Nineteen

Chapter Fifty-One

At this point I'm done trying to be his friend or whatever I'm trying to be. It's obviously pointless and not worth it.

As soon as I see Link pull in the driveway, my feet can't move any faster to get out of this place.

He's in my car, but I really don't care, as long as I can leave.

"Are you okay? What are you wearing?" he asks when I sit down in the seat beside of him.

I forgot that I'm still in Collin's clothes and I honestly don't know where I dropped mine at.

"Nothing important. Can you take me to Clark's?"

"He's out with some of the guys he plays football with, and I'm sure you don't want to be there with his room mate."

He's right. I really don't want to explain to Bailey my recent events of tonight, even after we agreed to be friends.

"You can just take me home," I say.

He is silent for a few moments and I can tell he wants to say something.

"I know about what happened to you and I know you don't want to stay alone for a while. That's why you we're at that frat house."

I feel so small right at this very moment. I feel embarrassed. My eyes start to swell with tears, and he can notice.

"It's okay, I understand. You act like we weren't best friends at one point." He gives me a smile and I can't help but smile back. His grin is infectious and it always has been.

"You're a great friend, even after ignoring me for years," I say as I nudge his arm beside me.

"Well now we have all the time in the world," he waves his hand in front of us.

Even if his words are innocent, they still spark a light in me.

"I understand if you don't want me to, but I can stay with you tonight so you're not alone. I can sleep in the floor," he says to me as we get out of my car and start to walk to the building.

I don't want to be alone but I also don't want t rely on everyone else to keep me company.

"You don't have to, I'm a big girl," I grin at him.

"I'd feel better if you let me. Just for one night." He smiles at me and gives me a begging lip.

I can't help but notice his eyes shining in the street lights above us as we walk. 

"Okay, okay. You talked me into it. Just one night."

I feel better with Link. He makes me comfortable and doesn't make me feel like I'm running from something at all times.

When we open my door, I'm not surprised to see that Jade's bed is still untouched. I have no idea where she stays, but she has never been here. Link doesn't seem to notice as he walks across the room to sit down.

"When do you get the cast off of your arm?"

"In about six weeks," I say.

"Do you have any plans on going home soon?"

Honestly, I haven't thought about it. I've been so caught up in the last few weeks I have almost forgotten about having another home. It's kind of relieving. 

"Maybe for Thanksgiving, I could catch a plane and spend a week with my family."

"Yeah, I was thinking of going back then too," he says.

"It's crazy that we both ended up here," I say as I lay down on my bed.

He lays down on the other bed. "Crazy, or meant to be?"

What?

He laughs and raises back up. "We can't run from each other, you know that by now."

"Yeah. I've missed you." 

I really have. He was a big part of my life, I even consider him to be my first love in a way.

"I missed you too. I was an idiot back then." 

I'm too tired to have this conversation. I longed to hear these words for many years before this, so it can wait a little longer.

"Let's save the small talk for another day," I say and I pull my blankets over my body.