Hay Creek

Prologue

Nothing could have prepared me for this moment. I didn't understand it. I thought everything was fine—that we were fine. I couldn't have been more wrong. We were standing here, in this empty hallway, where he chose to tell me it was over. Why here? Apparently, I wasn't the same Avery anymore. A month ago, I lost my father in a brutal werewolf attack. My mom and I had witnessed the whole thing. Since then, she stopped working, and I had to take another job to support us. None of it was fair. Losing my father wasn't fair. And now, Evan? He wasn't fair either.

"I'm sorry," he muttered, his eyes avoiding mine. He couldn't even look at me. Had I really changed that much?

"You can't do this. You know it's not fair, Evan." I stepped back, hitting my locker.

"Avery, I'd rather be honest with you than lie to your face. I don't want any regrets. That's why I wanted to tell you in person—I didn't want to text or call. It's for the best. I need to focus on me—"

"So that's it?" I cut him off. "This isn't about me changing. This is about basketball. You're so selfish."

"Do you even hear yourself? This has nothing to do with basketball. I'm sorry, and I love you—" Another lie. "But there's no 'us' anymore. I'll still be here if you need me. I want you to know that." He gave me an apologetic smile as he bent to grab his backpack. "Ave..."

I wasn't going to cry over him. He wasn't worth it, not when he couldn't even give me a real reason.

"Ave, please. Talk to me." He looked at me, worried. Worried over nothing.

"Goodbye, Evan." I shook my head, turning to walk away. I didn't know what he expected me to say, but I had no words left for him.