Not You

Chapter Fifteen

The next morning wasn't easier, not in the slightest, but at least some good had come from the whole thing; Kady's mother could tell something was amiss and had allowed her to stay home for the day.

"Are you sure you'll be okay by yourself? I can call work and take the day off, or your father could-"

"Mum, I'll be fine. I just want to sleep." And cry. "I don't need supervision for that."

"I know... your father and I are just worried." Kady's mother stroked her cheek, worry evident in the frown on her face and the downturn of her lips.

"I'm okay, I promise." Perhaps Kady shouldn't have promised, after all, both she and her mother could tell that was a lie; thankfully her mother didn't point it out. Kady's mum straightened after a moment and took in a deep breath, nodding down at Kady who was still laying in bed, her head just barely poking out of her blankets.

"Okay. Call one of us if you need anything, okay? Anything at all."

"Even if it's just a shoulder to cry on." Kady's father winked, but he had no idea how likely that actually was- or maybe he did have an idea, and that's why he mentioned it. "We love you, and we'll be home as soon as we can."

"Don't get fired for me." Kady managed a weak smile, it widening a little at her father's laughter.

"See you later, baby." Her parents walked out of her room, the pair shooting Kady one last look before finally closing her bedroom door. Kady stayed still in bed, waiting for the telltale sound of the front door closing, before finally breathing properly; she loved her parents more than anything, but she was grateful to be alone. Maybe she could process everything that had happened and just... get over it?

That seemed unlikely.

Kady stayed in bed for roughly an hour longer, unable to sleep but lacking the energy to move. Her eyes stayed glued to her ceiling, replaying every moment with the boys, with Lucas, and trying to find times he'd slipped up, let his true intentions show... but damn, he'd been good. Or maybe she'd just been blinded by dumb hope.

Kady ignored the tears flowing down her cheeks until they reached her ears and she shuddered, hurriedly wiping them with her blankets and drying her ears. Kady Creed, you cannot do this all day. You're moving on. Right now. Kady nodded and wriggled out of her blankets, managing to sit up despite her shaky arms.

Her eyes landed on her phone, her fingers hesitating in the air for a second before she finally picked it up; she immediately winced at the missed call from Symphony before sending her a quick text letting her know she was unwell and would be staying home. Kady sighed. At least that's done. She clicked off of Symphony's messages and took a glance at her other messages; it seemed as though Lucas and James had given up at some point during the night. Kady let out another sigh at that, convincing herself it was all relief and no pain. Nope, none at all.

It was quiet in her room, nothing but Kady's stuttered breathing as she stared at her phone and, against her better judgement, opened her photos app. Something was yelling at her to stop, how is this moving on? But she continued through shaky hands and blurry eyes, scrolling up until she reached the picture she'd been searching for.

It was six weeks ago; their first lunch together. James and Symphony had just found out they were soulmates, and she'd gotten to know a different side of Lucas- a side she had been so certain didn't exist until then. Her eyes were no longer simply blurry, tears were now flowing down the sides of her cheeks once more as she looked at Lucas' pink cheeks, and the way she herself had been smiling at him. That same smile he always dragged out of her, even back then.