The next morning. Ariassa posted up at their usual corner like some pathetic stalker, chang pendayes like a peace offering
When Jayden finally approted, she practically threw herself in front of him
Tatry, you missed calculus and AT it yesterday. I wrme down everything for you all the important stuff for finals
Her voice came out way too eager, too desperate. She hated how she sounded.
Jayden stopped and actually looked at the notebook for une insane second. Arianus theight maybe
He flicked lighter open and toured the lame to the corner of bile notes.
“No” The word ripped out of her throat as she watched hom of her careful work catch fire. He held the ring notebook for a few seconds, Inting the flames really take hold, before dropping it on the sidewalk like a piece of garbage.
His smile was pure cruelty. “Did you seriously think I’d still want to go to college with you? That I’d want to be anywhere near you for another four years?”
The words hit her like a punch to the gut. She actually staggered hackward.
They’d planned their whole fature together–same school, maybe even the same dorm Jaylen had been studying his ass off for the first time in his life, all because of their stupid teenige promise to never be apart.
Now she was watching that dream literally burn at her feet.
“I just Her voice cracked. She pressed a hand to her chest where it felt like something was tearing apart. “Thought maybe for your mom’s sake, you’d want to keep your grades up-”
“My mom?” Jayden’s laugh was like broken glass. He lit a cigarette with shaking hands. “My mom’s in a psych ward, Arianna She sits in her room all day talking to my dead father like he’s still there. The doctors say she might never come back from this.”
Each word was a knife twisting deeper. Ariana felt tears burning her eyes, her throas closing up
“She was supposed to help me move into my dorm this fall,” he continued conversationally, like he was discussing the weather. “Now she can’t even remember to eat unless someone reminds her. So tell me how exactly is studying supposed to help with that?”
“Jayden, I’m so sorry-
“Save it.” He stepped over the ashes of her notes, grinding them into the concrete with his heel. “Just fucking save it.”
Arianna stood there long after he’d disappeared around the corner, watching the wind scatter the burnt pieces of paper. Her chest hurt so bad she could barely breathe.
By the time she made it to school, Jayden’s desk was empty again. Third day in a row,
Madison Walsh, queen bee of their graduating class, made sure everyone heard her opinion: “He can’t even stand being in the same building as het anymore. Can you blame him? She got his dad murdered and now she just acts like nothing happened. It’s psychotic.”
The words bit Arianna like a physical blow. She slumped in her seat, her vision going spotty around the edges
Maybe they were right. Maybe the should just… disappear. Make everyone’s life easier.
During lunch, she sent him a text with trembling fingers: If seeing me makes school unbearable, transfer. Just please don’t give up on your future because of me.
Her phone stayed silent.
That afternoon, they called all seniors to the gym for graduation photos.
Arianna almost didn’t go. What was the point? But something made her drag herself down there anyway
And there he was
12:00
Almost in Love with You Before That Cruel Summer Took Every his
Jayden stood near the back of the crowd, sporting a fresh Black age and iplix lip. Her heart drie had so hard.
He was destroying himself, and it was all her fault.
When they lined everyone up for the class photo, Arianna automatically started moving inward their mal spot–front and centar, where m In every school picture since kindergarten.
Then she caught herself
“We’ll be in all the same pictures forever, he’d promised her more, grinning that crooked smile that made her stomach flip. “High school, college, cu wedding photos–you’re stuck with me, Anna.”
Now she pressed herself into the far left corner of the front row while he took his place in the hack right. The entire senior class stood been them.
This would be their last photo together. Ever.
After the group shot, everyone swarmed Jayden for individual pictures. Even people who’d never spoken to him wanted a photo with the tragic bery who’d lost everything
Arianna didn’t join the crowd. She had no right.
Instead, she waited until one of the photographers finished with a group of cheerleaders
“Excuse me,” she said quietly, her voice barely audible. “Could you take a picture of past me?”
She needed something nice. Something her mom could use when.. after
The man positioned her by the windows where the natural light was best Arianna tried to smile, but her face felt like it was made of plastic.
After reviewing the shots on his camera, she pointed to the least terrible one. “This one. Could you print it 12 by 167
The photographer’s face went white. “Honey, that’s that size is usually for…” He couldn’t finish the sentence.
Arianna’s smile felt like it was cracking her face in half. “I know exactly what it’s for
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
She spun around so fast she nearly lost her balance.
Jayden was standing right behind her, his face a mask of fury and something that looked almost panic.
Tuneral photos? His voice was deadly quiet now
“Are you out of your goddamn mind?”
