to live for the hope of it all.

Chapter 2

August 15th, 2023

"The smiles, the flowers, everything is gone
Yesterday, I found out about you
Even now just looking at you feels wrong..."

Bailey

"Are you fucking kidding me with this shit again, Bailey? Where and who the fuck are they coming from?" Brady yelled, pointing at the new vase of origami tulips on my desk.

For my 18th this year, a blue bouquet came with a new vase that now fits them all, including the orange ones I got for my 17th birthday last year.

"I told you I don't know, it's not that big of a deal Brady!" I answered.

A lie.

They are a big deal to me.

This wasn't the first time we were having this argument. Brady had grown beyond possessive these last few months, he has started finding the smallest things to pick fights about. Then he apologizes and claims he's just stressed about leaving for college, and I had no clue why I kept putting up with it. Wren has told me countless times I could do better, and I know I could, but I know Brady, and he's comfortable. I don't want things to change anymore.

"No! That's what you said last year and I let it slide. But I'm fucking done letting this shit slide. Don't lie to me again, Bailey, just tell me who's sending you these every year!" He yelled, grabbing the flowers from the vase and holding them strong in his grip.

"Stop! Stop! Can you just calm down? I swear Brady I don't know who they're from, they could be from Grandpa Matt for all I know and he just won't admit it."

Another lie. Grandpa Matt knows who they're from and said he's sworn to secrecy, even at my expense.

"Bullshit Bailey! Your grandpa would tell you if he was the one doing this shit for you every year," he said, opening my bedroom door and heading downstairs with the flowers still in his hand. "If you're fucking cheating on me then just tell me now."

"Cheating on you? Brady what? How have I given that impression when you have me attached at your hip almost 24/7?" I scoff out. He still has my flowers in his tight grip as he throws open the front door and storms outside with me following after.

A truck door slams next door and subconsciously my gaze goes to Beckett who just got home from soccer practice.

It's his 4th year on varsity, and his first as captain, so he usually stays later after practice cleaning up and that's why the time he gets home now is later than previous years.

There's a furrow in his brow, but he's not looking at me, but at Brady, sending him a glare before heading inside his house.

It's then I remember what I came out here for, and my gaze goes back to Brady, but it doesn't matter, because it's already too late. Brady scoffs and throws the flowers on the sidewalk before stomping on them with his shoe.

Right there getting crushed along with the flowers I started receiving on my 14th birthday, is my heart.

I don't even feel the tears in my eyes until they're already pouring over.

"Leave. We're done." I tell him, all the emotion in my voice is gone. So much for not wanting to change things.

Would it be pathetic of me to go inside and cry over this?

Not Brady, but the flowers.

"Fuck you, Bailey. I could have any girl I want when I get to college, I don't need this high school bullshit with you."