A/N: Part three in my Be the One AU series originally called Fire & Rain on Tumblr. Liam confronts Drake the day after Jaclyn refuses his proposal.
Drake paced the small room in the train car, cursing himself for not listening to Jaclyn sooner. He buried his head in his heads remembering the morning before they left for New York. She could’ve ended this chaos then. He had convinced himself that he was protecting Liam when he found Madeline in the hallway and persuaded her to barge into Liam’s room unannounced, interrupting Jaclyn’s confession.
You’re being a coward, Drake. If you really care for either of us, you’ll tell him on the plane before we land. I’ll ride with Maxwell to the airport. I… I can’t even look at you right now. Jaclyn’s last words to him before leaving Cordonia ran through his head over and over.
They had barely spoken two words to each other since. Drake felt the familiar pang of guilt that had made a home within him since Lythikos creeping through his whole body. If he had listened to her months ago, Drake could have at the very least spared Liam the agony of proposing and Jaclyn the humiliation of saying no.
He failed both of them.
A knock on the door startled Drake from his thoughts. Sliding open the door, he was surprised to find Liam standing before him. “May I come in?” He asked.
“Uh… of course.” Drake felt his muscles stiffen as Liam sat down and a deafening silence filled the small room.
“I expect you’ve heard I proposed to Lady Jaclyn last night.” He was the picture of composure, his tone formal and even. He spoke this way with other nobles and press when he was at court and Drake suddenly felt there was a mountain between him and his best friend.
Drake closed his eyes and nodded slowly.
“If you already know, I’m sure the things Lady Jaclyn shared with me are true, then.”
He swallowed the lump in his throat, forcing himself to look Liam in the eyes. “Yes.”
“How long?” Liam asked gently.
Drake didn’t need Liam to share how their betrayal made him feel – the look in his eyes said enough.
“I knew things were changing between us after Lythikos. Nothing happened until the Beaumont’s ball.” Drake held his breath, not wanting to share these truths with him.
“I feel like such a fool. I should’ve known. Something was different about her after the Coronation. Nothing… happened? Have you two? Oh my god…” Liam cringed piecing the images together in his mind.
“No! We haven’t been together like that. At least not… fully.”
“Not fully? You knew I loved her Drake… love her. I trusted you. She was… I guess it doesn’t really matter now. She was never really mine, was she?” Liam asked, his voice unintentionally catching.
Drake glanced up and noticed Liam was crying. The only other time Drake had seen him cry was when his mother died. “Liam… I… I’m sorry I didn’t mean for it to happen like this. I tried so hard not to love her for so long. I’m sorry we lied to you. I’m sorry I lied to you.” He tripped over the words, instinctually reaching forward to comfort his friend.
Liam held up his hand for Drake to stop. “You’re not the man I thought you were, Drake.” Standing and smoothing out his jacket, Liam wiped the last of his tears and stood to leave. “I’m sure you won’t think me too forward for requesting you go away for awhile. I’ve had yours and Lady Jaclyn’s things brought to your parents lake house. You’ll go right there from the train station. All the arrangements have been made.”
“Jaclyn’s things?”
“You may have hurt me Drake, but taking away your happiness won’t bring me mine.” He said curtly. “Good day.” And with that, Liam was gone.
—
Drake’s feet carried him to Jaclyn’s private train car. They weren’t exactly on good terms, but he didn’t want to be alone with his thoughts right now. It hurt too much. He tapped her door lightly. “Jaclyn, please open up.” His voice was shaky. “Jac, I know you’re in there. Please open the door.”
She swung open the sliding door with force, hands on her hips ready to battle but stopped herself when she saw him. The circles under his tired eyes were pronounced and they were damp with tears threatening to spill at any moment. Having never seen him so vulnerable, Jaclyn launched her arms around him, pulling him into the room as he whimpered into her hair “I’m an idiot. I’m so sorry for everything.”
“He’s asked me… us, to leave.” Leave. That bothered him immensely. He didn’t want to abandon Liam. He wanted to stay and fix this.
“We hurt him, Drake.” Jaclyn whispered almost inaudibly. “There’s nothing left to do. He needs time to process this. Liam won’t be angry forever.” She caressed his cheek gently, doing her best to soothe him.
“I don’t know that he won’t be. He loves you, Jac. Maybe… maybe you’re better off with him. He’s offering a Kingdom what the hell do I have to offer?”
Not this again. Jaclyn bit her lip trying to remain patient with him given the circumstance. “Drake, I refused his proposal what more can I do to show you that I want you and only you?”
“I’m so afraid one day you’ll wake up and think you made the wrong choice. Now I’ve lost Liam and I’m terrified I’ll lose you too. Everyone, leaves Rowan. Everyone.”
Jaclyn’s heart broke seeing the anguish written on his face. Pushing him onto the bed, she straddled his lap and looked deep into his rich brown eyes. She wanted him to feel her every part of her so he could understand how badly she wanted him. “I’m here, Drake. Right here. Always.”
“What did I ever do to deserve you?” He choked.
“I’m the lucky one, Drake. It’s you and me… forever. Okay?” She peppered sweet, soft kisses down his neck.
You and me… forever. Drake replayed the words over and over again. They dulled the pain, diminished the guilt. “I want you to know Rowan that despite the mess we made, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m sorry we hurt Liam, but I don’t regret falling for you.”
Jaclyn’s wrapped her arms around him tightly. “No regrets.” She said decisively watching a small smile start to form at the corners of his mouth.
“What happens next?”
“Now, we go home.” Jaclyn’s smiled warmly.
She noticed a hint of sadness in Drake’s eyes at the mention of going home. “It’s no palace, Rowan.”
“Hey…” She tilted his chin up to meet hers. “Anywhere you are is home to me. Whatever comes next, we face it together. Everything is going to be okay.”
And for the first time in months, Drake thought it might be.