The promise.

Frustrated- Jace.

When it was finally summer, I was so excited. I was kind of scared to leave Avery alone for a whole week, but I made sure the neighbors would keep a bit of an eye on her.
We left at dawn, the sky tinged with the first light of day.
Miles was in charge of the playlist, and we started off with some classic rock, the kind that makes you feel invincible.
As we drove out of the city, the air seemed to get fresher, and our spirits lifted.
"Do you think we'll get lost?" I asked, half-joking.
Miles laughed. "Nah, man. Getting lost is part of the fun."
Our first destination was a small town a few hours away, known for its beautiful hiking trails.
We arrived just in time for lunch, found a quaint diner, and dug into the best burgers we'd ever had.
After another few hours, we had our first stop to sleep.
We were at a diner somewhere along the coast when tensions between Thomas and me finally boiled over. He had been acting strange ever since the party, especially around Riley.
"Can you pass the ketchup?" I asked, trying to keep things light. Thomas barely glanced at me, his jaw clenched.
"Here," he said, practically shoving the bottle towards me.
Miles watched the exchange, his expression neutral but his eyes sharp. "What's going on with you two?" he asked, looking between us.
"Nothing," I said, but my tone betrayed my frustration.
"Thomas just needs to chill out." Thomas slammed his fist on the table, making the dishes rattle.
"You don't get it, do you? You're so wrapped up in your perfect little world that you can't see what's right in front of you." Riley looked alarmed, her eyes wide. "Thomas, calm down." Miles intervened, placing a hand on Thomas's shoulder. "Hey, let's all just take a breath, okay? We're friends. Let's talk this out."
But Thomas wasn't having it. He stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. "I'm done talking," he spat, and stormed out of the diner. The silence that followed was heavy and uncomfortable. Miles sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'll go talk to him," he said, standing up. "You two stay here."
As he left, Riley reached for my hand, her grip tight.
"What just happened?" I shook my head, feeling a mix of anger and confusion. "I don't know, but something tells me this trip just got a lot more complicated."

It was late, and the tension was palpable. Miles and I were sitting on the hood of his car, parked by the beach.
"Why does Thomas hate me so much?" I asked, staring out at the dark water. Miles sighed, taking a sip from his beer.
"He doesn't hate you, Jace. He's just... dealing with a lot. And sometimes, people lash out at the ones who have what they want."
"What does he want?" I asked, genuinely baffled. Miles hesitated.
"It's not that simple. He's got a lot of issues, things he's never really dealt with. Seeing you and Riley, happy and in love... it probably reminds him of what he feels he's missing."
I thought about that, trying to see things from Thomas's perspective
. "I never meant to make him feel that way." "I know," Miles said, clapping me on the back.
"But sometimes, things just happen. Give him time. He'll come around." I nodded, hoping Miles was right. "Thanks, man. For everything." Miles smiled, but there was sadness in his eyes.
"That's what friends are for, right?"