Declan's POV

One Unread Message

Long slender fingers ran across the numbers on the phone entering the code to unlock the message. Piercing blue eyes scanned the screen only half-heartedly interested in it's content. It was from Tinsley, asking once again if they could hang out this weekend.

I pushed the reply button and quickly typed in:

Can't. Benefit this weekend. Raincheck?

I hit the send button, knowing that she wasn't going to like the text she was about to get. Another animated white envelope came flying across my phone screen with One Unread Message in black print across it.

Tinsley Wharton 7:09pm One starts to wonder if you're avoiding her. Come on, have some fun once in a while ;).

My face remained blank while reading this. When I was alone I didn't have to worry about putting up a false front of feeling okay. I didn't have to show the emotion that I knew I wasn't feeling.

Quickly my fingers typed out:

Been planning it for months. You know I can't skip. Sorry Tinsley. I'm sure you'll find something else to do.

I once again hit the send button. Something… or someone… I couldn't help think to myself. I put my phone down on the table and picked up the newspaper that was next to it. I opened it up to the Business section and scanned it to see if any articles would catch my eye.

Things were so different now and it left the biggest emptiness inside of me. Knowing that the only woman I wanted to be with was off with someone who I once considered a friend. It gave me the sickest feeling in the pit of my stomach. Not only did I hate to lose, especially to someone like Sav, but I lost the best thing in my life.

If that wasn't enough, Fiona was back in at Degrassi and I was still attending Vanderbilt Prep in a completely different country. I had always had my sister to fall back on. We had always had each other and now I had no one. Sure there were friends at Vanderbilt and with benefits and family hosted parties I was always surrounded by people, but it just wasn't the same. No friend or family member could ever replace the trust and connection I had with Fiona and no girl could ever replace Holly J. Sinclair.

I spent most of my time working with the Charity I had started up since the breakup. Working with the people there and handling most of the business that went along with it. My father saw it as a good business opportunity for me to practice for my future.

I heard my phone buzz against the glass of the coffee table and sighed annoyed thinking it was Tinsley calling. I picked it up without looking at the Caller ID.

"Declan Coyne speaking."

The voice, however, that came through the other line was not that of Tinsley's. It was a voice that sent a chill through my body. A voice that made me fall in love again every time I heard it.

"Declan… It's Holly J."