dinner than a kid's party, especially when they were in their teens. Scarlett could not complain though, during the week their mum made sure to put activities that they liked and were more to their tune.

Scarlett found herself talking about her childhood with Declan. It felt good to talk about the happier times with her family.

In the middle of the conversation, they had left the coffee shop and gone back to the park. There were more people there and the snacks vendors had begun to set up shop. The fresh air was perfect and Scarlett was happy that she had decided to leave her apartment that morning.

Meeting Declan in the park and talking about her family made her decision a little easier. Declan had always been easy to talk to. They laughed and joked around with each other. They fooled around once a while but neither ever spoke about defining what they were. Through it all whenever Declan got closer Scarlett would involuntarily step back. Her past pulling her. Her heart, at least part of it, still stubbornly holding onto the boy who pulled her out of the darkness just weeks after she left home. But she was determined to live in the present so she smiled at the handsome guy who looked at her like she was his world. They continued sharing stories from their younger years.

After a while, Declan had to leave for work so he asked her if he could walk her back to her apartment.

"Thank you Scarl, for telling me about your family," Declan said when they reached her apartment.

Scarlett smiled. "Am glad I told you about it. You know, I haven't spoken to anyone about them since I left home so it felt nice."

Declan felt special, he was more than over the moon to be the one Scarlett trusted with such a difficult topic. If only there was something he could do other than just listen to her. And that's when the thought occurred to him.

"You know Scarl, if you want me to, I could come with you... I think it will be easier if there is a familiar face there. Apart from your family of course... But... it's okay if you don't want me to... I mean you don't have to... it's your choice..." His face had turned into a shade of pink Scarlett had not seen before. He was scratching the back of his neck uncomfortably.

She thought he looked cute when he blushed. Times like these were what led to their casual romance. Despite the circumstances, Scarlett felt the desire to pull him into her apartment but her logic mind kicked in and she restrained herself.

It was actually a brilliant idea to go with Declan to the wedding. He would be there for her when she faced her family. And if it went south then she wouldn't have to be alone like she was 6 years ago.

Declan took Scarlett's silence as a no. He felt dejected so he quickly added "God, Scarlett am sorry I asked that. You have too much to think about and am giving you yet another issue. Forget I asked."

Scarlett had not realised that she was silent for so long. "No... No... I mean yes... Thanks for offering, I would be glad if you came with me."

If Declan's face was pink before, now it was scarlet red. Pun intended. He was so happy. In the years he had known and liked Scarlett, he had never gotten this close to her emotionally and he had tried everything. Was he evil for secretly thanking Scarlett's mum for sending that text?

He ****** forward and held Scarlett in a tight embrace that conveyed his feelings. He hated that he had to go to work but also thankful. He wanted the next time they were intimate to be more than just fun. He wanted to build a relationship that wasn't about sex. He needed a deeper connection. He could only imagine how much his buddies would tease him if he were to say that out loud.

He waved goodbye to Scarlett after he let her go and begun walking back to the main road to catch a taxi to his apartment. He felt so happy. In fact, he was so happy he forgot to ask when they were leaving. Or where they were going. No matter, he would just text her. His day couldn't get any better.

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