The Distance To You | ✓

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 26

Dear Mom,

It's been a while. I miss you. I love you.

Until next time,

Gage.

******

"Hey, do you have everything packed?" I asked Thalia as I slid the note back into my back pocket.

It had felt so long ago. In reality, it was only four months ago. My mother had been taken from me too quickly, along with my brother, and most days, I missed them. My mother would never get to respond and so, I would write to her. Small notes, brief as I didn't want to get into it that much, that told her how I felt.

She would understand. I had always been a kid of few words.

"Yeah, all done. Ready?"

"Are you ready? I mean, you're moving out and we're ending things. Are you going to be okay?"

"Gage, now isn't the time to ask that question. That's like asking someone who got burned if it hurt. I'm sure it does, I'm not okay but I will be. I hope that answers your question. Are you ready to go now?"

"Yeah."

After we got Thalia's boxes into the car, we drove silently to her new apartment. We decided to end things and separate. Thalia had grown used to living with someone. I'm sure it was her first heartbreak since her tragic love too. It had been a while since she'd gotten close to someone, always kept a distance in case something like this happened, and it did. It would hurt but like she said, I hoped she meant it too, she'd be okay.

"This is it right?"

"Yeah, oh look, it's Chris and them already!" Thalia laughed as she got out.

Justin was one of the first ones to walk over. Although Justin had gotten out of a relationship, I was sure that he liked Thalia. He had liked her when I had introduced them. My texts of telling him it was finally okay to go after her had proven correct on my thought when he asked if that would be weird.

Of course, it would but that didn't stop me from wanting him and her to be happy.

"Oh, look, it's Marge and Izzy."

"Woah, she's pretty. Her hair is in a cute hairstyle too," Thalia said as she grabbed Chris' phone to show me.

Izzy was pretty. She always had been. Her hair was braided into two sections, I forgot what they called the style. I always called it reigns because...it looked like it with braids on both sides.

It didn't appear that she had makeup on, her face wasn't shiny underneath the bright light from their left side. Both had a cheesy smile and beer in their hands. Izzy's looked fuller than Marge's, probably because Izzy would have class tomorrow.

"She is." I smiled.

"So, who's gonna help me put all my things in order?"

"I will!" Justin called.

After Justin jogged into the house and the back of my car was empty of Thalia's belongings, we all helped her settle in. It was late at night by the time everything was settled and there was a slight chill to the air.

"So, that's everything," Thalia said with a sigh after everyone had left.

"Yeah, I guess it is."

"Thank you, Gage. Without you, I probably would've been lost in the world. I would've been secluded. You gave me a new view of love. Thank you."

"Well thank you. You and sex go well together."

"You jerk," she laughed but I knew she was blushing.

"Seriously, I think I needed you more than you needed me. I got out of my shell with you and I haven't done that with anyone. You know every nitty gritty part of me and yet, you never hated a single atom of me."

"How could I? You're simply Gage."

"And that's all I ever want to be."

"And that's all you are. I love you, Gage. I know it doesn't mean much since-"

"It means a lot more than you think," I chuckled off the slight burn in my chest.

Despite it all ending, despite us knowing we can never go back, there was a rush of warmth around my body. It fought off the coldness of the night. Thalia's confession was more than I needed.

"I love you too, Thalia. I think I've loved you for a while now, to be honest. Mornings with you are amazing, days spent being together were unforgettable and nights spent laughing while doing facemasks made nights lovable again. I think you've charred yourself into my heart."

"Don't let Izzy hear that, she might kill me," she laughed as she grasped my hand.

"Don't worry, I won't. This will be our last secret with each other. I love you."

"And I you Gage."

We spent the rest of our time together in silence, letting the love linger between us. We had spent a year getting to know each other and the other's body. It was going to be hard but we both knew it was for the better. We ended on a healthy note too so it would all be fine.

When I got back to my apartment, I spent the rest of my solitude wondering what it would be like to see Izzy in person again. How different it would feel as we were now full-grown adults and spent years away from each other. And how much had actually stayed the same between us.

𖧷𖧷𖧷

A/N:

And that's the end to both this part and to Gage and Thalia! I really loved their relationship, it was super sweet but sometimes, things end. It's the same with Izzy and Philip.

Now we're full circle to the prologue. This book was the first one I did that with and I was super excited. I hope I did a good job on it because I was so proud of myself. Of course, with me editing, there's going to be changes and everything but still, I'm excited to read the last part since I forgot about it too.

Hope you join me in the last part! Please, vote and comment too!