Chapter 59

*Payton's POV*I took my phone out once I left the Starbucks and said my goodbye to Matt. He drove off, but I stayed in my car, fiddling with my phone to try and text Brooklyn.

•Payton•We should talk.

He responded almost immediately, which I assumed that Sean or someone told him that his life had been a lie for the past few weeks as well.

•Brooklyn•Yeah, come over.

I started up my car, and drove the short distance to my neighborhood, parking in the Beckham's driveway across the street from mine. Walking up their stone steps leading to the front door, I hesitated, but rang the doorbell.

A moment passed, and the door swung open, revealing Brooklyn himself holding the door open, motioning for me to come in.

"They told you, huh." I guessed, judging by the deeply confused expression on his face.

"Deleted everything off my phone, social medias, as much as they could on the Internet.. What were they trying to keep from us? It wouldn't of been such a big deal if we found out.. I think we're more shocked about the fact that this has been kept from us for so long." He explained as we made our way down a familiar hallway leading to the Beckham's styled-to-perfection living room.

I took a seat on the white sofa sectional, as did Brooklyn but across from me.

"I don't know what they were thinking, but what now? Do you remember anything as to why we broke up and I chose Kaden? I really need to know, Brooklyn." I let out a quiet sigh, still so distraught by what was happening to my life.

It seems as if every time everything seemed to be perfect, at the time that I couldn't ask for anything more in my life, something always happens to change that.

I took the short silence as a chance to look up at Brooklyn, who was looking like he was contemplating something in his head.

"I remembered everything once they told me...." He took a short pause before continuing. "We first started dating when you moved to London, and everything was going great. We went to a party one night, and this guy, Trevor was kissing you, but I didn't know that you pushed him away an--" he began with a guilty look on his face.

"I remember that now, no need to relive it," I giggled, trying to lighten the mood. All was forgiven for that instance, and that couldn't of been why I was so willing to pick Kaden. There had to be more to it, and as Brooklyn started talking again, my theory was confirmed.

"Okay, next story then.. So um, we were at the hotel for our tournament, back in the states.... And this girl, I don't even know who she is, came up to me, and told me that she would release the files about your.. eating disorder.... if I didn't make it look like I was cheating on you.." He said carefully. "I'm really sorry about that, I don't even know if I apologized or not, but that was really stupid of me, I just didn't know what to do. With your show coming up and everything, that kind of... news.. probably wouldn't of been good." He bit his lip, looking down at the ground.

"I know, I just can't figure out why I had chose Kaden.." I furrowed my eyebrows. It didn't make sense, I mean that's understandable, as to why Brooklyn had supposedly 'cheated' on me. Now that I think of it, I don't really feel that many feelings towards Kaden. I don't know how I could of did that.

I mean, yes I'll always love him, but Kaden's name doesn't make my stomach flutter like Brooklyn's does. Maybe it's the distance between us lately that's doing this to me....

At the mention of Kaden, Brooklyn's expression seemed to drop, and mine did too just by seeing that.

"Just please make up your mind sooner, I can't stand waiting like this again. Just know that looking back, I wouldn't do anything I did, because it hurts me a lot knowing that I've hurt you. If I could go back and change that, I would." He said, looking me straight in my eyes.

"I know, and I don't put blame on you for the things you did, I just need to sort some things out in my life right now, I'll text you a bit later, kay?" I asked, getting up and giving him a short hug.

"Sounds good," he said, opening the front door for me. I smiled and got back into my car, driving across the street and walking inside my house.

I heard voices as I walked in through the hallway, probably coming from the kitchen or living room.

I set my bag down, and saw that Sean and Cara were watching TV or something. But I could tell that the guys were in the kitchen, based on the voices I've heard, them being more evident as I got closer.

Once they saw me, they jumped up from their seats.

"Where have you been?! Why haven't you been answering your phone!" Cara yelled.

"I've been trying to sort out my fucked up life, and I turned my phone off. I didn't want to talk to anyone," I lied, hoping that they would believe me. I didn't turn my phone off, I just didn't want to talk to anyone. At least half of that was true..

"Do you know how worried we've all been?! I didn't know where you were, or when you were coming back, and you were pretty pissed when you left, so who knows what you could've been doing?!" Sean exclaimed.

"You know I had every right to leave like that. Hell, you would too if someone you barely knew, told you that the past two weeks of your life hadn't been what you thought they were at all. No one bothered to tell me shit, so I had to find out for myself. Don't stand here being mad at me for leaving, because we all know that I should be the one mad at you all for keeping this from me for so long." I said through gritted teeth. I hated raising my voice, even if I was fuming inside. By this point, the guys had come in from the kitchen and we're watching what was unfolding in front of them.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kaden leaning back against a wall, taking in the situation. He didn't have any expression on his face other than defeat, and I didn't blame him, because I've been wearing that look lately too.

Walking over towards him, I pulled him aside and spoke in a quiet tone.

"Can we just walk somewhere? I don't really wanna see anyone, and I just need to talk to you," I sighed, hoping he'd go along with it. He nodded his head and we started walking down the street.

I took a short moment of silence to compose myself so I don't word vomit when I explain myself. I took a deep breath before starting to speak.

"I am so, so sorry Kaden. You have no idea how horrible I've been feeling since I found out that I left without any explanation. I didn't know, and I'm just really, really sorry for putting you through that." My voice shook as tears brimmed my eyes, threatening to spill like Niagara Falls down my face.

I can't imagine finally getting to be with someone, after they picked you. Then having them get in an accident, which you don't know if they're okay or not, having to wreck your mind over the possibilities. Have them wake up and not remember anything; your memories together, your relationship, you. Going on tour with them, hoping that they'd remember, but you know you can't do anything about it or tell them that you were together, that you loved each other. That must of hurt the most. And finally, to top it all off, have the girl that remembers you as their best friend, nothing more, just leave to another continent halfway across the world, with no goodbye at all.

I wouldn't be surprised if he hates me right now, and never wants to see me again after the shit I've put him through. He has every right to just walk away, out of my life, slamming the door on the way.

"N-no, don't cry Pay, you'll make me cry just seeing you like this," he said, wrapping his arms around me.

This took me by surprise, I would've thought that he would be mad right now, or disappointed.

"Y-you never cry though.." I said. It was true, over the 15 years I've known Kaden, he hasn't cried once. And I've seen him break bones before. He stopped and put his hands on my shoulders.

"When you left, I couldn't focus on anything for days. I left the tour and came back here. All I wanted was for you to remember me, remember us." He said, looking straight into my eyes. I felt sprinkles of rain fall on to my skin, but I ignored them. "I didn't know what to do, and I really just wanted to tell you that I loved you. I really did. After 15 years, I finally got you to be mine, and you didn't remember me." A look of hurt washed over his face.

Well that felt like a punch in the stomach.

"I'm so sorry, I really am. I love you Kaden, I always have, and after all of this that I've put you through, you're still here. I love you for that." The rain was starting to pick up, and I could feel my clothes and hair getting damper by the second.

"I love you too Payton," he said, but it was more like a quiet whisper as the rain was completely pouring down on us now.

I knew what was right and I felt it.

I knew exactly why I chose Kaden in the first place. He would never hurt me like Brooklyn did. I was too afraid of getting hurt again.

"We probably look like idiots standing like this in the pouring rain," he laughed.

"Well we are idiots," I pointed out. No one I knew would just stand around in the rain like this.

"Well you are for hating on doors and stairs, but--" he joked.

"Just kiss me already," I rolled my eyes and the distance between our lips quickly disappeared as he smashed his lips onto mine.

For what felt like forever but was probably only a few seconds, we pull apart and smiles grown on our faces.

"I've been waiting for too long to do that," he winked. "That was so cliché though," he laughed and I joined in. He was right, this looked like some scene from a movie.

"Well everyone needs a little cliché in their lives," I said, as Kaden grabbed my hand and we walked into the Starbucks that I had just come from, to get away from the rain.

"Well I guess it's true then," he says.

"What's true?" I raise an eyebrow.

"When it rains it pours, but better things come of it. Life's been a shitstorm for us both, but we're okay now, aren't we?" He explains as we get in line.

"Yeah, we are okay." I smile, squeezing his hand that's been intertwined with mine.

Life's gonna be okay now. I've realized that Brooklyn only caused me trouble. I didn't need any more trouble in my life.

I was trouble myself.

I've never seen anything so clearly before, because while I've been trying to find what's right for me and fix things between me and Brooklyn, I've never seen what was in front of me all along.

Kaden Messi, the guy that would never do me wrong.

The best friend that's always been there for me, through everything I've been had to go through in my life.

And the boy who I happened to fall in love with.