Southern Charm | wlw

20

Aspen paced the dorm room, the frustration boiling beneath her skin. After the call with Rowyn, all she could think about was how easily Rowyn had brushed aside any feelings she might have had for Aspen. Instead, Rowyn had turned to her for advice on some guy.

Maya, who was sorting through her things, looked up at Aspen with concern etched on her face. "Are you sure you want to leave so early? I mean, we still have a couple of days before the long weekend."

"Yeah, I just... need some space, you know?" Aspen replied, her southern drawl thick with irritation. "I can't be around here watching her get all lovey-dovey with some dude." She grabbed her keys from the table, the weight of them feeling heavier than usual.

"Come on, Aspen. You're overreacting. It's just Rowyn being Rowyn," Maya said, trying to reason with her. But Aspen wasn't in the mood for logic.

"Not to me, she ain't," Aspen shot back, feeling the bite of her words. "I'm sick of this. I thought there was something real between us, but apparently, I'm just her friend who gives relationship tips."

Maya sighed, knowing that any attempt to calm her friend would be futile. "Okay, I get it. But maybe you should talk to her instead of just running away?"

Aspen shook her head. "Nope. I'm done. I need to clear my head, and Georgia sounds real good right now."

As she walked out of the dorm, she could feel Maya's worried gaze on her, but she didn't look back. Climbing into her truck, Aspen took a deep breath, trying to find some calm amidst the storm brewing inside her. She started the engine, the familiar rumble grounding her momentarily.

The drive back to Georgia was a blur of thoughts and emotions. She turned up the country music, letting the twang of the guitars drown out her racing mind. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal and disappointment. Rowyn had made her feel like she was something special, only to turn around and seek advice from someone else.

"Why does it always have to be complicated?" Aspen grumbled to herself, gripping the steering wheel tighter as she navigated the winding roads.

As she drove, memories of her time with Rowyn flooded back: the late-night conversations, the laughter they shared, and that kiss with Maya that had complicated everything further. Each thought felt like a fresh wound, reopening the heartache she was trying to escape.

Eventually, she pulled into her driveway, the familiar landscape of home bringing a mix of comfort and sorrow. The sun was starting to set, casting a warm glow over the fields. Aspen stepped out of the truck, taking a moment to breathe in the fresh air, but even the sweet scent of home couldn't lift her spirits.

As she walked inside, her parents greeted her with surprised looks. "You're home early, Aspen!" her mom exclaimed, her voice filled with warmth.

"Yeah, decided I needed a little break," Aspen replied, forcing a smile. She felt the weight of her decisions hanging heavily over her, but she couldn't let her family see how troubled she really was.

"Everything okay?" her dad asked, concern lacing his tone.

"Just some stuff with school," she said, brushing it off as she headed to her room.

Once inside, Aspen sank onto her bed, staring up at the ceiling as the tears she had been holding back finally began to spill. She grabbed her phone, staring at it for a moment before deciding to send a quick text to Rowyn, but hesitated. She was angry, confused, and didn't know what she wanted to say.

The phone buzzed in her hand, pulling her from her thoughts. She opened it to see a message from Rowyn pop up, asking for more advice about the guy she liked. The sight made Aspen's heart sink further.