The New Separation (Book 2)

Chapter 16

Elliot

After school ended for the day, I was waiting by my locker for Emily when I got a text. I stared at his name for a little too long before even reading what he said, not realizing I hadn't taken that stupid heart emojji off his contact name yet.

I quickly went into my contacts and took the thing off his name. I really thought I had taken that off months ago. Apparently not.

"Hey, you good?"

I looked up to see Emily walking up to me. I shook my head. "I just got this."

Hey. That was the entire text he sent. What did he want? Why send it now, after so long of not talking? After everything that happened?

Emily made a face. "That's weird. Maybe he wants to talk to you again?"

I sighed. "I don't know. I really don't get him anymore."

"Well-" She cut off just as another message from Colton appeared on my screen.

I don't even know if you're getting these or not. I just need to confess something to you. Can we please talk? If you don't answer, I'll totally leave you alone from now on.

"What?" I muttered, really confused. "What is he talking about?" What more could he have to confess and did I really want to know what else he did?

Emily looked up at me, her blue eyes shinning something I couldn't recognize. "Well, Elliot," she said. "Do you want to talk to him or do you want to finally get over him and move on?"

Truthfully, I would love to answer his text and have it lead to us getting back together, but that wasn't going to happen. This was probably all one big joke to him or something. I don't know why he would do this to me, though. Can't he just leave me alone? We haven't been together in months.

"You're right," I told her, tucking my phone into my pocket. "I don't need him."

She smiled and hooked her arm around mine. "Great. Now let's get out of here, huh?"

I returned her smile easily. "Yeah, definitely."

We found ourselves at a little in cafe that had opened in town a few weeks ago. Neither of us had been here yet, but it seemed like the perfect place to hang out after school when neither of us were working, like today.

Unfortunately, it also seemed like a really good date spot, which made me think of Colton again.

"What if I do text him back?" I asked Emily.

I'm pretty sure she might have been in the middle of saying something when I spoke, but she answered me instead of continuing her own sentence. "Why? Elliot, he broke your heart. He cheated on you. You can do so much better than him."

I sighed, playing with the mug filled with my hot chocolate. "I'm still in love with him though."

"Then do whatever you think is right," she said with her own sigh. "I can only tell you that I think you should try to move on, El. It's for the best."

Colton

I didn't expect him to answer me. I wouldn't blame him if he decided blocking my number was the best way to go months ago. Why did I even try texting him? It was pointless. I never should have listened to Aleena.

I don't even really know why she was helping me all of a sudden. Yeah, I guess she felt bad or something, but still. It confused me. Girls confused me. Maybe that's why it was so much easier being with Elliot.

I guess I should stick with guys from now on, whether or not Elliot answers my text. They were easier to deal with and, without Aleena interfering, I'd still be with Elliot.

By the end of the day, I still hadn't heard back from him. It was settled then. He didn't want me anymore. I screwed things up between us and there was no going back. I just had to move on.

But then, just as I was crawling into bed for the night, I got a text. My heart was beating wildly as I saw his name appear on my screen with a simple ok. I wasn't sure what that meant, only that he hadn't blocked my number and maybe, just maybe, this plan could work.

I answered back immediately: I know I let you assume I've been dating this girl for months, but the truth is, I barely even talked to her since me and you broke up. I haven't been with anyone.

I needed to get that off my chest. I hated that he thought I meant it, even if he told me he was also dating someone. I think that's the only reason I didn't correct him. But I couldn't let it go on any longer. It doesn't matter if nothing comes of it, I wanted him to know the truth.

It took a few minutes to get a reply, so long that I thought he might not answer again. Finally, it came through, though. I haven't been dating anyone either.

I let out a sigh of relief. He wasn't dating either. That meant there might be a chance to get him back. I didn't know how that was going to happen, though. I destroyed his trust. I couldn't expect him to still love me.

But he did answer my text. That's got to mean something, right?

How was I supposed to respond to that, though? Do I say 'great! let's go out again. I'll be home in two weeks?' or just send back an 'okay' and let things happen as they will? He probably doesn't even want me anymore, so asking will just backfire on me.

I ended up typing response after response, but deleting them almost as soon as the words appeared on my screen. Nothing sounded right.

Finally, I settled on: can we try to be friends again? I miss talking to you.

I had a feeling I was going to regret sending that later, but right now, it was almost one in the morning and I was exhausted.

Putting my phone down next to my pillow, I crawled under my covers and fell asleep.