Andie's POV:
At first, I was too shocked to cry. But now... I've been crying non-stop for the past two hours. I've cried so much that I think I've finally shed all the tears I possible can. I've been up against this wall for far too long and finally pull myself together, starting to make my way home.
All I've been doing is pulling apart the memories of Cole and me, trying to see if I could spot anything suspicious.
I remember assuming he had something up his sleeve when he was moved near me in Health class. He actually tried speaking, more like flirting, when he found out I was related to Josh. But after how he acted around me I ruled it out pretty quickly.
Well of course he acted like that, stupid. It was part of it all.
I drag my feet against the gravel and maybe thirty minutes later, maybe more, I'm finally on my street. Pulling my phone out my pocket, I check the time to see school finishes in ten minutes. That gives me fifteen minutes to prepare myself to speak to another person.
My eyes burn and I wouldn't be surprised if I look like something out of the walking dead. Shoving my phone back in my pocket, I look up and stop in my tracks.
What is he doing here?
He's over to me in a flash and I walk fast, hoping I can get my keys out of my bag and slam the door in his face before he has the chance to speak to me. He grabs my hands and spins me around to look at him. Just looking him in the eyes is enough to turn the pieces of my broken heart into smithereens.
I pull my hand out of his grip and he speaks. "Princess, I beg you, just hear me out. I can explain everything." It looks like desperation on his face and I want to scream at myself for nearly going up to him, kissing him then and there. But I remind myself of what he did. To me.
He's a liar.
"What's there to be said, Cole?" My voice is croaky and it hurt my throat to even speak.
"I-I know that I lied to you but it's not like that I promise you. I admit it was my first plan but it'sâ"
"It's a bunch of lies," I interrupt, "You lied to me. All along." My voice cracks and I tear my gaze from his, rummaging through my bag for my keys.
Come on, come on, come on.
"No just listen to me, it all changed straight away. You know what? That 'plan' meant shit. I just wanted to spend time with you. I never lied to you about how I feel, I lâ." This time someone else cuts in and I couldn't be more thankful.
"What's going on here?" Josh and Mia must've pulled up and I didn't even realise. All my attention was on the guy who's just broken my heart. Seeing him feels like I'm being stabbed in the stomach.
Thank god I didn't tell him I loved him.
Fuck.
The watch. My grandfather's watch... I dropped it back at school.
"Nothing is going on. I'm going inside and Cole's leaving." I try my best to look at him but I just can't seem to do it so I settle for the floor instead and I spot what Cole's wearing on his wrist.
Stab.
Stab.
One for my stomach. One for my heart.
If he's got the watch that means he's read the letter. Christ, why did I write a stupid fucking letter?
I'm about to demand he takes it off but Cole speaks.
"Princess, come on, please." He begs and I try my best not to look at him. I look up.
Goddammit. You just can't help yourself can you.
"I don't want to speak to you." My voice cracks again and I quickly spin around, putting the key in the door. Before I can slam it behind me, Cole strides over and puts his foot there to block it.
"What did you do?" Josh asks and turns to Cole with an angry expression.
"It doesn't matter, he's just leaving," I say.
"No, I'm not. I'm not going anywhere because you need to listen to me. Please."
Don't you dare, Andie.
He lied remember?
He doesn't deserve to be listened to.
"He used me to get to you. He was scheming behind my back the whole time now, please... Just make him go." I whisper and Cole's face drops.
"I wasn't scheming. It wasn'tâisn'tâlike that and deep down you know it." Josh's fist crashes into Cole's jaw and my chest aches.
"Stop!" I shout straight away. Who even knew I still had it in me to shout. "Just tell him to leave. That's all I want." I walk inside, slamming the door behind me after I see Josh respect my wishes, surprisingly stepping back.
I stand still and when the door opens, Mia's standing in its place, I catch parts of what they're saying.
"Fucking hit me again. Please," He begs. "I deserve all of it."
"I'm not gonna hit you again, dick."
"I fucking deserve it. But I wouldn't purposely hurt her. I never used her. If she just listens to me for two seconds I can tell her. I can say it back. I need to say it back. I can say I fucking..."
The door slams just when Cole says the last part so I miss it. Disappointment flowing through my veins.
What was he going to say?
Mia just pulls me into a hug and after a while, I pull away. "Right now I don't want to speak about it. Just let me have a few moments by myself, please?" I ask and she reluctantly nods.
I slowly walk up the stairs and once I reach my bed, my lip starts to quiver. Not again... Please not again.
I want it to stop.
Someone knocks the door and I nearly miss it. I quickly wipe my eyes when I hear the door creaking open.
"Please, Mia. I saidâ"
"It's not Mia." It's Josh.
"What?" I mumble.
"I think you should speak to him. Just hear him out." I look at him in disbelief. Since when did he defend Cole. Especially now he knows he used me as a weapon to get to him.
I surprised he hasn't served me the classic 'I told you so.'
"Just get out," I whisper and the anger starts to settle in.
"What? No."
"I SAID GET OUT!" I shout and Josh finally takes the hint, leaving me by myself. I wrap my duvet around me and I hope that sleep consumes me soon. Because if I'm asleep the pain goes.
I hope anyway.
*****
It's been a week. One whole week since I spoke to him.
7 days.
The equivalent of 168 hours.
The equivalent of 10,080 minutes.
And as those seven days went on, I've yearned for Cole's arms to be wrapped around me even more. I see him at school but he doesn't try and speak to me. As much as I miss him, I don't want to speak to him yet.
Stop lying. Of course, you do.
Just hear him out already.
What I forgot to mention is I've spent this time confused out of my mind, not sure what I even want anymore.
Not what! Who!
Him! That's WHO you want!
He catches me staring all the time. Embarrassing, I know. Just looking at him makes my heart, what's left of it, scream for me to just speak to him but I stop every time because I wouldn't be able to handle him saying he doesn't want me anymore.
If he did he would at least fight for me, right?
I hate myself for still loving him even if I basically heard him admit that he used me. I should hate him but I can't. I want to. God, I want him to hate him... It would make this all so much easier but I just can't.
I've been dying to speak to my mum about all of this so that's why I've decided I'm going to pack my mother's things up from the house. Maybe that way I can connect to her somehow.
Nadia and Mark said I can skip school today, Friday, to do it and luckily, I miss out on both English and Health. It's been just a bit awkward being sat next to Cole this past week.
'Just a bit awkward' is a massive understatement. And it really tested my self-control.
"Are you sure you're ready to do this? You can wait, you know." Nadia asks just as I'm about to head out of the front door.
"Yeah," I say nodding, "I think I might be." She puts her arms out and I walk into them.
"Call me if you want me to come down and help, okay? Or if it gets too much and you need someone to just be there for you." She says softly and I smile appreciatively.
"I will, I promise."
I close the door behind me and lean against it, taking a deep breath before walking to my car. I turn the radio on in hopes it will calm my nerves for the rest of the journey.
Let's go home.
Cole's POV:
Where the hell is she today? Is she okay? Is she sick?
I've tried giving her space all week and fuck... My heart aches just at the sight of her every day. Who knew loving someone could hurt so goddamn much?
I tap my pencil against my desk and my stomach churns just by the thought that she isn't here. After what feels like a whole pissing decade, the bell goes and I'm out of the class before anyone else.
I don't even know why I put myself through that torture, I only started showing up to my lessons because of her.
I have to find Josh. How times have changed... Josh has been filling me in all week and even tried to convince Andie to speak to me. He's the only source I have on trying to check in on her.
Who would've thought that he'd be helping me while I tried to plot a way to win back his cousin.
When I spoke to him last I just said I loved her and he must've related with the what went down with Mia and him.
I scan the halls and see Josh and Mia walking together. No sign of Andie though. I jog over, telling people to move the fuck out of the way and stop right in front of them.
"Where's Andie? Is she okay?" Jesus Christ Cole, way to sound like a fucking stalker.
Mia glares at me and I shift uncomfortably. Because Mia is staring at me like she wants to chop my head off? God no, I couldn't give two shits. Just Andie suddenly not showing up for school has me paranoid as fuck.
"She's not in school today." Josh answers.
Well no shit sherlock. I could've told you that myself.
"Is she sick? I've tried giving her space as you said but it isn't working. I can't do it anymore." Mia's face looked surprised so I presume he hadn't filled her in on the part with helping me out. She tries to cut in but Josh rests his hand on her back as if to say 'I got this'
"No she's not at home, she's gone to her houseâher old houseâto pack her mother's things."
"And you let her go alone?" I raise my voice slightly, trying to keep my anger at bay. They must know what she's like when it comes to her mother. She needs someone to be there if she's going to do this.
I want to be that someone.
I need to be that someone.
"You shouldn't have said that," Mia whispered to Josh and I ignore it.
"What's the address. I'm going there." I demand.
"If I didn't know how it feels to fuck something like this up, I wouldn't tell you. But it's..."
Once he tells me the address I quickly thank him and get in my car as quickly as I can. The engine comes on and I'm speeding out the school's parking lot, hoping we can sort this out.
That I can have Andie back because I'm dying without her. It sure feels like it anyway.
I'm coming, Andie...
>>>>>>
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
WE'RE SO CLOSE TO 30K OMG! tysmð How are you guys?ð
Please Comment, Vote and Follow My Pageð
P.S: I have a instagram account where I post edits (usually after, tvdu, obx etc) and occasionally book edits. It's @aftertvd so if you're interested, be sure to check it out! You can dm on there if you want as well â¤ï¸