Chapter 3 • "I've Moved On. Have You Moved On?"

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"Maybe this will help you to finally get your closure. Suck it up." - Harrison, 2019
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Tom's POV

I kept telling myself this is all a dream but after a couple of pinches, I just earned bruises and not the reversal of what's happening.

For three years, I tried so hard to forget about her and when I thought I've finally gotten rid of her in my mind, she shows up.

Not only that, but when I saw her phone earlier, the wallpaper was of a photo of her and Tessa. Tessa, my dog, Tessa! MY DOG!

It's a really different feeling seeing her again, though, I feel mad but not at the same time, you get what I mean? It's kinda frustrating.

Walking briskly to the exit, I didn't want to stay in the same room as Haley anymore.

When I got out, I immediately saw Harrison with presumably is Jenna beside him. I haven't met her but I've talked to her a couple of times.

Harrison grinned at me as I walk over to them, "What took you two so long? Don't tell me you did something." He teased, wiggling his eyebrows, and I glared at him. Does he even know about Haley? Because if he does, I'll definitely kill him.

I saw Jenna run to Haley behind me before I could even say hello to her.

"Shut up, mate! I'm this close to killing you."

"What did I do-" Before he could even finish the sentence, his eyes landed on the root of it all. He was surprised to say the least. So he really didn't know, huh.

I whispered to Harrison, "Twenty six fucking hours, Haz. I will kill you."

Harrison finally spoke after staring at Haley for too long, "Tom, I swear I didn't know. If I did-"

"If you did, what will you do? She's your fiancée's maid of honor, you can't do anything about it, anyway." I sighed, defeated. I walked past him and towards the exit. I feel bad for Harrison, too. I didn't even ask him what he's feeling seeing her best friend after three years.

This is only going to be for two weeks. Just two weeks, after that, it's only going to be the wedding and I won't see her again. I just have to ignore her or be civil with her. That's right, Tom, great plan.

Oh for fuck's sake, who am I kidding? I'm going to die within the next two weeks.

"What do you mean, we're in one room?! Harrison, I can't sleep in the same room as her! I can't even be in any other room with her!" I whispered at Harrison, as low as I could. I don't really care if Haley hears, but I don't know.

"If I knew it'd be Haley, I wouldn't do this!" He defended and I raised my eyebrow at him. Is he serious? He'll put me in the same room with a stranger?

"Why did you even do this in the first place? Even with a random person?!"

"I wanted to set you up with a nice girl and Jenna's been telling me how nice her best friend is! I didn't know it was Haley! It's been three years, Tom. You have to move on." I rolled my eyes at my best friend, crossing my arms.

I know he means well, but I don't really have the time to date. I have work and I'm practically a nomad! I'm sure as hell, a relationship right now wouldn't work for me.

"I've moved on. Have you moved on?" Harrison doesn't say it, but I know how betrayed he was when Haley left. They were like siblings, they were inseparable, and I feel really bad for not being there for him, because he's hurt just as much as I was.

Harrison crossed his arms as well, "I didn't date her, yours is much worse." He pointed out.

Giving up, I raised my hands in defeat, "Can't we do anything about the rooming situation? Just move me to some other rooms, please?"

He sighed, "I'm sorry, mate, but the hotel's fully booked. We even had a hard time booking our rooms in the first place." He shrugged and patted my shoulders, "Maybe this will help you to finally get your closure. Suck it up."

I glared at him. It's not like I can do anything about it anymore. Maybe I will suck it up, just for Harrison. Two weeks, Tom, two fucking weeks.

I dragged my luggage to the room I was assigned in with Haley, and as much as I don't want to stay in the same room as her, I'm too tired because of the flight. I just need to sleep this off. Maybe when I wake up, this is all just a dream.

Walking inside the room, my eyes immediately landed on the girl sitting on one of the beds. She instantly looked at me and spoke, "I didn't know anything about this, I swear." Thank God, there are two beds. I'll stay on my side of the room and she has to stay on her side of the room. I'll survive.

I put my bags on the side, taking my shirt off. It was hot as hell and I need to take a nap. Haley quickly turned around the moment my body was exposed and I rolled my eyes. I scoffed, "Oh please, it's nothing you haven't seen before."

If I still know her as much as I did, she's already furiously blushing at my comment. "Jenna said to meet them at the restaurant at seven tonight." I heard movements from her side, meaning she's already unpacking her bags.

"Sure, whatever." I plopped down on the bed, my eyes glued to my phone. Not really doing anything, just trying to get rid of the awkward atmosphere, and trying to avoid having to talk to Haley. I could feel her eyes on me, so yeah, that's why.

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Flashback

"Haley, baby, please open the door and let's talk. I'm not mad, I promise, so please come out and talk to me." The day after it happened, Tom came to Haley's apartment, literally begging you to explain what happened. He wasn't mad, he wasn't upset, he was worried.

Everyone's been texting and calling Haley but she wasn't responding to anyone to the point that they thought about calling the cops.

Tom knocked on her a few more times before a middle-aged woman walked up to him, "Who are you looking for, son?"

"Haley, Haley Evans, she lives here. Is there any way I can talk to her?"

The woman gave Tom frowned and threw a sympathetic look at Tom. "Haley left last night with all of her things."

That caught Tom off guard. "W-what do you mean she left? She lives here, she can't just leave? Where did she go?"

"I'm sorry, son, but she didn't tell me. She just gave back her keys."

"N-no she couldn't have left. She can't leave, she-"

"She was in a hurry last night. I'm really sorry. It looked like she couldn't wait to leave. That's all I know."

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