"Adopted By" Oneshots!

The Breakup

Year: 2028
Book: Adopted by Six
Clem's Age: 17

"Hey Mamãe? Can I talk to you?" I asked as I walked out of my room and to the kitchen. Brittney looked at me and set down her coffee, pulling out the chair next to her.

"Sure, Lemon, you can tell me anything. What's up?"

I sat down in the chair and took a shaky breath, looking down at my feet. "So, um...you know my boyfriend?"

"Cedar? Oh, Lemon, of course I know him. I love him so much, you know that?" Britt said. "Why do you ask, is something...up?"

I took a deep breath and tried to prevent myself from crying. "Um...I'm thinking of breaking up with him. It's just that...I'm graduating next year and I'm gonna feel so guilty going off to Brazil for four years and leaving my boyfriend behind. I'm scared that we're going to lose touch once I'm gone, and let's be real, I've put him through too much anyway, I don't need to put him through more stuff. It's not that I don't love him, cause I do, I love him more than I love myself. It just...seems selfish to go on with my plans and leave him here. I don't know if I told you this yet, but I'm not planning on getting married when I'm older, or having kids."

Britt sighed and looked at me with a soft smile. "Lemon. While I appreciate that you came and talked to me about this, the only person who can make that decision is you. He's your boyfriend, it's your relationship and your future. And I'll support you in whatever decision you make, okay?"

I nodded slowly and cleared my throat. "I mean...I wanted to tell you and my aunties because I know how much you guys love him. I didn't want to suddenly show up a single woman without telling you guys what was going on. Also, I kinda need your advice on how to tell him without hurting his feelings or making him feel awful about himself or thinking it's his fault, because it's not his fault. It's mine."

"Well, Lemon, my advice would be to just be honest with him. Cedar will understand, I promise." Britt said.

"Okay...oh God, tomorrow at school is going to be awkward." I said, feeling myself get hot.

"You're going to tell him tomorrow at school?"

"Where else would I tell him? I'm not gonna tell him over text, and I'm not going to invite him over for the sole purpose of breaking up with him, that's just a dick- I mean jerk move. Anyway, I'll figure something out. Don't worry." I said, starting to get up.

"Alright, Lemon, I trust you. Let me know how it goes, okay?" 

__________

"Clea! Hey, babe, over here!" Cedar yelled from a nearby hallway as soon as I entered school the next day. I cringed at the pet name, trying to get the courage to actually say what I wanted to say. 

At that moment, a pang of guilt entered my body, and part of me was regretting what I was about to do. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt my boyfriend, but part of me thought I had no other choice.

Here goes, then...

"Hey." I said.

"You seem off, Clea, is anything wrong?" Cedar asked. I shrugged, wanting to put off this conversation for as long as possible.

But it had to be done.

"Um, Cedar, I need to talk to you." I said. "In private."

Cedar looked at me weirdly and started to walk down the hall. 

"Something's obviously up with you, Clea. What's going on? You know you can tell me anything." Cedar said.

"Um...before I go ahead with this, I just wanted to say that I love you so so much. I always have and um...I always will. But after a long internal debate with myself and a long talk with my mom, um...I have to break up with you."

"What?" Cedar said softly. "Clem, did I-"

"Cedar, it's not you. I promise. It's me. I don't know if I told you this yet, but when we graduate, I'm moving to Brazil for college. And I'm going to feel...awful going away for so long and leaving you behind. And let's be real, I've put you through way too much shit through the years to put you through this now too."

"I-" Cedar started to say, then stopped himself. "Clementine-"

"I'm sorry." I said, starting to cry. "I'm sorry, Cedar, I hope we can still be friends."

I started to run off and then Cedar grabbed my wrist.

"Hey."

"What?"

"I would like that."