Number 5

Chapter 8

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Grayson's threats on punishment were not exaggerated. I didn't realise that isolation was such an effective form of retribution.

My family left on the evening of the wedding. My mother cried, Ana cried and even my dad looked slighlty choked up. With the promise to call the number Ana hastily scribbled on my wrist while Ollie wasn't looking, they departed. Not that I was allowed out of the cave to wave them off.

In fact, it seems as though everyone has left my life. I've been holed up alone in this cave for 2 days. After the stunt I pulled at the wedding reception I'm on cave arrest. Grayson doesn't speak to me either. He leaves the cave early in the morning and only returns in the late evening and sometimes not even then. When he does come back, he goes straight to his room and eats in there. He didn't even follow through with the shared bedroom threat.

Two days may not sound particularly substantial but when you're isolated in furious 5's cave. I cannot escape from the regret that eats away at me. Grayson's pained expression when he caught me was one that haunts my name. I'm enraged with myself for hurting him but then is it really cruel of me to object to this situation. Am I a despicable person for rejecting a man that I do not love? Or perhaps the question should be: am I a despicable person for rejecting my match?

The tangible attraction between myself and Grayson grows every day. Every night I resist the urge to sit up on the couch, waiting for him to come in the door. Somehow I know that if I do this, that it will only hurt him more.

As I sit in the large granite kitchen, drinking a cup of juice, I hear the door open. I've jumped off the highstool and dashed into the middle of the base before the ache in my stomach has even begun. My heart sinks as the person enters the door; its not Grayson. I internally groan as my inner desires make themselves known.

"Hello?" The person calls before his eyes land on me. My grandfather stands just inside the door. I try not to cringe externally as I say the word grandfather. I've spoken little more than 3 words to him before he had spotted my mother. I suppose I should feel a little offended that he was more eager to rendezvous with my mother but I suppose that is felecitious. Seeing his daughter after over 20 years is probably paramount to meeting me. I will be here forever.

I lean on the side of the couch awkwardly. "Hi?"

Carson's eyes light up. "I'm sorry to just drop in like this but Grayson informed me that you may like some company and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to get to know my granddaughter."

I clear my thought and smile. "That would be lovely." I say gesturing towards the couch. He immediately walks over to the couch and places himself beside me. I take a moment to glance at his profile; I can see so much of my mother in him. He isn't quite as old as I would expect my grandpa to be; he's robust and good looking for a 60 year old.

"So Elle, I'm sorry we didn't have time to talk properly at your wedding. I'm afraid that seeing your mother after so long...well it was an opportunity that I didn't want to waste." He says apologetically. My heart warms. It feels tremendous to finally speak to someone after the silent confinement.