Until We Meet Again

27

Austin's POV

I didn't know this boy yet here I was fighting off the feeling to go to sleep just so I could be awake when he woke up. I look down at my lap, noticing how his arm was wrapped around my waist and his head on my lap. I couldn't help but notice how peaceful he looked asleep, I have no idea what happened with his ex but apparently it was enough to traumatize him.

He makes a little grunting noise, jerking me back to the present. I watch as his head starts to move to the side and his grip around me loosens. I stroke his cheek, something that I used to do to Jeramy before things got so complicated.

"Did you have a good nap?" I whisper to him.

He grunts and I take that as a yes. Before too long he's snoring softly again and I sigh, laying my head back onto the wall. How the heck did I get here?

I don't know when I fell asleep but when I open my eyes, Alex is sitting up wide awake and staring off into the distance. I scoot myself into a more comfortable sitting position.

"Did you sleep good?" I was kind of surprised to hear how sad his voice sounded, almost like seeing his ex had drained him of all his energy.

"Um yeah," I say as I look at him.

He just nods his head, never looking at me once. I wanted to ask if he was okay but I couldn't make myself do that. If he wanted to tell me he will. I just sit there, staring into the distance with him and giving him the comfort of my company.

"He cheated on me," Alex speaks up after several minutes.

I look over at him, completely shocked. "I'm sorry," is all I can offer him.

He nods, "It's fine. I thought I was over it but apparently I'm not." He looks at me and my heart breaks at the sight of how broken he looks.

"Sadly, it's something you never get over, you just learn to live with it," I give him a smile.

He gives me one back and I take his hand without thinking, interlacing our fingers. I couldn't tell if he minded or not, but I suspect not as he leans over and rests his head on my shoulder.

"Thank you." I hear him mumble and I watch as his eyes close again.

"You're welcome," I whisper back to him even though he's out.

Ethan's POV

So that just happened. I sit in my car, absolutely shaken after what just happened. Alex looked so different, he looked happy and something inside me wanted to kiss him but I couldn't do that to him. Then he showed up, right beside of us, with his concerned look and curious stares.

I have no clue who he was but I could tell that Alex knew him on some kind of level. I don't know what level that was but whatever it was I could feel some jealousy in me.

The sound of my phone ringing jerks me out of my thoughts and back to the present. I dig around my coat jacket, pulling out my phone and looking down at the caller id. Jake's name glows up at me and I roll my eyes.

"Hello," I say into the phone as I raise it to my ear.

"When are you coming back?" His voice sounds like he's been crying, but I couldn't care about that right now.

"I don't know, when I feel like it," I didn't mean for the words to come out as harsh sounding as they did.

He goes silent on the other end and I can tell he's trying not to cry.

"Look, you said we should break up so let's just do that," I tell him.

He's silent for awhile and when he speaks again, his voice sounds tired. "Okay."

Okay? Really that's all I'm going to get.

"Okay," I say.

It's silent on both ends as I wait for him to say something back. He surprises me when I hear the phone click then dead air. Okay, well I guess that means he's done.

I slam my head against the head of the seat, rubbing my fingers through my hair. When did everything in my life go downhill? It's silent for several minutes as I regain myself. My heart is numb as I pull out of the parking spot and head to go get my stuff, he would be at lunch with his family when I get there.

I don't know where I'll go after that, I guess move back in with my parents or get a dorm room. I still have two years left until I graduate. The thought of being on the same campus as Alex sparks something inside me but then goes out as I realize he probably would never think of giving me a second chance.