One month later

I hurried outside my arts class when I got a call from accounting and commerce course classes saying that their lecture for today was cancelled. I sighed in relief and thanked them. The past month had been hectic for me because of the number of small courses I was signing up for. As promised to dad, I had to make this year fruitful and productive by not wasting time in netflix, but actually working hard.

My shoulders slumped in exasperation as I sauntered towards the lemonade stall run by the local kids and drank two cold glasses of sweet lemonade. Since the lecture was cancelled for today, I looked forward to snuggle under the sheets and sleep for fifteen hours straight until my alarm would ring again at exactly six in the morning for my cycle of classes to begin.

I strolled on the streets with a hunchback and yawned while the people of the town glanced at me in sympathy. I gave a sardonic laugh, surprised by how things changed so suddenly. Months before, nobody would harbour any sympathy for Georgia Brooks, the notorious tomboy of the town, known for her pranks and antics. But now, people felt sorry for me and looked at me in pity and sorrow because of the recent events turning my life upside down.

I stopped and blinked at a fast approaching cuddly, little thing which was wagging it's tail at me. Before I could process and sink in the information that it was Clark's dog, the beast leapt at me. I shrieked and scurried down the lane, all the while screaming for help.

The beast chased after me and I cried out, "This bitch's after me again, help! Help!"

I didn't know that this beast was still around which confirmed one thing, Clark was still in the town.

After Ian confessed in the court, Clark was released on bail a few weeks later and the real evidence was produced before the court. I didn't know how Clark was still surviving in the town considering that there were certain suspicions about him being the billionaire. I didn't know how he even covered that up in front of the court, but I pretended to not care.

My feelings for him were still there and I wouldn't deny that, but I couldn't forgive him yet nor did he expect me to because after he was released, he never tried to contact me. Most probably it was since he was ashamed and he should be. Everyday I thought about the real culprit behind my mum's death, but I never firmly concluded on anybody. All three of us had our own contribution in killing her, mine had been the tantrums I threw that day like a small child, Clark's had been the lying and covering for Ian and Ian's had been the ramming of his car into my mum's.

When I put myself in their shoes and saw from their perspective, I did realize the motive behind their actions. None of them wanted to intentionally kill my mum or do what they ended up doing and were innocuous, but they had made their fair share of mistakes for which I was angry at them. The law had punished Ian and he was sentenced to four years of imprisonment along with fine since he was young and was very guilty at the court.

My chest heaved up and down and sweat trickled down my forehead as I continued to run. I ended up in front of the church and looked back, but the beast was no longer following me. Strange. I took a sharp breath, rubbed my temples and tiredly entered the church, welcoming the peace and silence which engulfed me.

I froze in my tracks when I saw the familiar sultry, dark brown hair. My breath hitched and just when I was about to abscond, Clark turned and our eyes met. I swallowed hard and noticed a flicker of surprise in his eyes before it disappeared and he just stared at me blankly.

"Y-You! What are you doing here?" I blurted out and mentally smacked myself for appearing so weak.

"To ask God to forgive my sins," he replied calmly and I narrowed my eyes.

"Since when did you start being so religious?" I quirked an eyebrow in question and placed my hands on my hips.

He didn't reply for a while leaving me hanging like a fool and then he laughed dryly without any humour.

"A few weeks in prison can do this to a man," he said idly and then dared to quote me, "Besides, someone told me once, 'Religion cannot be forced. It comes out of love and when you find love, you'll be here.' So here I am."

My hands balled into fists and I hissed, "I can't deal with your sarcastic remarks right now."

With that, I darted outside the church and onto the streets again, mentally apologising to God for not praying to him properly. Suddenly, I was grabbed and pressed against the tree. I writhed underneath him and tried to push him off, but he stood firm.

"Let go you-you--- "

"I meant what I said in there. I wasn't mocking you, I was being sincere," he said genuinely and took a step back so I could breathe again, but he didn't  release me. "Georgia, I won't ask you to forgive me--- "

"Good, because I won't," I interjected and he seemed crestfallen, but then I grinned indicating that I was not being very serious. I wouldn't forgive him yet, but I knew that my feelings for him would make it impossible for me to remain adamant.

He flicked my cheek, ignored my glare and murmured, "How I missed this . . . "

"Brownie, I--- "

"Say it again," he whispered while burying his head in the crook of my neck. I was thankful that we were in the deserted street which was more isolated during afternoon and we were hid by the gaunt shadow casted by the tree.

"Say what?"

"The annoyingly pleasing name you call me by," he mumbled against my sensitive skin and inhaled deeply.

"Brownie?"

"Yes, I miss this. Say it again," he ordered and I grinned.

"Brownie, Brownie, Brownie, Brownie, Brownie, Brownie, Brownie," I said in the sickly tone of how in the movie 'Nemo' the seagulls chirped, 'mine, mine, mine.' I continued blithely, "Brownie, Brownie, Brownie, Brownie, Brownie--- "

"Alright stop," he cut me off, clearly irritated and then chuckled softly. "You'll make me never miss this again."

"Well, you don't have to miss this because I'll always be around you," I said nonchalantly and suddenly, he caught my shoulders making my eyes widen in surprise.

He leaned towards me and rasped, "Do you mean it?"

His intense gaze bore into me and I tried to shrug. "Er . . . Yes. I mean earlier when you didn't want me, still I was there lingering around you. Even if you tried, you can't get rid of me. In fact Brownie, I-I need to tell you uh that I uh . . . ugh I have become such a girl!"

I covered my face with my hands like a shy little bitch and peeked through my fingers. Clark was still staring at me and I let my hands fall down limply by my sides and exhaled loudly.

"Okay, look. So the deal is that I love you," I said bluntly by mustering enough courage and he still stared at me, not uttering a single word. There was an uncomfortably silence, my throat went dry and I licked my lips.

"I-I do love you and I mean it. I really love you and I could never stop loving you even after all that happened. I can't help it and there's no use denying because I love you. I can't . . . I can't forgive you right away, but I love you. I love you and I can say it a thousand times fearlessly because I do. I'm completely, honestly and hopelessly in love with you, Clark Aiden Brown," I admitted and my heart fluttered when he slowly smiled. "I love you Brownie and I have you in my heart. Do you?"

His smile now stretched across his face, the widest smile I had ever seen and he said, "You barged into my heart without my permission. I didn't really have a choice, did I?"

I giggled and playfully punched him in the stomach. "Just say you love me."

"I love you," he whispered earnestly, all humour gone and I grinned goofily.

"When we get married and have little kids, Brownie, if we have a baby boy, we'll name him Tommy," I joked and he glared at me. How I missed his glare . . .

"And if we have a baby girl, we'll name her Dora," he remarked, catching me off guard and it was my turn to glare at him. He laughed now, his chest rumbling and I could feel it being so close to him. Without any further wait, his lips were on mine, hungrily kissing and devouring me.

Suddenly, Clark pulled away making me frown, but said those words which I was longing to hear. "You make me happy, Georgia."

THE END

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A/N :

There is an EPILOGUE and BONUS CHAPTERS so stay tuned!