I stood up as Violet drove up with my car.

   She smiled out the window. "Need a ride?"

   I walked over to the drivers side. She moved to the passenger seat as I got in.

   "So, what happened?"

   I rested my head on the steering wheel. "Well, everything was going great. We were talking and laughing, then she kissed me. But, she kinda freaked out after and drove off."

   "Wait, she kissed you?"

   I sighed. "It was mutual... at least I think it was."

   "So, you kissed her?"

   I started the car before turning to her. "I'd rather not talk about it right now."

   She nodded before looking out the window.

   After a silent car ride, I dropped Violet off and headed home.

   When I walked in, Diana and Jeremy rushed over. "Where have you been?" Diana asked, annoyance clear in her voice.

   "Not now, Diana." I replied as I tried to walk around her.

   She blocked my path and folded her arms. "Then when?"

   I exhaled slowly. "I don't know."

   "What happened? You look sad." Jeremy cut in.

   "You know, you're smarter than you look." I replied before walking past Diana and heading to my room.

   I closed the door and flopped down on my bed.

   'What'd I do wrong? I thought we were having a good time. Maybe it was just a heat of the moment thing. She probably regrets it...'

   I buried my face in my pillow and slowly fell asleep...

   The next morning, I walked into the kitchen. Diana looked up from the table as I approached.

   "Morning."

   I just nodded as I slowly walked to the fridge.

   She sighed. "What's wrong, Belle?"

   "Nothing." I replied as I pulled out a fresh beer.

   Diana stood up and snatched the beer from me.

   "Hey!" I said as I tried to take it back.

   She held it behind her back. "Not until you tell me what's going on."

   I shook my head and turned on my heel. "Fine, keep it."

   "Belle."

   I put my hand up and walked back to my room...

—————

A few days later, Violet and I strolled into our favorite bar. We took seats in the back and ordered some beers.

"How've you been?" Violet asked.

"To be honest, not great." I replied, taking a big swig from my beer.

"Look, I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation for what she did."

"Vy, she left me stranded outside of town."

She took a sip of her beer. "Fair point."

Before our conversation could go any further, the doors flew open and in walked Stacy. She glanced around before locking eyes with me and marching over to our table.

"What the hell did you do to her?" She asked angrily.

"Who?"

She rolled her eyes. "Eve. One minute she runs off with you, then the next she's ignoring everyone and everything. She hasn't shown up to class since that day."

I looked down. "Vy, can you give us a minute?"

Violet nodded before heading off to the bar.

I gestured to the empty seat in front of me and Stacy sat down.

I sighed before launching into my story. I told her everything, the crush, the kiss, being stranded. "...Then, she just drove off and I haven't heard from her since."

She rested her head in her hands. "I knew I shouldn't have let her run off with you."

"Hey, I didn't do anything wrong." I said defensively.

"I know, I didn't mean it like that."

"Oh, well, how did you mean it?"

She sighed before answering. "She was dating this girl a few years ago. She truly loved her, but she came home drunk one night and they ended up getting in this big fight. Unfortunately, she pushed Eve a little to hard, cracked her head on the door frame. She wound up in the hospital for a few days and ever since then, she has trust issues when it comes to relationships. She won't admit it, but she's afraid to put herself in that situation again."

"But, I would never do anything like that to her."

"I know and honestly, you're the first person since her ex that she's gotten close to in that sense. But, she's still broken up inside and I don't know if she'll ever be whole again."

I leaned back in my seat and stared at the table. "I know what you mean."

She glanced at me. "How?"

I sighed. "I was in a car accident when I was young... My dad was driving a-and he took his eyes off the road for one second, one goddamn second... That's when some asshole plowed right into the drivers side, killing my dad on impact... the doctors kept saying I was lucky, that if the circumstances were different, I would've been the one six feet under." I scoffed. "What the hell did they know anyway?"

She lowered her head. "Belle, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have pushed."

   A single tear rolled down my cheek.

   I wiped at it with my sleeve. "Don't worry about it."

   She nodded, but still didn't make eye contact.

   I sighed. "Look, just tell her I'd really like to talk to her. Ok?"

   She nodded again.

   I stood up and patted her shoulder. "Thanks for the talk."

   She gave me a small smile as I headed for the door, waving Violet over as I walked outside.

   After dropping her off, I headed home.

   Diana looked up from her paperwork as I walked in. "You ready to talk?"

   I just ignored her, heading straight for my room.

   I laid down on my bed and slowly drifted off to sleep...

~~~~~~~~~~

   I saw my dads car come to a stop in front of my friends house. I ran down the front steps and hopped into the passenger seat.

   He smiled. "You know, you don't look sick to me."

   I put my hand over my mouth and let out a small cough. "I am, see?"

   He just laughed before taking off down the street.

   A few minutes into our ride, we stopped at a red light. A song we didn't like came onto the radio.

   We looked at each other and he made a gagging noise.

   We laughed as he leaned forward to change the station. That's when I saw it.

   A pair of headlights came barreling down the street.

   I closed my eyes as they drove right into the side of our car.

   When I opened them, my dad sat dead in the drivers seat. Blood spilled down his face and his lifeless eyes staring a hole right through mine...

~~~~~~~~~~

   I shot up, wiping at the tears already running down my cheeks.

   But, I couldn't stop them, they just kept flowing.

   I slowly pulled my knees up and rested my head on them.

   Then, I felt a pair of arms wrap around me.

   "It's ok, Belle, just let it out."

   I wrapped my arms around Diana and let the tears flow free...