goodmorning

isn't today like our third date?

mhm

you're very good at counting

your sarcasm is well appreciated

when am I ever sarcastic?

pfft that's what I thought! Then bam! Second date and you drop that sarcastic "okay"

I was not being sarcastic

were too

were not

good English babe

thanks

that wasn't a compliment

to bad boo you

boo you?

you're so innocent and it's cute

speaking of innocent

oh god

oh god, no virginity questions

ew

it was Sky, wasn't it?

God no

I couldn't even get to first base

besides your lack of love from somebody

I have a serious question

okay

Would you come to church with me this Sunday?

what?

well my parents want you to come

we usually get breakfast/ lunch afterwards at the diner down the street

church?

I'm not sure

why?

I'm fairly sure you'd see the flames appear as I enter the building

ha-ha very funny

you only have to go once

but I won't force you though

you'll get a kiss and food if you go

plus an A from my parents

so tempting

I'll stick my bottom lip out

fine I'll go gosh

just because you're so cute

thank you thank you

have you talked to Sky?

no

why not?

because I have you

such a romantic answer

you should talk to her

no

I'm showing you that I've moved on

it's us

Sky is not in the picture

"proving" doesn't mean ignoring her

proving is being able to look at me and her and say you've moved on

and I can

yeah yeah

so on Sunday should I drive myself or....

you can drive yourself if you feel more comfortable

okay

we can go elsewhere after breakfast

where is elsewhere?

idk probably the mall?

sound great

oh, don't forget about the campus tour tomorrow

I almost forgot, ok

**

"Glad you could make it, Alex" Scarlett whispers. "Who makes a campus tour at noon in a Saturday?" I huff, adjusting my shirt. "Especially when it's a five hour drive across Pennsylvania."

"Carnegie did," she smiles. I roll my eyes and pull my pants up. I'm tired as hell because of the long drive.

"Are you still coming to church tomorrow?"

I hand my head back. "Yeah, I guess." Scarlett tugs on my arm. "You didn't have to."

"I want to for you." What the hell am I getting so cliché?

"Well that's so sweet of you, Alex."

"I know I'm adorable," I whisper. The guide keeps giving us disgust looks as she talks and points out stupid things that nobody will use.

"And here's the lunch area, cafeteria, or whatever you'd like to call it. They offered food for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner," The guide points to the different direction to grab food and tables. She also goes on the nearest food places.

"Shall we see the dorm now?" The guide claps her hand together. Everybody is just kind of mumbles and she nods her head. This was so stupid. Why did I sign up for this? I feel so awkward being here. I don't think I'm ready for this realization and that everything is going to be different in just a little over three months. High School, Kyle, Taylor, Sky, and everyone will be apart of some separate world. Like High School was some weird votex and somehow everything was just a dream.

Am I ready to be so far away from everybody? I mean, five hours isn't that bad, but I won't be home for certain amount of time. I should apply for the young composer competition in Los Angeles because being a composer is actually my dream but mom wasn't so sure I'm gonna win that competition and that is why I'm stuck in here. I'll be in school for four days a week and studying the other three days. I'll probably only see my mom on good weeks or holidays. Sky will be a senior and I won't be there. Will I? Will I see her graduate? I mean, she's going to see me graduate. Right? She'll be there, I'm sure if it.

"Are you okay, Alex?" Scarlett whispers, reaching for my hand.

"Yeah, this is just a bit, weird," I sigh.

"You and me? Or the tour?"

"The tour. I'm not sure I'm ready for this, Scarlett," I exhale. "I'm gonna go."

"Okay, Alex. If you're uncomfortable." I nod and wait for the tour guide to turn her back. As soon as she turns her back, I let go of Scarlett's hand and walk back towards the exit. I just need to breathe. I need to just go home and pretend this didn't happen. I need these next three months to just avoid this. Avoid moving here and settling into a different life for the next four years. A life that I'm not sure I'm ready for. I can barely do psychology as it is and my mom wants me to get a degree in it? I don't know what to do. I just want everything to slow down for a damn second.

And now I have to prepare myself for church tomorrow. Church with Scarlett? Are you serious? I don't want to go with her but I want to make Scarlett and her parents happy. The one thing Sky never did was ask me to do something she knew I would be weird about.

I just miss Sky and I don't know what to do. If Sky was here she'd probably tell me to suck it up. She'd say that this is just another thing that everyone has to go through. Sky wouldn't hold my hand, she'd smack my face. Sky wouldn't encourage me, she'd make me laugh.

**

[

"The tour was amazing!" I smile. "I really enjoyed seeing the college for the first time."

"Really? That's great. I look forward to seeing you in the fall," The guide shakes my hand. I feel bad that Alex left and missed the rest of the tour. I understand though, it's quite hard to transition from High School to College. I'm sure by the time graduation comes around he'll be ready. It just seems weird at this point. I just want him and support whatever decision he has.

I almost regret asking him to come to church with my family and me. I didn't think he's be that worried about it. I thought it'd be a nice bonding experience with him and my parents. My parents are a little judgemental about Alex's "image" and they wanted him to have a religious experience. I thought it was quite ridiculous, but I asked anyways. I know he only said yes to make me happy and I appreciate it.

"Scarlett Jane Markley!" Alex yells.

"Alexander Dwayne Follese," I mumble as he walks up to me. "What are you still doing here?"

"I didn't want to just leave you here. I wanted to know how the rest of the tour was," he smiles. His smile is so cute.

"It was awful without you," I stick my bottom lip out.

Alex frowns. "I'm sorry, babe."

"A kiss would totally make this better."

"It would," he raises his eyebrow. "So what are you waiting for?" I huff mockingly.

"Tonight, obviously."

"Tonight?" I don't remember us making plans for tonight.

"I was hoping we could go on our fourth date."

"Oh.." I rub my chin. "Okay." Alex smiles and hugs me before grabbing the keys out of his pocket.

"I'll see you tonight then."

"You mean as soon as I get home?" I raise my eyebrow.

"Pretty much. It's going to be about seven when we get home." I groan. I'm so not ready to sit in the car for five hours. I'm so glad in a few months I won't have to drive five hours to get here. I'll live here.

"We'll see you then, Follese." I smile.

**

I should go. It's not too late. I can get in my car, turn around and go to church. I'll only be a few minutes late. She'll understand. I'll just say I was stuck in traffic or I was having some issues this morning. She'll understand.

I can't believe I skipped church when I promised I'd be there. I feel like shit, but I still want to go. I can't leave when I'm here.

I just need to know that it's over. I need to see her and know that there's no hope for us. That I'm making the right decision by being with Scarlett.

I knock twice on the door. It's probably too early for Sky and her parents. I should come back later, but I need to talk to her now.

"Son! We haven't seen you in a few weeks," Sky's dad smiles.

"You owe me three weeks of allowance, Dad."

Her dad chuckles lightly and opens the door for me. I step inside and he closes the door.

"I think Sky may be asleep, but you can go upstairs and annoy her," he shrug. I nod and head towards the stairs.

I really hope she's awake. I just need to talk to her. I knock on the bedroom door, but I get no response. Should I knock again?

"Ugh, Dad. It's Sunday, can't I sleep in a bit?" I hear Sky yell.

"Um, Sky? It's Alex."

I hear some muffled noises before it goes quiet. After a minute the door swings open.

"What the fuck are you doing here? I'm half naked on a Sunday morning enjoying my bed and you show up. Satan isn't supposed to show up until Monday morning, get out." Sky wraps the blanket around her a little tighter and I'm trying so hard to cover my smile.

"Okay. Well, Satan's ahead of schedule, so can I come in?"

"No! I'm half naked you bastard, give me a minute." She slams the door and I nod my head. I wonder if her parents have to go through this on daily basis. I'd feel so bad for them if they do.

A few minutes have gone by. Did she escape through the window? Is she playing dead? Should I knock again?

"Why are you here, Alex?" The door opens once more.

"I came to see you."

"Why?"

"I just, couldn't stop thinking about you and I wanted to talk." She rolls her eyes and walks back to her bed. I'll take that as my cue to follow her.

"I don't want to talk to you, Alex."

"Why?"

"You rejected me," she shrugs.

"Sky, I'm sorry," I whine. I take a seat on the bed beside her and she groans.

"Fine. Whatever. Just say what's on your mind and leave."

Why am I here? I don't even know what I want to say other that I have no fucking clue what I want to say. I just know that everything seems so weird now-a-days and when I'm with Sky it doesn't feel strange. Or at least, it didn't feel strange. It kind of feels strange right now.

"I don't know if I'm ready for everything," I run my fingers through my hair.

"Everything? Well of course you're not ready for everything. You're too young to become a Dad."

"You're so unhelpful, Skylar."

She flips her hair. "I know, right?"

"I'm just scared about college and moving. I don't know if I'm ready to be on my own and away from everyone here."

"If I had a chance to escape this shit-hole, I would in a heartbeat."

"Yeah?"

"I know you must feel differently since everybody loves you here in high school land. Some of us aren't beloved high school royalty, though. So, what's the real reason you're here?" she raises an eyebrow.

"Everything I do just brings up something about you. I can't do anything without thinking of what you'd have to say about it or what you'd be doing right now. I miss you and it sucks. I like Scarlett a lot, but you're always there in the back of my head. I just miss you." I sigh.

"Alex, I'm glad you moved on. You deserve better and Scarlett seems really nice and shit. Personally, I can't fucking stand her and her perky attitude, but whatever float your boat, Sky rests her hand on my knee and I suddenly feel like shit. I thought that if I had come here, she'd jump all over me and kiss me. I would've taken her right now.

Okay, I wouldn't. Her parents are downstairs and I'd never forgive myself. I'd go down there be like, "you might be expecting grandkids in ten months, oops." I'd hug them and be like "Yay, mom and dad! We're family now! More than we were before!"

I always kill my turn-on's with my awkward personality.

"Alex?"

"Oh, sorry. I was just thinking about what I'd tell your parents if we have babies-" Why did I just say that?! Shit, Alex. You're so bad at this.

"What?" She snorts. "You were thinking about us having babies when I was telling you to be with Scarlett?"

"No, I mean," I rub my forehead. "I wasn't thinking about that. I was just,"

"I mean, I know you almost saw me naked but calm down bruh."

"This was just embarrassing for me. I'm going to go," I sigh. I stand up and re-adjust my shirt. I hate wearing tuxes.

"Wait, one last question," she points to my clothes. "What the hell are those you wearing? Did you come here to ask for my hand in marriage?"

"No," I groan. "I was supposed to be at church."

Sky starts laughing really hard.

"You? Church? Satan's probably laughing too."

"I know, I know," I shakes my head. "It was Scarlett's idea."

"So why aren't you at church?"

"I couldn't. I needed to see you," I frown.

"And did you get what you wanted? Obviously not because you're not telling my parents that I'm expecting" he start laughing again.

"Shut up," I huff. "I don't think I got the answer I was expecting. But I realize you're right, I guess. It's time to move on."

"Yeah," she frowns.

"But I'll always love you, Sky."

"I'll always hate you too, Alex."