I've been living with Dalton for a good month now, and things were. Great.

Sure, I still missed everyone back home but I was moving on. Dalton's only two rules for allowing me to stay with him without any explanation was that I had to gain back the weight I lost and not spend all day wallowing in self pity.

Both happened, I felt better. I even told him everything that happened, I didn't want to keep him out of the loop forever.

I was fully on employed with Hopeless now, I had a new number so the constant phoning for me ended. I got Hayley to be on my side with this and she didn't tell anyone where I was. Her and Dalton were all I had left now, but it was okay. It would be alright.

At least, that's what I thought, until Dalton came running into my room one day.

“Ember! Oh God, Ember!” He ran in, all smiled and the phone in his hand. “Guess what.”
“What?” I asked, looking away from my work.
“Hayley just called and he's back.”
“Who's back?” I asked, laughing at his excitement.
“Who else? Jack.” He smiled.

It was like the world the stopped. I stared at Dalton, frowning.

“That's not funny...”
“I'm not kidding, seriously, Hayls on the phone. She'll tell you.” He said, holding it out to me and I flinched back.
“Hang up.”
“What?” He looked at me confused.
“Hang up! I don't care if he's back!” I yelled, getting up. “Do you guys really think that changes everything?”
“Wait, you just have to hear-”
“No! I don't care where the hell he was or why he's back.” I walked passed him. “Tell Hayley that I understand what she's trying to do but it's over. Forever.”

I left the house, getting in my car and driving off so I could think.

He's back? Jack's fucking back? Why? And who thought it was a good idea to call me? I don't want this anymore, he doesn't deserve to just come waltzing back like nothing ever happened.

My thoughts were interrupted by my phone going off. I picked it up, and nearly growled into the phone.

“Hayl, I love you but no. I am not hearing about this.”
“Give me just fine seconds.” She said, and I smirked.
“Five...”
“Jack was in rehab and-”
“Four.”
“-came back to say sorry and-”
“Three.”
“-see you and everyone-”
“Two.”
“-again. Please, just come back-”
“One”
“Ember wait!”

I hung up, not willing to listen. Rehab? Alright, okay. Good for him, glad he's clean, does that change what he did? No. No it doesn't. And apology? I said enough sorries to outweigh a confession boot patron. I didn't want an apology. I wanted to move the fuck on. I can't do that with everyone trying to bring us back together. I won't have it.

I drove around to clear my head for a good two hours before going back home. I was a lot calmer now, and I talk to Dalton about this without losing my temper. He would, he had to, understand that I can't go back to Baltimore. Not for something like this.

“Ember?” He called as I opened the door.
“Yeah.”
“Thank the lord, you're back.” He popped his head around the kitchen. “I'm sorry about earlier, I really thought you'd be ecstatic...”
“Well. You thought wrong.” I said, sitting on the couch. He sighed and joined me.
“I know, it's just....it's hard not to see you and Jack together. I thought if you knew where he was and why he came back you'd be willing to try with him again.”
“I can't. It's been too long and too much.” I stated. “He can't just show up out of the blue and expect me to be waiting for him. I begged and cried to at least know where he was going and he left me with nothing but a lie.”
“I don't think it-”
“It was a lie.” I snapped. I looked down and mumbled. “I know it was.”

The night ended awkwardly, with me skipping dinner and heading straight to bed.

~*~*~*~*~*~* SPECIAL GUEST POV: Dalton *~**~**~*~*~*~**~*~**~

I waited till I heard Ember's bedroon door closed and called back Hayley.

“Hayls? Give me Jack's number.” I spoke quietly. “I have an idea.”

She did as I asked, and I quickly wrote down the way to contact him. Going over my idea a few times in my head to make sure this was really wanted to do, I dialed and waited.

“Um, hello?”
“Hi, Jack.” I said cheerfully. “It's Dalton.”
“How'd you get my number?”
“That's not what matters. What matters is I know where Ember is and I think I know how you can get her back.”
“Really?” He sounded hopeful and non-believing.
“She lives here with me. In LA.” I stated. “And I think all she really needs is to see you. I know you love her, dude. She, however, seems to have forgotten that. And even though she won't admit it, I know she still loves you too.”

“And how do you know that?”
“I sleep across from her.” I scoffed. “I hear her moan your gross name.”

~*~*~**~**~*~*~*~*~*~ SPECIA; GUEST POV DONE~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The next couple of weeks went by smoothly.

Too smoothly.

Dalton never mentioned Jack again, and I never got anymore calls from Hayley. Usually, she's be all over something like this. Dalton should have at least been fretting over me, making sure I was okay. Part of me wanted to believe everyone learned to not bug me and a miracle has happened. The other part knew that was bullshit.

And my alarm went off big time when one day Dalton told me he was just going on for a few hours and would be back before I know it. As he left, I tried to think of everywhere he could have possibly gone. It was his day off, so he wasn't working. Shopping didn't take that long unless it was for fun in which he would take me with. He would have told me if he had some hot date.

Guess all I could do was sit and wait.

But never in my wildest dreams would I imagine what would happen when he got back. Dalton opened the door, saying hi and something about a surprise. I looked up and met the eyes of someone I never imagined stepping into this flat.

He was here. In my new home. He knew where I was.

I'm so killing whoever came up with this idea.

Notes

These two can never stay separated for long c;