“Oak!” I hear a deep voice shout. A heavy hand lands on my shoulder and I forcefully take it the fuck off.
My eyes blink furiously as my heart rate tries to calm down. My mouth is dry, like the dry air I was forced to remember. I swallow and it burns.
I close my eyes and take deep even breaths. Except they come out ragged. Each breath more painful than the last.
My eyes fill with unshed tears as I force myself to swallow down the lump in my throat. An unbearable pain sits upon my chest.
I shouldn’t have let us go further. I should’ve disagreed. Even if it made me the villain I should’ve said no.
“Oak,” I hear the deep voice again except this time it’s softer. “Oak,” he calls again and I recognize the voice to be Snake’s.
I expel a long breath as relief washes over me that I’m here. I’m here and not overseas.
But they aren’t here.
“Oak, you’re hurting her hand. You have to let go.”
My eyes snap open and I find my hand furiously hanging on tight to Gracie Mae’s small one. Her hand looks crushed under mine. I quickly let go of her like I’ve burned myself.
Disgusted with myself I swallow before gruffly saying, “I’m sorry.”
I don’t have it in me to look her in the eyes but I don’t miss the hiss from her lips when her hand uncurls in front of me.
Fuck, I’ve hurt her.
Bile rises in my throat but I force it back down.
“It’s okay, Oak,” she assures softly.
Jolting up from the barstool I choke out, “I’m sorry.” Before she can offer more comforting words I bolt out of the fucking place.
Once I hit the fresh air I drag in a long breath. My hand clutches over my chest as the tumble of tears I tried to keep at bay fall down my face.
Fuck!
With jerky hands I roughly wipe them away.
I look up at the bright sun and I ask to any god that can answer from above; how much more pain must I take to have penance for what I’ve done?
Gracie Mae
Ihaven’t heard from Oak and this time I was expecting it.
It had taken everything in me not to follow him and console him. The only reason I hadn’t was because Snake advised that it wouldn’t be wise. I wanted to argue with him but from the grave expression on his face I decided against it.
Snake, out of all of us, including Vipers MC, knows Oak the best.
Though it didn’t stop me that night texting Oak and making sure he was okay. Or leaving him a voicemail saying that if he ever wanted to talk I would be there for him.
That was four days ago.
Having it be finals week hadn’t helped me in the slightest.
I was concerned about Oak and I was balancing the stress of taking my exams.
With finals week over that stress is done but my concern surrounding Oak remains.
If he had given one reply maybe I wouldn’t have been as worried.
