Wednesday, July 5th, 2017:

I stayed up all night texting the mysterious number. After what seems like forever, I've found out who is text me. This person really holds a grudge and wants to destroy my entire life. Wow, I'm really watch too much Pretty Little Liars, aren't I? Not that you would notice. You actually like that crap. 

After what seemed like five minutes, I got a reply from the unknown number: 

You know who I am. I'm Maia Mitchell.

I remembered when you were texting Maia all day one Wednesday last summer. The number on the screen matched her number. It all checked out. 

Ugh, you? What the hell you freakin' want?

The reply was instant: 

Revenge. Honey, Ross broke up with me because of you. So, when we're done, I'll be sure you're sorry you ever met him. 

I quickly typed: 

And how exactly can I appeal to your interests?

Maia responded: 

Do exactly as I tell you. TELL THEM ALL YOU'RE LEAVING FOR YALE AT THE END OF THE MONTH. And break up with him. 

I replied: 

What?! NO! Why are you bringing Rocky into this? This is already too creepy. Just leave me the hell alone now, will ya! 

Maia's reply: 

Shut up now, M! Do what I tell you and then you can go back to your 'normal' life. And also, I'm doing you favor. Trust me, if you don't break up with him now, you're in for a hell lot of heartache. It can go two ways. One, when you tell him, he'll do everything in his will to make you stay, including proposing, or you two will attempt at long distance, but then when you come home to visit him, he'll resent you and meet a girl who will stay.

Maia did have a point. What if I left. How could I be sure that Rocky wouldn't have fell in love with some other women or that if he found out, he might take such extreme measures as to propose to me so I would give my entire future just to stay in Los Angeles. I couldn't let that happen. 

Later this morning, Stormie got a call. She looked at us when she got off the phone and said, "The boys are coming for a late night bonfire tonight. They said they couldn't find us last night so they want to reschedule." My heart sank at that moment. It's as if Maia knew that would happen. Maybe she's psychic. Tonight, everything would have to go down, that's why I asked Vanessa to invite my parents to the bonfire. 

Later that night, everything did go down. Rydel and Ratliff were just finishing singing a campfire song, and after we applauded, I decided it was my turn to wow them. I started by clearing my throat. "Three weeks ago, I received a message from the dean over at Yale. They want me to start the secession early, so I leave for Connecticut at the end of the month." 

All I could hear were the sound of the fireflies and their weird chirping as they blinked under the moonlight. That was something you and used to love to do when we're were children. Right now, I really wish that could still be the case. Just as suspected, Rocky was the first to speak. "I'll go with you. I can still get a degree on online college we can be everyday. Just say the word and I'd do that."

From there, I realized something. I didn't feel the same way. Nowhere in my soul could I feel as if I would do the same for him. And that was what I wanted out of a relationship. I wanted to be able to feel as I would give up my future for my significant other. If I didn't feel that way, there could  be no way we could work out. There could be no future between us.

"No, Rocky," I said. "You can't come with me. You belong at Caltech. I belong at Yale." 

"This can still work," Rocky insisted. "We can try long distance."

"No, we can't," I said quickly and curtly. From there, I began to break down into soft sobs and whining syllables. "You don't get it, do you? I'm breaking up with you." 

On the other side of the flames, Rocky was stoned faced as his words were cold as ice. "I'm sorry you feel that way." And thus concluded the worst Fourth of July week ever in my life.

- Laura S. Marano