austin stopped casey outside of her creative writing class. she was confused at the least. when had he started attending college? his brown hair was styled and he wore black jeans with a dark blue shirt. it was odd to see him out of his target uniform.

casey nervously smiled at him. "hey, austin. what are you doing here?"

"i enrolled. im your new classmate," he chuckled. casey eyed him suspiciously. "can you give me a tour?"

she shook her head. "im not a tour guide."

"but you're my friend! and that's what friends do! they don't lie and they don't not give each other tours of their brand new colleges."

"that's so oddly specific," she huffed. he was right, but somehow it felt wrong. something about his actions seemed off. she couldn't quite place her finger on it, so she put it aside since austin was already a weird kid. it was probably just that and nothing more.

austin opened a brochure to the college and pointed to an area. "where is this? take me there."

"one, it's called the pavilion. and two, why there? nothing goes on there, not until the fall at least."

he shrugged. "it looks...interesting. can we go now?"

she sighed and led the way to the pavilion. austin followed closely beside her when he started a conversation she never wanted to hear.

"ben is hurting too, you know? it's not a one sided thing, casey."

but somehow it was a one sided thing. he had no choice to kiss his ex, she practically placed her lips on his and he pushed her away the instant he realized what she did. benjamin profusely apologized when casey ran out of the home and begged austin to pick her up and take her home. she remembered the tears upon her cheeks with benjamin's name engraved in them. maybe she was just placing her pain into ben, or maybe she was just doing the right thing.

but she never stopped to think about benjamin. she didn't realize how broken he was also. he was taken for granted and for that, he lost casey. he had already been going through so much in his life and casey only put more hurt into his life by not speaking to him. but what else could she have done? she was not one for apologizing when it wasn't her fault. but for benjamin, she'd apologize till the word felt like her own language. she loved benjamin the way he loved her ridiculous questions.

casey opened the black gate in front of her and led austin all the way to the small stage. "well, this is the pavilion where the drama actors act and perform their plays."

"do people beg for forgiveness up here too?" casey froze in her steps after hearing the familiar voice of benjamin on stage. "thanks, austin."

austin waved to casey before leaving.

"what happened to friends not lying?" she asked austin.

"it's not lying if you don't ask!" he exited the building leaving casey and benjamin alone.

he jumped off the stage and walked towards casey. she could see his muscles flexing through his shirt, but she backed away as he got closer.

"casey," he stopped in his footsteps. "please."

"you hurt me, ben," tears began to weld up in her eyes. "you really did."

he frowned. "i know and im sorry. that's all i can do, case. all i can do is say sorry and hope that you can one day forgive me."

she wiped her tears away. "what makes you think i'll forgive you?"

"because you love me in the same way that i love you."

casey felt her heart shatter with his every word. he was right. he had a hold over her heart since the first day they talked. their connection had always been so strong and she never wanted it to go because she loved him.

benjamin stepped closer to her, and this time she let him. he ran his thumb across her cheek and made eye contact. "i love you, casey jackson."

she became breathless at his words. she could no longer think of the pain that his ex caused her, because she loved him in a way that conquered all.

"i love you, benjamin wang."

the end