The Hopeless Romantic ✔️

Chapter thirty seven.

It's sad, but life is full of sudden goodbyes.

I picked myself off the ground, the rain drowning me until I could no longer breathe. But, I had to keep running. I had to get out of my soaking dress and I had to scream. I wanted to scream, I wanted to yell. So I kept running.

It felt like forever of endless roads and broken dreams. I hated myself for getting too close to him, I hated myself for letting the hopeless romantic come out to play. I had played his game, I had lost, I had gained nothing.

I held onto my dress tightly, picking it up off the ground so I wouldn't trip. I was nearly home, a few blocks away from crying myself to sleep. I ran away because I wouldn't let myself get hurt again. I wouldn't do that to myself and as much as I loved Jace, I wasn't sure anymore. I wasn't sure if he loved me back or if he was just telling me what I wanted to hear.

I fell for the bad boy, the popular guy, the guy who made every girl fall over him just by looking into their eyes. I was one of them. I fell so damn hard for him and it hurt as he didn't catch me the way I wanted him to. He left me out in the rain to drown, he did this to me and there was no coming back from it.

I finally reached my street and I stopped in the middle of the road. I panted heavily from running and the rain ran down my face like my tears did. My hair was soaked, my dress was damaged and I was cold. I was numb, I couldn't breathe and I couldn't bare to think about any of it.

I walked in the middle of the road, slowly and I was taking my time. I wasn't sure if mom would be up and I didn't want to talk about any of it. I left prom, I left the one magical night that had me spinning. I left him like he left me. And as I reached my house, I looked over to his. It was quiet and no lights were on. His car was still parked in the driveway and the memories flooded back to me.

My first magical kiss.

I sobbed and turned away. I walked inside and all of the lights were off and nobody was in sight. I sighed with relief as I closed the door quietly and placed my bag onto the kitchen bench. I sighed heavily, leaving trails of water on the carpet. I took another deep breath and walked slowly to my bedroom.

I walked in and stood for a moment. I looked at myself in the mirror and looked at how my face was red and puffy, but I couldn't really notice it because of the water from the rain. My dress was soaked and my hair was dripping wet and a little bit curly. My shoes were muddy and my makeup had disappeared long before I left Jace standing alone.

I went into the bathroom and sniffled. My head hurt from crying too much and I shivered because I was cold. I slowly took off my dress and left it on the ground where the tiles soaked up the water. I stepped out of it and turned on the shower. I stepped in and the warm water hit my skin like fire. It felt nice and I felt calm. I didn't do anything, I just sat in the bathtub with the shower running. It hit my skin as I ran my fingers through my hair, letting the warmth of the water drown me away. I brought my knees to my chest and I rested my chin on them. I stayed like that for a while and I stared blankly at the wall in front of me, trying not to think of anything.

Until I got out, dried myself, got changed and went to sleep.

*

My eyes fluttered open and my head hurt even more. My pillow was wet from crying, but my tears had dried up. I had dreamt of him the night before and it made me sad, even more to think of him. I felt guilty for leaving him like I did, but my heart wasn't in the right place.

I forced myself up, feeling tired and not prepared to face the world today. I heard a knock at my door and my mom came in, uninvited. "Avery, why is your dress on the bathroom floor? It's all soaked!"