Everyone was calling it quits on their long day at around 8pm, whilst myself, Jonathon and Phillip were stuck in the board room, going through everything. And I mean everything.

Samples, old issues and patterns, fabric swatches, models and accessaries.

I had left around 2ish for my meeting with the board about my proposal. Which went swimmingly. They all agreed and had their points said and tabled. I answered everything to the best of my ability and yeah. All except one thing.

"Have you notified all of the company's executives about this decision?" One of the board members asked.

I hesitated for a moment and gulped.

"Umm, not quite everyone." I replied. They looked at me.

"So, who exactly haven't you told? Since we may need to find a replacement for the Melbourne office and potently someone to help you over in England?"

"Mr. Perkins doesn't know yet, nor will he know until everything is finalised. As for my replacement, like I've already stated, I'd be travelling to and from both offices. If not conference calling and skype. I know that puts a lot of pressure on me, but I'm willing to put my heart and soul into the new adventure." I stood there, determined for there questions not to get to me.

"Miss Collins, are you aware that Mr. Perkins must find out before we make this decision?"

"I did not."

"And were you aware of the relationship between our board and your grandmother?"

"I was recently told this information. I've discussed this with Mr Hack thoroughly and I've been assured by my grandfather that she will no longer take part in this company. I am willing to put all my inheritance on the line to help and fund this companies new adventure."

"Very well Miss Collins, thank you for seeing as today." Everyone started gathering their notes and proposals.

"No, the pleasure is all mine. Thank you for seeing me and hearing my thoughts." I did a curt nod before leaving the board room.

I sighed of some relief, but I was still worried that they might refuse the new store.

Hours passed and the board room was no longer filled with the members, but myself, Jonathon and Phillip. No papers or folders or a white board with my plans. Instead filled with everything else.

I was rummaging through the samples of clothing for this new line. Phillip was sitting at the table, looking through the lookbook whilst Jonathon looking at the accessories.

"I'm going to grab some tea, anyone want a cup?" Jonathon yawned.

Both Phillip and I said yes and Jonathon walked out.

It was awkward. There was silence from our months but the radio was playing. And then it kind of got more awkward. The cast of Lion King singing 'Hanukah Matata' came on. Phillip just laughed.

"What's so funny?" I take a dress of the clothes rack.

"This is hands down my favourite childhood song. It always got me out of shit." Phillip looked me in the eye. "Mean's no worries, for the rest of your days." He sang

"It's a problem free, philosophy." I joined in.

"Hanukah Matata" We sang together.

We clutched our stomachs from laughing.  I wiped away the tears coming from my eyes.

"I've missed that laugh," Phillip moved away from the table and moved closer to me.

I shied away from him. I moved back to the rack and put the dress back on. Phillip stood there with a hand in pocket and then stroked his chin with the other.

"I'm sorry Isla," He whispered.

I took a deep breathe in and hid my face.

"I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry for the accident, I'm sorry for hurting you, I'm sorry that my brother is a fucking asshole and treated you like shit. I just want my best friend back. After everything we've been through, all I want is you. "

A single tear fell from my eye. I wiped it away quickly. Everything was rushing through my head. I was over analysing everything.

"It's not that simple Phillip."

"I know it's not, but I just want you in my life. I miss you Isla. I know I fucked up and I want to fix it." He pleaded.

I don't respond because I don't know how to.

"Why didn't you tell me about the house in Appleton and the new store you're going to open up with Genevieve?" He questioned. I gulped and sighed out.

"How did you fin-"

"Find out? Well your grandparents mentioned something and then I overhear a few board members this afternoon after that meeting. I thought you were resigning because of me."

"I would never resign Phillip. This company is my life. All my blood, sweat and tears have gone into making this real. Even if you weren't apart of this business, I wouldn't resign. You broke me Phillip, so I ran away to someplace you would never find me and I... I..." I choked up on the words.

"You were living in England this whole time? I was literally going out of my mind trying to find you and you didn't even let me explain everything from that night. You just up and left, without telling anyone..."

"Correction, I told Alannah where I was heading. I woke her up and got her to take me to the airport."

"Isla, after everything, you could have atleast called me?"

"How could I Phillip? Seriously, I was in no state or mind to talk to anyone. I was scared and betrayed and over life. Can you blame me for running away after I find out my supposed boyfriend was cheating on me, my best friend kept one of the biggest secrets in his life from me and finding out the guy I am in love with pretty much fucked me over. I just couldn't handle it."

"Wait what?!"

"Ok, I can't handle this anymore. I need to go home." I started to move the the clothes rack away. Phillip chased after me.

"Wait Isla, you said something." He grabbed my arm gently.

"Phillip, just please let me go." I sighed out. I looked up at him and pleaded with my eyes. He looked me dead in the eye. A feeling came back to me.

"Isla, can we just talk about what you just said?"

"What? That I just want to go home?"

"No, you just said something that I haven't heard from since Christmas day."

I closed my eyes to remember what I just said. Going through everything, every word. I quickly opened my eyes and looked away. I held my breathe and walked away from Phillip.

I just said three little words. Eight letters. Maybe not in that way. But I pretty much admitted how I felt about it. It was now killing me since I was having mixed emotions about him and this whole fucked up situation.

Phillip called after me. I ignored him, jogging to my office in heels, grabbing my bag and leaving the office quickly after.

~~**~~

The Melbourne weather hit me. March weather hit me even harder. It was freezing cold and the wind was picking up. I held my coat tight against my body whilst trying to hail a taxi.

I finally caught one, not before literally getting knocked over by the wind. I had tripped on a tree root and a taxi had pulled over to help me. I was fine, physically. Emotionally I was dying. The taxi pulled up at Crown and before long I was stripping out of my work clothes and into bathers for a swim in the pool. I needed to calm down and the pool was what I needed.

I swam and swam and swam. I didn't look at the time or anything. Lap after lap after lap, I swam until an employee came and got me out of the pool. I didn't think I was crying in the water because it was water. But then the employee asked.

I was overthinking everything. My life, my emotions, my grandparents, Phillip. I was thinking about everything and anything. All random and stupid situations. Some completely unreal situations.

I tossed and turned in bed that night. Don't get me wrong, the beds are like sleeping on heaven, so comfy and light, but it wasn't like home. Home is where I needed to be. Home is where the heart is right?

Maybe being home will fix things. Or maybe I'll just turn into a ball of emotions and drown myself in tears.

I decided first thing Saturday morning I'd pack my bags and head home.

And then Saturday morning came around very quickly. I may or may not be regretting my decision. I'm currently standing outside my childhood home. The home where I have all my memories in. My first steps, my first potty use, my first kiss.

I remember the day so clearly, I was 6 years old and the guy I kissed was Jonathon.  We grew up together, our mums were best friends. We went to kindergarten, primary school and high school together. Safe to say from that kiss we didn't end up together. And we kissed in a game of spin the bottle when we went to our first high school party. Yeah, didn't like each other then. He was literally my best friend, like my twin brother, only older. He knew everything about me and how I felt. So my first kiss with Jonathon, wasn't really my first kiss. I always hid that from people and said it doesn't count since we were like family.

That party was also the night I met Edward and Olivia. It was the night we became friends.

I shake my head of the memories. I take a deep breathe in before exhalin slowly.

"One small step for man, One giant leap for Isla kind!" I laughed at little at that terrible joke I said.

I gripped my bag tightly before walking up the driveway. My house wasn't fancy or anything. A single story house, with my bedroom up in the attic. A big backyard to have my childhood dog Sir Maxi, a german shepherd. The only new part about my house was the fact that it was recently painted and by recently it was done early last year.

I stopped in front of the front door, holding my hand at the door bell.

My real estate agent did call the tenant to inform them of my recent situation and that I'm happy to give them a refund and let them stay in the house with me there as well. It was a long Thursday afternoon with him, going through all the details. All the legal problems that could and probably will arise.

I pressed the door bell and waiting patiently to see who was currently in my childhood home. My heart rate was quickly gaining as I could hear the footsteps and then the grip of the handle. The door slowly opening and then the smile of the tenant. That smile that I had seen yesterday. In my office.

Phillip Perkins.

~~**~~

Not a long chapter, but updating as quickly as I'm writing it guys. I'm being lazy and focusing on other projects and I know you guys are waiting patiently, so for that I thank you!

Your amazingly crap author,
Krystal xoxo