Moving Too Fast

Chapter 1: Goodbye

Shae's POV

I've fallen out of love recently. Christopher is a good guy, a great first love. The kind of boy you would take home to mom and dad. The ideal boyfriend, good looks, intelligence, kindness. It's all so incredibly boring. Nothing ever happens.

We always do the same thing every time we see each other. Movie, kissing, touching, movie, kissing, touching, movie, kissing, touching and eventually me stopping him. It wasn't like I didn't want it, I did, it just always felt like too much at once.

We never told anyone about our... "relationship". I mean it's not like we kept it secret, we just never openly told anyone except for the friends we would gush to.

I'm tired of our routine. There's no romance in our relationship, but there's no sex either. Chris is irritated by that. After 3 years of no progression, I think I'm ready to let go of him. We both know that it's was time, I think. The stagnation of everything leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. When I got my acceptance to Royal Holloway in London, I knew it was my perfect opportunity.

I wake up as usual except now I'm waking up to an empty room. None of the band or movie posters I have collected over the years were hung up. My prize skateboard deck is the only thing left hanging. I had been too tired to take it down last night.

I get dressed in the only outfit I hadn't packed, a black tank top with a pair of high waisted skinny jeans, holes worn into the knees from crashes off my boards.

The first time I had met Chris I had crashed into him on a downhill sidewalk and busted my nose on his back. He still apologizes for it.

I add a blue flannel and my black beanie with 3 rip dip badge buttons to the look. I put on mascara and finish packing. I drag my large suitcase to my truck and hop in. I pull my phone out of my backpack and text Chris that I'll be stopping by. I know I'm a shitty person for dropping this on him now, but my procrastination prevented me from bringing it up sooner.

Chris: Ok... i'll be in the basement

My heart pangs when I see his response. It's where we usually make out and my heart starts sinking knowing that I'll have to turn him down if he tries. I reply and start the truck. My Mom runs out gives me a hug and I pull out of the driveway. Leaving forever.

I get out of the truck and knock on the door. Chris' Mom smiles at me, a rarity for her.

"Afternoon Shaela!" I wince at my full name. I quickly replace the wince with a smile.

"Good Afternoon Mrs.Hayes!"

She tells me that Chris is in the basement and I start making my way to the stairs. I turn back to see Mrs. Hayes' smile darkly at me.

I slowly walk down the stairs, about halfway down the stairs my presence is announced by a loud creak.

"Shae? That you?" he says loudly. His tenor voice echoing in my head.

"Yeah," I reply plainly.

I open the basement door only to get it slammed behind me. Chris' hands pin me against the door. His tall skinny frame trapping me. He wasn't weak or frail by any means, but you wouldn't know that by looking at him.

He takes a step closer, looking down at me. Our bodies aren't even an inch away and my heart starts beating. My heart, body, and brain start fighting.

"w-what'r doing?" I manage to push out.

He lifts his right hand to my chin and pulls my head up to face him. I finally face his eyes only to see a cold hard stare, anger clearly present.

"Waiting for you to tell me why you're here" His voice just as cold as his stare. I take a deep gulp, preparing myself for his reaction.

"To say goodbye. I got accepted to RHU."

He turns around and walks away from me in frustration. He turns back around furiously and stomps back over to me. Grabbing my thighs tightly, he lifts me up so that I'm face to face with him. I hate my legs for the reaction to wrap around him.

He grits his teeth and whispers close to my lips. My heart races faster and I bite the inside of my lip in frustration.

"When are you leaving?" His cold whisper sends shivers through me. I can't tell if they're good or bad, probably both.

"5:30" I say and he grits his teeth.

He drops me and I fall on my ass. I look up to see him running his hand through his hair.

"Shae that's in four hours. Why did you wait until now to tell me?" His anger is replaced with sadness.

"I was scared that... I was scared that you would try to convince me not to." I look away from him ashamed at my lie.

"I learned you were leaving from my mom Shae, I've known for 3 weeks." My eyes grow wide realizing that the last few times I was here, he knew. I look back at him seeing only sincerity. I redden and gulp at my own stupidity.

"I-I'm sorry" is the only thing I can force out.

"It's okay Shae" he kneels down and lifts my face to meet him again.

"We can make this work, long distance isn't as hard as it seems." I look up to him in shock.

"Chris I-I can't."

"Shae come on, my parents have done it for 13 years, I'm sure we can do it until you finish college."

"But what if I don't want to come back?"

"Than I'll move to London. Shae I'm not giving up on us. We've been together for 3 years, why give up now?"

"yeah you're right" I sigh at his persistence. I thought this was going to be easy.

He puts his hand out to help me up. I take his hand and stand up. He leans into me and kisses the top of my head.

"We can make this work" he breaths

"Yeah." I sigh. He hugs me tightly and looks down at me flashing an innocent smile.

We watch a movie as always, a defeated feeling washing over me. I check my phone and see that it's 4:25. I stand up and stretch. I look at Chris feeling bad for letting him think I want this.

"Hey, I've got to go." I sigh. I start walking to the door.

"Goodbye, Chris." I give one sad last smile. I'm stopped at the door being trapped by a hand at the knob. Chris twists it and grabs the keys out of my backpack.

"I'll take you."