Chapter 24

Leila POV

The throbbing pain in my eye woke me before the light did.

Of course the heavy warm body next to me with its arms wrapped around me was also something that had woken me.

I hesitantly looked and saw Marshalls sleeping face, snoring quietly and soundly next to me.

It was weird torture, if someone was fucking with me this was one way to do it, the mixture of emotions I was feeling right now was overwhelming.

I wasn't sure if it was the pain killers or the mental and physical exhaustion from the attack that blocked out the memory, but I didn't remember moving from the couch to the bed.

What is he doing here.

Why is he here.

I was confused as to why he was always so nice to me, I had made it my priority to torture him, to make him feel how I felt, to feel humiliated.

I began to realise that he didn't remember anything.

He took a part of me and he didn't remember.

That was way worse than the humiliation.

It was the kick in the chest I didn't need.

I knew I should have just moved on when I met him again and just let sleeping dogs lie, after all it backfired on me in the end, he still pursued a relationship and once again forgot about me.

The nostalgia of when I was 21 was dragging up the feelings and pain of the past.

I was exhausted from everything, from pretending.

I tried to move and his arms tightened around me.

Probably thinking of Stella.

I wonder if she knows he's here.

Of course, she knows.

The throbbing in my face made me frown and bite my lip, which was a bad move considering the split in my lip.

I managed to slip put of Marshall's arms leaving him undisturbed, sneaking out of my bedroom, colliding with another tall body, looking up to see Alec, looking bewildered, grabbing me and dragging me into my study down the hall and closing the door.

"Why is Marshall here?" He whisper yelled in shock, long arms flailing about "What the fuck Lala, he's got a girlfriend, and you let him into bed with you? This ain't you, I know you got feelings for him but shit, you ain't like that"

"We didn't even do anything, last I remember is him coming to check up on me then inviting himself to stay, we were on the fucking couch watching tv asshole, I woke up in bed and just saw him there, wrapped around me, this isn't on me" I whisper yelled back, poking him in the chest.

He frowned "Does he think about how she would you feel if her man was cuddled up to another woman on her bed"

He had a point, I don't know Marshall's angle and even though deep down I was affected by the fact that he clearly cared enough, it was in fact wrong.

"'He came here Alec, you're asking the wrong person about loyalty"

He looked at me and sighed "Yeah and his loyalty clearly lays with you"

"What's that suppose to mean?" I said, confused by his statement.

My bathroom door closing interrupted us, we opened the office door and sprinting into the kitchen, just in time for Marshall to come walking out, face still half asleep.

"Yo Alec didn't know you were here" He said coming to a stop, looking like a deer in the headlights.

"Feelings mutual big fella" He smirked, looking Marshall up and down.

"Yeah, it's not what it looks like"

"Sure, no, I get it, you were cuddling my cousin in bed all night when you have a girlfriend, totally doesn't seem out of pocket at all"

"I uh- I was worried and I've been hearing things, so I had to come to check, I mean look at her she-"

"Look, I'm a fan, so I like you, but whatever this is that you're doing, there better be a reason" Alec said, his intimidating stance showing his true hight, towering past Marshall's head, jutting out his chin as he spoke "So, because I like you, I'm telling you this once, shit or get off the pot Marshall"

"I better go..." Marshall swallowed turning to me, looking flustered "Leila I'll talk to you later"

I nodded at him as he awkwardly dabbed Alec and left.

"What he fuck was that about?" I yelled punching him in the shoulder.

"A warning" He shrugged.

"He's got a girlfriend dipshit, she's a big girl, she doesn't need your help"

"Oh Lala, it wasn't for her," he said nonchalant walking towards the lounge room, leaving me standing there even more confused.

I am fucking sick of all these cryptic messages.

---

Marshall POV

"Hey" Stella grinned as she opened the door "Come in"

"Sup baby, you wanted to see me? I'm sorry about last night again... wanna go get something tonight?" I leaned forward kissing her.

She gave me a half-smile and gestures for me to follow her into the kitchen.

I followed, sitting at the island in front of a bunch of freshly baked muffin.

"So, I've been thinking a lot, and this morning while I was stress baking, I came to a revaluation, so hear me out"

I frown and nod.

"Now to save furthering this relationship and ending up heartbroken, I think there is something we need to talk about"

"What is it?"

"Leila"

"What about her?"

"Well I kinda just have this feeling about her... and you, like I'm just ignoring the signs, both of you act like it's not deeper, but I can see it"

"Deeper? What? What gives you that idea"

"It was my birthday last night Marshall" she said to me with a sigh "That's what dinner was for, I mean I appreciate you being there for your friends, but we had talked about it all week... and it was forgotten, just like that, which leads me to believe you actually feel more for then you know"

"Fuck" I said as bought my hands to my face "I'm so sorry babe"

"It's fine, it's hurtful, but it's fine, hey it happens, and now we're talking about it" She said with a shrug "Which is also why I want you to be sure you want to pursue this relationship further"

"Of course I do"

"Are you happy Marshall?" she said with an expectant expression.

"Well yes, I've told you, you know I am"

"But are you getting what you need out of this, and I'm not saying sex, the sex is great sure, but you always seem to be... I don't know, restless?"

I thought for a moment, I had to be honest, I couldn't lie to Stella, she was too much of a good person.

"No, I'm not, I don't feel..." I said, stopping, looking for the right words "Challenged"

"Don't take this the wrong way Marshall but I think you need chaos in your life to balance yourself, I've noticed you being bored, I'm not as naive as everyone thinks, out relaxed relationship isn't for you, I know you'd love to be in a relationship like this, but we both know deep down, it's not for you"

"So you're breaking up with me?"

She raised her eyebrow, and I slumped back.

"It's mutual Marshall, I'm not one of those women that are gonna fight you on something we can both see plain as day"

"Yeah I get it" I said standing looking at the muffins on the bench "Did you really make break up muffins?"

She laughed wiping a tear that had finally escaped, I reach out and pulled her in for a hug.

"I'm sorry this didn't work out, you're amazing and this has probably been the healthiest relationship I've ever been in" I said standing back tucking hair behind her ear "Will ever been in"

"You can have both, you just have to learn balance and when to walk away"

"Woman please" I snorted "I'm Eminem, I don't know what balance is, too much is never enough"

She chuckled as we walked back to her front door standing there for a moment, her brown eyes sad.

"Look after yourself Marshall, don't let those demons lead you too far into the darkness, remember to find your light"

I nodded giving her a weak smile.

"Bye Stella"

I lean in and kiss her again, before turning to leave, but I turned around once more, catching the tears as roll down her cheeks as the door closed.

I can't tell if I'm wake or sleepOr if this is actually happenin'.