Air Catcher

Fall Away

Alyx's pov

The next day Tyler wasn't at school. I didn't expect him to be, but I hoped he would be anyway. My head was a nightmare the whole day, I went to school with a headache and a decision to make and left with a headache that was ten times worse and an unresolved problem.

When I approached the turn to either my house or Tyler's I cursed under my breath and turned right. I would hate myself, but I went home. I didn't know why I was letting her get in my head, but I couldn't get rid of Mrs. Joseph's words. I pulled into my driveway and looked up at the top of my car. I wasn't quite ready to face my family, but that thought made me angry. If I felt so bad about it then why wasn't I at Tyler's house right now? As much as I tried I couldn't make myself start the car again. I groaned in frustration and got out.

I walked inside without talking to anyone, took some benadryl, and went upstairs for a nap. I couldn't stand my own thoughts; I needed a break. I woke up feeling groggy, but a little better about the situation. Until I looked at my phone.

'Alyx what's going on? Tyler got his phone back and he seems really worried. Were you supposed to go to his house today?'

It was Josh.

I sighed and spent five minutes trying to figure out how to respond. 'Thanks for letting me know he has his phone. I'll talk to him.'

Next I texted Tyler. 'Hey, can I call?'

He saw the text three minutes before responding. 'Sure.'

It took a few rings for him to answer. "Where were you?" His voice broke.

My throat clenched. "Tyler I'm so sorry. I should have been there I don't know what I was thinking. Your mom-"

"What about her?" His voice stayed small.

"She knows I've been sneaking in. She... she blames me for the migraines and told me-"

"When did she talk to you?"

"Yesterday when I was leaving."

He sighed. "You know I don't care what she thinks, right?" He sounded especially vulnerable.

"I know, Tyler. But she got to me. I don't want to care, but this time... I couldn't help but wonder if she's right."

"She's not."

"How are you?"

He didn't answer.

"Tyler, please. How bad was it? Is it?"

He stayed quiet for a minute. "Horrible." He whispered. "Worse than ever."

"Would it have been better if I was there?" I asked. My eyes stung.

"I... I don't know."

A heavy silence settled over the two of us. My head dropped to my chest as my heart fell to my feet. There wasn't anything to say.

"Alyx... please... we can't let her win." He begged.

"She gave you your phone back, didn't she?" I asked.

"What are you saying?" He asked.

"She already has."

___________________

I broke up with Tyler the next day at school. I almost didn't, and he almost convinced me to stay, but ultimately the voice in the back of my head won out. I had been right all those months ago. This would never work out. Besides, in two short months he'd be leaving and I might never see him again.

I just hoped he wasn't as hurt as I was.

Tyler's pov

I didn't really know how to describe the black mess in my head. I think it was shock more than anything else. I couldn't make myself listen to a word any of my teachers said that day.

I didn't say anything when I walked into my house. I walked silently to my room and sat on my bed to sort out my thoughts. I was hurt; I knew that much. But not end-of-the-world hurt. I was confused, saddened, hurt, and just a little bit... angry.

"Hey," I looked up to see my mom standing in the doorway. "I heard you come in."

I didn't say anything. Suddenly I was numb.

"Tyler?" She took a step forward. "Are you alright?"

I kept my mouth shut.

"Tyler?" she asked again.

"You won." I said quietly.

"What?"

"Alyx is gone." I said.

"Oh, honey. I'm so sorry." She crossed the room and put her arm around me. "I tried to warn you she would hurt you."

I shrugged her arm off of me. "She didn't. You did."

My mom opened up her mouth but I didn't give her a chance to speak.

"I get that you didn't like her. But I did. I understand you thought she was bad for me. But she isn't. She helped me through so many bad days you didn't even know I had! Even when you tried to stop her she still came because she knew I needed her. And blaming her for the migraines was horrible of you! I wouldn't be here at all right now if it wasn't for her, but you couldn't see that! And now, thanks to you taking advantage of a high school girl's emotions, she's gone."

My mom was stunned. I didn't have outbursts like that often. Ever, really. She opened her mouth and then closed it. I turned away from her and listened as she walked out.