The New Separation (Book 2)

Chapter 15

Colton

"Colton, please. I know you're in there."

I rolled my eyes, but didn't move to get off my bed. Aleena was being super persistent lately. It's been three days since she came up to me after class. I couldn't understand why she wanted to talk to me so badly.

The knocking stopped, meaning she probably gave up for now and went back to her own room. But then the door opened and in walked Danny with Aleena on his heels.

I sat up. "Really Danny?" I asked.

He shrugged, but it was Aleena who answered. "I had to, Colton. I'm sorry. But can we please just talk?"

I had a feeling that if I kept saying no, she was never going to give up. "About what?" I sighed, giving in.

She smiled widely then came over and sat next to me on my bed. "So, I want you to know how sorry I am for getting in the middle of your relationship," she started. "I thought you had liked me, at least a little bit, but you kept lying to me about having a girlfriend. If you had just told me the truth, I wouldn't have pushed as hard as I did."

I scoffed. "Sure, make it all my fault. I know it's my fault, Aleena, okay? You don't have to tell me that."

"No, no, no. Sorry, that's not how I meant it." She took a deep breath before continuing. "I know you're still hurting. You loved him, right?"

I didn't say anything. Of course I loved him. I still do. But what did that have to do with anything right now? He said he had a new boyfriend. I was never getting him back.

"I thought so," Aleena went on. "I want to help you get him back."

"You don't know anything," I retorted. "You don't even know him."

She shook her head slowly. "Maybe I don't. But I know you, to an extent. If you love this boy, then I know he's good for you. I can help, if you let me."

I sighed. If only that could work though. Even if she managed to do something, Elliot was never going to take me back. Not after I broke all the trust between us.

Elliot

I hate to admit that what my friends had said was starting to grow on me. Maybe I did need someone to help me get over Colton. Obviously being alone wasn't helping at all. Except I wouldn't know who or how to even ask someone out.

I haven't been looking at any guys like that. Before, it was because it hurt to even think of going that route. Now, if I tried at all to look, I just kept comparing every guy I saw to Colton. None of them even came close.

Who am I kidding? I couldn't do this.

Why was I even trying? It was pointless.

The door to the restaurant opened and I looked up. It wasn't my job to seat people, or even wait on them, but there were no other customers, so I was curious about who was coming in.

And I have to say, he was pretty gorgeous.

He was probably a couple years older than me, black hair that he had to push out of his eyes after opening the door, and a nice lean build that wasn't too skinny.

But then my eyes landed on the girl who walked in behind him. And his hand that immediately went around her waist in a more-than-friends kind of way.

Of course. I couldn't get that lucky. I sulked back into the kitchen, deciding to stay there until the couple left.

It wasn't fair that I was stuck here suffering and trying my hardest at getting over a broken heart while Colton was out there having fun with his new college friends and his girlfriend. I'm sure he's forgotten all about me by now. It sure seemed like that last week.

When I got home from work that night, I was immediately handed a large envelope. Mama was smiling when she handed it to me, and I had a feeling I already knew what it was. I had three older siblings who had all been accepted into colleges.

Without reading which college it was, I excitedly ripped open the envelope. Some confetti spilled out when I grabbed the letter on top. Acceptance letter, just like I suspected.

Except it just happened to be the same school Colton goes to.

I could no longer tell if I was happy or not.

"I'm so proud of you," Mom said, hugging me.

"Yeah." My voice was flat. Even I heard that.

Mama took the letter from my hand. "What's wrong? It does say you got in, right?" She started scanning the letter, seeing exactly what she wanted to see.

I shook my head. "It's where Colton goes."

That lowered the mood in the room. "Well," Mom started. "You don't have to go here if you don't want to. I'm sure you'll get into the other schools you applied to as well. Okay? This can just be your back up school."

"I guess."

I had a feeling the world hated me this year. My boyfriend cheated on me, everything seems to remind me of him so I can't get over him, and now what will probably be the only college I get into happens to be the same one he goes to. How much more bad luck can I get?