All my throughout my relationship, I've always been worried about Gray ending our relationship and breaking my heart.

Never did it cross my mind that I'd be the one to hurt him. With each taunting second that passes after my previous words come out, my heart slices deeper at his deafening silence.

When I finally open the car door to step out, he speaks. "You're kidding, right?"

I remain silent because I don't trust myself to not take back my words at the sight of his broken face.

"Kelch?" His voice comes out as soft as a gentle caress.

I open the car door and walk out, unable to keep listening or seeing his face. Gray follows me, taking long strides. It doesn't take long for him to walk past me to stand directly opposite me.

He places his hands on my shoulders, his brows slanted in a frown. "Are you really going to do this to me now? I need you most, Kelch."

I push his hand away from my shoulders. My head turned down. " I really can't do this anymore. I don't want anyone else to get hurt."

"Anyone but me, right?" He scoffs, biting down on his lower lip. His voice is the softest I've ever heard it, and it does nothing but break my heart more.

"You know that's not what I meant."

"No! I don't know what you fucking mean. This is why I never wanted to let you know. I knew you'd just leave me like you are doing right now."

"Jay got shot! Aaron might still get shipped off to another country soon! Who the fuck is next? If ending things between us would make Luca leave our friends, then why can't we?"

Gray and I could get back together later in the future, but right now, our friends' happiness and sanity are what should matter most. They shouldn't be on a hit list just because they are friends with us. I know I'd never forgive myself if they get hurt because of me.

"You really think we dating is the reason they are still after me? That's the worst breakup line ever, Kelch. You always manage to surprise me every fucking time," His voice is icy, piercing into my heart with each word.

He glares at me, an unfathomable expression swimming through his deep ocean blue eyes as he turns away from me.

"You say that like I've always been the problem in the relationship. You cheated!"

His hands stop halfway on the doorknob, and he snaps to face me. His eyebrows are slanted in a sad frown, while his lips curl up in a contrasting quirky smirk. "You're never going to forgive me, are you?"

"I already feel bad enough about it! I don't need you to make me feel worse about myself. If you want to break up with me. Fine! I knew you wouldn't stay till the end anyway!"

He walks into the house, slamming the door with a bang. A few seconds later, he walks back out, storming towards his car.

"Where are you going?" I roll my eyes at him.

Ignoring me, he gets back into his car, speeding off into the night to God knows where.

~~~~~~~~~

The next morning I drag my legs down the stairs to breakfast. I had slept and cried off my pain yesterday but still didn't know if I had what it took to face Gray this morning.

The next morning only made my reality seem more shitty, pushing the words 'what have I done' further into my head.

Sheila places a plate of eggs and toast in front of me, all the while multitasking by helping Chloe with her last-minute assignment.

"You'll be driving to school with your dad and me. Gray left for school from Zyair's house," Shelia says with an apologetic smile.

He didn't come home last night?

I nod my head and eat my meal in silence.

Thirty minutes later, I walk into school, towards my locker when Elliot and Fawn run towards me so fast, you'd think a predator was chasing after them, a sharp panicked look on their faces.

This month had to be the worst month ever. I turn to them, placing my hands on my hips. "What now?" I ask.

Anytime someone runs, it could only mean something bad was happening or was about to happen.

My mind goes over the list, struggling to remember who was next on the list.

Ashley!

My eyes widen as I stare at the both of them. "Where's Ashley?"

Elliot leans on my locker, struggling to catch his breath. "She's fine, but Aaron.., " He trails off, placing a hand on his chest.

I'd have loved to tell him to work out more, so he wouldn't have to catch his breath every time he ran, but Elliot was skinny enough. But then again, skinny doesn't necessarily mean healthy.

"What happened?"

"Mr. Baker happened. He's here to take Aaron again, " Fawn replies.

All old people, except my dad, are annoying as hell.

"Aaron stayed in Zyair's house last night, and Mr. Baker is here to complain to the school, which he called 'a breeding ground for kids who sin, " Fawn says, a mocking tone in her voice as she said the word sin.

"And he's here to take Aaron to a more appropriate school," She adds in the same tone.

I already knew the type of person Mr. Baker was. We all did. Deep down, we all knew Mr. Baker would still take Aaron out of the country if he wanted to. We knew we were just stalling time, but I guess we couldn't defer any longer.

"What do we do?" Elliot asks, his pupils dilating as he searched my face.

"Where are they?"

"Last I saw, they were headed for the doors, " Fawn says, and my heart skips a bit, fearful we might have been too late.

I run through the halls with Elliot and Fawn following behind me, dashing out the school door.

There's a small crowd formed outside, and I push past the crowd, seeing Aaron with his back turned to us, walking towards a car.

I run towards him, engulfing him in a tight hug. Aaron hugs my waist, chuckling softly. "I thought I wouldn't see you before I leave."

My tears are threatening to spill at this point, unable to believe that Aaron was truly leaving. "We are supposed to graduate together. We've always wanted to walk on that stage and throw our middle finger at Mr. David. Can't we.." I trail off and hug him one more time, knowing fully well that we couldn't change Mr. Baker's mind.

"What did you do to my guy?" Aaron raises his brow at someone who was standing behind me, ignoring my previous words. "He didn't say what's going on, but I knew you had something to do with it."

I didn't bother to stare behind me, already aware of the presence behind me. "I'm going to miss you, " I say, ignoring his words like he did to me.

"He misses you already," Aaron folds his hands over his chest, his eyes darting between Gray and me.

I roll my eyes and run my hand through my hair. "Can we please just focus on you?"

"I'm leaving the country not dying," He laughs, looking around at the sympathetic faces staring back at him.

Elliot runs over to Zyair and Gray, who are standing a few feet from us, watching the scene unfold.

"Are you guys just going to watch him leave! Can't you do something!" His voice is loud yet shaky.

I watch as Gray gives Aaron one last stare before walking away. Zyair responds with a mock salute in Aaron's direction before walking back into school with Gray.

Not only was I surprised at how quickly they left, but also angry at how they shunned a heartbroken Elliot.

When Elliot comprehends that neither Gray nor Zyair could help, realizing the reality of the situation, he strides towards Aaron and hugs him.

Mr. Baker had one the most disgusted expression on his face, dragging his eyes away from Aaron and Elliot, walking towards his car.

Aaron drops his bag to the ground, throwing his arms over Elliot, squeezing his shoulders tightly.

A sniffing Ashley shows up next to me, intertwining her hands in mine, giving it a gentle squeeze as a consolation.

We stand there watching Elliot grab onto Aaron, hearing the soft sobs retch from their lips.

"This school is gonna be batshit bullshit without you," Elliot whispers with a small, miserable chuckle.

Aaron smiles and pulls away from the hug to kiss Elliot. "I'll miss you too, big guy," He says.

"Can't we do something to make you stay? Isn't there anyone we could call? This is not fair, " Elliot cries, clutching onto Aaron's hands.

"I'm leaving because I want to, babe. There's no point in fighting my father. I won't have a phone, but I can write to you every day?" Aaron volunteers with a little nervous eye brow raise.

"What's this? The 50s," Elliot laughs, smacking Aaron's shoulders.

They pull away, wiping their tears. "It could be. Are are we so sure the calendar is right," Aaron laughs.

Now wasn't the time for jokes. I couldn't even begin to explain the sorrow and heartache I feel at Aaron leaving the country. I couldn't help but feel like it was all my fault.

I had been getting the messages for the past few months but ignored it because I enjoyed spending time with Gray. The guilt keeps eating me up inside, reminding me why ending things with Gray was the better idea.

"I'm going to miss you, Baker, who can't bake, " Ashley punches Aaron's shoulders, and they both laugh.

I laugh in between my pain, recalling the first time Ashley and I spoke to Aaron. Ashley had convinced me to be friends with Aaron because he was a Baker. She thought we could get free cakes, not realizing that his last name was Baker, but he wasn't an actual Baker.

Imagine the shock seven-year-old Ashley felt when she found out Aaron couldn't do so much as boiling a bowl of water without scalding himself.

Aaron pulls Ashley and me closer, hugging us tightly, patting our backs with his slender palms. "Take care of my boys," he whispers in our ears.

He lets his eyes drag around the crowd, lingering on me for a second before smiling at Elliot. Aaron sticks his tongue out and raises both middle fingers in the air as he retreated towards the car.

"Fuck me, " Elliot mutters under his breath, running after Aaron and throwing his arms over Aaron's shoulders, hugging him from behind. "Can't we run away? Into the woods or somewhere?"

Aaron turns slowly. "Please don't ask me to stay. Leaving would be best for everyone. Trust me," he smiles. He looks at Ashley and me before running into his dad's car.

"Wait, " Elliot tries to run after him again. Ashley and I take that as our cue to grab onto Elliot, intertwining our arms with his, keeping him in place.

Mr. Baker starts the car, pulling out of the driveway, leaving with our Aaron.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ashley, Fawn, and I are at Desin's Ice cream with Elliot after school, attempting to make him feel better.

Elliot keeps stabbing his oreo overload cup with his spoon, a sour pout plastered on his face. "Do you think he's already in London?"

Ashley sighs and looks at her phone. "Well, it's almost six pm, so probably?" She turns to me for confirmation.

"How do we know if he's safe? We can't even talk to him," Elliot slouches his shoulders, his eyes glassy like his melted ice cream.

"Mr. Baker would get calls from his brother. Aaron is not a kid, so trust he'll be fine," Ashley replies.

Elliot heaves a deep sigh, raising his head to me. "You've been quiet. Is everything okay?"

My heart ached at him noticing my mood when he had issues of his own to take care of. I smile and shake my head. "Just missing Aaron, that's all."

Maybe Gray, too. My mind wanders, thinking of him and what he was doing at the moment.

My phone rings at that moment, interrupting my thoughts.

I pick it up, immediately recognizing the caller ID with Zyair's name. "Hey," I answer.

"Dove, bad news," his voice comes out hitched, in short breaths.

Instinctively I stand on my feet, fidgeting with my keys. Zyair's bad news meant BAD NEWS.

"How bad?"

"Gray is missing. He left school earlier this morning, and I've spent the entire day trying to find him all to no avail. It's getting late, and I'm fucking worried, Dove. He wouldn't disappear at such a time without telling me first."

My keys fall to the ground, and I struggle to pick it up. Ashley picks it up for me, wiggling the keys in my face. Her eyes widen when she sees the panicked look on my face. "What's wrong?" she mouths.

"When did you see him last?" I ask Zyair, ignoring Ashley's concerned facial expression.

"He left school after Aaron left."

"Okay, tell me where you are. I'll come-, "

"Dove. That's not all, " Zyair cuts me off.

Time almost stops at the moment with the amount of anxiety I feel running through me. Why couldn't God just let us be happy for a day or at least give us a break? Some time to recover from the consecutive bombs he keeps throwing our way.

"What is it?" I bit my upper lip, holding my breath, waiting for Zyair to speak.

"Aaron ran away."

••••••••••••••••••

A/n: Thank you all for being patient with me. I developed a major writer's block with this chapter, especially since I lost my documents.

I hope you enjoy this chapter. Don't forget to vote and comment❤️