The second Jayden’s fingers wrapped around her wrist, he felt like has entire world snapped lacks forms. The warmth of her sin, the Iredie bed benemh–she was real. She was forking real
“Holy shit, Arianna,” he breathed, his voice cracking with a mixture of relief and dielief knew it. I know you emuddart be dead.”
When she turned around to face him, his heart nearly exploded.
She looked exactly the same as she had ten years ago–pale and delicate, Eke she might break if he held her too tight. Her dark hair was longer now, falling past her shoulders, but those brown eyes were unchanged. Still | kind, still capable of destroying him with a single look
“Jayden,” she said quietly, a tentative smile tugging at her lips. “This is unexpected.”
Before she could say another word, he rushed her against his chest so hard the made a small sound of surprise. He didn’t care if he was bring too intense, didn’t care if people were staring. He’d thought she was dead. He’d spent the last three days in absolute hell thinking he’d lost her forever.
“Why is everyone saying you died?” The words came out muffled against her hair, desperate and raw. “Why would they tell me that? Why would they make
me think-
He felt her go completely still in his arms, and when she pulled back to look at him, her eyes were swimming with tears
“Because I wanted to disappear,” she whispered, her voice so small he had to strain in hear her. “After everything that happened, after the trial people locked at me like I was polson. Like your dad died because I existed.”
Her lower lip trembled, and Jayden wanted to find every single person who’d ever made her feel that way and make them pay
“I couldn’t handle it anymore,” she continued, tears starting to spill over. “So let everyone think I was gone. I thought it would be easier for everyone, especially you”
“Taster for me?” Jayden’s voice cracked completely. “Jesus, Arianna, losing you was the worst thing that ever happened to me. Even when I was angry. even when I said those horrible things-”
“You had every right to hate me” she interrupted, her voice breaking. “I destroyed your family. I destroyed everything”
“No.” He cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to look at him. “Nu. you didn’t. What happened to my dad wasn’t your fault. I was eighteen and stupid and hurting, and I took it all out on you because I didn’t know how else to deal with it
Tears were streaming down her face now, and seeing her cry was Eike having his heart ripped our all over again.
*I missed you so much,” she sobbed. “Every single day for ten years, I missed you”
“Tuck,” he whispered, pulling her close again. I missed you too. I never stopped missing you
They stood there on the busy sidewalk, holding each other and crying like the broken teenagers they’d never really stopped being. People walked around them, probably thinking they were crazy, but Jayden didn’t give a shit. She was alive. She was here. Nothing else mattered
“Come on,” he said finally, taking her hand. “Let’s get out of here.”
The walk back to their old neighborhood felt surreal, Every street corner held memories–him walking her to school, both of them complaining about homework, making plans for a future they’d thought was guaranteed.
Her house was still dark and empty, so he brought her to his place instead.
“Sorry it’s soch a mess,” he said, suddenly self–ednscious. “I wasn’t exactly expecting company
sat on the edge of his couch like she might bolt at any second, and he realized she was prolubly post as overwhelmed as he was
“Can I get you something? Water? Coffee? He was rambling, nervous as hell I think there might be some of those cookies you used to like—”
“Jayden.” Her voice was soft but steady. “hast sit with me.”
He sat down next to her, close enough to touch but not quite brave enough to reach for her hand.
“How have you been he asked quietly. “Really, I mean Your health, your life…. everything *
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear–a gesture he remembered from a thousand reversatio
“Better,” she said. “I mean, I’m not cured or anything, but I’m stable. I went to school in California, got my teaching degree. I want to work with li
Of course she did. Even after everything, she still wanted to take care of prople,
“That’s amazing,” he said, and meant it. “Dut what brought you back here?”
Her expression faltered slightly. “My mom got sick, Frame back to help lier, and I just donkerp thinking I should leave, but something
always stops me.”
“Maybe you’re supposed to be here,” he said quietly
She looked at him then, really looked at him, and he saw the exact moment her gaze landed on the coffee cafe where her diary and 50 card were will
sitting
Her face went white.
“Oh God,” she whispered. “You.. you read it all, didn’t you?”
The shame hit him like a physical blow. “Arianna, I’m so sorry. I had no right to go through your private”
“It’s okay,” she said quickly, but her hands were shaking. “I mean, my mom sent them to you for a reason. I just.. I never thought you’d actually.”
“I didn’t. for ten years,” he admitted. “I was too much of a coward to open the package. I only found it when I thought you were-” He couldn’t finish the sentence
When you thought I was dead.” Her voice was matter of fact, but he could bear the hurt underneath.
“I was such an idiot,” he said fiercely. “I wasted ten years being too proud and too scared to admit that ]=”
“That you what?”
He looked at her–really looked at her–and saw the girl he’d fallen in love with when he was fifteen years old. The girl who’d tutored him in math and brought him soup when he was sick and loved him with a fierce, quiet devotion that he’d been too young and too stupid to fully appreciate.
“That I loved you,” he said simply. “That I’ve loved your
u since we were kids, and losing you nearly killed me
Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks,
but the was
www smiline now.
“Jayden,” she whispered, her voice soft and forgiving and full of more grace than he deserved, “I could never blame you for anything”
