"I can't…pretend I don't love you. And I can't pretend you'll say you love me one day. I'm done here."
Laughing erupted from the park as Shane and I skated our way through California. His arms were protectively thrown around his favorite guitar. I shook my head. I hoped one day he would hold me like that. I sighed, causing him to turn around. "Isn't this fun?!" Shane asked his face giddy. I had to laugh. Never had I seen his face so full of laughter. I mean, once you've been broken down, how does someone like him get back to his old self? Somehow, I knew he was destined for good things. We decided to cool down at my house, while my mom was away. Thank God! I was just taking my skates off when Shane brought out a guitar. "I made a song."
Did I mention I loved this boy? "Really?" My eyes lit up. This was it. A fun day around the park, a song. My heart fluttered as high as it could go.
When the song was over, I stared in awe as his hazel eyes searched mine. I couldn't find my breath and I swear he could hear my heart beating. "Who's it for?" I asked, blushing. We both knew it was for…
"Allison. I…I don't know what it is. But she's really amazing. I think her eyes light up whenever she smiles. I want to make her smile, too. You think she'll like it?" Shane smiled at me. I couldn't believe that. I waited for him to say, gotcha. I waited for him to kiss me and say it was a joke. My eyes filled with burning tears as the minutes rolled by without a kiss. "Mitchie…?" he reached for my hand. No! It was too late. I didn't…I couldn't stay here. It was my home, but I'd been kicked out before. I grabbed my coat just as he touched my hand.
"I'm going," I said, averting my eyes. Shane glanced up at me. "I can't…pretend I don't love you. And I can't pretend you'll say you love me one day. I'm done here." I wiped at the tears and ran out the room. After it all, after we spent every single day telling each other our stories. Crying into each other's arms, tending to each other's bruises. It all meant nothing. That's what I get. No one loves me.
Mitchie and I could talk tomorrow. It's not like I wouldn't be able to see her…
Her eyes filled with tears. I panicked. What did I do wrong? "Mitchie…?" I reached for her hand, trying to comfort her. She pulled away just as my fingers brushed her hand, grabbing at her jacket. I knew what that meant. I almost begged her not to go when she cut me off.
"I'm going," she said, not looking at me. What did that mean? Was she late for something? Was she angry, sad, and upset? Or did she just have to go? I glanced up at her, finding more tears building up. "I can't….pretend I don't love you. And I can't pretend you'll say you love me one day. I'm done here." Mitchie ran out. I almost stumbled after her, but my phone rang. I thought about slamming it against the wall. But, it was Allison. I had to choose. Who was it going to be? The girl I'd dreamt of dating my whole life….or the girl who was my best friend through everything? And I mean everything? I flipped open the phone. Mitchie and I could talk tomorrow. It's not like I wouldn't be able to see her…
Mitchie's POV: My mother moved me to California, away from Shane. And maybe, just maybe, I was fine with that…
What hurts the most was that he didn't come after me. What hurts the most is that he didn't run from my house, chasing me and screaming for me to come back. Because if he had, I would've. I would've run back into his strong arms and let him pull me inside. We'd walk hand in hand to the police's office and tell our horrible story. His of being raped and abused, mine of being burned and being my mom's little money-maker. But he didn't, which means I'm still in this place. This means we never saw each other again. My mother moved me to California, away from Shane. And maybe, just maybe, I was fine with that…
Shane's POV: I hated her and I was glad she moved…
What hurts the most is that she wasn't there the next day. I sat at her doorstep for two hours. I knocked, I rang the bell, I yelled, I screamed and I CRIED. But she wasn't in that small house. I had blown it. I had let her psycho mom take her somewhere away from me and I didn't know where. I began to sob because of how selfish I had been. And then I got angry. If she hadn't waited until the last minute to say she loved me, maybe we could've been happy. It was her fault. Maybe if she hadn't ran out, I would've gotten a chance to tell her I loved her too. More than she knew. I hated her and I was glad she moved…