Sincerity

Time's a crazy thing, its existence depends entirely on our perception, and yet we measure everything by it. It's my birthday tomorrow. Rouge's too, obviously. That should be a big deal, nineteen years I've been on this planet. But it's barely even registering... Today's the end of my first week at work, but it feels like it's been five minutes. Though, that may be to do with how lackadaisical this week has been, Lauren's been joking that next week is gonna hit me like a truck, but at this point I'd welcome the purpose. These milestones don't mean anything at the moment. My mind is dominated with worry.

Which is stupid. There's no risk of anything bad happening other than some harsh words. The problem is more basic for once. I'm worried about Elise. I know she's not going with them but I just don't want her to hurt, and it's gonna hurt. It's like a recording of a car accident, you know what's gonna happen, but there's no way to help, you're a useless bystander, watching long after it would've been a possibility to help.

Five o'clock. Finally. I'm sure it's been four fifty-nine for three hours. Time being a bastard again.

I grab my bag with my laptop inside, rushing to the lift and out of the building. I don't have time to stop and chat today, the Monroe's are arriving at half past, I need to catch the bus and get home. Maybe I should've asked Jasper to take me back, or Trish, or Gabriel. I'm overreacting, I can see the bus already, I pay the fare and take a seat, immediately reaching for my phone for any correspondence from Elise.

Nothing. Is that good? She'd have text me if she was freaking out, right? Maybe I should call her... No, that'd just put her on edge, the journey's not long, I'll be there in plenty of time. I check social media to distract myself, huh, looks like Rouge and Trish put their updated names on their profiles, the comments are all people freaking out. Is this the school equivalent of a royal wedding? Sometimes I forget I haven't graduated yet, it feels like it's irrelevant now, Lauren's teaching me so much at EMS that it's almost like I've crammed another year of school into a week.

Wait, got too distracted. This is my stop. I smack the bell button to signal the driver to stop and hurry off the bus. No sign of a fancy car. I'm home in time. I breathe a sigh of relief and make my way towards the door.

"Bonjour, Scarlet." A familiar voice echoes from behind me. I turn and see William and Camille exiting a taxi behind the bus. Damn it, I should've checked my angles. Now this is just awkward.

"Hey." I answer, unsure what else to say. It's not for me to say is it? "I'll go and get Elise." I tell them. I'd prefer they didn't come inside, last thing I want is for William to say something judgemental and having to punch him again. I turn and open the door, but to my surprise, Elise is already waiting on the other side.

She steps out of the door and looks at her parents. I should go inside, this isn't for me to hear. I attempt to move inside but Elise grabs my hand. I meet her gaze and can tell that she's pleading for me to stay with her eyes. As if I'd leave when she needs me, I nod and stand next to her, presenting a united front.

"Elise..." William begins. "You look, so much older than when we moved here." He states.

"Because I am." Elise answers bluntly. I guess that's technically true, we're technically older than when this conversation started. Time's a bastard after all.

William coughs to cover his previous badly-worded statement. "I... I just mean you look so grown up. I... I can't believe we're leaving you." He corrects himself. He sounds genuinely upset, which shouldn't be surprising, but at this point I'm just a cynic when it comes to him, being honest.

"You know if you need us, we're only a phone call away." Camille follows up in her native tongue. "No matter what, we're always here for you. I love you, Elise." She continues, before choking on the tears that rush to her face.

I should feel bad for them, shouldn't I? I should feel some kind of sympathy. But I just don't. They've had so many chances and have thrown them back in our faces so many times, I just can't bring myself to care that they're upset. Sometimes, pain is a just punishment for causing pain. What I do care about is how my girlfriend's feeling, I draw my eyes away from the in-laws and to her face, watching as she takes a deep breath and begins to reply.

"I won't. I won't call you. I can't call you, what would I say? What would you say? You... You both broke every promise you've made to me. You've betrayed me every time. You can't... You can't fix something like that." She unloads, each word causing more and more pain on the face of her parents. "But... Maybe this time apart will do us all good, I need to spread my wings and you need to learn to let go. You need to learn to accept me for who I actually am, instead of who you want me to be. And then, maybe, just maybe, maybe we can start again. You can't fix what you've done... But maybe we can have a blank slate someday." Elise concludes.

Damn it, even when she's tearing them a new one she's kind. The couple are still distraught, but there's a faint smile on their faces. I know that look. Elise gave them the only thing she could offer. Not obedience, or respect, or love... Just hope. Just a little bit of hope. She takes a step forward and hugs her mother, then her father, before returning to my side.

William looks to me and gives an understanding nod. I don't think we need words. If anything, me and him have shared too many. He begins walking back towards the taxi, while Camille moves closer to me.

"Please. Look after Elise. Yes?" She asks in forced English. Like I needed her to tell me to do that... But I get it. I give a small smile and nod to confirm. That appears to be enough for Camille, who says her last goodbye before heading to join her husband. I can't say I'm going to miss those two, but I can say one thing. I admire their commitment, even when pulled apart they forced themselves back together, tried everything to bring their daughter back... That aspect, and that aspect alone... That's something I want one day. The sheer dogged determination.

Elise rests her head on my shoulder as we watch the car leave, I bring my arm around her shoulders, looking to her expression. Sure enough, hidden beneath the stony exterior, are tears welling up in her eyes.

"We'll see them again." I reassure her, planting a kiss on her head. "Forever's a long time, we'll find time to visit."

"We will." Elise agrees. "But the parents I knew? The ones I grew up with? The ones I adored... I'll never see them again. They're lost forever." She sighs, still holding in her tears.

I pull her into a hug, stroking the back of her head. With this the floodgates are opened... And Elise begins bawling on my shoulder. "Like I said, forever's a long time. You never know what's gonna happen." I whisper softly.

Time's a bastard. It goes on forever and yet there's never enough of it. Today... Today, forever can wait. I want to take care of Elise.

And then I want to take care of her forever.