4: I N

'S

ks-since that moment in th

y mind had been flooded

ll was wron

had been up to behind her back. Before I could change my mind, I went ups

e threshold, I hesitated. Should I knock? Go in? My hand hov

It was obvious she was on a call. I was ab

o me the last time? You were so

r closer to the door, unsur

g I hadn't expected. "Yeah, I miss you too

as I stumbled backwards, my heart thudding in my c

till on t

d "But you need to be careful. Damon's s

e realization hit me like a pun

at loudly in my chest as I stood there, paralysed. I knew I had to leave. I had to walk

ere she was-Adrianna, s

eyes widened as she stepped out of her room, her suitcase in hand. It

ght in a gasp. "What

gs I shouldn't have and I didn't know how

I mumbled. The words felt lam

brow furrowing. She didn't

mething that didn't quite fit. She shifted her weigh

p," she said, shrugging

voice neutral, though I couldn't hide

ess. It's... last-minute. I'll be gone f

't even known she was going

," I

's eyes

rushing past me without really lo

ot form in my stomach.

left, and I went downstai

d then the house was still. Adrianna hadn't just been talking to anyone. She'd

ay, tires crunching against the gravel. He stepped inside a fe

l something was different. He paused whe

g in the way he looked at me that made my heart beat a little fa

mal. "Yeah. She's gone. Said somethin

a little, like he didn't quite belie

e now. Something that wasn't there before. His eyes flic

y neck stand up. His tone was di

my Voice was quieter

ce me. "There's something I've been hiding from Adrianna.

e you talking about?" My heart was st

there was still that de

ess." His voice was raw, like the word

illness? I stared at him, unable to speak for a m

been too much for him. "I've been hiding it for a while. But I don't want A

ean you're hiding it? You've bee

econd. When he did, there was

want to put that on her. But it's not goi

w to respond to

gh the words felt empty. I d

ned steady on mine. "But there's more. I need something from you. Something I can't g

rds hi

. I don't want you to feel sorry for me. But I need you, Ava. For a few mon