Nya's POV

Kai had picked me up from Jay's place last night, driving us home in complete silence. But the minute we'd entered our home, he demanded answers, and a full recap of what had gone down at the cabin.

Now it was the next day, and I was making lunch for the two of us. Mom and Dad had left for a business trip a few days back so it was just me and my brother.

There was a knock on the front door, and I could tell Kai was still asleep since his snores practically shook the whole house.

Opening the door was a mistake. Lloyd stood outside, holding another bouquet and box of chocolates.

"Oh, you have got to be kidding..."

"Hear me out, please. I'm sorry about last night."

"That's- that's all you have to say? Lloyd, you know I hate it when you speed-drive, and then you go on and lock me in a dark closet before going off to who knows where! I couldn't breathe in there!"

"I know, it was stupid, but I promise you, next time it won't happen again-" he looks up from the floor to me, stopping in his tracks, "-why are you looking at me like that?"

Arms folded, I lean against the door, "I just...I don't think there will be a next time..."

"What?" His voice goes quiet, light and wavery. I blink nonchalantly.

"You heard."

He glanced around quickly before looking back at me, "Nya..."

"You should've thought about the consequences before you went off and pulled all that bullshit, Lloyd."

"It was a joke! I thought you of all people would know that."

"Well, it wasn't funny! God, sometimes I hate coming back to this, to us."

"Is that what you really think?" Lloyd licked his lips, his gaze set in a hard stare. I hadn't meant to say that out loud, but it makes me want to just go on about everything wrong in our relationship.

And so I did.

"You say you know me better than anyone, yet you didn't know I hate you driving at high speeds! You say you know me better than anyone, yet you don't even give a damn about my interests! You say you know me better than anyone, yet you...you...it..."

Lloyd searches my face, "It what?"

"It still hasn't occurred to you that I don't even like chocolate!" I spat. It was a low blow, but it had been bothering me for a long time, in my defence.

"...huh?"

"You can't even trust me to be around other guys! I've seen the looks you give to Jay." I come to self-realisation, as what Jay said to me at the mechanics' fair comes to light, "I'm too in my comfort zone when I'm with you, Lloyd. You know, when I was interviewed by the Principal at the start of Senior year, she asked me what would be holding me back from making big life-changing decisions in the future. I told her that I had nothing to lose, but now I see the pattern. Every time a window of opportunity comes by me, I end up shooting it down, because now I realise. It's you. You're holding me back, and I can't have that right now."

"What are you talking about?"

I sigh, and shake my head, "Look, you're an...adequate guy, Lloyd. And I'm sure there's a girl out there who appreciates chocolate boxes and bouquets every event, and high speed car rides, and being locked in closets, but I just don't think we're right for each other."

Lloyd stepped forward, eyes glassy, "You and I are just right for each other. We can bounce back from this, it's just a hiccup in our relationship. Please, let's work this out and talk about this!"

My hand reaches for the handle, "No. I'm done talking. I'm done fighting you on this."

"What, so that's just it, then?"

"Yeah. That's it."

Clicking his teeth, he glared down at the ground, "Okay. Great."

"Great. You should go."

I shut the door on his face, stepping backwards and leaning against the wall, slowly crumpling to the floor. 

The sounds of an engine starting could be heard, and I see Lloyd's jeep drive off into the distance.

"Was that the delivery guy?" Kai asked, yawning to himself as he stumbled downstairs. I roll my eyes and smile, "Nah, you're a little too late for that, but I left your parcel on the sofa-" He jumped up and down excitedly, crashing onto the couch and hugging the box tight to his chest before setting it aside and beckoning me over, "You okay?"

I nod, "Yeah, I will be. I, uh, broke up with Lloyd."

"I heard." He stated softly, "He doesn't deserve you anyway, you're too good for him. So, what now?"

My phone is on the coffee table and I pick it up, switching it on, "Now I need to thank Jay a gazillion times over."

Kai smiled and patted my head, "Imma hit the showers, don't start lunch without me."

He leaves the room whilst I place the phone to my ear. It rings a good few times until Jay picks up finally.

"Nya, hey!"

"Hey! Listen, I just wanted to thank you about last night. I really owe you one."

"It's alright. I know you would've done the same for me, and it was the right thing to do. But something tells me this has relevance to Lloyd?"

I chew my nails, resting against the sofa handle, "Yeah, it does. I sorta...ended things with him."

"Wow...I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. It was bound to happen. You were right. He was a bad boyfriend, and it's true."

"What's true?"

"The fact that I was too in my comfort zone. I needed to let go of that dead weight which held me down."

"The dead weight being Lloyd?"

"Mhm."

"This feels like a breakthrough. I'm happy for you, really. Now you're a free bird!"

It only hits me that I had been grinning this entire time, "Thank you. I'll see you Monday?"

"Bright and early, Birdy." The call ends and I laugh to myself, hugging my phone to my chest.

However the moment is unfortunately shortlived.

"NYA! TURN THE HOT WATER ON!"