It Started With Hello

Chap. 123

​​"Why does this feel like a goodbye dinner?" Emma asked, her voice barely a whisper. The movie had ended a few minutes ago, and they now lay side by side, looking up at the countless stars that littered the inky sky. She didn't want to meet his eyes, afraid to know the truth of why he had been acting so strange.

​He rolled onto his side, his body turning away from the dim glow of the fairy lights, which left her side profile in soft relief. "Why would you think that?" he said, trying to keep his voice as level as possible. But she knew something was wrong; she could just feel it, a cold, hard knot tightening in her gut.

​Rolling onto her side to face him, his face was illuminated by the soft, warm glow of the fairy lights around them. "Because you've been acting strange for the past few weeks, Blake."

​He swallowed hard, the sound audible in the quiet night, and rolled back onto his back. He opened his mouth for a moment, then closed it, his eyes searching the vast, endless stars as if they held an answer. "I don't know what you're talking about," he whispered, a tremble in his voice that made her chest twist with frustration. He was being aloof, and it was getting on her nerves.

She thought they were past this now.
​"Don't lie to me, Blake. I know something is up. Your dark, mysterious act doesn't work on me," she said, her voice strained. A few minutes of heavy silence passed between them, filled only by the chirping of crickets. He bit his lip, whispering, "Can't we just enjoy this moment together?" before they fell back into the silence.

​She sighed heavily, tired of the quiet. She rolled back onto her back, staring at the stars above. "If you're going to break up with me, just do it. Don't tiptoe around it like this. I get it. My life has become too complicated for you to want to stay around. Just please don't avoid and distance yourself from me."

​He quickly turned his head towards her, the sudden movement betraying his calm facade. He saw the tears already rolling down her cheeks. She pushed them away, turning her head and looking away from him.

​"Is that what you think... that your life's too complicated for me? Emma, I wouldn't break up with you because of the things that have happened to you this year. None of that shit was your fault, Emma, please understand that." She wouldn't blame him if he did want to leave her for it. From the stalker to being drugged, this year had been a shit show.

​"But... I do think we should break up for now," he said quietly. Her heart dropped in her chest, a physical, sickening lurch. He rolled back on his side, facing her, and placed a hand on her side, gently rolling her to face him and pulling her body against his.

​"W-why?" she whispered, the question catching in her throat. If not the reason she gave, then why did he want to break up?

​He pushed her bangs away from her wet eyes, his thumb gently caressing her cheek. "Emma, I... I don't want to hold you back." He ran his finger under her eye, wiping away the tears as they fell.
​She shook her head, not understanding.

"Emma, you're getting college offers from all around the world. You could go anywhere you want, but I'm staying here. I want you to go, Emma. Go experience what's out there for you. You could change the world, you could help people, you could be so much more than a teacher stuck here in Miller Creek with me." His voice slightly broke on the last few words. She looked at him, shocked. She hadn't known he felt this way. He looked down, letting his hand fall from her cheek.

​"But... but I want to stay here with you," she said. He gave her a sad smile, shaking his head before once again meeting her eye.

​"And I wish I could be selfish and keep you here with me, but... there are better things for you out there. I saw how you looked at that UCLA brochure. I know you want to go there... and I want that for you, too." She shook her head, not wanting to hear what he had to say but knowing it was all true. She had been trying to lie to herself all along, saying she wanted to stay here.