Chapter 100 - Fight This Battle

Lance. 

He is here right in front of me but I am scared. There is this dark cloud looming over us. 

''Can we go inside?'' he asks desperately to have some control of this situation. 

I shake my head ''I don't want to stay here tonight. Can we go back to the apartment?''

I would rather be anywhere but here right now. This house has never felt like home to me. I don't belong here, it doesn't even feel like Ford belongs here. I want him to be completely honest. I want to know everything that leads to the fear he has of his father and I don't think he will talk to me about anything here. 

''Okay,'' he agrees to my shock ''Do you want to pack a bag?'' he adds. 

I shake my head. most of my clothes are in my apartment. I didn't want to completely move here. It looks like I wouldn't even be here any longer. 

''Okay, I'll just pack a bag, grab my meds. Is that okay?'' he asks as if I would object to it. he is being more comfortable with me. talking about his Meds. Now I feel like I can never let him go. 

It's not like that was ever an option. I am ready to let go of everyone for him. I will not do this without him. At this point, we are a package deal. Wherever he goes, I go. 

''Here,'' he gives me the car key ''I'll just grab my stuff,'' he enters the house through the garage door and I watch him disappear from my sight. There is an ache in my chest that I don't think is going anywhere anytime soon. Not until we eliminate Lisa from our lives. I don't even understand how someone can be so desperate to the point of hurting others. To me, it is ridiculous. I get that she loves him. I know what love is, I know what it can make you do but I will never force myself on someone that doesn't feel the same. The only reason why I keep fighting with Ford is that he is fighting right alongside me. We are pushing through together. 

She is on her own wreaking havoc. 

I walk back into the car and enter the passenger side. Sitting down I hear my phone beep in my pocket. It is already pretty late, the only person that could be messaging me right now is Jack. He is probably checking up on me. I reach for the phone and the notification is an unknown number. 

My heart stops against my chest. I know who it is without even reading the message. 

I click the notification. 

Unknown: I warned you not to tell him but you did anyway. This is your last warning. Break up with him or this will get out and now I am not just talking about his father. I will cause a scandal. One that you will never be able to escape. 

There is a video underneath the message. I already know what it is. At this point, she is tormenting me. She wants this to hurt and it is fucking working. My hand shakes uncontrollably as I try to hold unto the phone. This is a lot for me to handle. Our reputations will be ruined if this gets out. Ford's dad will never even give us a chance to be together if this gets out. A sex tape for the whole world to see. Once something gets out, you can never take it back. 

''Fuck,'' I exclaim exasperatedly. 

I cried when Ford left me. I let it all out—or at least I thought I did. The tears find their way out again. They crawl out of my eyes like prisoners about to be set free. I can't control it, I don't have the energy in me to stop this. the minute I hear the door to the garage open. I try to wipe them off but there is no hiding this from him. he can see right through me. He stops by the stairs, his eyes are on me. He can see my tears through the window. Quickly he drops the bag in his grip and runs over to the car. I drop my phone in between my legs, unsure if I should tell him about the message. Ford is fragile, I don't want him going into a mood right now because I need him on my side. The minute he lets go of himself, I will be alone and I can't be alone right now. 

His disorder will take him away from me and I am not ready for that. I am too weak to stand on my own. 

I am exhausted. 

''What is wrong?' he asks immediately he pushes the door to my side open. He is standing above me. his eyes are filled with worry. I don't want him to worry. I am worrying enough for the both of us. 

''It's nothing. This is all so overwhelming,'' I lie in between tears because this is the best thing for now. 

Lisa has already threatened me earlier. He already knows that there is no need for him to know about the message. I don't want him to leave me again. I need him now, more than ever. 

''Babe, we will get through this. I will not let you go. You have nothing to worry about,'' he assures me, but I don't feel assured. This is not as easy as he thinks. The only person that I think could help us is my mom. He doesn't want us to tell her. 

I know she will understand. She knows me more than anyone else. She will know that this has to be real. She will understand this and she will try to help us, even if that means ending her thing with John. 

I trust her more than anyone else. 

All the lies and secrets I have kept from her have been haunting me but I also know she will forgive me. she loves me enough to forgive me. 

''I don't know what to do,'' the tears keep falling. He goes on one knee and faces me, wiping the tears off my face. 

''Did anything happen while I was inside. Did she reach out?'' he can read me so well. It is a good thing and a bad thing. I don't want to tell him about this. ''Babe, we can't keep any more secrets,'' he pleads.

I know that. 

But this is not a secret. It is an omission of the truth for his own good. He will not take this well. 

''I don't think it is important, it is something you already know. So it doesn't matter.''

I give him a half-truth. 

''What happened?'' he asks blankly. 

I sigh out in defeat and pick up my phone. I open the message and with shaking hands, I give him the phone. My eyes stay fixed on his face as he reads the message. His hand goes into a fist, the anger slowly forms on his face as the crinkles and frown line evolve. 

''That bitch,'' he exclaims. 

''It doesn't matter, she doesn't matter.'' 

He lets go of the phone and his face shifts to the blank expression. He is letting the anger go. 

''Let's go. We will talk about all this tomorrow,'' he rationalises. 

I know he is not okay, and he is still angry but I don't say anything. Slowly, he leans forward and plants a soft kiss on my lips. The kiss is meant to be innocent but as he pulls back, I grab his neck to deepen the kiss. He smiles through the kiss as he slides his tongue into my mouth for a deeper kiss. His arms pull me closer but the position we are in is so uncomfortable that we can't get any closer. He pulls back but there is still a smile on his face. 

''I don't want to think about Lisa tonight. I just want to spend the night in your arms tonight. Can we do that?'' I plead for something other than all our problems. 

He nods his head immediately. 

''I'd like that.'' 

He ruffles my hair playfully before standing up and walking to the other side of the car. I don't know what we are going to do but I know that letting go of Ford is not an option. I will not give in to Lisa's demand. She will not win this battle because I will fight until there is no fight left in me and just like I advised Ford before I will keep fighting even after. 

The love I have for him is stronger than all the obstacles. 

His father, my mother, Lisa. They are all inconsequential. They are not part of this story. They don't matter. They are not the reason why we are together and they will never be the reason why we are apart. 

''I love you,'' I remind him. 

He smiles warmly as he starts the car. 

I know he loves me too.