Violet's Pov:

I sat there at the kitchen table as the amber liquid stared back at me from my glass. It only made me think about her more as my drink matched the color of her honey golden eyes that I missed so much. I wish the whiskey would make her miss me like I wish she did.

I lift the small glass and watch as the liquid swirls at the movement, a lot like the thoughts that fill my mind before I throw my head back and down the last of it. I enjoy the burning sensation I receive from the shot. It makes me have some sense of feeling, but it's not enough to drown the memory. I don't think anything ever could.

I've been sitting here for over two hours in the dim light of the kitchen, just letting the thoughts roll over and over in my mind as I stare at a half-empty glass that keeps getting refiled. Tenn went to bed a few hours ago without a word, wanting to be alone. I know the change was a lot for him too. He kind of lost his only friend in the mix of all this and all because I couldn't say three little words.

I feel disappointed at the emptiness of my glass and I look across the table where an almost empty bottle lies. Pouring up another one won't change what I should have done before she left, but it's sure one hell of a good distraction. I tip the bottle and watch the amber drink pool into the glass which I find kind of soothing to watch. It'd be even better if it could make me forget what happened earlier today. Sadly the sweet burning sensation wasn't enough to cloud my mind and take away the pain I feel inside.

I don't know if anything could at this point. This wasn't your normal run of the mill crush who ends up breaking up with you after about three months into the relationship. I thought what we had was real. I've never felt more complete than when she came into my life. But then I had to go and fuck everything up because I wasn't brave enough to tell her how I really feel. I fucking deserve what I got.

How long has it even been since we've started dating? Two, three years? And I still haven't let myself say it. I've been so worried to commit to this after getting hurt so many other times, that I was blinded by my own fear, not realizing that I was losing her anyway. Now all that was left of mine and Clem's relationship was mile by mile and city by city of her getting over me. It's not a pretty feeling to have the most important person in your world walk out the door and disappear down the road to who knows where.

Honestly, I deserve to suffer after making her endure that, but Tenn sure didn't. Not only did we lose Clem, but AJ went with her as well. Which is understandable since their family, but it's not fair to the boys that they had to be separated when they never did anything wrong. Why should they have to suffer the conciseness of our mistakes?

Clem didn't even think twice before she hopped in her car with AJ and took off with only a backpack full of their things. AJ and Tenn didn't even get to say goodbye before they were whisked away, like smoke in the wind.

It's been hours since she last left. Just took off without a destination in mind or what they would do next. Now she's probably out there rolling down some old interstate because I couldn't make her stay. She's probably thankful to be free from my crushing oppression, cranking up some new freedom song. Which is why she won't pick up her phone. I've tried to text her back and apologize, but she won't respond to anything I've written. My only shot is to send the one thing I've been neglectful to say, but I doubt it could clear up the damage that's already been done.

I open up my phone and stare down at the screen to the spot I left it, with my messages still open and Clem's contact name up in the corner of the screen mocking me. I have three words typed at the bottom that sit and wait to be set free with the press of a button. But my thumb lingers above it in hesitation. I couldn't say it then, so how is this any better? Would she even care at this point?

I sigh and return my screen to black as I set it back down on the table, not wanting to stare at all of my unanswered messages. I was a coward. She deserves better than me anyway. I'm dying here tonight, staring goodbye in the face for saying I love you too late.

It wouldn't do any good to send it now. I can't take back what I never said, but if I could, god I would. I wish I could fix everything, to try and make her see that me and Tennessee want her back. I'd fix all the things I did wrong if I could go back. I wish it worked like that.

I hit my fist against the table in frustration getting my glass to shift slightly, causing the liquid inside to ripple at the vibration. I can see my reflection's distorted image on the reflective surface. I sigh and turn away not being able to look at myself right now. I fucking hate myself and even if Tenn won't voice it, I'm sure he's probably pissed at me as well. He's just to nice not to say it. I'm pretty sure everyone hates me at this point since it was all my fucking fault. Clem has every right to be disappointed in me, I don't blame her for it.

I take a sip from my glass and relish in the feeling of the alcohol making its way into my system. I clasp my hands around the cup protectively and my gaze drifts over to my inactive phone again. If I had half a clue to where she was headed now, I'd do what I had to do to make her turn that car around.

Even if she won't talk to me, I'm sure she's already told everyone about what happened. The first thing she probably did was call Lee and tell him everything that went down during our fight. God, I was going to be dead for hurting his little girl. I remember getting the protective dad talk when we first started dating back in high school. I'm wondering if that still applies this far into the future. I'm not really scared at the thought like I was back then. Though I Kind of wish I was. It'd be better feeling anything other than the emptiness filling my heart that's causing the rest of me to go numb with depression.

My head rests in my hand as I finger the glass with my free one. I stare down at the slowly disappearing drink and all I see are her eyes in the glass of amber. I remember all the emotions I could once see in those golden orbs. A time when they used to look at me with such intense love and affection. Only now to be replaced by the look of hurt that had flashed across her face. The look of hopelessness and despair, yet I feel like there was still a possible hint of longing in there. Something tugging at her heartstrings, begging her to stay. It might have just been wishful thinking on my part, but god, I hope she really does miss me. If there was even a chance of her coming back I would do everything in my power to make up for what I did.

I can feel tears creeping up on me as thought after thought of her washes over me. My vision becomes blurry as my eyes grow watery and I start to feel the sensation of something wet slide down my face. Tears slowly spill from my eyes as it gets to be too much for the salty droplets to take and the weight of gravity sends them falling only to splash against the cool surface of the table. One even falling into my glass causing the same rippling sensation to occur from earlier as the saltwater is added to the mix.

I'm such an idiot. I should have opened up. I should have shown her how much I cared. I should of held her close. I should of let her know how I felt about her about a couple county lines ago.

She's probably hundreds of miles away by now, but I had to try. I picked up my phone and watched it come to life once more. I didn't even hesitate as I pressed down on the envelope with the arrow. The words disappeared and reformed at the bottom of the string of previous messages. But even though most of them had sentences along the lines of pleading for her to come back and apologizing for being such a jackass, none of them could match up to the three little words that were just sent. If anything would get her to come back it was that. I watched for a few minutes to see if anything would happen, but I never received a reply or even a hint that she had even read it, just like all the other texts.

If that didn't do it nothing would. She was probably busy driving anyway, trying to get as far away from here as possible. Like I said she's out there rolling down some old interstate on a wide-open road. Blasting the radio and won't pick up her phone. Clem always liked the feeling of being free, and that's okay as I sit here staring goodbye in the face. I couldn't make her stay after saying I love you too late.

I squeeze my eyes shut and just take a minute to think, but that's it. There's nothing else I can do but submit to the numbing pain that surrounds my heart. There's nothing left except the empty feeling I have inside and the headache I'm starting to get from downing about half a bottle of Jack Daniels. I didn't feel that normal buzz that would commonly come when I drank, if ever. I don't make a habit of getting wasted every other weekend after seeing what happened with my dad. But this was one of those times where I wanted to drown the pain. But I know I've got it bad when not even whiskey can drown her memory.

I sighed as I opened my eyes and downed the last of what sill filled my glass. Setting it down I pushed the glass cup away, I was gonna feel this in the morning. I just sat with my head in my hands as I rested my arms on the table. What was I going to tell Louis? What was I going to tell any of our friends? You know what, scratch that, Clem's probably already called everyone. Saying something along the lines of how she needed to sort things out and was going to be away for a while. I'm actually surprised Louis hasn't tried to call me yet today. He's going to flip out when he finds out what happened.

My eyes start to feel heavy and the stress of today has me beat. I don't know how long I've been sitting here with my head down, but when I finally look up I can see that the clock reads eleven forty-five. I don't want to go to bed though. Having the empty space next to me is just going to remind me of what I lost.

While debating on what to do, I almost don't hear the light knock at the door. Probably Louis rushing over wanting to know what the hell happened. I really don't want to deal with his questions right now, but I think some company might be what I need. So I reluctantly stand up, pocketing my phone and make my way to the door. But when I open it I'm not met with who I thought it would be. In fact, it's the last person I thought I would see.

I think my face pales as I just stand there and stare. I pray to God that this isn't just the alcohol messing with me and that the love of my life really is standing in front of me. I'm wide awake now, and I have no words for what is happening as I just stare in bewilderment. My heart starts to hammer in my chest and I swear my hands start to shake.

Clem stares back at me, but I can't read her expression. She has the same backpack that she took off with, slung onto her shoulder and in her arms is AJ whos sound asleep with his head resting on her shoulder. She doesn't say anything as I stand aside to let her in and she walks over to the couch in the living room and gently lays AJ down. He doesn't even stir as he's moved. I quietly shut the door and when I turn back around I can see Clem sliding off her backpack and setting it aside on the floor.

I'm still too stunned to do anything let alone say anything. I'm worried that if I start trying to fix things it's only going to make her more upset with me, so I decided that waiting for her to make the first move would be best. Though, I still think I might just be out of it. I have no idea why she came back. I figured she'd be long gone by now.

But after she sets the bag down her attention turns to me and she approaches. Though now I can see the glint in her eyes and I don't miss a heartbeat as I see the tears start rolling down her cheeks. I'm so confused right now. I'm still at a loss for words and I think my expression is a mix between sympathy and confusion because I watch as she pulls out her phone and holds it up for me to see.

My eyes widen with my lips slightly parting in a look of shock as I read what's written under a familiar text.

I quickly pull out my own phone and open back up to my previous page and I can see the same words typed across the screen. I don't know how I had missed it, but I don't care because she's here now and that's all that matters. I tear my gaze away from the reply and I look up to find Clem is still in tears.

I slip my phone into my back pocket and I take a few steps forward to close the distance between us. I reach my hand up, cupping her cheek and brush some of her tears away with my thumb and I slowly lean down and our lips connect in a tentative, yet sweet kiss. Something I thought I'd never do again.

I slowly pull back and take the time to stare into those amber eyes that I love so much, this time filled with regret and longing. Clem takes this as her chance and her arms make there way around my neck. I hug her back as she continues to cry in my arms and I can feel my own tears starting to form. Whether it's in regret or joy, I don't know? Probably a bit of both if I'm being honest.

There was nothing for either of us to say as we let the hug speak for itself. A way for both of us to apologize as we poured our feelings into the simple act, my arms wrapped tightly around her not wanting to let go. God, I missed her and I was never going to lose her again.