"A wise girl kisses but doesn't love, listens but doesn't believe, and leaves before she is left."

-Marilyn Monroe

Left in the dust again.

That's what it seemed to be coming down to with the men in her life. Annie had thought that she had learned her lesson the first time around with Ben. She didn't know what she was thinking when she fell for Auggie.

Maybe she thought it would be different this time. That it couldn't possibly not work out. They were Annie and Auggie. It seemed so natural to just be with him. If being friends felt this great then she couldn't imagine what being more would be like.

"And I'll never know."' Her mind whispered as she watched his retreating form. His loping gait seemed a little livelier because of where it was taking him. It's a shame that seeing him this happy broke her heart. Annie closed her eyes as a lone tear slid ever so slowly down her cheek, caressing her face to soothe her heartache and leaving a watery trail in its wake.

He was halfway to the elevator when she had tried to muffle her sniffle, but the air around them seemed to freeze, as did Auggie.

Any other place and it would never have been heard. Any other person and it would never have been acknowledged. But this was Auggie. Even if his hearing wasn't as fine-tuned as a bat's, this garage magnified and echoed everything and anything including the tiny sound that escaped her. It was definitely not ignored.

She could see his posture stiffen immediately as his head turned to the side like it usually did when he was trying to place a sound. Annie knew he wasn't stupid. He would figure out what it was.

And by the perfectly executed about face he certainly had.

She didn't know what caused it, but she suddenly had this intense feeling of dread as realization dawned on his face. Maybe it was the fact that he caught her crying, something she tried to not do as much as possible. Or it could have been due to the fact that if he asked her what was wrong, she might reveal her feelings to a man that was getting ready to fly around the world for someone else.

Whatever it was, it had her heart racing and her hand jamming the keys into the ignition before he took his first step toward her. "Annie?" he called, his face displaying a concerned yet confused look. His stride got a little faster as he heard the familiar roar of the engine.

Annie swallowed the huge lump in her throat as she quickly switched gears. "Goodbye Auggie." She called, hoping that her voice had not sounded thick with the tears that were waiting for their inevitable release. She quickly pulled the car out of its spot towards the exit.

"Wait! Annie!" He yelled.

She almost wanted to stop the car because she felt bad for ignoring him like that, but the situation had more power than her feelings at the moment. Maybe he would forgive her when he got back. If he comes back.

She took a deep breath to settle her nerves as she pressed her foot down onto the gas pedal. She didn't slow down until she had reached the outskirts of the city, and even then she was still hitting an impressive speed. Even though Auggie couldn't possibly find a way to come after her so fast- as well as the fact that he probably wouldn't , because let's face it, he has somewhere to be- she felt like he was right behind her; like he would catch her if she stopped.

She knew she was running. And in some way it gave her a little comfort to know that, for once, she had left with the last word. She was the one who said goodbye.

The realization gave her a rather misplaced sense of satisfaction, but it left its melancholy mark as well. She didn't want to say goodbye to Auggie, but desperate times call for desperate measures. And if a girl speeding down an empty road to escape her blind best friend who couldn't possibly know where she was didn't reek of desperation, then nothing would.

She might be able to blame it on the roar of the engine. She could say that she got caught up in the excitement of a new car. Either way, she said a hopeful prayer to whoever was listening that he would just forget about what had occurred. That their friendship would still be intact. Otherwise, she pleaded that he would forgive her and leave it at that.

When the feeling of being pursued finally went away, Annie turned the car around and drove back home at a leisurely speed. She wasn't in a hurry anymore. There would be nothing waiting for her except possibly her sister, and her cat.

There would be no more epiphanies or surprises today. Only the sweet escape of some delectable contraband and the solace of much needed sleep.

So I'm thinking a 2 shot with this one. Or leave it as is? Let me know what you think. R&R 3