Prologue
Brianne’s P.O.V.
I did it. I finally graduated high school, and in the fall I’ll be going to the community college not far from home. I love our little town, Raven Falls, and I wanted to stay close to home and my mom. My dad died when I was six from a freak accident. He was leaving for work when strong winds caused a branch from a tree in our front yard to fall on him before he could get into his car. My mom had that tree and all of the others in our yard cut down soon afterward. She was devastated after he died and has never remarried. She’s gone on a few dates, but nothing panned out.
I look in the mirror and comb my long, reddish-brown hair. I typically wear it in a braid or ponytail, but I want to look nice tonight. I’m even going to wear a tight black skirt, a green shirt, and black boots rather than my typical jeans and t-shirt. I want everything tonight to be perfect. I give myself one last look in the mirror before walking downstairs.
Tonight is the senior bonfire on the lake. The town does this for the graduating class every year. Troy was going to pick me up, but I told him I would meet him there. He’s my best friend. At least he is right now. Tonight I plan to tell him that I want to be more than friends. I just hope he doesn’t laugh at me or tell me he doesn’t share my feelings.
“Wow, you look beautiful,” my mom says when I reach the kitchen. She hugs me and kisses my cheek.
“Thanks, Mom. I figured I should start dressing like a woman, not a kid.” I haven’t told her about Troy. I haven’t told anyone because if things don’t go well, I don’t want anyone to know I was rejected. I look at my phone when it buzzes. It’s a text from Troy.
Are you coming? It’s boring here without you. I smile as I send my reply.
Leaving now. See you in a few minutes. I slide my phone into the pocket of my skirt.
“Have fun, sweetheart,” my mom says as she gives me another hug.
“I will. See you later.” I go outside and get into my car while thinking about Troy. He’s tall with blonde hair. He played baseball in high school, so he’s muscular, and he really filled out this past year, putting him on the radar of several girls in our school. However, he never paid them any attention. I have secretly hoped it was because he had feelings for me.
It only takes me a few minutes to drive to the lake. It’s already packed. I find a parking spot and look at myself in the mirror before getting out of the car. I smile at a few people I know, but I’m only looking for one person. I reach the bonfire and don’t see Troy anywhere. I begin walking around it to the otherside and stop in my tracks at what I’m greeted with.
Troy is standing between two trees with Jennifer wrapped around him, as they kiss. I turn around and run back to my car as my tears run down my cheeks. When I get to my car, I don’t start it as I sob. I shouldn’t have waited to tell him. I can’t go back out there, and I don’t want to go home, or my mom will know something is wrong, so I drive to the edge of town and park at the lookout. I can see the bonfire in the distance, and it feels like the flames are burning a hole in my chest.
My phone buzzes, but I don’t look at it. I don’t want Troy to tell me about Jennifer. Instead, I go to my email and open up the acceptance letter to a community college I applied to in another state. I applied as a backup in case I didn’t get into the school close to home, but now I see it as my escape. I open the link, and my thumb hovers over the accept button. I take a deep breath and tap it. Okay, it’s official. I’m going to a school that will have no signs of Troy anywhere. Now I just have to break it to my mom. My phone buzzes again, and this time I read the two messages.
Are you here?
A few people said they saw you running to your car. What’s wrong?
Why is he worried about me when he had his tongue down Jennifer’s throat? I debate whether to answer him, and I finally decide what to send.
I changed my mind. Goodbye Troy.
He tries to call me almost as soon as I send the message, but I don’t answer. I start my car and drive home. It’s time to talk to my mom.
Three Months Later
I look around my dorm room as my mom and I unpack my things, and I begin to feel better. I told my mom everything, and she held me as I cried. When Troy came to the house to see me, she told him I wouldn’t be home for the summer. He tried to text and call me, but I never responded. I know, inside, that it’s not his fault because he didn’t know how I felt, but I still can’t help feeling betrayed. My mom understood why I wanted to leave, and she helped me get everything situated. I didn’t leave the house the entire summer. I didn’t want to run into Troy, Jennifer, or the two of them together.
“I’m going to miss you,” Mom says as she hugs me. I hug her back and breathe in her scent.
“I’m going to miss you too. Thank you for everything,” I say as I hug her tighter. She has been my rock through everything, and I know I’m going to be homesick as soon as she leaves.
“If you change your mind and want to come home, don’t be afraid to tell me. I love you, Bri.” She kisses my head, and I fight back my tears.
“I love you too, Mom.”
She leaves a few minutes later, and I’m left alone in my dorm room. My roommate hasn’t come yet, so for now I have the room to myself. I look out the window and sigh. It’s time for a new start without Troy.
