Bad Memories // a.u.

chapter 33: escape

*one month later*

jake's pov

Life has gone back to normal since I got back from California, what a mess that ended up being. I liked the peacefulness of my small town a whole lot better, but what I hadn't expected was to see Noelle's aunt's black SUV rolling down the street with her hanging out the window. She looked sad in a way, but there was also a calmness radiating from her. I wanted badly to go to her house and see why she was back and more importantly to me, why Skylar wasn't with her. I waited and waited, day after day for Skylar to come. I had this hope that she was going to show up at my door step and tell me it was all a mistake and that she really had meant that she loved me. I knew it was foolish because in my heart I knew she didn't love me and I didn't love her. We had just been stupid kids. 

Today, I walked down the cracked sidewalk to the local grocery store to get some things for my mom. She was always making me run errands for her. As I went down the aisle with the milk and eggs, I noticed Noelle inspecting the various coffee creamers. I hadn't talked to her since she'd gotten back and I wasn't sure what to say now, but I knew I wanted to say something. 

"Taking up coffee?" I asked, pulling open the door with the milk. I pulled out a carton of 2% and placed it in my cart. 

Noelle seemed startled that someone was talking to her and she almost dropped the creamer she was holding. "Uh, yeah," she mumbled, glancing at me and then back at the creamer. 

"That one's good," I said pointing to one on the shelf. 

"Oh. Thanks." 

I nodded and there was a silence between us. I wanted to ask her how she was doing or why she came back. She seemed to be back to the fragile Noelle that only talked to Skylar and hid out in bedroom, except Skylar wasn't here. I reached out, putting my hand on her arm and I was sure she was going to flinch away. She didn't though and I just said, "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, Jake. I don't blame you for any of it." Her voice was tinged with sadness and pain, like she didn't want to remember what had happened. I didn't blame her, it was horrible. 

"Thanks. That means a lot, but I truly am sorry for anything I've done."

She nodded and placed the creamer she had back on the shelf, replacing it with the one I had recommended. "See ya around," she said before leaving me staring at the cartons of milk and eggs. 

noelle's pov

I purchased my creamer and walked the short distance from the grocery store back to my aunt's house. I wanted to start drinking coffee not because I thought I was going to like the taste of it, but because I felt tired all of the time even when I got the most sleep and maybe it would help. I pulled out my aunt's ancient coffee maker and made a pot, pouring the hot liquid into a cup. The creamer turned the black into a tannish creamy color and I took a sip. It was ridiculously hot and I burned my tongue, but I kept drinking because I liked the hotness. 

Jake talking to me confused me. I had been back for about a month and he'd seen me around town multiple times, yet he hadn't spoken to me now. Maybe he was trying to find the courage to apologize. I was sure he was going to ask about Skylar, in which case I would have to have told him that I hadn't heard from her. 

School had started the other week. Your senior year is supposed to be something you're excited for and you can make tons of memories. I wasn't looking forward to any of it though. I walked through the halls aimlessly as the students talked about me behind my back as the girl who's parents were murdered and the girl who got kidnapped. It was worse than before because now I was alone. Skylar had been my only friend, but now I was friendless.