He steps forward, slower now and reaches for my hand.
I shove him. Rather hard, I think.
He hits the ground, glass splintering beneath him, slicing through the back of his shirt. Blood seeps quickly through it, darkening the fabric.
I don’t move, just stare at it. At the blood. At the sight of it blooming.
He gets up slowly, still clutching his side, and meets my eyes. There’s no blame in them, I realize.
“You know I’d follow you anywhere,” he says earnestly. “Whatever you asked, I’d do it. So please—”
“I’d like for you to leave.”
He freezes. And it’s not me pushing him, rejecting him, or making him bleed that causes him to look so betrayed. But it’sthis, of all things, that hurts him the most.
“What?” he whispers, and it’s a broken sound. “I can’t leave you.”
“You can,” I say. “And if you mean what you say, you will. Because I ask it.”
Will stares at me a moment longer. His expression shifts, just slightly—not quite sadness, not quite pity. Resignation, maybe. Whatever he sees in my face, it’s enough. He nods slowly.
“I think you’re right,” he says, after a long pause. “I think you are going mad.”
He turns, stepping toward the door. “I’d still do anything for you, you know.” His hand lingers on the knob. “But god, sometimes I really don’t like you at all.”
“I love you,” I say just as he’s about to leave. “You’re aware, yes?”
He freezes for just a second. His back still to me, shoulders rigid.
Then he opens the door, and leaves.
I stand at the window and watch Canterbury disappear beneath the snow. It’s strange, the way it lingers. Odd for Canterbury, for the snow to stay this long. I keep waiting for it to finally melt, for the colour to return.
The grass was green once, I think. But I remember it better blue.
Addie
Lilia was right.
By the time we step through the school doors, I’m immediately overwhelmed. Glittering lights spill across the wallsand soft music hums from somewhere down the corridor, and everyone—everyone—looks incredible.
I spot Bea and Kym almost instantly, standing by the lockers near the theatre doors. Bea’s in a velvet navy dress, sleeveless, fitted, with gold earrings that glint every time she laughs. And Kym is wearing a pretty brown dress that looks absolutely beautiful on her and fits her in all the right ways. Her hair is curled, too.
Bea sees us first. Her jaw drops. Literally. “Addie!Your hair!” she gasps, already rushing forward.
Kym turns too, blinking like she isn’t sure she’s seeing right, and her brows shoot up.
“I know, I know. I just needed a change.”
Bea’s already closer, circling me. She touches the ends, then pulls back to get the full view. “It looksamazing.Like… grown-up Addie.”
I glance at Lilia, who just shrugs likeI told you sois tattooed across her forehead.
I see Ajax with a group of friends a few feet in front of us. He must feel me watching because he turns his head and looks straight at me. He gives me a small nod of acknowledgment, and a polite smile which I hastily return.
We were never the best of friends, I know that, but at least we spoke and joked around. I enjoyed our conversations. Nowadays, this is as friendly as our interactions get. Even in class.
I’m not sure when it shifted. Or why. I used to think it was his doing, but now, I wonder if I gave him reason to. I wonder if I noticed him pulling away at all.
