Shifting Currents || E.V.

o9. goodbye

// this chapter contains smut.

Sunday.

Eddie and i were sitting across from one another in a booth at a small diner.

it was almost midnight, and he was frantically writing on a blank page of my journal.

my eyes were sleepy as i watched him.

"can i read it yet?" i asked. he shook his head.

"not until after i leave," he said quietly. he put the cap back on the marker he was using and closed the notebook.

he slid it across the table to me. i resisted the urge to open it, and i looked up to see that he was smirking at me bashfully.

"what?" i asked. he shook his head.

"i'm just really gonna miss you," he said. my heart sank.

"don't make me cry," i said, slumping back against the vinyl booth.

"i guess whenever you miss me, you can just put on our album while you're at work, huh?" he said jokingly. i laughed, but my vision was blurring as my eyes filled with tears.

"yeah, i'm sure," i said. "i'll just listen to it and sob at the cash register."

"and i'll just tell everyone i ruined a potential marriage while i was in New York," he said.

"wow," i said. "do you really want America to know what a bad guy you are?" he grinned.

"i'd like to think i'm the good guy here," he said.

i pointed at my black eye, that i hadn't covered with makeup that evening.

"hey, anyone's a good guy in my book if they're not the guy who did this shit to me," i said.

he frowned.

"Lainey, you look amazing," he muttered. "but i'm trying to ignore the bruise on your face because it pisses me off every time i think about it."

i shrugged. "it barely hurts anymore."

"i wish you would've let me hit him," Eddie said. his tone was now serious, and i reached across the table to take his hand in my own.

"i'm glad you didn't," i said. "everyone there watching you beat the crap out of Stephen wouldn't have been a very good thing."

he squeezed my hand.

"plus," i said. "watching you push him to the ground was satisfying enough."

"i wish you could just come with me," he said.

"i can't," i said. "school."

"i know," he said. "maybe you should drop out."

i laughed.

"great plan," i said sarcastically. "i'm sure that'd work out very well for me."

"i'm sure you'd figure something out," he mumbled.

i didn't know what to say, because i knew he didn't mean it seriously, but he sounded hopeful.

i yawned.

"you're tired," he said. "let me walk you home."

"i don't want you to walk me home because then i'll have to say bye," i said. "and i don't want you to leave."

"i won't leave yet," he said. "i'll wait until you're asleep."

i sighed, and we both got up.

we walked the short distance back to my building with our hands intertwined. we didn't speak more than a few words, and all i could think about was how i didn't want the night to end.