At a Price

• Prologue •

A cool breeze flew through the air, blowing a few red leaves across the forest. They landed right in front of a boy who sat slumped on the ground, defeated. His hair was all over the place, but that was the last thing on his mind.

Why? Why did I have to fall in love with her? It was too good to be true. She never loved me. Why else would she say it?

It had started off as a small argument, nothing too out of the ordinary. She didn't like how much time he spent with his friends, he didn't like her being so "clingy." Then, for some reason, she just snapped.

"You know what, Nate, I'm just so done," raged Rylee. He wasted no time to respond.

"With what, Ry? What are you so done with," he spat at her.

"I feel like I'm always competing with you for your 'precious' time. You never want to spend time with me and I'm sick of it. I thought I loved you but maybe I don't," she continued.

"Rylee-" Nathan tried to intervene, but she wasn't done yet.

"Maybe this was all a mistake. You know what, it was. I hate you so much Nathan Richardson. I hate you!" Rylee immediately regretted it when she saw Nathan walking to the door with hurt all over his face. "Wait! I'm sorry." she apologized quickly stepping towards him. He flinched away before she could reach him.

"Ry, you said what you were thinking. Don't apologize for that."

"No, Nate I-I didn't mean-" Rylee started, in vain. Nathan ran before she could finish. "-it," Rylee finished, peering out the door, longing to go after him.

Now, as he sat in the woods recalling the day, he couldn't help but notice how many people he had let down. He let down his mom the second he got to school and lit the cigarette Shane offered him. He let down his dad when he failed his calculus test. He let his friends down missing practice. He let down his teachers by not trying in class when he knew he could, and get good grades. He let himself down by not telling Rylee he loved her. Worst of all, he let Rylee down.

How could he let Rylee down? The one good thing in his life, the one thing that truly made him happy. Nothing made Nathan feel the same way, nothing. Not winning a lacrosse game, not the popularity he gained from being on the team, not the thrill of parties he went to, or the alcohol he would have at the parties. Rylee was.. different. Rylee was... good, pure.

I thought we were forever. I mean, why did I even get my hopes up? Everything good in my life gets taken away from me. Or runs away.

Nathan missed her already. He missed her smile, her laugh, her corny jokes. Nathan missed her warm hugs that made everything better, and her adorable hazel eyes that lit up when she would talk about things she loved. He missed talking to her on the phone when they were supposed to be asleep. More than that, he missed how she wasn't afraid of him. She always cared for him through whatever. Sighing, Nathan propped his chin up on his hand, the same way he did in class.

A squirrel ran by Nathan, then proceeded up a large tree. His cheeks were chubby. It was easy to tell he had just been gathering acorns for dinner. Nathan watched as the squirrel sat there, enjoying his acorns, seemingly oblivious to Nathan sitting there, observing. That was, until the squirrel looked down at him.

"Hey there. I hope you're having a better day than I am." Nathan said to the squirrel.

Talking to a squirrel. That's a new low, even for me.

The squirrel's eyes widened as it nimbly stuffed its mouth with the acorns before scurrying down the tree and away from Nathan. It was amazing that such a plump animal could move so quickly.

Wow, even the squirrel ran away. See? I'm always going to be alone. I deserve it. I'm such a disappointment.

"I don't know if anyone can hear me, but I'm sorry. I'm sorry for letting everybody down. I'm sorry for being a jerk. I'm just so, so sorry," Nathan said aloud to no one in particular. He couldn't hold it in anymore. Nathan put his head in his hands, and started to cry. One tear fell, then another, and another. Soon his body shook with gut wrenching sobs. Nathan tried to stop and pull himself together, but the tears would not stop raining down.

Who am I kidding? Nobody can hear me? Even if they could, nobody cares. Nobody ever has. Except Rylee...

Even her name was enough to send Nathan into another round of hysteria. He was sure it had to be the ugliest thing ever, especially in his small town. Nathan always hated his small town. He wanted to get out, to actually do something with his life. Now, more than ever, he knew that he would.

You know what? I don't care if anybody hears me. I don't care if anybody sees me. I don't need anyone. I have always been fine on my own, I'll be okay now.

He knew that was a lie, but he didn't want to admit it. Nathan was a wreck, even with Rylee. What was he going to do without her. Suddenly it became clear to Nathan that his heart was breaking, and gosh, was it awful. It hurt more than the time that he fell from a tree and broke his arm. It hurt more than the time that he fell off his bike and had to get stitches. It just hurt, and Nathan didn't ever want to feel it again.

Little did he know, someone had heard him. Someone, or something knew everything, from the fight, the squirrel running away, and his realisation of heartbreak. In fact, it knew more than Nathan did.. For across the world in the town of Amiens, France, which isn't so different from his, two trees fell, cracking the leaf covered ground in two different spots. One for Nathan's broken heart, and one for Rylee's broken heart.

"I will never fall in love again. Never," Nathan whispered his new promise to himself. His cries fell silent, and he didn't bother walking home before sleep consumed him.