Binary Star ~MILEVEN AU~

chapter nineteen

'They say follow your heart, but when it's broken into a million pieces, which one do you follow?'

*2 weeks later*

"Mike! You're going to be late for school!" Karen yelled from m downstairs. Mike had returned home after Eleanor left as he didn't dare to go back to the cabin that reminded him of her. Mike was used to letting things go. As his mom always said:" Nothing lasts forever, you should learn to let go." And letting go has always been easy for Mike, until now. It's been two weeks and he hasn't left his room except for using the toilet. Karen and Nancy tried to talk to him about their argument before or just talk to him in general but he won't budge.

"I'm not going!" he yelled back.

"Yes, you are. The schools called in so many times this week. They said you'll get expelled if you are don't go."

"Good to hear some happy news after a long time," he mumbled, turning his head around in his tear-soaked pillow.

"Get your ass down here now, Michael!"

"Urgh! I hate my life again," he groaned as he dragged himself downstairs for the first time in fourteen days.

~

El scrolled through with her head down with Max by her side. Everyone, we're giving her somatic looks including assholes like Troy and Stacy.

"Hey, you okay?" Max whispered as El just nodded in response. "Is that Mike?"Max exclaimed when she saw a familiar curly-headed boy standing by Eleanor's locker.

When El saw his face, she felt like looking at herself in the mirror. His eyes were red and puffy from crying with dark circles under them. His cheeks were tear-stained and he looked skinnier than usual. She could see the pain in his eyes and she couldn't take it anymore. Seeing Mike hurt even though he hurt her was a stab in the stomach for Eleanor. She saw him staring right back at her, taking in every little detail in her face.

They locked eyes and their hearts stopped beating. Their gaze held all their emotions: hurt, love, betrayal, guilt and hope. Yes, hope. They communicated with their eyes as they've been doing it all their life. However, El soon broke the contact, turning around and running out the campus doors, tearing streaming down her cheeks. Pain, guilt: all she got out of their love.

~

Mike chased after her but was stopped by Max.

"She needs to be alone right now," she said, wiping his tear away with her thumb.

~

"Eleanor, wait!" a voice called after her. She turned around to find Stacy catching up with her.

"Look, I know I am the last person you want to see right now but just hear me out, okay?"

"No, Stacy. I-" before she could say anything, Stacy cut her off.

"What Mike did was horrible. I wouldn't forgive him if I were you, but I've known him my whole life and I've never seen him happy the way he was with you. I know you think this was all fake because of a stupid bet we made but I don't think Mike even remembers anything about that thing because he was too busy falling in love with you. I've dated Mike for 2 years but what I had with him wasn't love. What he has with you is love, I can see it in his eyes. And I'm so sorry for ruining your life, I was just being selfish because..." she paused, letting out a bitter laugh. " I don't think I'm ever going to find true love in my life but, you did. Don't let it go, girl."