♡ Mia's pov ♡ "Are you going to school tomorrow Kade?" Mom asked. Perhaps trying to cut the thick awkward silence we all were in. I had decided to try. At least show them I was trying to move on. Despite my earlier actions to wanting to be alone. Colby's words had latched into my mind, and given it took some time for me to realize pushing them away would do me no good, I was trying now. Kade dropped the spoon into the bowl. We were having soup today because Austin felt for it. "I'm not sure yet." He admitted and I felt his heavy stare on the side of my face. I brought the spoon filled with soup into my mouth. "I'll go when Mia goes. I want to be there for her- I dropped the spoon in the bowl roughly and it clicks loudly. It has the entire room going in silence. I glared at the bowl of soup. "Why?" I asked tightly as I fisted my hands on the table. "Do you think I'm some kind of damsel in distress? Do you think I need more pity stares? More painful stares?" I lifted my head to connect my burning eyes to Kade's. He flinched at my words, completely taken aback by their anger. "Mia!" Mom scowled. I whip my gaze to hers. "And don't get me started on how I could literally feel the disappointment casting off of you and dad. You think I'm some kind of dumb teenager who made this happen to myself!?" Mom looks shocked, completely stunned and Dad looks angry that I had spoken to her in that way. "Mia. We have never thought of you as a dumb teenager- I snorted. "Don't try to act like you're not mad I got pregnant in the first place dad." "You're right. I was angry at first that you two weren't careful. But never have I ever thought you were just a dumb teenager or have felt disappointed. Mia I could never be disappointed in you. You can burn an entire church down and I'd not feel disappointed. Sure I'd be mad at first at your bad decision but I'd forgive you eventually. Mia. I know you're hurting now but that's no way to talk to your mother and me."Mom shook her head. " We're all just trying to help Mia. We just want you back. The real you." I slammed my fist on the table. "Well guess what Mom, you're not helping! You're just suffocating me in your pitiful stares. I don't want it. I never wanted it. I don't want any of it!" "Mia!" My teeth slammed against each other as I shut my mouth to Kade's surprisingly angry loud voice. I shook my head and excused myself before I said more I'd regret. "I'm going to my room, I'm not hungry anymore." I pushed the chair back so I can move off of it. With my hands on the table and my gaze down at the bowl I sighed. I went too far tonight. "I'm sorry," I whispered and turned around to leave. But before I disappeared, I murmured. "I'm trying." ___ When I got to my room, I fell into my soft sheets, burying my face into the covers. I didn't like this version of myself. This wasn't me. I wondered how long until I get back to how I was. How long will it take for me to not feel the pain of the loss anymore? Will it never stop? Will I never get over it? Will I ever be able to touch Kade again without feeling awful that I let him down? Will I ever heal? My brain felt like it was on overdrive. I wanted peace, but didn't know how I would get it. It feels so out of reach right now. I don't know how long I had been crying for. It just feels natural at this point. All I ever could do now was cry. It was useless to honestly, it won't bring him or her back. I was not sure why I wanted to put a label on the gender of the fetus. It felt wrong to call the fetus an it. What if 'it' had a soul already? I was overthinking way too much now. But that was all I could do now too. Think.Lost in my thoughts I'm surprised my ears caught the sound of my door creaking open. I stiffen in the bed and waited for whoever was at the door to enter fully in. When they do and I hear the sound of the door closing, I turned around. I can't say I'm surprised that Kade was in my room. " I know I was out of line tonight. You don't have to come here to tell me." I whispered, turning around and facing my back to him. "They're not mad at you Mia." He said after a few ticking moments of silence. "They should be," I whispered, my voice cracking as I nearly sobbed. "Why do you want them mad at you Mia?" Kade asked softly as he nears my bed. I pretended to ponder on his question, even though I already knew the answer. " Because their anger is better than their pity. It feels awful to be treated like a fragile doll. Only makes me feel more broken." I whispered truthfully. I feel the bed dip as he sits down beside me. And feel the heat from his body brushing against my back. "You know, your dad literally grabbed a hold of my shirt and lifted me out of the chair. I was honestly shitting myself because I thought he was about to punch the living daylight out of me for impregnating his daughter, and for being a pussy to not having the balls to see you in that room." I froze. I didn't know that. I kept quiet, hoping he'd go on without me having to tell him to. He did. "I was a mess Mia. I didn't know how to face you. I was scared, God I was terrified that you'd tell me to leave. To never touch you or look at you again. I was scared you'd hate me for not being safer with you. For making you go through this kind of pain." He takes in a shaky breath and I feel his body shift closer to me until he was literally spooning me. I'm stunned, but don't move away. Somehow his heat, it feels like I need him this close to me. It was comforting. "But you know what your dad told me when he held me by my shirt?" He whispered, his breath hitting the back of my neck lightly."What?" I breathed out. "He told me it was no time to be a wimp and that I should not let you down. That I should be strong for you and that I should not let you fall. His words were honestly the push I needed Mia. The push to make me go into that room and face you." He admitted. Sighing he continues. "But seeing your face and how much you were in pain tore my heart, Mia. I wanted to take the pain away from you so badly. And then I made a promise to myself, that I won't give up. Even if you push me away, I won't give up. Even if you start hating me, I won't give up. Because in the end Mia," I gasp when his burning palm lands on my flat stomach. His touch literally burned through the material of my shirt. "You're worth it. You've always been. And I'm so deeply in love with you that I will fight every battle as long as I get you in the end. Even if I have to battle myself and the demons of my past. I promise you Mia, I'm not going to give up on you. I don't think my heart will ever allow me. " Kade admits. His words, they stunned me into silence. My heart thuds loudly in my ears. He loves me. He's deeply in love with me. Rubbing my stomach gently he whispered. "One day. One day when we are both ready, you'll get round with my baby. For now, we'll heal together, get better for the future. I love you Mia. We all love you." I turned around in his arms, my vision blurry as I cried. He loved me. Kissing my nose, Kade whispered. "Push me away all you want but I'm not going anywhere. Your fate is sealed with me." "Kade," I breathed out, my heart thrumming. I wanted to tell him I love him too, but somehow the words got stuck in my throat. Kade interlocks our fingers and whispered. "Can I tell you something?" I nodded, the emotions I felt not allowing me to speak. "I think I had fallen for you the moment our eyes connected. I knew I was doomed then when my heart leaped in confirmation that you were the one my soul was searching for all along. The home, the peace, the love my soul had craved for so long. You don't have to say it back Mia, I just want you to know that no matter where life brings us, I'm sticking by your side forever."