Chapter Seventeen: Breaking Point

The days had grown heavier for Faye. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was slipping between her and Edward, no matter how much she tried to ignore it. His presence was still there, but it was like he wasn't really there—a mere shadow of the person she had come to rely on.

Lunchtime was always the worst. Faye had gotten used to seeing him across the cafeteria, walking in with his siblings, his dark eyes scanning the room until they landed on her. That was their routine. But today, there was no sign of him. She told herself she shouldn't care, but the emptiness in the seat beside her felt too real.

She kept herself busy with a conversation with Ava, her best friend oblivious to the emotional storm brewing inside her. They chatted about school, life, and everything in between, but Faye's mind kept drifting. She glanced toward the door, as though expecting Edward to walk in at any moment. But he didn't.

Later that day, during the few minutes she had between classes, Faye caught sight of Edward in the hallway. But something about him was off. His eyes, usually warm and intense, were distant, his jaw set in a way that suggested he was holding something back. The way he walked past her without so much as a glance stung, even though she knew he was doing it intentionally.

She couldn't ignore it anymore.

The space between them felt like a chasm, widening with every passing hour. The person who had once been so close, so in reach, now felt out of her grasp.

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After school, Faye did the only thing she could think of—she made her way to her favorite place. The old, hidden trail that led to the meadow was her sanctuary, a place where she could clear her head and make sense of things. As she walked, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that things between her and Edward were starting to fall apart.

When she reached the meadow, she sank onto the soft grass, taking in the familiar surroundings—the wildflowers, the rustling trees, the cool breeze that always seemed to soothe her. Faye pulled her phone from her pocket, tapping through a few screens to distract herself. But it didn't work. The only thing on her mind was Edward.

How had it gotten this bad? When had things shifted so dramatically? One moment, they were talking easily, sharing quiet moments with a natural ease that she had never experienced before. And now... now, it felt like she was chasing him, like she was the one doing all the work to keep their connection alive.

She sighed, her fingers tracing the edge of the screen. Her mind wandered, and for a moment, she almost wanted to blame herself. Maybe she had pushed too hard, given too much of herself too quickly. But no. She knew better than that. This wasn't about her. It was about him.

Faye's thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice. She hadn't heard Jaxon approach, but there he was, standing at the edge of the clearing, a quiet smile on his face. He was the one person who always seemed to make her feel at ease, even when everything around her felt like it was falling apart.

"Mind if I join you?" Jaxon asked, a hint of mischief in his voice as he moved closer.

"Of course not," Faye replied, motioning to the space beside her.

He sat down, his presence immediately comforting. They had known each other forever—long before Faye had started spiraling into this confusion about Edward.

After a beat, Jaxon raised an eyebrow. "You look like you've got a lot on your mind."

Faye hesitated, then decided she needed to talk to someone—someone who wasn't wrapped up in the mess of her feelings for Edward.

"It's Edward," she said quietly. "Something's off. I can feel it, and it's driving me crazy."

Jaxon nodded, not one to push for details, but she knew he was listening. He'd always been a good listener.

"I don't get it," Faye continued, her voice tinged with frustration. "One minute, everything is fine. The next, he's pulling away. It's like I'm chasing after him, trying to figure out why he's suddenly so distant."

Jaxon leaned back slightly, his arms crossed over his chest as he considered her words. "Maybe he's dealing with something... personal?"

"Maybe," Faye muttered. "But I don't know. He won't talk to me. He's shutting me out, and I don't even know why." Her hands balled into fists in her lap, as if she could somehow hold onto the answers she was searching for by gripping them so tightly.

"I've never seen you like this," Jaxon said softly, his voice taking on a rare seriousness. "You care about him a lot, don't you?"

Faye hesitated. "Yeah, I do. But it's not just that." She paused, her gaze falling to the ground. "I don't want to lose him. I don't want him to push me away without knowing why. I can't just... let it happen. I need to know what's going on."

Jaxon was quiet for a moment. "You can't control what he does, Faye. But if you feel like something's wrong, you have to talk to him. I mean, what do you have to lose?"

Faye frowned, the weight of his words settling into her chest. "I don't know. What if he doesn't want to talk? What if he doesn't care?"

"He cares," Jaxon said firmly. "But sometimes, people are afraid of what they feel. They push others away because they don't want to hurt them, or they think they can't handle it." He looked at her then, his expression thoughtful. "You're strong, Faye. If this means something to you, then you've got to fight for it. But don't let him shut you out without knowing why."

Faye nodded slowly, grateful for Jaxon's steady presence. He wasn't telling her what she wanted to hear, but he was giving her the clarity she needed.

"I'm going to talk to him," she said with newfound determination. "I'm not going to let him shut me out."

Jaxon gave her a small smile, his usual easygoing demeanor returning. "Good. Just... don't let it get too complicated, okay? You deserve someone who's going to fight for you, too."

Faye didn't respond immediately, but she knew he was right. She couldn't keep dancing around this, couldn't keep letting Edward pull away without finding out why.

She stood up, dusting off the grass from her clothes. "Thanks, Jax. I really needed to hear that."

"Anytime," he said, getting to his feet as well. "Good luck."

Faye smiled at him as he walked away, her mind clearer now than it had been all day. She knew what she had to do. It wasn't going to be easy, but she couldn't let the distance between her and Edward grow any wider. She was going to confront him, face the unknown, and find out where they really stood.

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The rest of the evening passed in a blur for Faye. As the day turned into night, she found herself standing outside Edward's house. Her heart hammered in her chest, but she couldn't back down now. This had to happen.

The door opened before she could knock. Edward stood there, surprise flashing across his face when he saw her.

"Faye?" he asked, his voice tentative, like he wasn't sure how to react.

"I need to talk to you," Faye said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. She stepped inside, not waiting for an invitation.

Edward followed her in, his usual warmth absent as he closed the door behind her. "What's going on?" His voice was quiet, unsure.

Faye turned to face him, her resolve firm. "Why have you been avoiding me?"

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