Attention What If

Chapter 58

POV: Skylar

I don't want to keep hurting Vida. I should never have gotten involved with her. I was weak, stupid. I shouldn't have crossed that line. I like her as a friend, a best friend even. I just don't want to go there with her or with anyone, ever again.

I'm done with love.

I just want to be alone for the rest of my life.

If I'm alone, then no one can ever break my heart ever again.

It's a win-win.

Things don't get complicated, I don't get my heart broken, everyone wins.

"Skylar!" Kenzie's voice causes me to jolt.

I turn from where I am hiding behind a large tree in the school plaza to her and Darleen walking over to me.

Love is like a knife being jammed into your heart over and over. Why do people love?

I wipe my face and quickly compose myself.

"Um, I'm actually not hungry anymore. You two have fun without me." I try to make a clean getaway.

"We don't want to have fun without you," Darleen calls.

I pause.

"Can we talk?" Kenzie asks. "Like really talk?"

"You know, now is actually not a good time, I just remembered I have to take Ace to the vet," I lie.

"Skylar," Kenzie pleads.

"I can't do this, okay? I just can't. You two just forget about me, okay?" I quickly push past them.

"We love you," Darleen grabs my hand. "And not like a friend. We love you, both of us."

"I'm done with love, okay! Done!" I yank my hand free.

"Well, love isn't done with you!" Kenzie runs after me. "You can't just run away from everything."

"Watch me!" I take off running.

"Skylar!" Kenzie calls after me.

I run as fast and as hard as I can, only stopping when I get to my car. I pause to catch my breath. Darleen doubles over when she finally catches up to me.

"Damn," She gasps for air. "You've gotten a lot faster than I remember."

I can't help but laugh.

"No fair," Kenzie finally catches up. "You know I'm not a runner." She wheezes.

"Guys," I pause to catch my breath. "Please, I just want to be alone."

"Well, too bad," Darleen wobbles over to me. "We aren't going to let you be alone."

I watch her reach into her back pocket and pull out a pass, the pass.

My heart stops.

It's a pass that says, I want to hear the sound of your voice. Talk to me.

She hands it to me.

I hold the folded paper in my hand. I can see the corners lifting. My eyes water.

"I'm using a pass, so you have to talk to me." She says triumphantly, not even realizing what she has.

"Go on, rip it up. That's how those things work, right?" Kenzie walks over to us.

"I can't," I say softly.

"Skylar, I'm not leaving," Darleen says firmly.

I hand her back the paper.