It Takes Patience II: Guarded

*Reagan’s POV*
I looked down at my phone and rolled my eyes at the message that I got from Peyton he still hasn’t got the hint and he continued to text me. I won’t keep it a secret from Harry this time. He has to know. I ‘m afraid of how he will take it seeing that we are just now getting back on track, but it was secret keeping that hurt us in the first place. That and the fact that you slept with him. My conscious kicks me in the face again as if I haven’t suffered enough from my mistake. I have half a mind to call Channel to see what I should do, but it was her who steered me in the wrong direction in the first place. I scroll through my contacts and land on Peyton’s name to squash this once and for all. He answered after two rings.

“Reagan? I hoped you would call. How are you do-”

“Cut the bullshit Peyton! Why do you keep on doing this to me?”

“What do you mean? What did I do?” I hate his innocent act and it does nothing but piss me off more. I sit in my bed at the hotel and roll my eyes skyward before I respond to him.

“Peyton, you’re full of shit! At the seminar you told me that you think that Laurie told and you honestly think that I would want anything to do with you after that. She’s my friend and she’s supposed to be your friend too. I know that’s a lie because she had no clue about it when I told her.”

“I’m not lying Reagan! Laurie had been jealous of you for a long time. You and Harry were just fuel to add to her fire. She had tried to get in as intern under Dr. Baker before. She told you that didn’t she?”

“Yes but she-”

“Did she also tell you that she would come back to me and tell me how you didn’t deserve to be an intern under Baker because you were falling behind in the assignment she had given you? I guess we know why now, but still she did. And why do you think she quit her internship? Yes, Dr.Vanlavret was an ass, but he would have still gotten her a job the same way he did for me. You were doing everything Laurie dreamed of doing. I love Laurie, and she is my friend, but what she did hurt you... It wasn’t right Reagan.”

Peyton talked so fast and as much as I would hate to admit it, Laurie did seem kind of jealous sometimes when I would tell her about what I would be working on with Dr. Baker. I try to shake the thought, but really it’s just stored in the back of my mind.

“Peyton-” He cut me off, but my voice didn’t come out as harsh as it did a minute ago.

“Reagan just give it some thought. I know it’s hard, but I know you see the logic in it...How is your wrist?”

“I’m fine...they’re fine.” I feel confused and unsure of myself after Peyton talks so fast and fills my head with the idea that my ‘friend’ set me up for sabotage and I lose my train of thought. There was a reason that I made this phone call.

“How did that happen? It’s a pretty awkward spot to get a bruise...were you arrested?” Peyton chuckles and I can’t help it when I chuckle to myself humorlessly.

“No Peyton I didn’t get arrested. I was...” I stopped myself before I told him. I don’t know why I even feel the need to explain myself or anything with him. I called him to cut this off for good. As long as I want Harry, there can be no friendship between Peyton and I and right now I’m sure I don’t want one.

“Then someone did that to you. Who did it Reagan?...Was it Harry? Are you seeing him again?” I feel anger rise simply because of the way he say’s Harry's name.

“That’s none of your business Peyton!” I snap at him this time but he continues to talk as if we’re having a normal conversation.

“It was him wasn’t it? Reagan he should never touch you that way. That’s never okay to be so rough with a woman.” His voice raised slightly, but his tone was laced with concern as if I’m in an abusive relationship and I need help to get out of it.

“Peyton I’m not doing this with you. I think it would be best if we don’t contact each other anymore. You go your separate way and I go mine. There can’t be a friendship here and we both know it.” There’s a pause on the line before Peyton speaks again and I feel somewhat guilty for how downtrodden he sounds from being dumped, this time as a friend.

“Know I know it’s because of Harry. I’ve told you this once and I’ll say it again. I will always be here for you Reagan, and hopefully when you come to your senses you’ll realize I was the one in your corner the entire time. If Harry ever touches you like that again please tell someone even if it’s not me. You don’t deserve that Reagan. I’ll leave you alone now... Goodbye.” I hung up the phone without saying another word and then stood from my place on the bed contemplating if I should even bring this up to Harry. It’s over now but if I don’t I’ll feel just like I did over the summer.

I look at the clock and my fingers shakily begin to dial his number. He should be done with session by now. As the phone rings my anxiety builds and I have to take deep breathes in order to even get a good amount of air to my brain. He answers on the third ring, and by then I am literally shaking.

“Hello?...Babe?....Glasses?” I couldn’t find my voice and when I went to move my mouth nothing would come out.

“Reagan?!”

“Uh hi.” I shouldn’t do this over the phone I need to be able to see his reaction.

“Hi? Did you just call me to say hi. Do you miss me again?” His tone is chipper and he’s in a much better mood than he was after he dropped me off. I can’t ruin it. It’s rare when Harry is playful and I love it when he is.

“No. I mean I miss you but I called for something else and then forgot what it was.”

“You need to relax. Your brain seems to scatter when you’re stressed.”

“How did session go?” Harry paused before he answered and breathed out deeply.

“She keeps talking about being in my mums wedding. It’s the only way that she’ll consider talking to my mum about the moving out thing. I can’t do it Reagan. I won’t do it.”

“Harry you can. Think about how happy it would make your mom and Robin. Do you not like Robin?”

“I love Robin.” I was confused and my head started to hurt from all of the bullshit that I’ve taken in in such a short amount of time.

“Then what’s the problem Harry?” I spoke a little too harshly sympathizing with his mom. Harry scoffed before he spoke and I know that I messed up his mood.

“I don’t expect you or anyone else to get it Reagan. I can explain it until I’m blue in the fucking face but you won’t get it, my mum doesn’t get it, my sister doesn’t get it and neither does Dr. Baker! What did you call me for what do you want besides to fuck up my day?!”

“Yeah Harry because that was my sole purpose in calling you! Mission accomplished! I don’t know why I called you but I can see now that it was a mistake. Have a good day at work.” Before I could hang up the phone Harry spoke again catching me off guard.

“Pack your shit and be ready when I get off!”

“What?”

“You’re coming back over when I get off! Be ready to come down when I call you! Bye!” He hung up leaving me more confused than before. Our arguments generally didn’t end with invites to stay the night at each other’s house even though Harry’s invite was more of a demand. I found myself both happy and annoyed with him at the same time.

The day went by slowly and I found myself bored with nothing to do. The only friends I have in London are Laurie and Harry and H. is working. I want to call Laurie, but every time I bring myself to do it Peyton’s words echo in my head.

“Laurie had been jealous of you for a long time.”

I shake the thought away and call her. I won’t Peyton mess up two good things for me. She didn’t answer the phone, but I received a text instead.

From: L’s
Hey Rea! I’m in class at the moment. I’ll be out soon. Do you want to hang? I’ve got Niall’s car! No taxies! :D

I laugh at the text and realize how stupid I am for even giving Peyton’s idea a thought.

To; L’s
I need an outing today! Not paying for a taxi sounds too good to be true :D

I had spent a good chunk of the money I made over the summer getting back and forth by taxi until Harry started driving me around here and there. Between transportation and getting food for myself, I barely had anything saved by the time I went back home.

From: L’s
Cool! I’ll I get out of class in fifteen. So I’ll get to you in twenty.

I pulled myself off the couch and turned off the television before heading downstairs to meet Laurie. She smiled at me and then took off before we spoke a word to each other.

“So where are we going?”

“Can we go get a drink maybe?” I know its early but after the last few hours I could use one. Laurie nods her head and we end up two blocks away from where Harry works. We get brought our martini’s and I take a sip before I tell her about Peyton. When I go to open my mouth, Laurie speaks faster cutting me off.

“What did you do today? You had to be properly bored if you didn’t go to work.” I looked at Laurie and then took another sip of my drink hearing Peyton’s voice again.

“I just watched television and became one with the couch mostly. Dr. Koch is really strict. I had no clue that he would tell me not to come in today. I thought the punishment would have ended with the quiz he gave me in the car.

“At least you have the job though. You’re so lucky Rea. Part of me wishes I would have stuck out my internship like Peyton and gotten a job to go along with classes. Who knew that Dr. Vanlaveret would write a killer letter of recommendation? And then look at you, you went from one great to another! What hospital wouldn’t want you to work for them?” When Laurie speaks Peyton’s voice comes into my head and I can’t hold back the thought anymore. I finish my drink and cross my arms before I bring the idea to her attention.

“I talked to Peyton today and he told me the strangest thing...” Laurie raised her eyebrows and looked at me as she finished off her drink waiting for me to continue.

“...Did you know about me and Harry before I told you Laurie?” She furrowed her eyebrows and then shook her head no before she spoke.

“That was one of the best kept secrets ever. No one knew for a while.” She looked back at me and I couldn’t read her expression. I should have dropped it there but my mouth ran further than my brain again causing me to speak before I could think.”

“Peyton said he thinks you told Dr. Baker about Harry and I.” Laurie had only just taken a sip of the complimentary water on the table before she almost spit it out again.

“What?! Why would he tell you that?” I can feel myself become paranoid by her words. Being a psych major has messed up my normal people skills. Why didn’t she just answer the question?

“Did you?” I ask sternly causing Laurie to furrow her brow before she answered me.

“No Rea, why would either of you even think that?” Laurie seemed genuinely offended but I couldn’t stop talking.

“Just answer the question. “ Laurie’s crease deepens again in her brow and she snaps at me before I can take anything back.

“What is bringing all of this on? I would never do that to you! And how could I if I had only just found out about it?”

“You wanted my position. You said had applied for Dr. Baker before but couldn’t get in.” I wanted to stop talking but the words kept flying out of my mouth like winged birds. A hurt look flashed in Laurie’s eyes and I wish that I could take everything back.

“The fact that you would think that I would stoop that low because I didn’t get an internship is sickening Reagan. I could have gave less of a fuck about that after I met Niall and the only way that I met him is because of you! I was happy that you had found someone you didn’t want to string along like you did Peyton. You fucked up by yourself! Did you ever put in your brain that someone could have been watching you from the hospital?” My brain finally caught up with my mouth when Laurie mentioned it and I couldn’t believe what I suggested. I tried to apologize but I had already said too much.

“You know what Rea, we’re done here for today.” Laurie paid for both of our drinks making me feel worse. She even drove me back to my hotel but not before stopping to pick up Niall from his job. When he got in the car he glared at me and didn’t say too much of anything except for what was a forced hello and goodbye when I got out of the car. I went back to my suite completely shattered as I began to take count of the amount of people that I was losing rather than gaining.

Notes

Hi guys HELLO NEW SUBSCRIBERS AND FAITHFUL ONES ! New chapter for you all simply because I love you! What do you all think? Peyton keeps sneaking his way back in but when will enough be enough? Are you guys upset with Reagan for what she said to Laurie? Leave me loads of comments and THANK YOU for the votes but be sure to keep them up if your enjoying the story so far! Also be sure to subscribe I love it when those numbers go up its soooo motivational ;) LOVE YOU ALL IMMENSELY FOR READING!! Xx :D