Compelled

12.

The following morning went by in a whirl. I stopped by the hospital but my mother was still asleep. The medical centre was busy with departing patients and new comers who were rushed in for either cardiac arrests, seizures or cataract surgery.

It was midday when Jenna all but ran towards me in the thrid floor hallway. She seemed more excited than usual but then again, this was Jenna and she was happy most of the time. "Big celebratory party this weekend." She beamed at me holding her clipboard in her hand.

This week had been so crazy that the farewell party almost slipped my mind. "Yeah, hey, can hardly wait." And I really couldn't. Once that happened, I was up and away to the better opportunities that awaited me in Greece.

The craziness would stay here while I started anew. A small thought that I've been pushing away for the past few days crept up again. I'd be leaving Justin behind too. That thought always managed to place a knot in my stomach, a heaviness in my chest and a lump in my throat. But staying behind would only cause greater damage.

I'd fall deeper and deeper for him and he'd maintain a maddening distance to protect me from his decisions. We were truly something that could never be.

Jenna drew me away from the t*****e of my thoughts by asking about my mother. She also apologised to me for not getting back sooner on the whole loaning me money thing to which I insisted it was okay.

Later that day I went back to see my mother and was ecstatic to see that she was awake and looking much better. Her face lit up as it always did when she saw me and I thanked the Lord for having at least one of my parents who were still pure. I put a lid on that mood killing thought and smiled back at my mother.

"The nurse said you popped by earlier but I was asleep." She chirped on after hugging me for a brief moment. I settled into the chair that was beside her and listened to her chatter with a smile on my face for just having her here. Alive and healthy.

"They ran some tests this morning and all is well." The happiness was in her eyes at being cured and it warmed my heart. "I'll be out of here by tomorrow evening. Then your dad and I will return back to Greece. I'm sure he sorted the business deal he came back for." Oh he sorted his business out alright. She was clearly in the dark and unaware of the intentions of my father. My mother, being the observant person she was, spotted the falter in my demeanor at the mention of my dad.

"It's nothing." Her questioning frown relaxed but not completely. "I'm just happy that you're alright, Mom." She kissed my hand tenderly just as the man I detested so much walked in.

He placed a kiss on my mother's forehead and I resisted the urge to scoff but I did eye roll. "I'll be in Greece by Monday." My mother nodded, a look of joy on her face at having me near to here. "We shall paint the town red once you get there." She grinned in anticipation and I giggled.

"You can't leave, my dear." My dad's voice became annoyingly sweet and fake but my mother didn't think so since she knew nothing yet.

I s**t him a glare. "And why is that?" I knew why he said it. My decision to leave only meant his business plan would fail.

He thought for a moment about what to say. "Chase wants to get married as soon as possible. You can't leave you're beloved behind." This time my mother scoffed. I was leaving a beloved behind. It just wasn't Chase.

My father became visibly uncomfortable. His brows raised, fingers knotted and even his stance was uneasy. "Oh please, you don't have to the yourself down just yet. If you're not sure about it then don't jump into it." I could literally kiss my mother right now for saying that. "The Wright boy is atrocious, Dan. How could you even give him your blessing?" My mother looked appalled and my father, at a loss for words. He didn't care how bad of man Chase was as long as his boat was afloat everyone else could simply sink for all he cared.

My dad just shrugged which made me smirk. "Now that you mention it, I really don't feel a connection with the guy, Mom." She nodded in agreement and my dad froze. He could see just how his plan was slipping away.

"Put your goals and yourself before a man especially one as ghastly as Chase Wright." I agreed with extreme exaggeration at what she had said and my dad's jaw clenched tightly. Shrugging my jacket on and leaving, it wasn't long before I pulled up in the driveway.

I was exhausted needing nothing more but sleep right now. The house wasn't as silent as usual and the sound of voices that I've never heard before echoed through the house. Drawing near towards the feminine laughter that now sounded like I've heard it before. Then a man's voice that sounded rich and had just the right amount of gruffness to it reached my ears but I wasn't familiar to the voice.

"Oh Scarlett, you're finally here." Mrs Pearson said when I appeared in the opening of the living room, seeming happy to see me as she held her glass of red wine.

Three pairs of eyes were now focused on me. I assessed the woman who had luscious brown hair and just the right amount if elegance. The realization struck me as to where I'd seen her before.

"It's good to meet you in person at last." She voiced her excitement then outstretched her hand which I shook. Although I knew she was the lady from the restaurant Chase and I had lunch at, I was confused as to why she wanted to meet me.

Justin stepped to my side, cupping my elbow before handing me a flute of wine and I took it happily, needing the liquid. "This is Hayley Basset. My best friend since most of my life." Ahhh.

The tall man clad sophisticatedly in black scoffed his wife rolled her eyes at him. He was handsome with good features and the perfect built. "They'd never let you forget that they're best friends. Gets annoying sometimes." He said with playful irritation.

Justin was highly amused and grinned unashamedly. "He once hated our relationship so much he threatened to have my just starting business ruined." Hayley almost chocked on her drink which certainly wasn't alcoholic.

"And today he wants to do business with you." Hayley added to the t*****e of her husband but he wasn't getting angry just lightly irritated. He looked at me with a 'see what I go through with them' look then sipped his drink which seemed more on the amber side of things.

We settled into the comfortable white couches when a leaping boy all but ran to Justin seated next to me. The kid seemed no smaller than seven and just about the cutest kid I've ever seen.

Justin scooped him up as quickly as he could. "I thought you weren't going to leave the new kitten alone, Zach." The boy's shoulders dropped and he pouted a little.

"The kitty fell of to sleep and wouldn't even open her eyes after that." He explained seeming sad that the kitten had fallen asleep. Wait.. We didn't have a kitten but then again he did say new.

They stood to leave and so did I. Justin smirked at something that Zach whispered in his ear. "I think so too." Justin said agreeing to whatever he said with a lopsided grin.

Hayley admonished both of then saying it's rude to do such a thing when in company. Zach apologised with the best puppy dog eyes impression by far.

"It was a pleasure meeting you and thank you once again for seeing to my mother." I brushed of her gratitude saying it was what I did. She frowned then her head whipped up sharply to stare at me again.

A frown marred her forehead as she spoke. "Did I see you dining at that restaurant on ninth avenue? If I'm not mistaken it was Chase Wright with you as well." She shuddered with distaste when I nodded then looked warningly at me. "He's the worst specimen of human I've ever encountered. Rude, demanding and overall disgusting." I laughed mentally at how everyone had the same opinion of Chase.

"He seemed pretty pushy and demanding with you that day but you didn't let him get away." Her eyes shown with admiration and just the smallest smirk played on her lips. "He seemed pretty angry after you left."

He was angry because to left the meal and didn't sit like a porcelain doll and do as he said. "We cannot allow ourselves to be treated like just property now can we?" She nodded her head in total agreement. Then eyed her husband who looked at her lovingly even though a playful look dances across his face.

"Hmmm, you definitely put me in my place." He wasn't complaining just marvelling that she managed to. His arm wound around her waist and he kissed her temple.

"Gross." Zach said seeing his parents and I laughed at that. The kid flashed me the sweetest smile before he joined his parents.

We walked them to the door while the light conversation flowed easily. "We must meet again. Next week maybe?" She inquired seeming determined to set a date for our next meeting and I really wouldn't mind that at all.

Hayley was friendly, easy-going and not snobbish in the least but I wouldn't be here next week. "I really would love that but I'm afraid I'll be out of the country by then." Her expectant face dropped but she smiled gently.

"Oh, well then I wish you the best for your future, Doctor." Her hand squeezed mine gently before she let go. Justin seemed to have scoffed faintly and if Hayley hadn't looked at him questioningly, I would've assumed my imagination was fooling with me.

They seemed to be having a silent discussion and while Hayleys' face transitioned from confusion to surprise then settled on understanding, Justin's face was the perfect mask hiding whatever it was he was thinking.

She then looked to me, grinning like she hit the jackpot. Her husband called out to her and she said a quick goodbye then got into the blue spots car.

Zach was still there staring at me intently. When I smiled at him, he smirked so perfectly that it didn't seem like a smirk of kid. "I like you." It came out like the words tumbled out before he could stop them. "It's sad that you have to leave." His voice was flat and even though he barely knee me it seemed like he was really unhappy at that.

I kneeled in front of him so I could be on his level. "I'll meet you every time I decide to visit here again." His lips pulled up immediately with a beaming smile then he turned and went down the steps towards the backseat of the car where his father stood holding the door open for him to get in. They left and once the noise if the engine faded, sounds of crickets and insects filled the air outside.

The cool nights air was refreshing and begged to enjoyed but the days exhaustion crept on me. I turned to enter back into the house ignoring the silent Justin since he seemed to be deep in thought.

"You're really leaving." My hand was grasped in his preventing me from moving. I frowned at him not knowing where this was coming from. He couldn't be startled by this since he already knew about it.

I looked up at his face that was sporting a frown. "Yes, I am." Not even having a second to think, he tugged my hand and my body met his closely. The rate of my heart was like I had just ran for the longest distance.  The heat of his body danced with mine, his scent lingering around me causing t*****e to my senses. His eyes were dark but blank making them unreadable.

His hands slowly crept to cup my face before his head quickly dipped closer to mine, lips just mere inches away. I was tempted again to tip my head and just kiss him for goodness sake but I remember the last time and I didn't want to face that embarassment again.

Kissing him again would only awaken the part of me that demanded more than just lips and I'd yearn for more which he couldn't give me. But with all that said I couldn't move. His eyes held me captive narrowing like he could sense the apprehension and want in me.

His lips met mine softly and painfully slow. It shot a wave of shivers down my spine. My hand travelled up along his torso until it found his thick hair. My fingers weaved themselves in it and pulled him closer. His hands slid down my face and wrapped around my body pulling further into him.

I groaned at the sensation of his powerful hands mapping around me and he seized the opportunity and joined our tongues. He was hot and no longer gentle but hard and needy.

He's only acting on whatever chemistry existed between us because I was leaving. We'd never be here doing this if I wasn't going to away from here. Maybe he feared I'd become clingy if he acted sooner so he left it for the last minute when I was leaving so he wouldn't have any issues after.

That stabbing thought made me freeze immediately and he sensed me tensing up because he lifted his face to see what changed. His brows knitted in realization and he shut his eyes for a moment before looking at me again.

I untangled my fingers from his hair. "I'm sorry but I can't." My voice was pained but still heavy with l**t and I hated it. Justin assessed my face and he was battling between whether it was because I didn't want it or because of something he did.

All became clear when the l**t shamelessly displayed itself in my eyes but so did the hurt and he knew that it wasn't because I didn't want it. "There's been something from the moment I had met you and you-"

I cut him off. "Yet you chose to stay away." He was startled for a moment then gave me a look that said that I was aware of his reasons.

I scoffed because where was his reasoning now? Did they not apply anymore because it suited him?

"It's because it's all convenient for you now. I'll be away soon and you wouldn't have to deal with the possibility of me becoming emotionally invested." I muttered ignoring the sound of my wounded voice.

Placing my palms onto his forearm that was still tightly clasped around me, I attempted to undo them but he didn't budge but only tightened his hold. "That isn't true in the least, Scarlett." He sounded so sincere and hurt that I would assume such a thing. "You know that I would never cause you any harm."

I blinked to clear my vision and prevent the tears. "Then why now when I'm leaving?" His eyes flashed with helplessness and then hurt.

"Because I didn't know what I was losing until now." I squeezed my eyes tight as his words reached my ears. My hands cupped his stubbly cheek bringing his forehead to rest against mine and our noses to overlap.

It caused me a great delight to know he felt something but that didn't mean we'd work. We were still a recipe for disaster.