▄▄▄▄▄▄ ‧₊ ✰ ₊‧ ▄▄▄▄▄▄
𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦
━━ ⌠ 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒓 ⌡
CHAPTER THREE ₊˚.༄⋆❀⋆
⟡₊˚ ───（ 𝟬𝟬𝟯. 𝚃𝙷𝙰𝙽𝙺𝚂𝙶𝙸𝚅𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙳𝙸𝙽𝙽𝙴𝚁 ）
╭ ·₊˚ ⛰️🍂🐎
╰ ✦ 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦╭ 🂱 ✦
▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄
❛ 𝘪 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦. ❜
▎ 𝙰𝚂 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝙴𝙲𝙾𝙽𝙳𝚂 𝚃𝙸𝙲𝙺𝙴𝙳 𝙰𝚆𝙰𝚈, cole walter's
disinterest in the extra credit assignment was
palpable. school held little appeal for him, especially
without the prospect of football— a passion he
believed defined his future.
glancing at adalie sitting in front of him, he observed her body language. tension radiated from her, and cole, ever attuned to her moods, couldn't help but wonder what occupied her thoughts.
with a nonchalant demeanor, cole, done with the academic charade, focused on counting down the minutes until the bell would release him from the confines of the classroom. however, there was one tradition he couldn't resist: messing with his favorite girl during 7th period.
leaning forward with a sly grin, he poked her sides, catching her completely off guard. adalie, lost in thoughts, let out an unexpected yelp that echoed through the classroom. a few curious glances from classmates prompted a discreet attempt at composure, but the embarrassment lingered beneath the surface.
mr. choudry, their english teacher, halted his writing at the board, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. he addressed the mischievous duo, well aware of their penchant for playful antics. "stop playing around, adalie and cole." he admonished, though a knowing smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
behind her, cole couldn't contain his snicker, prompting adalie to swiftly extract a piece of paper from her journal. with determined strokes of her pencil, she scribbled a message, crumpling the paper with deft efficiency. when mr. choudry's attention returned to the board, adalie turned to face cole, a sarcastic smile on her lips.
"you're so..." she began, hurling the crumpled paper ball directly at his face before completing her sentence with a teasing, "funny." she turned away,
cole, still grinning, retrieved the crumpled paper ball from the floor. as he unraveled it, a mischievous glint sparkled in his eyes. "you're an ass." adalie's message read. unfazed, cole responded with a subtle twist of honesty, scribbling, crumpling, and skillfully tossing the note at the back of adalie's head.
with a small snicker, adalie shook her head before retrieving the note from the floor. as she unfolded it, her heart performed a subtle flip. "and you still look cute when you're mad ;)" it teased, a testament to the playful dynamic that persisted between the two.
adalie couldn't suppress the smile that tugged at her lips as she read cole's cheeky response. despite the playful banter, there was a comfort in their familiar exchanges. she rolled her eyes and swiftly penned a retort, "shut up." as she prepared to toss the paper ball back, mr. choudry spun around again, catching her mid-motion.
"adalie, cole, enough of the distractions." mr. choudry reprimanded, leaving both of them with mischievous grins.
the final minutes of 7th period dragged on, but the bell eventually signaled the start of thanksgiving break. adalie gathered her belongings, shooting cole a playful glare as they made their way out of the classroom.
as the students poured into the hallway, cole caught up with adalie. "ready for cadalie day to begin, pretty girl?" he teased, slinging an arm around her shoulders.
she rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small grin. "always, walter. just hoping your horse-riding skills have improved since last year."
"excuse me, i'm not the one who's scared to ride." cole challenged with a raised brow, a playful glint in his vivid green eyes. he was referring to adalie, who hadn't ridden by herself since the incident two years ago when she fell from custard and got a concussion. she had since preferred riding with cole or alex.
adalie shot him a mock glare. "i'm not scared. i just enjoy the company." she retorted, though her eyes betrayed a mix of amusement and fondness.
cole leaned in with a mischievous grin, his eyes sparkling. "enjoy the company, huh? or maybe you just can't resist the charm of riding shotgun with the one and only cole walter." he teased, playfully squeezing her shoulder.
adalie rolled her eyes, "oh. please. it's the breathtaking scenery and the riveting conversations that keep me coming back for more." she replied, her tone dipping with sarcasm.
"oh, right." cole said, acting innocently. "i forgot you've got a new riding partner now. what's his name again? conner? connie? conrad, right?" he grinned, fully aware of the playful rivalry he was instigating.
adalie rolled her eyes playfully, swatting away cole's arm that lingered over her shoulder. "shut up." she teased.
"where are you going? the car is this way." cole calls out as adalie was walking a different direction.
"i'm getting my textbooks." she replied, continuing her stride towards her locker.
"when i said 3:30 sharp, i meant it!" cole called out, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"relax, cowboy." adalie called back, a playful smirk on her lips. "i'll be there. i just need to grab my books; don't want to fail mrs. garcia's class, do we?" she chuckled, glancing over her shoulder at cole, who shook his head with a smirk.
as cole waited for adalie, he leaned casually against the truck. as the clock inched toward 3:30, the walter and garcia siblings started emerging from the school one by one. lee and isaac garcia were the first to exit, hopping into the truck with a mumbled, "thanks for ditching us this morning." nathan followed, then danny, and finally, alex.
just as alex was about to walk past cole, cole placed a hand on alex's chest, causing him to stop abruptly. "what's your problem?" alex scoffed.
cole sighed, frustration etching his features. "look, alex, this isn't about you and me. you have your grievances, and i get that, but don't bring adalie into this mess. whatever issues we have, it's not her fault."
alex's eyes narrowed, a mix of anger and resentment burning within. "oh, you're suddenly the noble one, defending adalie? you've always had everything handed to you, and now you want to play the hero?"
"damn it, alex! this isn't about playing hero. adalie is off-limits in our little feud. she's got nothing to do with your problems with me." cole retorted, his voice carrying a weight of frustration.
the two brothers stood face-to-face, while the other walter and garcia siblings sighed, completely feud up with their arguments.
alex's smirk grew as he noticed erin approaching, seizing the opportunity to throw a verbal grenade into the already volatile situation.
"tell me something, cole, does erin know how and with whom you'll be spending your afternoon?" he jeered, his words laced with malicious intent.
"what is he talking about, cole?" erin questioned, a puzzled expression crossing her face.
"didn't you hear, erin? it's cadalie day. today's all about cole and adalie!" alex declared, stirring the pot with relish.
cole's face contorted with frustration and anger. "oh, fuck you, alex!" he snarled, stepping forward with the intent to punch his brother. however, before things could escalate, danny, quick to diffuse the situation, stepping out of the car and physically intervened, placing himself between the two brothers.
the tension hung in the air, and the messy argument continued to unfold threatening to spiral into chaos as accusations and resentments surfaced. adalie, who had just exited the school, caught wind of the brewing storm, her expression shifting from confusion to concern. the drama was about to unfold, and there was no stopping the impending clash between the walter brothers.
erin, now fully engaged in the unfolding drama, looked from alex to cole with a mix of confusion and apprehension. "why haven't you mentioned this before?" she demanded, her eyes narrowing.
cole, attempting to control the escalating situation, shot a warning glare at alex before turning to erin. "it's just a stupid tradition with adalie. we ride horses up to a meadow field, that's all." he explained, frustration evident in his voice.
alex, not satisfied with the response, decided to press further. "riding horses up to a meadow field? sounds romantic. you sure that's all you're doing, cole?" he taunted, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
cole clenched his fists, the internal struggle evident on his face. he wanted to defend adalie, but he also didn't want to divulge the intimate details of their tradition.
"why do you keep hanging out with adalie?" erin's frustration was palpable as she confronted cole. the jealousy in her eyes was unmistakable, a fire fueled by the unspoken history between adalie and cole.
cole sighed, the weight of erin's insinuations and the tangled web of emotions bearing down on him. "erin, we're just friends. i can't change the fact that she's in my life."
erin crossed her arms, a mix of frustration and sadness in her eyes. "but you've always had a soft spot for her. it's like she's this untouchable presence in your life. what about us, cole?"
cole, feeling the weight of erin's interrogative gaze, sighed and leaned against his truck. "why does it matter? she's with conrad." he retorted, hoping to end the conversation before it delved into the murky waters of their complicated past.
"yeah, i know that. do you?" erin's response cut through the tension like a knife. her question hung in the air, loaded with implications about the unresolved feelings and tangled relationships that lingered between cole, adalie, and herself.
cole's frustration mounted. he was caught between two worlds— his lingering connection with adalie and erin's persistent feelings for him. the triangle had become an inescapable reality, threatening to unravel with each passing interaction.
as cole leaned against the truck, his eyes inadvertently caught adalie's frozen expression behind alex. she seemed hurt, and a wave of regret washed over him. did she hear all of that? before he could say anything, adalie's voice cut through the tension.
"you know what, i'm just gonna catch a ride with stefan." she declared, her words hanging heavy in the air.
"addie, wait—" cole started, attempting to push past alex, but she held her ground.
adalie placed a hand on his chest, gently pushing him away. "you know what, cole? just forget about it. it's stupid anyway." she shrugged, echoing his own words to erin about their tradition.
he saw the hurt in her eyes, and he felt like the biggest jerk. he didn't even mean it. she pushed past him, leaving him grappling with the aftermath of his own choices.
"how about you just stay away from cole?" erin sneered as adalie walked past her.
adalie halted in her tracks, turning to face erin with a steely gaze. "don't worry, erin. i wouldn't want to get in the way of true love and everlasting happiness." she retorted, her tone dipping with sarcasm. a bitter smile played on her lips, revealing the underlying hurt that she was trying hard to conceal. without waiting for a response, she continued walking, leaving behind a trail of unresolved emotions and fractured connections.
as the car rolled towards the presley's ranch house, a heavy silence hung in the air, making the atmosphere a little too stifling for stefan's liking. adalie, his usually chatty sister, remained unusually quiet. the rhythmic hum of the engine seemed to magnify the tension in the car.
once they arrived home, sofia, their mother, greeted them with a warm smile, asking about their day. adalie, however, bypassed the usual exchange, heading straight to her room without uttering a word. the abrupt silence left stefan perplexed, wondering what had transpired during the day to cast such a somber shadow over his sister.
sofia's narrowed eyes remained fixed on stefan as he defensively responded to her accusations. "what did you do to your sister?" she questioned sternly.
stefan, taken aback by the sudden scrutiny, quickly defended himself. "me? i didn't do anything, mom." he scoffed. "this morning, cole picked her up for school, and i assumed she would ride back with him. but i guess i was wrong because she was already next to my car when i walked out of school."
sofia sighed, sensing that there was more to the story. "cole and adalie again." she mumbled to herself. she knew the history between them and how complicated their relationship had become.
"well, whatever happened, try to talk to her." sofia advised stefan. "we have our early thanksgiving dinner with the walter's, it's important to get to the bottom of this."
sofia's words echoed in stefan's mind as he headed to adalie's room. he gently knocked on her door, hoping to find a way to break through the wall of silence that had enveloped his sister.
"addie, it's stefan. can i come in?" he asked, his voice carrying concern. when there was no response, he cautiously opened her door and found adalie snuggled up in her bed, staring out the window.
"mind if i join you?" stefan asked, taking a seat beside her. adalie shrugged, still not meeting his eyes.
"something happened today, didn't it?" stefan probed gently. "you and cole?"
"cole is an ass. that's it." adalie muttered, her frustration evident.
stefan couldn't help but chuckle wryly. "what's new?" he quipped, recognizing the recurring theme in his sister's tumultuous relationship with cole.
adalie shot him a half-smile, appreciating the attempt to lighten the mood. "seriously, though, stef, sometimes i don't get him. today was supposed to be a stupid tradition, but he had to go and ruin it."
stefan nodded, understand the complexities. "you want to talk about it?"
adalie sighed, leaning back against her pillows. "not really. it's just... typical cole."
stefan patted her covered leg. "well, if you ever decide you want to talk or need some backup, you know where to find me. and, for the record, i think you deserve way better than cole's drama."
adalie managed a small smile. "thanks, stef. you're the best brother a girl could ask for."
"i know." stefan replied with a smirk, playing up his confident demeanor. despite the ups and downs in adalie's life, stefan always aimed to be the supportive brother who could bring a smile to her face, even in the midst of cole-induced chaos.
stefan hesitated for a moment before adding, "i know this is the last thing on your mind right now, but don't forget that we have the thanksgiving dinner with the walters."
adalie sighed, acknowledging the reminder. "yeah, i know. i'll be ready." she replied, her voice carrying a mix of resignation and uncertainty. the events of the day had left her feelings emotionally drained, and the upcoming family dinner was the last thing she wanted to deal with.
cole walter stood amidst the tall grass, the colors of the sunset casting a warm glow over the meadow. the familiar surroundings of the field held a mix of memories for him
— the laughter, the shared secrets, and the moments that had defined his connection with adalie presley.
as he waited for her, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had messed up. today was supposed to be about the tradition they had created, a day just for the two of them. instead, it turned into a tangled mess of arguments and hurtful words. he kicked at the soft earth, frustrated with himself.
the memory hit cole like a wave, carrying him back to a moment when the foundation of his relationship with adalie started showing cracks. he found himself sitting in the meadow, surrounded by the soft rustle of the grass, as the flashback played vividly in his mind.
━━━ ✰ 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊
the door clicked shut behind him, and cole entered the walter household, the lingering warmth of the day with adalie still on his skin. before he could fully process his surroundings, alex's voice reached him.
"i hope cole isn't screwing things up with adalie. she's already dealing with a lot, especially with susannah's situation." alex expressed his concern, his protective instincts kicking in.
george walter, the father, was quick to defend his eldest son. "cole would never hurt addie. you could see how much he cares about her."
however, katherine, the matriarch of the walter family, inserted a note of caution. "he does love her, no doubt. but, alex has a point. cole can be a bit unreliable and self-centered." katherine's voice carried a weight of worry as she added, "adalie is in a really delicate place emotionally. susannah means the world to her, and after hearing the news, it's crushed her. i just pray cole doesn't accidentally hurt her." the concern in katherine's words highlighted the fragility of adalie's emotional state, making it clear that any misstep from cole could have deeper consequences.
as if trying to lighten the mood, katherine added a playful remark, "i always thought addie would end up with you, alex."
━━━ ✰ 𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊
hearing the concern and doubt about him from his family, especially his mother's words about adalie's emotional fragility, created a sense of pressure and responsibility for cole. he feared burdening adalie with his own troubles, believing that embracing the traditional boyfriend-girlfriend dynamic might inadvertently cause her more pain. the weight of his family's expectations and the desire to shield adalie from any potential hurt made him distant, transcending the traditional boundaries of labels to protect her. the fear of accidentally hurting her pushed him to keep his struggles at a distance, unknowingly causing a rift in their relationship.
as cole walter stepped into his house, katherine walter was in the kitchen setting up the plates on the table. she glanced at him and noticed the bouquet of flowers from the meadows field in his hand. surprised, she inquired, "did you pick those?"
cole, still lost in thought from his time at the field, had unconsciously gathered the flowers, unintentionally creating a bouquet. he had planned on taking them to adalie as a peace offering. stuttering, he responded, "um, yeah." as if he had been caught red handed.
katherine raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "those are beautiful, cole. who are they for?" she asked, a knowing smile playing on her lips as she continued setting the table.
cole hesitated, tore between keeping things to himself or confiding in his mother. after a moment, he sighed. "i thought they'd look nice as a center piece on the table. you know— for the thanksgiving dinner."
katherine eyed him, a playful glint in her eyes. "a center piece, huh? well, they'll certainly add a touch of nature to our thanksgiving table." she remarked, deciding not to press further. she appreciated cole's attempt to deflect, understanding that sometimes he needed his space.
cole managed a small smile, grateful for his mother's understanding. "yeah, thought it could use some color." he added, playing along with the charade.
as they continued setting the table, a silent understanding passed between mother and son— a recognition that some things were better left unsaid for now.
the bustling energy in the walter house intensified as the family gathered near the entrance. katherine swung the door open, revealing the familiar faces of the presley family. there was an air of warmth and anticipation, a stark contrast to the cold colorado evening outside.
"welcome, welcome!" katherine greeted them with genuine joy. the aroma of a home-cooked thanksgiving feast wafted through the air, setting the tone for a family celebration.
once katherine's eyes landed on adalie, she was in awe. "addie, you look gorgeous."
adalie couldn't help but smile at katherine's warm compliment, grateful for the genuine kindness despite the underlying tension in the room. "thank you, katherine. you look amazing too."
as adalie greeted most of the walter family she was left with two people to to greet, cole and alex walter. alex had reflected on his actions from earlier and he hated that he took out his anger on the wrong person. he stepped forward and tried to apologize.
"adalie, i... i'm sorry about earlier. it was uncalled for, and i shouldn't have taken it out on you." alex admitted, his expression showing genuine remorse.
adalie, despite still feeling hurt, appreciated the apology. she nodded slightly, "i understand, alex. it's just been a long day."
"yeah, i get it. and i shouldn't have brought up that tradition thing. i was just trying to mess with cole, and i messed up."
"let's just put it behind us, okay?" adalie suggested, offering a small smile. she knew the complexities of the situation extended beyond a single argument, but for now, she wanted to maintain a semblance of peace during the thanksgiving dinner.
meanwhile, cole observed the interaction from a distance, silently acknowledging that maybe, just maybe, tensions were easing a bit.
as alex left to take his seat, cole spoke up. "you look beautiful."
adalie met cole's gaze, and despite the rough start of the day, a hint of gratitude flickered in her eyes. "thank you." she replied, appreciating the compliment.
as they all settled down for the thanksgiving dinner, there was a momentary pause in the tension. the atmosphere shifted from earlier conflicts to a more subdued, familial ambiance. it was a reminder that despite the complications, they were all connected in some way.
sofia's praise echoed in the room, and adalie's attention was abruptly drawn to the bouquet in the center of the table. "oh, this is such a beautiful bouquet, katherine!" sofia presley exclaimed
"tell me about it." katherine chuckled, sharing the moment with a warm smile. "cole himself picked them up earlier."
the revelation made adalie's eyes widen slightly as she recognized those flowers from the meadow field. he still went. her gaze naturally shifted to cole, who was already looking back at her. their eyes locked for a moment, and in that silent exchange, there was a flicker of understanding.
"did you really pick these?" sofia asked, directing her question to cole.
"yeah." cole replied, his eyes never leaving adalie's. "i thought they'd look nice for the thanksgiving dinner.
adalie couldn't help but smile subtly, a mix of surprise and appreciation for the gesture. the tension from earlier began to ease, replaced by a quiet acknowledgment between them.
as the delightful atmosphere surrounded the thanksgiving dinner table, nathan water chimed in, "hey, mom? aren't these the flowers that grandma mentioned are a symbol of unrequited love?"
katherine's eyes sparkled with a reminiscent glint as she nodded, "yes, they are. they're my favorite."
the bouquet of flowers, carefully chosen by cole from the meadow field, held a deeper significance than anyone could fathom. each bloom spoke a silent language, and as adalie stared at them, she found herself drawn into their symbolic dance.
for cole, the flowers were an unintentional confession, and unspoken revelation of feelings he struggled to articulate. the vibrant colors and delicate petals mirrored the complexity of his emotions. the bouquet was a silent plea, a manifestation of the unrequited love that had nestled in the chambers of his heart since their shared history. as cole's eyes met adalie's, there was vulnerability, a plea for understanding that transcended the traditional boundaries of labels. the fear of burdening her with his troubles had kept him distant, but the flowers stood as an offering, a tangible representation of sentiments he couldn't voice.
adalie, on the other hand, felt a mixture of surprise and warmth. the flowers, bathed in the soft glow of the thanksgiving dinner table, held the essence of unspoken words. they spoke of moments shared in the meadows, of laughter and shared silence. the symbolism of unrequited love, although initially startling, resonated deeply within her. adalie found herself pondering the intricacies of their connection, realizing that the unspoken tension had roots in feelings neither of them had fully acknowledged.
as the evening unfolded, the bouquet became a silent witness to the uncharted territories of their emotions. it wasn't merely a centerpiece; it was a metaphor, a bridge between the unspoken and the potential for a shared understanding. adalie and cole, lost in the silent conversation, began to question the boundaries that had kept them apart, with the meadow flowers serving as the catalyst for a deeper exploration of their feelings.
amidst the joyous thanksgiving gathering, katherine found a moment to discreetly approach sofia. with a gentle smile, she asked, "sofia, how is susannah doing? you know, with the trail and everything?"
sofia's expression softened, appreciating katherine's delicate approach. "she's holding up." she replied, her voice carrying a mixture of hope and concern. "the trail is a bit challenging, and her doctors are considering putting her on new meds."
adalie's ears perked up at the mention of susannah's name. susannah fisher was more than just a family friend; she was a pillar of support for adalie, especially during challenging times. the news of susannah's recurring cancer had cast a shadow over her recent days.
as sofia shared the update, adalie couldn't help but feel a knot tighten in her stomach. the significance of susannah's role in her life and the prospect of losing her weighed heavily on adalie's heart.
meanwhile, stefan, catching wind of the conversation, joined in, "does that mean that the current ones stopped working?" the concern in his voice echoed the collective worry around the table.
sofia nodded, her eyes reflecting the complexities of susannah's situation. "yes, they had to up her medication. the trial has its ups and downs, and susannah is handling it with incredible strength. we're hopeful that the adjustments will make a difference."
adalie, feeling the weight of emotions that the mention of susannah's condition brought, excused herself from the table. the well-wishes and concerns for susannah fisher had stirred a torrent of emotions within her. as she stepped outside into the cool autumn air, the tears that had brimmed in her eyes began to fall.
the solitude of the outdoors offered a brief respite from the shared worries inside. adalie took a moment of collect herself, wiping away the tears that trailed down her cheeks. the reality of susannah's health and the fear of losing someone so dear left an indelible mark on adalie's heart.
as adalie stood there, absorbing the weight of her emotions, the quiet of the outdoors was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. turning slightly, she saw cole emerging from the warm glow of the house, his expression a mix of concern and understanding.
"adalie." he called gently, his voice carrying a comforting warmth. he closed the distance between them, stopping by her side. "are you okay?"
adalie managed a small, melancholic smile, grateful for his presence. "just needed a moment." she replied, her voice soft. the worry in cole's eyes softened as he reached out, his hand gently brushing away a lingering tear on her cheek.
susannah's illness had woven an intricate tapestry of emotions, and in that shared understanding, adalie found solace in cole's silent support.
in the quiet darkness, the moon cast a gentle glow, revealing the traces of tears on adalie's cheeks. cole, standing beside her, felt a heaviness in his chest, realizing the impact of his past actions on the girl he once held close.
after a moment of silence, cole spoke. "hey, look, about what happened after school— i didn't mean it." he tried to apologize.
adalie glanced at him, her eyes reflecting a mixture of emotions. cole's sincerity was evident, and she appreciated the effort. she nodded slightly, acknowledging his attempt at an apology. "it's fine, cole." she said softly. "maybe it is a stupid tradition after all."
"no. it's not stupid." cole's response carried a genuine tone.
adalie looked at him with a hint of surprise. his sincerity touched a chord within her. "it's just... things have changed, cole." she said, her voice a delicate murmur. "we've changed."
there was a moment of contemplative silence between them. adalie wrestled with the conflicting emotions of nostalgia and the reality of their present circumstances. cole's expression mirrored a mix of regret and understanding.
"i miss the way things used to be." he admitted, his gaze fixed on the stary sky. "but i messed up, and i know i can't just erase that."
adalie sighed, a mixture of sadness and acceptance. "we both made mistakes, cole. it's just... sometimes, things can't go back to the way they were."
as the cool breeze rustled, a silent understanding enveloped them. they stood there, two figures in the moonlit night, caught between the echoes of what once was and the uncertainty of what lay ahead.
"we should head back." cole suggested, breaking the silence. adalie nodded in agreement. together, they walked back to the warmth of the thanksgiving gathering, leaving behind the echoes of their shared history.
-ˋˏ -ETERNALLYSATURN SPEAKS ! ˎˊ-
⋆⛰️·˚ you guys deserved a long one after i took forever to finish this chapter. a huge part of me is unhappy with this, but i needed to get something out for you guys.
also, let me know what kind of flashbacks you guys would love to read! i'm planning for the next chapter to be a flashback.
p.s i know i'm very late, but happy new years! wishing everyone a year filled with happiness and many blessings! 🎇❤️
important note 🪴——
on monday i start a new semester in college and this is where i tend to disappear 😭. now, one of my new year's resolution is to be more organize and stop procrastinating on homework. i am genuinely praying i can handle this semester because last semester the amount of times i debated on dropping out was insane.
but as i was saying, i will be trying my absolute best to continue with this story!