“How long will you be gone?” Zoe pouted as I grabbed my suitcase, with Jase by my side since we would be on the same plane. It was finally time for me to go back home for the first time since I left for college, and I was extremely nervous yet excited. Nervous to see Chase, but excited to see Ashley and my family again. “I’m going to miss you!”
“Get your hands off my girlfriend, Zo.” Daniel smirked as he wrapped his arms around my waist, I smiled as I slightly turned my head to face him and pecked his cheek softly “And I’ll miss you more.” he whispered into my ear and I blushed as I ducked my head
“I’ll be gone one week, tops, Zo.” I reassured her as I grabbed her arms and pulled her into a hug “It’s only Thanksgiving weekend and you’ll have me back until Christmas.” I grinned as she pouted even more once we pulled away from our hug
“We have to go Ava, or we’ll miss our flight.” Jase said as he offered to carry my bag, which I denied but he grabbed it from me anyway
“I have to go.” I said as I tried to pry myself from Daniel’s grip but he resisted “Danny, let go.” I giggled “I’ll miss my flight.”
“That’s my plan.” he answered and I rolled my eyes playfully
“It’s just one week, you can survive without me.” I winked as I kissed his lips one last time “I’ll miss you.” I whispered in his ear before grinning and walking over to Jase
“I’ll miss you more.”
“Barf.” Zoe chuckled as she crossed her arms over her chest “Just go before I ruin this perfectly nice airport floor.”
*****
“Ava.” I heard someone whisper beside me “Ava.” I heard again, but I swatted away the hand that was poking me “Ava, wake up.”
“Go away.” I groaned “I need sleep.” I muttered with a sigh
“We’re here.” he whispered again “We’re home.” he added, I fluttered my eyes open and squinted due to the sunlight streaming into my eyes and looked out the window and saw that I was definitely home. I was finally back home.
“Come on, let’s go!” I said excitedly as I grabbed his arm and tugged him towards the entrance of the plane with him chuckling behind me, we grabbed our bags and hailed a cab to make our way over to my house, Ashley had told me that all the parent had organised a party so we could all celebrate together, and they chose my house.
“Excited?” Jase chuckled as he glanced at my fidgeting hands “Or do you really need to pee?” he added and I laughed
“Nope, just excited!” I grinned and then we pulled up at the corner of my neighbourhood and I nearly squealed as I gripped onto Jase’s arm, he winced and swatted my hand away
“Easy there, grabby!” he chuckled “You nearly ripped my arm off.” he added and I rolled my eyes playfully
“Stop being such a baby, Jase.” I scoffed and he shrugged as we pulled up to my house, I opened the door and ran towards it, not waiting for Jase or the tax driver to take our stuff out. I knocked frantically on the door since I didn't have my key, my parents offered to give me one but I refused since I felt I really didn’t need it because I would only come when I had breaks. I heard someone open the door and I was tackled into a bone crushing hug followed by an ear-piercing scream which I identified quickly as Ashley’s.
“Oh My God! You’re here!” she screamed as she jumped while hugging me, we nearly fell off the steps of my porch, but I gripped onto the railing with a laugh
“I want to get to my house in one piece, Ash.” I chuckled, she pulled away and grinned at me widely
“I know, I’m sorry!” she exclaimed “I’m just so excited to see you!” she said as she pulled me into a hug again “I missed you so much!”
“I missed you too.” I said softly as I hugged her even tighter
“What? No one missed me?” I heard a voice behind us, I turned around and laughed at Jase’s expression. Ashleyy laughed loudly as she ran over to him and hugged him tightly also, I heard him laugh at something she had said, so I just shook my head lightly as I made my way towards my front door, I opened it and glanced around seeing that the living room was empty, but I heard voices in the kitchen.
“Mom?” I said “Dad?” The voices stopped and I saw my parents poke their heads out from the kitchen door, they gasped as they ran over towards me and hugged me tightly also
“I’m really starting to reconsider this whole college thing.” my dad said once we had pulled away, I chuckled
“Dad!” I whined and he chuckled as he hugged me again
“You both must be starving!” my mom exclaimed once Jase and Ashley had made their way inside “Dinner is almost ready, and you can all tell us how it’s going in college!” she added as the five of us made out way towards the kitchen, I froze when I saw Chase’s parents. This was so awkward. I greeted Ashley and Jase’s parents first and then I made my way towards them, they greeted me with warm smiles and his mom hugged me, I was shocked, but I returned the hug. Once we pulled away, I glanced at Ashley who just shrugged as I made my way towards him
“His flight is delayed.” she told me “He’ll be here soon.”
*****
“Dinner’s ready!” My mom exclaimed from the kitchen, I was about to go help them bring the stuff over, but the doorbell rang “Ava, honey? Can you get the door?!”
“Yeah!” I said as I made my way towards it, I grabbed the handle and opened it, I nearly stumbled backwards at the sight of the person in front of me. There he was, the guy who’s heart I broke 4 months ago. The guy who gave me my first kiss, took me on my first date. The first guy I’d ever fallen in love with. “C-Chase!” I breathed, his expression was unreadable. His gaze was flooded with emotions I couldn’t decipher.
“Hi.” he whispered, barely audible “H-How’ve you been?” he stuttered as he scratched the back of his neck
“Great.” I chirped. Why were we so awkward?! “You?”
“Fine.” he added with a nervous chuckle “Are uh… my parents here?” he asked and I nodded as I stepped aside since he was still standing at the door, I pointed towards the kitchen
“Everyone’s in the kitchen.” I answered and he nodded as he started making his way towards the kitchen, I followed behind him and he stopped at the entrance
“After you.” he said, I nodded softly as I entered, with him trailing behind me
“Chase!” Jase exclaimed loudly as he tackled him to the ground, they both laughed loudly as they played around, the parents stared at them with amused smiles on their faces. It really was endearing. I joined Ashley’s side and sighed nervously.
“Are you okay?” she whispered as she gripped my arm “Really.” she added seriously
“I think so.” I whispered as I looked back at the boys who were now standing up, still laughing. Chase saw Ashley and immediately made his way towards her and hugged her tightly, picking her up and spinning her around. I felt like someone had punched me in the gut, I knew what they had was nowhere hear romantic. But it still stung that we probably would never be like that again.
“Well, since everyone is here, let’s eat!”
*****
“Ava, your phone’s been buzzing non-stop for the past thirty minutes!” Ashley exclaimed with a laugh, we were currently in my living room, just sitting around, catching up. The parents had decided to go out for drinks while we stayed in. “Who keeps texting you?” she said with a smirk
“My bet is on Daniel.” Jase said with a laugh, I stared at him wide-eyed and he covered his hand with his mouth, Ashley just stared at me intently. I didn’t even dare look at Chase.
“Who’s Daniel?” Dammit.
“N-nobody.” I stuttered “He’s nobody.” I added quickly, but closed my eyes tightly since he was right behind me, I could feel his eyes burning at the back of my head.
“Who is he?” he said sternly, I looked at Jase pleadingly but he just looked down, Ashley did too. “Someone answer me, dammit!” I flinched at his tone, it was harsh.
“He’s Ava’s boyfriend.” Jase muttered. Dead silence. I turned around slowly, knowing that i owed him an explanation, but before I could say anything, he was already heading towards the door to the backyard
“Chase!” I yelled as I ran after him “Chase, wait!” I said once I reached the backyard and started making my way towards him “Let me explain.”
“Go away.” he snapped “Just… leave me alone.” he added “I can’t… I can’t even look at you right now.”
“Will you give me five minutes to explain?” I pleaded “Please, I don’t want things to be like this.” he stiffened, but said nothing. He still had his back to me “It just… it just happened, okay?” I whispered and he scoffed, now turning fully towards me
“And I’m supposed to believe that?” he said incredulously “What kind of idiot do you take me for? Do you not know me at all?!”
“What do you want me to say?” I said meekly “It’s the truth!”
“Bullshit.” he snapped “And you know it!”
“Don’t talk to me like that.” I said as I pointed my finger to him “I’m telling you the truth, wether you believe it or not.”
“Please, even you don’t believe yourself.” he scoffed
“You know what? I don’t even know why I’m having this conversation with you, I don’t have to explain myself to you!” I said as I started to make my way back to the house, but I felt him grab my wrist, causing tingles to go up and down my arm, I turned around and slightly glared at him
“You said you loved me.” he whispered, his eyes vulnerable “And now you’re dating some other guy… that kind of stuff doesn’t “just happen”, Ava.” I scoffed
“And what about you?” he frowned
“What about me?” I scoffed loudly
“All your little dates, with those girls from college.” I answered and he rubbed his jaw “What do you have to say about that?”
“That’s a different story.” he said “Those were just dates, I didn’t go as far as calling them my girlfriend.”
“But you did it, and that’s what matters!” I yelled and he chuckled humourlessly
“So what? I can’t date now?” he said with a scoff “You want to know why I went on those dates?” he said as he crossed his arms over his chest “To get over you.” I stiffened “That’s the truth.”
“And?” I asked
“What?”
“Did you?” I said “Get over me.” I added, he sighed deeply as he ran his hands through his hair
“We wouldn’t be having this conversation if I did.” he stated “Do you even love him?”
“What kind of question is that?” I said
“One I need the answer to.” he said obviously, I stared at the ground as I fiddled with my fingers “Does he… make you feel like I used to?” he said as he came closer “Kiss you? Love you like I do?” I blinked rapidly as I sniffled slightly, I couldn’t cry. I just couldn’t. “Please, tell me.” he pleaded softly as he touched my in with his finger and made me meed his gaze. It was pained, and sad.
“No.” I breathed “I could never love someone like I loved you.” I whispered, and a stray tear fell from my eyes, he wiped it with his thumb as he licked his lips and looked at me with soft eyes, he came closer and his lips were mere inches from mine, when I looked down and broke our gaze “Stop.” I whispered “This is wrong.”
“You know you don’t love him.” he said “So why are you with him?” he said, with a broken voice, almost like he was pleading “I can’t… I can’t stand the idea of you being with someone else.” he whispered “And I know you can’t either.” I looked down and sniffled, wiping my tears with the back of my hand
“He’s a great guy, Chase.” I said and he chuckled slightly
“I have no doubt in that, but I really can’t stand the thought of him.” I nodded softly
“I know.” I answered “But he makes me happy, Chase.” I whispered “He really does.”
“But is that enough?” he challenged and I looked down again “Does he make you happy enough to stay with him when you know you don’t love him?” he said “You’re only lying to yourself, and him.”
“Chase, please stop.” I pleaded as I wiped more of my tears “You can’t do this, you…”
“What, Ava?” he said as he ran his hands though his hair “I’m sorry, but I’m just trying to understand why the hell you’re doing this!” he yelled, clearly frustrated
“I don’t expect you to understand.” I said softly “But I need you to trust me.”
“I can’t, because I know you’re hurting.” he said softly “I miss you, Ava.” he said “God, I miss you.” he breathed “I love you too much to see you do this to yourself, and someone else.” I sobbed as I wiped more of my tears with the back of my hand
“Please don't do this.” I pleaded “I can’t…”
“Then stop this, before he’s in too deep.”