-6 years ago, Gramwood High-

Isobel P.O.V.

"I'm leaving soon." I murmured quietly as Kade played with my hair the morning after prom.

He stilled, retracting his hands as he lay there silently.

"Kade?" I turned over to look at him. His brows were furrowed in thought and he had not made a single sound. Highly unusual of him. "Whitley?"

"Yeah?" He snapped out of it to turn back to me.

"You okay?" I questioned, tilting my head.

"Yeah fine Bels. When do you leave?"

"Week after grad. I wanna get there ASAP and settle in. Get to know the place. I can't believe it's finally happening."

"Wow," he breathed. "That's...soon. I'm... I'm really fucking proud of you."

"Thankyou." I smiled softly. "I'm proud of you too for getting into Brown. We're... we're gonna keep in touch, right?" I asked timidly.

He looked over me for a second before eventually nodding with a blank face. "Yeah... course Bels."

I frowned at his lacklustre behaviour. "What's wrong?"

He shook his head before plastering on a big smile. "Nothing. Just you leaving I guess. I've just not wrapped my head around it."

"Yeah, neither to be honest," I chuckled, trying to lighten up the mood.

"How about we not think of doomsday until it comes around? I'd rather not. I might actually start to miss you. Ew." He joked.

I scoffed, pushing him lightly on the chest. "Okay but I'm a great person to be around, thank you very much. I will be missed."

"Uhh..." he winced, thinking it over before shrugging. "If you think so..."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You better watch yourself Whitley."

"I'd rather watch you," he winked, all traces of his earlier moments disappearing and replaced with a fun, cheeky Kade. "Like right now, naked and on top of me."

"Don't even try!" I retorted amusedly, pulling the sheets closer around my body as I scooted over to the edge of the bed. "Aren't you sore from last night?!"

He grinned devilishly before pouncing on me, crushing me under his weight as he rolled me over on top of him.

"I only get to see you for 1 more month." He pouted adorably, his eyes softening as he rubbed my cheek with the back of his knuckles.

My resolve weakened, as I wrapped my hands around his face, tenderly stroking his jaw. "Not very long is it..." I murmured.

He shook his head from side to side. "No it's not. Shan't we make the most of it then?"

My lips curved into a smile. "I see how you manipulated me just then Whitley, but lucky for you I agree."

He chuckled softly before wrapping his hand around my face gently to pull me towards him. "I'll be slow and gentle..."

His lips claimed mine, and I thoroughly enjoyed every part of him he had to offer for our remaining time being. Just like he said, our connection was tender and sweet that morning, leisurely taking our time to be with each other as if we had all the time in the world.

~

The next month passed on in a blur.

Graduation day.

My mom fussed over my hair, positioning my cap on properly with the golden tassel neatly placed on the appropriate side.

"Oh my, mija. I can't believe it. My little baby." her voice cracked, looking at me proudly as her eyes filled with unshed tears

"Mom! Stop. We haven't even gotten to school yet. You're going to make me cry!" I scolded, chuckling at her dramatics.

"Ah well don't look at me then!"

"You're looking at me!" I chuckled once again, giving her a tissue. "Come on, let's go before we're late."

"... so as we step outside of the doors of Gramwood High today, I want you, my fellow peers to chase after your dreams with a burning passion and make your mark on the world. Be wonderful. Be courageous. Be you. CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2013!" Our Valedictorian said. "3, 2, 1!"

I looked up into the bright blue sky as hordes of blue graduation caps were thrown up. They rained down upon us in slow motion, accompanied by the sounds of applause and ecstatic cheers.

"Congratulations!" I hugged Jenny and Sophie as we jumped up and down excitedly, holding our diplomas in one hand. "We made it!"

"CLASS OF 2013 BABY!!! Yeeeee boi!" Jacob hollered, running around giving high-5s to everyone in sight. He popped his head in between the girls and I, cheering loudly before racing off to the next victims.

"Congrats Is!" Tobias called, bringing me into a big bear hug. I chuckled as I adjusted my cap and grinned up at him.

"Congrats Princeton boy! You better come visit me in New York!" I teased.

He laughed. "Of course. As long as you come visit me!"

"Deal!" We shook hands.

I laughed, snapping pictures with my mom and the girls, feeling elated that I finally finished 13 long years of schooling.

As I turned to the side, Kade stood there grinning with his hands behind his back. He strode over towards me, as I stood there waiting with a big smile on my face.

"For you." He smiled shyly, handing me a cute fluffy teddy bear, holding a little scroll with a graduation cap, and 2013 scribbled on its paw. "Congratulations Isobel."

I beamed, throwing my arms around his neck. He lifted me up and spun us around in his tight grip before popping me back down on the ground. Our foreheads leaned down on each other as we smiled, eyes clashing in a storm of brown and green.

"Congratulations Kade."

I stood there arm in arm with my friends, Tobias, Kade, Oliver, Sophie, Jenny and Jacob as we grinned cheesily towards our families and the multiple flashes of cameras surrounding us.

And for probably the final time together, we all flooded into Milky Mike's for a post-graduation fiesta.

~

Sitting on the beach, I soaked in the warm sunshine and the salty sea air of Newport, Rhode Island. Kade sat on the picnic rug beside me, with his long, strong legs stretched out. He pulled me over towards him, wrapping his arms around my waist as I lay back against his chest.

I tilted my head up, silently watching him. He was gazing out into the horizon, very much deep in thought. The glow of the setting sun basked his skin in a warm light, making him look like some sexy fallen angel.

"Kade..." I murmured softly, rubbing his forearm with my palm.

"Yeah Bels?" He said softly, planting a kiss on top of my head.

"You're coming to the airport tomorrow right?" I asked. "Oliver and Soph will be there."

"Oh. Yeah." He responded quietly, tightening his hold on me.

"Okay." I whispered back, smiling to myself as I watched the radiant orb of the sun disappear into the ocean.

"Let's head back now." Kade said, helping me up to my feet.

I nodded, taking his hand.

Deep down in my heart, I hoped that this wasn't the end.

~

I rolled over in my bed, stretching out to feel the smooth warm skin of a particular boy I had gotten to know this year. Coming up empty, I manoeuvred myself even further over to his side to no avail. Frowning, I slowly opened my eyes, blinking a few times to see that the space was completely empty, and cold. I tugged the sheets up around my bare body, before reaching over towards my phone.

0 messages.

Chewing on my lip, I proceeded to look over my beside tables for a note he could've left me. Maybe he had to go home quickly or he went out do do something? Finding nothing, on or under the pillows, I texted him, had a quick shower and put on some clothes before running downstairs. It was unlikely that he would be there, since we spent the night together intimately and so kept things on the down low when he was here. I thought I would check anyway. The stool and space by the counter was also untouched.

I felt the sickly growing feeling of my stomach knotting up.

Where did he go?

Trying to stay calm, I double checked my things were all packed up before grabbing breakfast. I had a couple of boxes full, plus some large suitcases to take with me to New York. I didn't pack my entire room up- I basically only had all my essentials and things I couldn't live without, since my dorm room would probably be the size of a closet.

I sat on the kitchen stool, ready to go. I picked up my phone anxiously, waiting for any calls or messages from Kade. Finding nothing for the millionth time this morning, I sighed, burying my face into my hands.

Please show up. Please show up. Please show up.

"You've got your laptop with you right? Don't forget that okay! You need it to study." My mom said worriedly, picking up her handbag and car keys.

"Yes, I'm bringing it in my carryon." I nodded, patting the bag on my shoulder.

"Okay, and you've got your glasses, your pillow cases and bedsheets? Lots of clothes and a shower bag, flip flops?"

"Yes mom. Even if I forgot something, you can always drive down to come drop it off to me." I winked at her. "And have a little visit."

She sighed before giving me a small smile. "Okay. I'm going to miss you so much you know that?"

"I'm going to miss you too. Are you going to be alright?" I asked, pulling her into a hug.

Putting on a brave, strong face, she nodded. "Your father would be so proud of you. You're chasing your dreams."

My heart clenched. "Thankyou," I whispered back, pulling her into another hug.

I eventually arrived at the airport, immediately checking in my cart full of luggage to get it off my hands before searching for Oliver and Soph. They waved from their position at a cafe. Simultaneously, my heart burst at the sight of my friends, however sank upon the glaringly obvious absence of one important member.

"Hi," I whispered feebly hugging onto Sophie.

"Hey hey hey," she rubbed my back soothingly. "It's going to be okay Is. We will talk all the time and we can visit each other."

"Yeah," I nodded, thankful for her reassurance.

"What else is the matter?" She said softly, picking up on something odd in my demeanour.

"Do you um, do you know where Kade is?"

"We thought he was coming with you..." she said, her eyebrows pinching up into a frown. "Babe, have you heard from Kade?" She turned towards Oliver.

Oliver dug out his phone from his pocket before shaking his head. "No, I haven't got anything."

The pit in my stomach reached full-blown status. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I fought back the urge to cry. I'm not this girl. I don't, I don't get hung up over boys, especially not Kade fucking Whitley. Where the hell was he? Glancing at the time, I noticed I only had 15 more minutes before I would have to enter the departure terminal if I wanted to make it for boarding.

"I'll call him," Oliver said, giving me a small hug and an empathetic smile.

"Maybe something came up and he's late?" Sophie said hopefully.

I nodded along with her, trying to stay calm. "He said he would be here," I murmured quietly.

Oliver shook his head sadly before pocketing his phone. "No answer."

It was like my heart dropped at those words.

"He was with you last night though, wasn't he?" Sophie asked, throwing an arm around my shoulder comfortingly.

"Yeah he was. Then he was gone in the morning."

She frowned looking towards Oliver as they had a small silent conversation.

I waited patiently, trying to smile as Oliver and Soph tried their best to distract me from the fact that he wasn't here.

I waited to the very last moment before they called for passengers on flight LNY083 to begin boarding soon.

There was no time left.

"I'm sorry." Soph whispered into my ear as we hugged goodbye.

I nodded.

I'm sorry too.

I thanked Oliver and Soph before making my way to the terminal. I turned around, waving at my loved ones before disappearing into security.

Every heavy step I took was overrun with the heavy thoughts churning itself in my mind. My eyes watered as I blinked back a tear, approaching my gate. With trembling hands, I wiped the tear away quickly before squeezing my eyes shut and inhaled a deep breath.

My new adventure can't start like this.

As the plane took off, I mindlessly watched the scenic view of Rhode Island become smaller and smaller as we climbed higher into the sky. One, singular troubling thought prevailed.

He didn't come.