One More Chance
BRYCE PEREZ
SKYE HAYES
MAX TRAVIS
PROLOGUE
He looked at her from afar, his fingers fidgeting almost every second. It’s been a while since he saw her. Her beautiful dark brown locks still framing her face nicely, her dark brown chocolate orbs still as attractive as always. As the snow falls, he watched her from across the street, her eyes meeting his as well. He could not help but think back to 7 years ago, how madly in love he was with her. She shifted her sight away from him before turning towards another man that was browsing the displays of wedding rings on the window. The other man placed his arm around her waist, hoisting her to take a look at the displays with him, the intimacy between them so high it could melt the snow. He continued watching her, until they walked away. She stole one more glance at him and their eyes met once again, but only pain remained between the gaze.

CHAPTER 1

7 years ago.

After bumping into each other in Paris, Bryce and Skye hung out together in the streets of the romantic country after Skye helped Bryce to translate some words to a French store owner who couldn’t understand what Bryce was trying to request for. Feeling adventurous, Bryce suggested that they hung out together as since they both knew English, he felt that there was no harm in making a friend. For the fact that they met like this, Bryce called it; Fate.

“You are 21 years old?!” he exclaimed in the middle of their dessert as they were walking down a street market. She mock glared him and chuckled. “I don’t look like one?” she rolled her eyes as she licked off her soft cone. “No, I just never thought a 21 year old would be travelling around Paris on her own. Aren’t you a university student then?” he questioned further and Skye almost choked on her soft cone. “Nope, I’m not in school at the moment.” She shifted her eyes nervously. “And you? Not working?” she threw back the question, trying to keep the conversation topic off her. He shook his head evidently. “I have been unemployed for a while now, so I decided to fly somewhere to clear my head before thinking about what I wanted to do.” He smiled. She smiled alongside with him as they walked the streets of Paris, shopping for all the little things and bargaining for them.

As their day were about to end, they asked for each other’s hotel and realized that they were staying in the same one. “This is getting creepy.” Skye commented with a slight giggle as they went up the elevator, almost pressing the same button to the same floor. The two awkwardly shifted their orbs until they arrived at the same floor. They started walking in the same direction, only to realize their rooms were right next to each other.

“Fate, huh?” Skye made fun of the situation with an unbelievable tone before shooting him another smile. “Goodnight, Bryce.” She said before entering her room. Bryce watched as she entered her room, his heart sinking a little, feeling like he was already missing her.

“Maybe.” He muttered to himself in reply to her question. “Goodnight Skye.” He said as he entered his own hotel room.

The next morning came and the phone beside her rang. Groaning, Skye picked up the phone. “Hello?”

“Hello. Up for more adventures today?” a male’s voice boomed through the line. “Bryce?” she exclaimed in shock. “Come on, I want to sleep in. This is a vacation.” She complained, attempting to hang up when Bryce taunted. “You are 21; you got to be more energetic than that.” Skye rolled her eyes in surrender and started to prepare for their outing. The duo visited several places in Paris and when late afternoon came, they decided to visit the Sainte Chappelle, one the most beautiful chapels in Paris. The interior took both their breaths away and they admired it in awe. Lifting her camera, Skye had already started taking photos of the wonderful place when Bryce spoke.

“Do you believe in love?” his voice echoed slightly in the wide room, which surprised Skye for a moment. Why would he go asking this kind of questions all of a sudden? She continued clicking on her camera as she put some quick thought to it. “I guess I would believe in love.” She replied. Bryce turned towards her, raising an eyebrow. “Why?” he smirked a little.

“Because it’s the closest thing we all have to magic.” Skye replied as she took her focus off the camera for a while and looked Bryce in the eyes, his soft dark brown orbs taking her breath away like the beauty of the chapel. Shifting her eyes, she looked away. “I guess it is. Love changes people.” Bryce bit his lips in deep thought before turning towards Skye again. “When did you say you were leaving?” he asked.

“Five days from now.” Skye replied.

“Cool, let’s make the best out of it for the next five days.” Bryce said excitedly.

“Wait what? You plan to spend the next five days with me? What happened to ‘travelling alone to clear your head’?” Skye chuckled, “And what makes you think I would want to explore with you?” she made a cheeky face, which made Bryce cringe on the inside.

“Come on. Don’t do that to me.” He laughed. Eventually, like magic happened, the two continued to enjoy the sceneries and food of Paris, making memories together with the new experiences they face for the first time.

The night before Skye was to return home, they visited the Eiffel Tower. From the rooftop, the view of the tower was magnificent and grand. Lit up by LED lights in the night sky, the outline of the tower was so much more breathtaking. Skye started snapping photos of the view and Bryce watched her from the side. He had a beautiful scenery right in front of him, but Skye’s beauty shone through the eye-catching Eiffel Tower he came all the way to see. He traced her ****** features with his sharp eyes, her jawline captivating his attention most. Her chocolate brown orbs were shimmering against the reflection of the light from the Eiffel Tower, her lips pulling out his inner demons. Feeling his gaze on her, she paused in her photo taking, turning to see Bryce’s passionate eyes looking straight at her. With no words said, she found herself moving closer to Bryce, and vice versa, until their lips met in a totally unexpected twist of events. He was attracted to her, so was her. It was the right time, right place, and right person. They soon pulled away from each other, shocked at their own actions.

“Sorry, I-“Bryce rushed to apologize to Skye but she stopped him.

“It’s okay. Don’t apologize. It would make it sound like you regretted it.” She grumbled, turning away from him as she spoke. Smirking a little, Bryce knew right then and there that the feeling was mutual. The kiss was fine with her and they both knew they craved for more.

Slowly walking back to the hotel, both of them came to their rooms again like every night. However, this time round, they both paused.

‘Should I? Should I not? But this is wrong. I can’t be doing this with a 21 year old.’ Bryce thought to himself and struggled to make a move.

‘I can’t make the first move. He would think that I’m a loose woman, right?’ Skye fought with herself mentally as the two stood in front of their doors for a good 5 minutes. “Erm… I’ll go to bed now, good night.” She greeted before scampering into her room, shutting her hotel room door behind her as she leaned against it. ‘Calm down, Skye.’ She spoke to herself some more as she listened to her own heart beat a thousand miles per hour. ‘Just go to sleep and stop thinking too much. You are leaving tomorrow. Keep yourself together.’ She told herself as she went ahead to take a shower.

Bryce fidgeted outside her hotel room door for a while before heading back into his own room. ‘Bryce, Bryce. Think straight. She is 21. Don’t be such a pervert.’ He struggled and slapped himself mentally, moving himself to go a shower to wash off all his complicated thoughts.

Both of them took their shower and threw themselves straight into their beds. But their heads were filled with each other and the kiss from the rooftop. Skye found herself feeling uncontrollable for the first time in 20 years. She was a beauty, she knew. She had multiple suitors before, fell in love a bit and dated. But it never felt like this. The feeling was unbearable. It was passionate and it just felt like she had to do it, if not she was going to regret it. “I need a drink.” She told herself as she dressed herself a little to head down to the convenience store at the hotel lobby. Just as she opened her door, she saw the elder male from next door standing right there, his hand in posture like he was going to knock on the door.

“Bryce…?” she murmured his name. His eyes widened as she opened the door before he could knock on the door. Although her make-up was removed, he could only think about how beautiful she looked with her wet hair down. They exchanged passionate gazes for a while before Skye felt herself being pushed back into her room by force. Everything happened so quickly she could only hear the sound of the door slamming shut and next thing she knew, she was up against the wall, her lips being devoured by Bryce. His masculine fingers gripping onto her wrist as he kissed her. She did not even know if this was right. But she knew it would be okay. Nothing was going to go wrong. Just go with the flow. The night was filled with passion as they made love to one another in the city of romance.

Morning came and the sun shone through the curtains, sunlight hitting on their faces. Wincing at the light, Skye cringed a little as she slowly opened her eyes, only to see a shirtless Bryce lying right next to her. It happened, it really did. But she did not regret. She sighed. She was leaving later in the afternoon. Fate may have been very kind to let her leave good memories of her and Bryce in Paris, but fate is still cruel to their future. They will be going back to their own lives in a few hours’ time. This love that developed was going to end. A kiss on the forehead made Skye snap back into reality as she saw Bryce’s dark brown eyes opened up close. “Good morning.” His morning husky voice greeted.

“Good morning.” She replied as Bryce held her closer towards him. Unknowingly, they treasured every second with one another. They shared another kiss before they both went into the bathroom to brush their teeth, behaving like a pair of newlyweds as they teased each other.

The time together was sweet, but it soon flew pass just like that and Skye was already at the airport with her luggage, preparing to board the plane back to Singapore.

“Will you be fine without me?” Skye jokingly teased as she smirked. Bryce honestly knew he would not be fine without her but he kept it to himself. “I’ll be fine. It might hurt a little but I have your email and social network connections. You can’t run away.” He said, holding her by the waist and pulling her close.

“I’m going to miss you.” He whispered into her ear as he hugged her.

“Don’t make this harder than it already is.” She hit him lightly on his back and commented, making him chuckle.

“I just have one question.” He paused, “Don’t you mind my age?” he bit his lips nervously, which only made him look her age.

“If I did, I would have pushed you away right from the start. Everything’s perfect Bryce, we were just with the right person, and the right time but wrong place.” She sighed a little. They both knew love existed between them but to keep a long distance relationship would be really tough for them. Would they even have time for each other once they get busy with reality? They were not even sure when was the next time they are going to see each other. They hear the announcement made for Skye to board her plane and Bryce held her hand tighter.

“Before you leave, I want you to know, I’m really crazy about you. I’m really going to miss you.” He confessed.

“Me too.” Skye said as she walked forward to give him a peck on the lips. “Till next time.” She lowered her head a little before lifting it to give him a smile. “I’ll call you.” She promised before departing.

As soon as Skye left, Bryce instantly left a message in her email.

I’m missing you already. Call me soon. – Bryce

But good news was far from reaching Skye as the first news she got as she arrived in Singapore was that her parents were getting a divorce. Her parents had always been having disputes but she never knew how terrible it has gotten.

“So you are telling me that dad has another woman outside, that’s why you are divorcing him?” Skye concluded her mother’s story as they spoke in the living room. “And it’s for real this time, huh?” she questioned. Her mother had just ranted to her about how her father had a mistress outside, and that they were definitely getting a divorce this time round, and that Skye was to follow her once their divorce was filed.

“Yes. And we will be moving to the other side of this city, and you will be transferred to another school.” Skye’s mother, Flannery, finished herself.

“Wait what? Why do I have to transfer to another school?” she pretended to be concerned about her education as it was the only thing left tying her to staying near her father.

“Don’t pretend that you care. I know you have been skipping school. Especially with your extravagant escape to Paris without my permission?” Flannery flared a little at Skye but let it go, afraid that her daughter would walk out on her to her father. “I’m filing the divorce with your father first thing tomorrow morning and then we will be moving and that’s final.” She said.

“Fine.” Skye gave up, “I expected this long ago anyway.” She sighed.

That night, Skye snuck out to look for her father, who was staying at a friend’s place after his morning dispute with his soon-to-be ex-wife. “Dad? I’m right in front of Uncle Tim’s house. Could you come out for a bit?” she made a call to her father and soon she saw him rushing out to meet her. Giving him a big hug, she apologized for not being around to help him when the dispute happened. She knew that her father was the kindest soul on earth and he would never dare to lie to her mom, much less get a mistress. “She is the one with another person, right?” Skye muttered into her father’s chest. She heard her father let out a big sigh. He knew that Flannery had already grew tired of him since the year Skye turned 10 but for the next 11 years, he pretended like everything was okay, and now he was finally going to be free from the pain and struggle he put through for Skye. He still loved Flannery, but what could be done? Nothing. He could only watch his beloved walk away with another man.

“You are not going to fight for my custody?” Skye spoke disappointedly. She knew that her father was too humble to do so; she just had to hear it from his own lips.

“Her boyfriend is much more capable than I am. He will be able to give you the best of the best. I heard that he had already arranged a good university for you to enter once you move there.” Aden spoke sadly. “I’m sorry, Skye. I’ve been a failure.”

Skye’s heart broke into pieces seeing her father in so much pain. She knew that she had no choice but to follow her mother and that she had to leave her father behind. It was heart-breaking to see him beat himself up so much. But she had no choice. Her father was right. He would not be able to support her in any way, even if it was to be in the name of love. For a good future, she could only leave.

“I’m going to miss you so much Dad.” She hugged her Dad tightly, “I’m going to come back for you and take care of you, I promise.” She said, closing her eyes as she tries to engrave her father’s warmth in her memories. She was not going to see him anytime soon, and it was definitely going to hurt.

“Just live well and let me know how you are doing every now and then. That will be good enough.” He said as he hugged her back, giving her tight squeeze. “Run along, you are moving tomorrow. You need to do a lot of packing.” Aden smiled as he spoke to his daughter, trying his best to hold back his pain to encourage her. He would not be able to give her anything, so holding back or fighting for custody would be redundant. He understood why his wife was leaving him for another man. He was incompetent and his priority was his basking career. It was not that he did not love his family, but his passion for music was meant to be pursued.