Thanks be to Ms. EBT.
His words remind me of his face at prom.
The look when he overheard us talking about our catastrophe.
It hits me all at once, and I feel like my chest is caving in.
There's this hole that's expanding, and it's a pain that's only comparable to what I felt when I told Bella the truth.
I didn't know what to think, what to expect when I agreed to meet Ben.
I didn't expect forgiveness.
Or acceptance.
Or understanding.
But this?
His words, him walking away again is just too much.
Just when I think that I can't bear myself, what I've done, who I've hurt…
"Angel?"
I look up and see Ben looking down at me.
He holds out his hand.
"Come on. Let's go think this over together."