Drella Now

I looked at Shane and found it hard to blink. He was staring at me with warm eyes and a smile. I couldn't believe he was here. I'm finally better, now he's trying to take that away from me. But there's a part of me that just wants to walk up to him and for him to kiss me and then take me back to New York. If I go back I know I'll be okay forever. Shane has the money that will keep me stable for the rest of my life. But then I think of Vic. He's just Vic. He's passionate about everything he does. When he plays and sings there's so much fire in him it's breathtaking. Vic loves me. He can't promise me money for the rest of our lives. He's in a band. One day people could not like them anymore. All his money could be gone. But he would still love me. And I love him with all my heart. I love Vic.
Shane was still watching me but I didn't care anymore. I was looking for Vic. I couldn't find him in the crowd. "I think we should go somewhere and talk," I told Shane flatly.
"Okay," he frowned. "Are you okay, Drella?"
"I'm great," I told him. I walked out of the main gallery and Shane followed me. I took him down a corridor and outside. I sat down on of the steps leading up to the doors and he copied me. I tapped my fingers on the concrete for a while, not talking.
"Why are you not wearing your engagement ring?" Shane suddenly asked.
"I'm sorry," I looked down.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know how to say this," I growled. I put my head in my hands and pulled at my hair. "Okay," I breathed and eventually looked up. "I can't marry you, Shane. I'm sorry,"
"You can't?" he muttered. "Why not?" he frowned.
"I don't think I love you enough," I muttered.
"Drella, I love you so much. Please," Shane begged.
I sighed and bit my lip. "When I was seventeen I was expelled from my high school because I burnt down one of the buildings. At that age I'd already lost my virginity, been arrested, got so drunk I went missing for three days, been in more fights than I care to admit and gotten so high I had to spend a whole four days in bed," I rushed.
"Why are you telling me all this?"
"Because you don't love me. You don't know me, Shane. You don't love who I really am,"
"Drella, that was so long ago. You're not like that, I know you're not," he said and brought his hand to cup my cheek. I pulled away from him and shook my head.
"You don't get it. I was arrested a few weeks ago for fighting on the street. I've been getting so drunk and high I've been dancing on tables,"
"Why are you trying to push me away?" he growled.
"Because I might love you but I love someone else more. I'm really sorry,"
"Who is this man?"
"His name is Vic. He was the first guy I ever loved and I still love him. He loves me back. We're supposed to be together," I explained.
"Have you been seeing him?" he asked and I nodded. "Is he better than me?"
"Not better. Just different. He's so different, Shane. He knows me," I said. "And I realised that I wasn't the real me when I was with you. I was hurting. But Vic made me better and I'm me now,"
"What does he do?" Shane asked flatly.
"He's in a band,"
"Is that even a job?" Shane laughed humourlessly and shook his head. "How can he give you what you need? You know I have the funds for you to live easily,"
"I don't want money, Shane. I want love," I said. "I want love so strong it burns. And I want someone supportive of me and who believes in my art and my gallery shows,"
"You want a gallery show I'll buy you a gallery! I'll buy you everything! You want the stars? I'll buy them and name them all after you!"
"Stop it!" I snapped. I stood up and started pacing back and forth. "Just fucking stop it! This is all bullshit!" I spat.
"Drella," he muttered.
"I'm really sorry but you need to understand that I love Vic," I said desperately. Shane stood up and came over to me. He grabbed at my shoulders firmly. I looked him in the eyes and he was looking manically back.
"I can't let you go. You're not leaving me, Drella,"
"You are not forcing me to marry you," I said through gritted teeth.
"Not force you," he muttered. "I'll make you want to,"
"By bribing me?" I looked down. "I'm sorry," I tried to pull away from Shane but he wouldn't let me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Vic standing in the doors of the gallery. He was with Mike, Tony, Tony's date, Jess and Jaime. I looked back at Shane and spat in his face. Shane loosened his grip on me and I pulled away. I brought my fist back and smashed it into his nose. Shane stumbled back and I panicked.
I looked at Vic once and then ran. I could hear my heels clicking on the sidewalk. I ran until I came to a park a block away. I ran inside and I just knew people were following me. I reached a tree and took my heels off. I started to climb until I was high enough and sitting on a thick branch. I leant against the trunk and sighed. "Fuck," I muttered.
"Drella!" Shane shouted. "What are you doing?! Are you insane?!" he called. I looked down and saw him at the bottom of the tree looking up at me.
"Fuck off!" I called down to him. His mouth formed a perfect 'O' in reply. Then I saw the others gather around him. Vic was looking up at me sadly.
"Ella!" Vic yelled. I saw Shane glare at him.
"Who are you?" Shane asked.
"Seeing as you don't know why she's up a tree I'm guessing you're Shane," Vic said smoothly.
"You're Vic," Shane guessed.
"Bingo," Vic replied dryly. "Ella! Come down, babe!" Vic tried.
"No!"
"You don't need to do this anymore! I'm here! Please!"
"I can't!"
"I'm begging you! I love you, Ella!" Vic eventually called.
"I'm sorry!" I yelled. Vic was looking at the others and started shaking his head. I saw him say 'fuck this' to Mike. He came over to the tree and started to climb. "What're you doing?!" I rushed.
"You refuse to come down. I'm coming up!" he sighed heavily. Vic came to sit next to me and rested his back up against the tree trunk. He opened his arms for me and I went over. I rested my head against his chest and he stroked my back. I started crying, sobs racking my chest.
"I'm sorry," I cried.
"Shh . . . I know," he soothed. "I'm here, okay? Look at me," I put my head up and looked at him. "Tell me what happened,"
"He came to take me back to New York. I told him I wasn't going to marry him and that I was in love with you. He tried to buy me out. He was bribing me. He was going to make me marry him. He was gripping my shoulders. So I spat in his face and hopefully broke his nose," I explained slowly.
"But you didn't give into him. You told him you loved me. You chose me. I'm so proud of you, Ella," he told me. Vic pressed his lips to to my forehead and I smiled.
"I love you," I told him.
"I love you too," Vic replied easily. He held my face gently and I leant in. I kissed his lips and Vic kissed me back. It was passionate and desperate and urgent. I wrapped my arms around Vic. Eventually we pulled away breathlessly. "Are you ready to go back down?" he asked and I shook my head. Vic leant back against the trunk and I leant against his chest. Vic had his arms around me and we were both staring out. "She sits up high, surrounded by the sun," he sang out. I laughed and hit his thigh. "Okay, what about this one?" he asked. "You're busy drawing hearts, You run your fingers down the glass, An open mirror, Now you're sleeping in the front seat, Like a crushed leaf on the concrete night," he sang. I smiled and looked up to him. Vic stopped singing to kiss me. Then he carried on.
When Vic had finished I felt his grip around me tighten. "Come down," he urged. I nodded silently and sat up. Vic climbed down first and I followed him. He helped me down and everyone watched me carefully.
"Nice legs, Drella. You okay?" Mike asked me.
"I'm fine," I smiled.
"Who is it you're with?" Shane glared.
"Vic," I answered. I started walking to Shane and reached up to kiss his cheek. "Sorry, you need to find someone else," I told him. "Goodbye," I added. I went back over to Vic and took his hand. I saw Shane walk away and then I wrapped my arms around Vic's neck. I kissed him and pressed my body to his. "I love you," I told him.
"I love you, just you and everything about you that hurts," Vic replied. And I knew, this was me.

Notes

Hey! Did you like it? This is the chapter I've been waiting to write since I uploaded the sequel! I told you you'd like it! Shane is gone. She doesn't have to marry him. Drellic is happening and everyone knows it. Who's excited but real sad for the final chapter? I know I am! :)

Edit - Hey! I still love this chapter to bits! Any questions! :)