A/N: This isn't our last chapter! Hopefully, the second to the last, but, we'll see... We'll see... 🤗☺

C h a p t e r 4 7

A friend will always be a friend, no matter how far they are from each other, and how long they don't talk or see. But, boyfriends? Considering how attached I became to Chase, just made things a lot heavier to handle, and difficult to let go. If only Aunt Crissa had told me about this earlier. I could have prevented things from getting further. I could have stopped myself from falling deeper.

"You haven't say a word." Chase casted a glance at me while maintaining a run at sixty. "What's the problem?"

On what happened last night, I wasn't in the right mood to face everyone, not even Aunt Crissa. Although, I know that I would end up talking to her at the end of the day, and most probably go with her on the next day. However, at this very moment, I want nothing more but space. Some time to think and regain my composure back before facing everyone. I thought I will have it this morning, until Chase insisted to pick me up even after telling him that I'd my take car to school.

I shook my head as a response and kept it still while eying the outside through the passenger's window.

Chase nodded but only to not concur. "You really want me to believe that?"

While I still had a remaining ounce of guts flowing through my veins, I stole a glance on him as my insides slowly ripped to pieces. Even with just the picture of leaving everyone I love in the town I spent most of my life with, kills me.

I remained motionless and mute, figuring a way on how to cope with the matter I was in, and how to speak it to Chase, momentarily.

"You do remember that's the same issue we tackled before, right?" He added,

Everyone hides something.

No one dared to speak after that. A snippy Chase scoffed a sound, same time he pressed the gas wildly as it roared. At this moment, I really wished he bought his black Jeep instead. I tried to stay calm, yet I had to battle the strong emotion of fear at our own's possible self withdrawals. I really hate fast cars, and will always will.

The sighting of our school twinkled in my eyes, giving me a thought of a sweet escape awhile. However, it has been called off, when he took the opposite lane away from it.

"Chase, where are we going? We have classes!" I exclaimed,

"We'll be having our own discussion." He roughly spoke, as he began to avoid my gaze.

Congratulations, Nikki. Proud of what you've done, now? I sarcastically thought to myself.

Frowning, I sunk down the seat and folded my arms to my chest. I was fully aware that the idea of ignoring him rather than talking things out with him was stupid of me. But then again, I don't want to see his reaction thereafter. Not if he's sad. I want him to be mad at me.

To hate me, even.

Thinking it would be easier to leave him behind.

After a few more minutes, we stopped at the same parking lot Chase parked his car on our first date. Before us stood the woods we claimed to be the place we once were. As I was about to focus my gaze up front, Chase pulled the key out in the ignition, causing me to snap my head sidewise.

He had his hazel orbs travelling elsewhere but mine and without a word, he precipitously left the car which made me sped out to tag along, preventing further complications. As we walked along the dancing tress down the forest, the sunshine shone through everything I missed to catch my eyes with last time in the dark. We silently ambled through the path concealed with brown autumn leaves, while Chase strolled before me with his hands in his pocket. Protecting them from the chilly wind fanning around.

Reaching the open, we found ourselves sitting down beside the river.

"We can stay here for as long as you want. But we're not leaving until you tell me what is it that's bothering you." He said, while picking pebbles on his side.

I looked at him and breathed out, before fixating my eyes on the image ahead. Chase began throwing stones on the watercourse creating splashes, while I started exercising my equanimity in a short period of time.

The pressure squeezes my lungs tight, but a little later, I mustered up a courage to speak.

"What if I tell you, I'm leaving?" I said, while I kept my gaze down on the running water.

I sensed him shifting on his position, but never spoken a word on the following seconds.

"My aunt..." I trailed off, "She'll take me with her back in Germany," I closed my eyes, and refrained the emotion within me from falling while I slowly breathed heavily. "...tomorrow."

"You want to end this?" Melancholy laced his tone, sending it in a whisper.

I slowly nodded, even if I wasn't sure of it.

"Why won't you look at me and tell me?" He questioned with a deep tone.

I forbid myself on doing it, but after a teardrop escaped, Chase suddenly pulled me for a hug. And with that, I failed to keep myself from crying out on his chest. I weeped even more, realizing how much I'll miss being in his arms at times of needing comfort.

He securedly snaked his hands around me, and rested his chin on my head. "Nikki,"

"I'm sorry." I sobbed, not really knowing what I was apologizing for.

"I'm not in the right place to stop and beg you to stay, but it's not the end of the line for us both. We could still work things out..." He brushed my hair with his fingers, and set a distance between us to look at me. "And you'll come back, right?"

His question got me thinking. I don't want him to wait. I wanted him to have a life for himself. Continue it without me, and focus on other things.

I shook my head and locked my eyes downwards. "No."

I guess that's what I was sorry about.

"Already packed?" Aunt Crissa asked, while on her phone, still. Her eyes were glued on it the whole day, probably starting another plan to hide from me.

I nodded, while placing my plate on the sink. "Just like you wanted."

"...I'll just be in my room." She said, before she proceeded upstairs.

Hailey suddenly entered the kitchen with her empty plate, and happy stomach, while I washed my plate. Afterwards, I stepped away from the sink and took a glass of water as she had her turn to wash the plate she used.

"Who would have thought, that imagining your life without your best friend is as hard as losing your v*gina." Hailey sighed heavily,

I cringed at her inappropriate use of wording, almost making me gagged back the water I was drinking. "...Well, I can't believe I'm saying this but, I'm probably gonna miss that side of you." I placed the glass on the counter and leaned on it.

I did not attend school after Chase and I talked. The last minute of it felt dead, but neither of us liked what was happening. After he dropped me back home, I had no idea where he went. No texts, nor calls. But I hoped he was only at his dad's birthday party. I still cared, no matter what.

Two hours ago, however, I invited Hailey for dinner, which I thought was our last supper together in California. For now.

"Guess I'll go back on being the lost, lonely, sad puppy I was before meeting you." She pouted, while grabbing something in the fridge. "...Do you mind if I empty your refrigerator?"

"Go ahead, I don't mind." I shrugged and took a seat on one of the bar stools. "Bring all of those back home with you, if you'd like."

She hummed, while I had her bum in vision. "Yup, I'll definitely pack these." She straightened up and turn around while peeling the lid of the cup of yoghurt in her hands.

Hailey sat beside me, while I folded my arms down the counter and buried my head on it. "I don't want to go." I murmured,

The yoghurt cup was placed on top of the polished granite, then Hailey gradually slithered her hands around me and rested her head on my shoulder. "I'll miss you, Nikki."

I closed my eyelids, and pulled myself up to give her back a hug. "I'll miss you, too."

After a short while, Hailey was rummaging the cupboards clean. Unfortunately, she found bottles of liquor, and decided to empty them.

"I read, that alcohols have the power to help you forget your problems and ease the pain, all at once, even just for a while." She trailed off, pouring a huge amount of it in a glass and sliding it towards me.

"Yeah, zoom out in reality, and lose your mind." I added, sarcastically. "...Where did you get that?"

She shrugged, and poured some on hers. "Google says his best."

I hummed and gradually fixed my gaze at the ice cubes floating on the alcohol. "Chase and I kinda broke up, so... Cheers." I raised my glass, and met Hailey's with a clink. "To goodbyes."

Oh God. I thought, inwardly before swigging it down my throat. The burning sensation and bitter aftertaste never helps at the first few shots, but as I took a couple more rounds, I adapted to it.

"You knew I trusted your dad when he said you were a crazy one. And you are, upto now." I remarked, while letting out short squeaks from the effects of liquor crawling up on me.

"I'm not crazy, I'm wild!" She exclaimed,

I playfully rolled my eyes, and took chips on the bowl. "Whatever floats your boat, I guess."

Hailey would end up taking none of the foods left in the kitchen to their house, because we were already digging our faces on all of them while we drowned ourselves in alcohols.

"I feel like sabotaging the transportation you'll use on your way to the airport tomorrow." She uttered, "Wait, you'll come back, right?" She emphasized the last word as if demanding that I should indeed go back.

"Of course! It'll kill me if I didn't. It's only a year, anyway." I gave her a reassuring smile, and nodded. "At least that's what my aunt told me, when I turned at the legal age! Stupid laws... But, yeah I'll definitely come back."

I knew what I told Chase, earlier. I lied, all for the better.

"I'd really hate to see you go!" Hailey started crying like a river, but toning it down while she sipped from her glass. "There won't be, Nikki to drive me to school. No Nikki to share me foods with, to help me chase a boy, and listen to my stories!--- No more of that!" She bawled,

"You really are sad, huh? Don't worry, mommy will come back!--" A hiccup escaped my throat after I just spoke, and a dizzy feeling already climbed up on me.

All of a sudden, Aunt Crissa walked inside the kitchen, only to glue herself on the floor, stupefied.

She shook her head in disbelief, witnessing the kitchen she cleaned before, all messed up. "Girls, I just... Never mind. Can you please take yourselves to the living room? Unless, you could carry your asses up the stairs. I mean, that'll absolutely be better."

I grunted, while Hailey mumbled something with our heads slumped on the untidy counter top. "I can't move."

I couldn't fully open my eyes, and my body weighted tons more than how I was supposed to. Heat filled me, and my vision relentlessly turned in rounds. In an instance, I happened to disgorge the contents in my stomach through my throat. Finding relief by emptying it.

"Eww, God, Nikki... You're so disgusting, I might..." She covered her mouth, about to gag.

And, poor Aunt Crissa, she's going to have to clean a lot of mess.

"Oh, no." Aunt Crissa rushed to get a barf bag on top of the refrigerator before Hailey hurls her insides out. But, it was too late for her. "Oh goodness, you two clean up and get to bed, now. "

Hailey and I both muttered a complain in unison. With what case we were in now, was more like being a zombie.

Aunt Crissa released a deep sigh, before she dragged us both on the couches in living room, and cleaned our faces with wet wipes. When done dealing with us, she began to tidy the kitchen.

A minute after, my phone rang, and I giddily reached for it on the coffee table. I sluggishly swiped the green button and placed it on my ear. Not glancing on who was calling.

"Girls, we'll leave two in the morning!" Aunt Crissa reminded while in the kitchen. "Set your alarm clocks, and wake me up if I slept. Though, I think I might spend long hours before I finished cleaning the kitchen!"

I didn't heed much attention to what Aunt Crissa had said, after hearing her say what time we leave. Her tone was unusual, neither was creepy, nor sad. It was actually filled with such excitement. I bet she wouldn't even take a sleep, literally, knowing it was around twelve. Meanwhile, the person on the other line sent a buzzing sound like bees through my ear, and I just hummed a sound to tell him that I was 'attentively' listening to whatever it speaks.

"Anyone heard me or not?" Aunt Crissa popped her head from the kitchen.

"Yes!" Hailey exclaimed, with a yawn.

"...Two in the morning." I repeated through a whisper and dozed off. Leaving the caller awake on the other line.