Til Death Do Us Part || Tate Langdon

tomorrow

[a/n: photo cred to rowantheteenagewitch on tumblr! it's ai]

2020, sophomore year

      One warm night in mid-late May, you, Remi, and Delaney had a sleepover at Del's grandma's house so you guys could use her pool. It didn't come easily for you, and you had to fight tooth and nail with Aunt Thea for her to let you come. She swore you could be doing homework instead, or start applying for jobs despite being 15, because "some places hire a year younger than that."

      You'd gotten your way with enough begging and pleading, and now your two closest friends and you were night swimming and talking love, life, and boys when Remi curiously brought up Tate. Your face fell instantly.

   "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you sad," she adjusted herself in her floaty. It was pitch black out except for the 1 porch light and a few fireflies, and all that could be heard was crickets and your occasional sloshing in the water.

   "No I'm okay I just, haven't talked to him in a while," you answered.

   "What happened?" Delaney asked, genuinely interested and concerned. "I mean you guys were like connected at the hip when I met you and now I never see him anymore."

   "I know, I'm not really sure what happened. I think I just outgrew him, you know?" They nodded and you continued. "I needed some girl friends and I hoped that he'd make some guy friends, but he just, never did. He only wanted to hang out with me."

   "That's cause he's been in love with you since like first grade," Remi said as if it were obvious.

   "Rem," Delaney looked at her with wide eyes.

   "Sorry," she shrugged an apology.

   "I don't think that's true," you bounced slowly and contently around in the water. "And if he was, those feelings are long gone now."

   "Is he always so... emo?" Remi asked. "Like what's his deal?"

   "Ha, no, he's only like that to- well, everyone but me," you realized as you said it aloud. "I still think about him a lot, but I think it'd be too awkward to try to like, rekindle things you know?"

   "Yeah," Delaney agreed sadly. "He seems worse this year though. Like, full on depressed. I see him go in and out of the guidance counselor's office every day she's there."

   "And he's definitely gotten in trouble for his outbursts too," Remi added. It was true, Tate was certainly depressed and had developed quite the temper, but you felt the need to defend him here.

   "He's never had a good home life," you said. "I hope the counseling works for him."

   They nodded, and there was an air of despondency hanging around you all for a moment. It wasn't too long though before Delaney was gushing about her crush, Bart, who we all made fun of to her for having such a grandpa name.

2021, junior year

      You stared into the tiny mirror on the inside of your locker door at the reason for your dentist appointment in a few hours: stupid cavity. You'd be leaving school right before lunch, effectively missing all the juicy details of how Bart had won over and asked out Delaney. You were sure you'd get an earful in voice messages later in the night to make up for it. An hour an a half and you were out of here. You shut your locker door with a thud, and was startled when you noticed Tate standing there, waiting to speak to you. He looked happier than he had in months, maybe even years.

   "Hey," you said cautiously.

   "Hey Y/N," he smiled, showing off his dimples. You'd always found them charming.

   "What's up?" you eyed him suspiciously. You two had not been this casual for quite some time.

   "Just wondering if you'd maybe wanna sit with me for lunch today?" He asked hopefully. "I know you have other friends and all now but, maybe just one more time?" Confusion was all over your face, so he clarified, "You know, before I graduate."

   Right. Graduation was just shy of a month away, and this was Tate's senior year. You remembered your dentist appointment, and guilt washed over you.

   "Tate, shit, I have an appointment I have to leave for in less than two hours," you told him downheartedly. "If it were any other day--"

   He flashed a full, open mouth smile and said, "No, no, of course."

   You knew him, and you knew there was sarcasm and disappointment behind that smile. "No come on don't be like that," you tried to reason, but he shook his head and backed up. "Please," you pleaded. "I can't skip this, can we just do it tomorrow?"

   He tucked his hands in his pockets and pouted for a minute, and looked up at you with an unreadable expression, "Tomorrow?"

   "Yes, tomorrow, I promise."

   He nodded slowly and avoided eye contact, then looked at you again with another smile. "Alright. See you around."

   You almost wanted to shout at him, tell him to stop being so dramatic, ask him where he got off coming up to you and acting like nothing was weird between you two after all this time, but you let him go. A few feet away, he doubled back and placed a hand on the side of your shoulder, "Thanks for talking to the weird kid on the playground."

   You watched him turn to leave again, then disappear into the crowd of kids. You were baffled wondering what the hell had just happened, why he was being so weird. Oh well, you thought. I'll know tomorrow.

But when tomorrow came, Tate wasn't in school. For the next week, you sat staring at his empty lunch table that he sat alone at for years. The usually overwhelming chittering in the lunchroom was a dull hum as you wondered anxiously where he was. Weeks passed, and then a month, and then Tate missed his own graduation.