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Her body deflates, her shoulders sagging down as she shakes her head. “No, but I heard the stories. You took her to prom a month later!”

I wince. “Not my finest moment…I thought if you saw me with her, it may make you mad enough to confront me. At least then I’d get the chance to explain. Instead, you turned around and walked out. You finished school online then left for college without me ever seeing your face again. It’s not my fault you never got to hear the truth before today.”

Her eyes light up in anger, and I smile at the sight. She’s been so distant, even with us carpooling and me saving her ass in the middle of the night. Anger is emotion. Anger is one small step towards passion, then one more towards love. Anger I can work with.

“My fault?” She scoffs and stomps over to me, shoving her finger in the middle of my chest. “You should have run me down that day!”

I reach down and grab her hand, slowly pulling it away from my chest. “You’re right, and I’ve lived with that regret ever since. I punished myself for years, Sonnet. Then, right as I get my life in order, you break down on the edge of town.” I smirk down at her and release her hand. “Maybe you were just trying to find a way to get my attention.”

She rolls her eyes and I watch as the tension slowly fades out of her. “As if. It’s not easy to live here without seeing you. I knew we would run into each other eventually and I would have to stop hiding.”

“Then don’t.” My hand comes up to her chin and lifts her face toward mine. “Stop running, Sonnet. Let me in again.”

CHAPTER 6

I ran.

Like a fucking coward. Just like he asked me not to do.

I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

Everything he said…it means I was wrong. Not only wrong, but that I had suffered through seven years of life without him by my side, all because I blocked him instead of listening to what he had to say.

Seven years of struggling through life alone, wishing he were by my side. He wasn’t at my first day of college when I had a panic attack after getting lost in the halls. He wasn’t in the crowd cheering me on when I walked across that stage with a degree that made me question every single one of my life choices. He wasn’t there when I moved back and bought my first apartment.

Every milestone I once thought he would be there for…he wasn’t. All because of my stubbornness and stupidity.

So, yes, I’m running away.

My apartment isn’t far from the shop, but with the rain still coming down like the sky had fallen out, I’m soaked by the time I get home. My mind races as I slam the door behind me, my apartment offering a semblance of calm I don’t feel like I deserve right now. The storm outside is better suited to how I’m feeling. The sky is raging just like I am. Not at Miles, but at myself.

All this time, and he hasn’t forgotten about me. All this hurt, for both of us, that could have been avoided.

My breath comes out in short gasps as I drop down to the floor, my back sliding across the wall in my hallway until my ass hits the floor with a wet splat.

How does he not hate me? I hate myself.

I…

I need a fucking drink.

It’s not the most mature way of handling things, but with the thoughts racing through my mind right now…I need it.

I pull out my phone and pull up Marie’s number, pressing the call button and hoping that she’s up for a weekday trip to Tricks, one of the only bars in town. Luckily, she answers after the first ring.

“Hey, girl. What’s up?” Her voice is slightly out of breath, most likely just finishing her run for today and hopefully down to make up for those lost calories.

“Wanna go to Tricks? I need a strong drink and the strongest thing I have in my cabinet is black coffee.” I slowly make my way off the floor and into my bathroom. I’m staring at my reflection when she answers, taking in the runny mascara and the curls that have started to spring up from the rain.

“Um…sure. You know it’s the beginning of the week, right?” She sounds intrigued at least, which means it’ll be easy to sway her.

“We’ll go easy. It’s just…it’s been an afternoon. Please?” I lay on my thickest voice and laugh at her resounding sigh. I don’t even need her to respond. “See you there in twenty.”

Luckily, Tricks is right up the road and within walking distance. I strip out of my wet clothes and use a makeup wipe to get the remaining makeup off my face, edging at my eyes to leave what’s left of the mascara and eyeliner. Within ten minutes, I’m dressed in something dry with my hair thrown up in a haphazard bun, walking down the road to meet Marie.

The rain has mostly stopped, leaving only the wind and a faint drizzle behind. The smell of fall is heavy in the air and pumpkins sit on every storefront, physically marking Maple Lane Falls’ transition into the fall season. I’ve always loved the town this time of year. In just two weeks’ time, the town will host its annual Fall Fest, laden with every vendor and shop in town along with a few small rides for the kids. Across the street, the Scream Factory will open and invite in everyone willing to tread its halls - and I have, every year.

As soon as I turn the corner, I see her blonde hair flowing in the wind, her head tilted to the side as she talks on the phone pressed beneath her shoulder and her ear. She hangs up as I get closer, a wide smile breaking across her face. “That was Joseph. He told me to tell you not to keep me out too late and to call if we need a ride.”