Shadows In Durango

Chapter 67

*:kkxG0fig's POV*Fkkx

As | made my way back to my room, | couldn't ignore the gnawing feeling of guilt that had taken root in my

chest.

| didn't want to seem like | was running off with him so soon... not when | still had to get my feelings in check!

The weight of my decision to go with Vincent was beginning to press down on me, making it harder to breathe

with each passing moment. The thrill of traveling with him had been undeniable, but now, as | stared at my half-

empty suitcase, reality began to settle in...

| picked up a few more clothes and folded them carefully, trying to distract myself from the thoughts that were

spinning around in my head. But no matter how hard | tried, | couldn't shake the feeling that | was somehow

betraying Daryl by agreeing to go with Vincent.

They were both good toin their own ways, and yet here | was, choosing to follow one while leaving the other

behind.

Sitting on the edge of my bed, | pulled out my phone and hesitated before unlocking it. | needed to let Emma

know that | wouldn't be at school tomorrow, at the very least. She'd worry if | just disappeared without saying

anything. The thought of her bubbly personality dimming with concern made my chest tighten.

I quickly typed out a message to her:

'Hey, just wanted to let you know that | won't be at school tomorrow. Something cup and | have to leave

town for a bit with Vincent. I'll explain everything when | get back, | promise - callif you need anything!"

After hitting send, | stared down at the screen, watching the message get delivered, and sighed. Emma was a

good friend. She'd understand, even if she didn't know the full story yet. But Daryl... that was a different story

altogether.

| switched over to my text chat with Daryl, my fingers hovering above the keyboard as | battled with what to say

to him.

| wonder if he already knows that I'm leaving... maybe he's waiting to see if I'll have the decency to say?

I didn't want him to feel like | was ditching him, especially after the great twe had together today.

He had been so kind, so patient, even listening topour out my past to him, offeringcomfort without

judgment. Although he did grow sorta quiet towards the end... which leftunsettled a little.

But here | was, about to leave him behind without much of an explanation or second thought...

My heart ached as | thought about the look on his face when he sawwith Vincent earlier. The unspoken

tension between them had been breathtaking, and | could sense the hurt in Daryl's eyes, even if he hadn't said

anything. The last thing | wanted was to make things worse between them... or between us.

Finally, | typed out a message, my hands trembling slightly as I did.

'Hey Daryl, can you cto my room? | really need to talk to you.

| read over the words, my thumb hovering over the send button. It would be better to speak to him in person

right?

Was this the right thing to do?

Or was | just making things more complicated?

| couldn't help but wonder if | was being selfish, stringing them both along as | tried to figure out my own

feelings. But Daryl deserved to know, to hear it fromdirectly, not through shalf-assed text.

I hit send before I could second-guess myself any further, the message slipping away into the wind.

As | sat there, waiting for a response, | tried to calm the storm of emotions inside me. | wasn't sure what | was

going to say when he got here, but I just knew that | needed to be honest, as much as it scared me.

| stood up and continued packing, though my movements were slower now, more deliberate. The anticipation

was building with each passing second, my heart pounding in my chest as | waited to hear his footsteps outside

my door.

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But they seemed to never come...

Sighing, | head to the bathroom to grab ssoaps and toiletries to take withon the trip, before turning on

my heels to head back into the room-

"Oh jeez, shit!" | squeal, dropping everything in my arms and cursing when finding Daryl stood by my door.

How the heck did he get in here withouteven hearing him?!

"You wanted to see me?" He chuckles, as | bend to gather up my stuff with a reddening face.

Why did | always have to make a damn fool of myself in front of them?!

"Uh, y-yeah! Sorry! | didn't hear you cin, take a seat." | motion towards the bed as he moves and smiles

knowingly before sinking down onto the mattress.

I don't think he knows anything, Vincent must not have told him... because he seems pretty normal, at least for

now.

"So uh, | asked you to chere because I'm leaving for a couple of days and | wanted to let you know before

just disappearing." | shoot the statement at him, as he squints slightly in shock at my words. Better just to rip

the band aid off right?

He doesn't respond for a moment, as he givesa weird look as though he was waiting forto say

something else which urgesto quickly add:

"Vincent askedto go with him on a business trip! Just for a couple of days." | explain, adding once more that |

wouldn't be gone for too long.

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How must this sound? Saying that I'm leaving with Vincent for a few days after spending a lovely day with him? |

must seem like a desperate whore!

"No, you can't go." He deadpans, as now | am the one to squint back at him.

Did | hear that right?

"What?" | breathe out, unsure of why he just told| can't leave, it's not up to him!

Daryl's face falls into a heavy set glare, a look from him | hadn't yet seen before. He looked dangerous, and

extremely pissed off.

| was used to this from Vincent, but he was usually the more gentle of the two which was a trait | enjoyed about

him, but this... this was intense.

"You can't go with him, you don't even know the half of why he's even going on the ‘business trip’ in the first

place!" Daryl argues, even using his fingers for quotations to emphasise that it wasn't a typical business trip.

"You don't know the beginning of who you'll be dealing with! | can't believe he even asked you to fucking go with

him - selfish prick!" He fumes further, suddenly standing to his full height with balled fists.

| simply stood there, mouth agape, like a blundering idiot unsure of what to do or say...

Vincent has toldabout his gang relations, about his family, but I didn't once worry about the trip in that way -

not when he said | would be safe.

"Where the fuck is he?!" Daryl rages, shockingin my thoughts as he makes a beeline for the door in hunt for

his friend.

What have | caused?!