Song for chapter forty: Surrender by Natalie Taylor

|Aden|

"I'm such an asshole," I banged my head onto the lunch table, groaning. I couldn't believe how blind I was to McKenna and what she still felt for me; all of her flirtatious tactics had flown over my head. But not only that, I'd completely disregarded what Skyler was trying to tell me yesterday and I shouted at her, and stormed off. I fucked up.

"I know you are," Josie placed a hand on my shoulder and Ryan chortled, shoving the last of his sandwich into his mouth. I glanced up at her unsympathetic eyes. "But that's fine cause you'll make it up to her right?"

"Look, I totally get where you're coming from with what Skyler was trying to say to you yesterday. It's not entirely your fault," Ryan attempted to make me feel better. "Maybe just remember to talk things out calmly next time. This is it's just a misunderstanding."

I nodded, the guilt I felt in my stomach eased off slightly from his words.

"I need to find her," I determined — more to myself than to Ryan and Josie —just as the bell rang to signal the end of lunch period. I peeled my head off of the table. "Do you know where she is?" I looked at Josie, who was shoving her lunch bag into her backpack.

"On her way to Canada," she shrugged, swinging her backpack over her shoulders.

"What?!" I snapped my head in her direction and she rolled her eyes, a sly smile on her face.

"Chill, she's only going for a day. She'll be back soon," she smirked. You didn't think to tell me that in the same sentence?

"I can't wait a day, I'm meeting her at the airport now," I scrambled off my chair, falling in step with Ryan. I didn't think I could handle another day without talking to Skyler and she needed to know how sorry I was. All I wanted was to see her, and wrap her up in my arms.

Josie spun me around, yanking on my arm to face her. "You can't just go there and make her miss her flight. Besides, don't you want to show her how sorry you are?" she wriggled her eyebrows at me. I glanced at Ryan, who just shrugged.

I could tell we shared the same confused thought. Girls.

"Um... sure?" My eyebrows furrowed together.

"Good, then you can spend today figuring that out, and you can meet her tomorrow when she gets back," Josie beamed as we stepped out of the cafeteria. "Don't worry, I won't tell her anything," she winked at me before disappearing behind the mounds of students, dragging Ryan with her leaving me all alone. Ryan gave me a small wave before he was trampled over by other students.

The rest of the day passed by painfully slow and every time I glanced at the clock it was like we'd gone back in time. Gym class was weird without Skyler and I found myself sulking around alone wishing she was here for the whole class while they played Capture the Flag. My team sucked and I had to rescue more people than I ever had before.

The whole afternoon I bounced around ideas in my head about what I wanted to do when I saw her again tomorrow. I could make a grand gesture, but somehow that just seemed corny. I had to do something to let her know that I was sorry, and that I would never lash out like that again. I wanted her to know that I would always listen to her, and be there for her. Not against her like I was yesterday.

The final bell of the day rang the same time my phone buzzed out a text. I picked it up, my heart rate speeding up a bit as I hoped that it would be from Skyler.

My stomach plummeted to the ground when I saw that it was from McKenna. She set the location and time for where we'd meet up to hang out — which had completely slipped my mind.

I sighed remembering how blind I'd been with McKenna. Even if Skyler trusted me, I would still be putting her in an uncomfortable situation if I went with McKenna. Or, I could end up leading McKenna on, to think we had a chance when we didn't. And after what Josie and Ryan said about what happened between her and Skyler, I didn't want to see her.

I drafted a text to tell her that I wasn't coming when my fingers stopped.

It would be a good thing to see if what Ryan and Josie said was true. I didn't want to make an ass of myself again, though I was almost a hundred percent sure they wouldn't lie to me.

I shoved my phone back into my pocket and got into my car. She had sent me the address to a bakery, not that I needed it anyway. McKenna and I used to go there all the time between seventh and eighth grade and I wasn't at all surprised she chose that place.

It was a short drive there though I found myself bathing in silence until I brought myself to turn on the radio. Whenever we drove together Skyler would play something and sometimes sing along obnoxiously. No matter how annoying it was, I hadn't realized how much it made our car rides. I'd never tell her I missed it though.

I parked my car on the side of the road that gave me an hour of free parking, but I was sure I wouldn't be staying any longer. Right as I walked into the bakery, I caught sight of McKenna perched at the corner booth we used to sit at when we were younger.

Nothing about the bakery changed. The menus were written on chalk boards, and the tiny round tables were littered around the store in the same formation as when I'd been here last time a couple years back.

Her eyes lit up when she saw me and she gave me a small wave as I made my way to her, weaving around a few empty tables and chairs.

I sat down across from her in the booth and we bathed in silence for a few moments. I couldn't believe that I never saw how she felt about me even now, two years later. But now that it had been pointed out to me, I couldn't unsee it.

"It's been so long. I can't believe this place has never changed," she started, beaming as she glanced around the bakery. "Look, they even still have the blackberry cheesecake you like so much."

"I don't really like that anymore," I almost cringed. I guessed two years is a long time, and enough time for someone to become another person.

"Oh, well I mean that's totally normal," McKenna's face fell slightly, but she covered it up with a smile again. "Remember that time when we spent the whole week here studying for our finals? And you spilled coffee all over the textbook," she laughed, reaching her hand over to brush my arm.

I moved my arm away from her touch quicker and with more force than I had intended, and she blinked at me in confusion. I returned her stare, a faint memory of me spilling my latte all over the science textbook replayed in my mind. I had to pay sixty dollars to replace it for the school. My dad had a fit writing that cheque.

I chuckled, "Yeah I do."

She laughed again, getting up from her seat. I eyed her as she sat down next to me on the booth, close enough that her shoulders were brushing against mine. I scooted away from her — not so subtly— pressing myself against the wall, furthest from her.

She twirled a lock of her blonde hair in her finger. "Yeah so Spain was amazing, the weather was beautiful and—"

"Look, McKenna. I'm not really here to catch up with you," I cut her off — with no remorse.

She took a deep breath. "Okay... then what do you want to talk about?" she asked curiously, leaning in closer and I leaned further away.

I sighed, planting my back even deeper into the wall. "What did you say to Skyler in the bathroom yesterday?"

"Why don't you ask your little girlfriend?" her lips twitched upwards into a sly smirk. I was slightly taken aback by her sudden change in demeanor.

"I want to hear it from you," I turned my body towards her for the first time she sat next to me.

She tilted her head, "Oh so now you're talking to me." There was an edge to her voice.

"Cut the shit McKenna. I have more important things to do," I growled.

"Then go do them," she smirked.

"What did you say to Skyler in the bathroom?" I repeated, gritting my teeth.

"I only told her the truth," she shrugged. "You two aren't gonna last, whether or not I'm here."

"McKenna, I don't like you. I never have and I never will. I love Skyler," I stated, my voice unwavering.

I stared into her hard eyes, suddenly wondering what happened to the girl that I had known a couple years back. McKenna had changed, whether I wanted to believe it or not. Maybe she'd always been like that, and I just didn't see it until now. "Maybe we can be friends again one day, but for now, leave my girlfriend and I alone."

Her icy blue eyes narrowed at me, her lips curled upward again. I felt like a wuss to feel my stomach twist at her smirk. "And what if I don't."

"I don't think your family got all the way to the top without taking some short cuts. We used to be friends remember? And you told me everything," I leaned closer to her and the smirk on her face disappeared within a second as she watched me with a perplexed expression, her jaw clenching.

I felt a rush of guilt run through me for using our past friendship like that, but I tried to shake it off. I didn't want her bothering Skyler or Ryan after this. "Now, if you'll excuse me."

McKenna scooted off the booth without objecting to let me out, moving almost robotically as she did. I gave her one last look, before exiting the bakery, catching a glimpse of her hopeless expression as she sank back down onto the booth, alone.

I had twenty four hours left before I had to meet Skyler at the airport. My mom's words from yesterday echoed in my head as I hopped into my car. I had found my happiness here, and as stupid and cheesy as I sounded, Skyler was a huge part of it.

That meant, I had less than twenty four hours to figure out how to make it up to her because I wasn't about to lose our relationship over a simple misunderstanding.

_______________________

|Skyler|

I stepped foot into the New York City airport, my duffel bag swinging over my shoulder, threatening to smack whoever got too close. The sun was already beginning to set, casting an orange glow over the airport. I looked just about as horrible as I could possibly look, dressed in a pair of jeans and an oversized sweater and I'd barely combed over my hair when I woke up.

What was the point, plane rides always made my hair flat anyways.

I followed the arrows towards the exit, smugly sauntering past the carousel and everyone standing impatiently waiting for their bags. Thankfully, I only had my one duffel bag, and I didn't have to wait ten years to get my luggage like everyone else.

I'd stuffed my bag to the max when I returned back to my parents' house for the night, filling it with pictures and some materialistic things that I had forgotten to pack when I first left for New York.

Being back at the house was weird to say the least, but it wasn't as depressing as I thought it would be.

It was eerily empty and every time I passed the kitchen, I almost expected to see my mom standing there, cooking dinner or breakfast. Her spirit was everywhere, in a good way. I slept in my mom's bed rather than my own, falling asleep quickly from the thought of the dream I had not too long before. I was determined to keep that promise for my mom and for myself.

I was going to live — free of guilt.

After an endless amount of turns, I finally made it to the exit and passed through the last set of gates. I stopped short in my tracks when I saw who was standing by the door. A sheepish smile was on his face and he held a large bouquet of flowers on one hand and his other hand tucked into the pocket of his jacket.

Aden.

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Hey all! Thanks for reading and do remember to vote, comment and share!!

And yay! Aden pulled through in the end it seems!

See you next chapter! (Just a couple more left!)

~SweetnessInTheSalt