Phoebe and Asher have been in love since high school. They were the couple that everyone thought would get married and have kids together. So when they broke up both Asher and Phoebe were inconsolable.
But then Riley walked into Phoebe's life, banda...
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❛The hard part always seems to last forever Sometimes I forget that we aren't together Deep down in my heart, I hope you're doing alright But from time to time I often think of why you aren't mine.❜ - Saved, Khalid
Nine
Milk. Eggs. Brown sugar. Phoebe had been hurried out of the house with a list of three ingredients before she could even ask what they were baking. Now Phoebe found herself walking down the cooking aisle, searching for her final item before she could go home and take her long overdue nap.
Gazing further down the aisle, Phoebe curses her luck and attempts to quickly and subtly turn into a different aisle. He spots her and it's too late. Avert eyes, quick! Try as she might, she was staring at him and he was staring right back. Time and space are deceptive. So when Phoebe thought she was opposite ends of the aisle, she was actually a mere few metres away from him.
The way Phoebe saw it, there were two possible options which she could pursue. The first, she walks past him as if she never knew him at all, as if she didn't wake up next to him fifteen days ago. Or she could push away her fear and get through one hell of an awkward conversation. And since she couldn't find it in herself to treat him like a stranger, she finds herself walking closer to him.
"Hey, Asher," Phoebe mumbles quietly, trying to get the awkward conversation over and done with as soon as possible.
"Phoebe," Asher says with an acknowledging nod, turning to pick something up off the shelf and laying it flat in his basket.
"I just need to get that," she says, outstretching her arm to reach onto the same shelf that Asher had been standing in front of for the past few moments. He moved his body away so that Phoebe could grab the item without them touching in any way.
She mumbles a brief thanks to Asher before leaving as quickly as possible, "I better go, we needed these ingredients pretty urgently."
"Oh, of course," he replies and takes a step back from her, "Well, uh, bye Phoebe."
And then he's walking away from her, and she misses him already.
...
"Hello?" the resounding call echoes throughout the hallways, with the hope of catching someone's attention. But alas, no one's home. Phoebe's all alone. That wouldn't be the first time that'd happened.
Pulling her phone out of her pockets, she checked to see if she'd gotten a text from anyone, just like the house the notifications were empty. She wondered why was there such a hurry for the ingredients when no one was even going to be home when she got back.
Where is everyone?
Phoebe then pocketed her phone and made her way up to her room, flicking on the heater as she walked past the switch.
We're out for dinner and Aurora is out with Caden
Phoebe sent back a quick reply and then fell down onto her bed. She felt emotionally drained from today and you couldn't blame her. Seeing Asher like that would never be easy, it never has been since that day all those years ago.
For the first time in weeks, she allowed herself to think about the what if's. She thought of how they could be happily married by now. She could picture that; it wasn't hard when it came to Asher. But maybe they were destined to collide. Maybe they were destined to separate at one point or another. Even if they hadn't broken up three years ago, maybe they'd still be here in the same position. Longing for the other but atrociously out of reach.
But what if he chased her. What if he turned up at her house tonight? What would she say? She knew she was being childish, that type of thing almost always only ever happened in the movies. But that doesn't mean she couldn't wish for it. That she couldn't hope he'd turn up and announce his presence at her front door with a message of undying love.
But alas, he wasn't there and it was for the best. They were a mess in their final days together. They'd needed a break.
Phoebe got out of bed, knowing she'd have to stop feeling sorry for herself if she wanted to move on with her life. She didn't need this weight on her chest, especially when he could never love her like he once did.
She began her same old night routine which didn't consist of much substance. Shower; get changed; brush teeth; sleep.
And as Phoebe, once again, climbed into bed with heavy eyes, she heard the ding of a text coming through on her phone. Her eyes shot open and she picked up her phone from the bedside table.
How are you? Haven't heard from you in a while, just checking to see you're alright.
Phoebe was touched that Brooke would message her to check up on her and it was as she was typing out her reply that there was a loud, echoing, banging at the front door. She jumped out of her bed at the sudden noise with shock on her face. Her heart was racing and her hands were desperately clasping at her chest to calm her raging heart.
After her moment of shock passed, she descended the stairs and anxiously made her way to the source of the noise. There was still no one home and Phoebe was scared at what she would find behind the door. Stupidly, she left her phone upstairs because she dropped it when the banging startled her. Her mind was alive, racing with nervous thoughts. It was as though her mind was working just as fast as her heart was.
The knocking sounded again and this time Phoebe didn't jump. She was gaining more and more courage as she approached the front door.
With her hand on the handle, she pulled the door open and a crack of lightning appeared in the distance. When did it start to rain? She thought to herself as she concentrated on anything but him. She couldn't stop thinking about him all day yet she was shocked to see him here, she wasn't sure why he was here. But he looked like a man on a mission and Phoebe didn't want to be the one to get in the way of his plans, she knew how driven he was.
