Soon, the city lights faded behind them, giving way to open road, scattered streetlights, and the full moon above. They reached the edge of town, turning onto a quiet country highway.

  The air was sharper here, brimming with a wild, quiet life.

  "Almost there," he called back, glancing over his shoulder at her. He wasn't speeding anymore... but he couldn't quite help himself. "Hold on tight."

  "Shut up..." she mumbled from behind him, watching the disappearing streets and trying to guess where he was taking her. She squeezed her eyes firm as the road began to climb, scared of heights, especially after dark, when she couldn't really see what lay below.

  "Can't hear you over the wind! " he grinned, even though he'd heard her perfectly.

  The road narrowed, tree-lined, shadowed — and then he took a slow turn onto a gravel path she hadn't even seen. It wound through tall pines until it opened up at last: a wide hill overlooking the valley below. The city glittered far in the distance, like scattered stars beneath their feet. And right there, tucked beside an old stone wall—a single bench, half-covered in ivy. His spot. He gently brought the bike to a stop and turned off the engine.

  "Welcome," he said softly, "to my hiding place."

  She opened her eyes at last, pulling her face slightly away from his back and loosening her tight grip on his leather jacket. "Oh. " she said, as her face brightened in stunned surprise. It got already really dark. Especially here. And the city... was looking like a small... sea of lit lanterns. Full of lives, hopes, and warm. It was... hypnotising. "Beautiful... " she said, quietly, mesmerised.

  "Told you you'd like it. " he stayed seated for a moment, turning slightly to watch her instead of the view. Her eyes were wide, reflecting the city lights below with soft awe on her face.

  Then he unbuckled his helmet and slowly stepped off the bike, offering her a hand.

  "Still scared?" he asked quietly. "Or just pretending so I have to carry you again?"

  She looked at him as he offered his hand — then slipped to the ground without taking it. "I'm not," she admitted, gently unbuckling her helmet and placing it on the machine, before stepping forward for a better look.

  "Still stubborn, huh? " he watched her step forward. She looked so small against the vast sky, and yet somehow took up all the space in his chest. He stayed near the bike at first, letting her take it in. Then he moved beside her, hands in his pockets, voice low.

  "I come here when I can't think straight." A pause. "Never brought anyone else."

  She looked back at him, feeling her heart skip again. So she was the first one here...? The breeze softly wrapped her curls, making her feel a little bit special. Just for tonight. "You're worried about something?" she asked, softly with curious and care in her voice.

  "Something." he didn't look at her when he said it—just kept his eyes on the distant lights below, like they held an answer. "Always did," he admitted quietly. "Overthink everything. People. Choices. The past."

  Then, after a beat...

  "People I shouldn't miss."

  She felt the cold wind passing around her cheek. "You still haven't texted her, have you? Why?" she asked.

  He went silent for a long moment, breathing in the night like it would drown the words in his throat. Finally, he shook his head. A slow, tired gesture. "Can't put that burden on her." he said quietly. Not looking at her. "Not fair. She can't be... she can't fix me, Lynnie. Doesn't matter how much I—" An abrupt stop. He clenched his jaw, shaking his head again. "You don't understand."

  Burden her? She looked at him, now confused. "Fix you? What is this to fix? " she said, with a serious face.

  He let out a mirthless laugh, finally turning to look at her. Something in his eyes flashed like lightning in a storm.

  "You still don't get it, do you?" he shook his head, voice quiet, almost sad. "I'm a wreck. A mess. Have been for years. And she doesn't need me messing up her life again."

  She looked at him in pure disbelief, wrinkling her face in shock. First time in her life, seeing him so... defenceless. He wasn't really looking at her, like he didn't want to, his eyes surrendered to the city.

  "Messing with her life? How could you possibly... mess her life? " she asked, thoughtful.

  He laughed again. Dry, bitter, cutting.

  "Are you serious?" He looked at her then — really looked — his eyes raking over every inch: the flushed cheeks, the breeze-disheveled hair, the way she leaned toward him just slightly, as if she couldn't help but fall into his gravity. "You're so damn... sheltered, sunshine."

  "Sheltered?" she repeated, growing more confused with every second. She didn't understand any of this — not even a little. Why was he calling her that? Where was this going? For the first time, she felt completely out of her depth.

  "Sheltered." He turned fully to face her now, the wind picking up between them. His voice dropped low, rough. "Because you don't see it. You think I was just Charlotte's nice guy friend, right? The smart one who fixed her car, helped with homework... didn't cause any drama?"

  He took a half-step closer.

  "I caused everything."

  A beat.

  His jaw clenched again — like he was fighting not to say it all at once.

  "We didn't grow apart cause our ways turned like it."

  "We did because I pushed her too much—"

  His voice cracked slightly. She watched him closely.

  "Because I wanted more." he forced the words out with voice shaking. "But Charlotte... she knew what she wanted. She had a dream." He clenched his jaw again—anger—at himself. "She didn't want the broken guy." he murmured. "She wanted something better."

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  She watched him for a while, blinking. Finally, couldn't stand it anymore.

  "Are you kidding me?" She said, looking at him in disbelief.

  He looked back with something defiant in his eyes. Something like a challenge.

  "What? You think that isn't true?" he sounded almost bitter. "You think she wanted a guy with no plan? Someone who can barely keep a job? A guy who can't even take care of his younger siblings without losing it sometimes?"

  "THEO." she said, sharper this time, making him flutter of his lost thoughts, getting back to the ground, as she watched him with a glaze. "You seriously, blaming yourself, for her rejecting you?" she snapped.

  Finally, admitting the truth, she knew all alone. But never speak loudly. She didn't want to know. Not really. Don't want to hear that. Don't ask. Pushing it away. Changing topics. Not want to hear all the story from Charlotte, she hid after her polite smile, to... Not... hate her. But it was too late now. The water of glass was split.

  "Are you seriously blaming yourself for not being enough and not my sister being entirely blind?!"

  He froze at that, the anger draining from him in a single second, replaced by sheer confusion. He was staring at her almost wide-eyed. Completely speechless for the first time. He went quiet again, taken aback by the anger in her voice. He'd never heard it like this before, not from her. It was so quiet for a long moment, even the wind seemed to pause. Then, after what felt like years, he finally spoke. "You..." He shook his head faintly. "You think Charlotte was the blind one." It wasn't a question. "You don't understand..."

  "I don't understand? I don't understand?!" she said, stepping a bit forward, hearing it again, couldn't help but burst out with rage. "She tossed you aside while keeping you caged to her! She was completely aware of your feelings all the time! Just getting use of that! Blind wouldn't see that-! Even ten-year-old me could see it from a mile away-! She just liked the attention! She ALWAYS LIKED. THE. ATTENTION! Is it all exactly why you split apart...! It was all she was about. It was not about you being enough, or having a proper plan, or a better job, or anything like that. The problem was not YOU-!"

  She said, stopping, as she finally felt the urgent need to catch a breath.

  He just... watched her. Stunned.

  Her fiery, with eyes burning like fire in the dark night. Cheeks flushed from her outburst. Her defending him.

  He didn't know what to say. Didn't know if she could even hear the pounding in his chest.

  "Amy..." His voice was quiet. "I..."

  "NO-!" she snapped again, bracing herself more firmly.

  "Don't stand here and burn your head out thinking you're not enough or wondering what more you could've done — because there was nothing you could do! She didn't like you! What's the big deal?! It's not like she was the only girl on Earth!"

  She didn't stop, not yet.

  "You're smart, you always have been! I am sure you have a good job now! You are more than most of the girls dream about! You will soon enough end up with Mechanic Engineers degree! You're handsome, you have charm, your intelligence, you're funny, you're honest, your understanding, you're sharp, you're witty, perceptive, resourceful, and kind...! I am sure you're getting asked for dates all the time, so stop standing in the corner and lower your head like some child in primary school! Grow up!"

  She finally stopped, drawing in furious breaths, the cold air tugging at her lungs and slowly cooling her anger. Still looking at him in disbelief.

  He was staring as if he just seen her for the first time in his life and she just growed second alien head on her neck above his eyes.

  "I am going home!" she announced sharply, turning on her heel and starting back down the road they'd come from.

  "Wait." he didn't move fast—he was still processing what she'd said, each word hitting him like a wave—but now, finally, he stepped forward. "Lynnie—wait," he said again, voice firmer this time. Not commanding. Just... needing.

  He jogged after her, two quick strides, and gently caught her arm. Not tight. Just enough to make her turn.

  "Just... let me say something." his eyes searched hers—wild, fierce, beautiful in the moonlight. "Please."

  "No!" she said, yanking her arm out of his grip.

  "I will not listen to the talk of some old man, who is acting like he is already dead and can't do anything more in life, since he is not worth anything! Call me when you get yourself together!"

  "Lynnie, that's not—" he sighed, running a hand through his hair. He winced when she pulled free, watching her step back, away from him. "Lynnie, that's not—" he sighed, trying again, slower. "That's not what I'm saying."

  He took a cautious step forward. Another. Trying not to spook her.

  "I'm not... giving up on anything."

  "Then why are you sounding like that?! I get it, you got a heartbreak! A tough one. Everybody does that! I did it too...! And you know what? I grew up—! I stand for myself and understand that doesn't define who I am. Why should I care if some blind see me... or not? It doesn't matter! Why are you still caring about what she thinks? She never cared what you-! Stop being a damn coward and look in your face and admit it."

  She wasn't listening to him anymore, too annoyed, starting to walk down the road just ahead of herself.

  Stupid... stupid moron.

  What was he thinking?! That Charlotte was the only goddess on Earth, and if she didn't look at him, he wasn't worth anything...? What an idiot. He was a mess? He...? He had always been the only one in their friend group with a part-time job. The one making sure she didn't get lost. The one who remembered her birthday every single year... Charlotte was not even independent by herself now, living in France, still borrowing money of their parents! She felt she would kill him or really shake him up if he said one more word about him not being enough, and her sister too perfect to notice him! She used him! She was aware of his feelings, and besides that, she never stopped herself from giving him mixed signals!

  What the...! Wait.

  She stopped on the dark road beside the trees, suddenly aware of something. Her hands moved quickly over her coat. Her bag. She'd left it on his motorcycle. A wave of guilty realization settled heavily on her shoulders. In the middle of her angry outburst, she'd completely forgotten.

  Her phone... and her house keys were in there.

  Fuck.

  He watched her walk away, her anger like sparks of fireworks in every step. For a moment, he just stood there—half surprised, half in pain, and all too stunned to move.

  But then... he froze. It was quiet. Too quiet. The only sound was the wind, rustling through the trees. The road was dark, and they were far away from the nearest bus stop or any houses, what can bring her some human soul. He cursed under her breath, getting back to his motorcycle, noticing her bag. She forgot even on it... Not thinking much, he sat on it again, driving back the road, quickly catching up to her there.

  She turned in surprise, caught off guard the moment the headlights cut through the night and the engine growled behind her.

  "Get in." he commanded, looking at her, seriously, throwing her the helmet again. She caught it, quickly, looking at him a bit scared and guilty now, nods, without a word, pulling it on. Carefully, sitting after his back, pulling her hands lightly around his waist.

  He felt the warmth of her presence behind him again, her small hands clasped around his sides. He tried to ignore the shiver that ran through him at the contact, the echo of her words still ringing in his mind. Wordlessly, he started the motorcycle and pulled onto the road. As soon as he did it, she grabbed him a bit tighter, closing her eyes, keeping him close. He could feel her arms around his waist, the way she pressed to him. It was almost more than he could take. But he forced himself to focus. All his attention is on the road ahead.

  In complete silence, he rode back towards the city.

  She didn't say a word the entire ride. Not until he turned onto her street and stopped in front of her parents' house. Then she pulled back lightly, getting out, stepping on the ground, as she gave him her helmet back, this time taking her bag.

  "Thank you... for the ride. Have a good night. " she said, softly, not with so much courage anymore, quickly, moving by the wicket of the fence, pulling by the door, disappearing after it. The moment the door closed behind her, she sank down onto the floor, fingers tangling in her hair. What had she done? When he started talking... she just threw everything that was hiding in the depth of her chest, without even a second thought, throwing it as a stone directly on his face...! He must hate her now. How was she supposed to face him at the university? She didn't think of it...! Not even for a second. Too much pissed at him at the time. She will need to find a way... to avoid him.

  He just looked after her for a moment, watching her quickly disappear inside. He sat for a moment, the motorcycle roaring beneath him, not driving away just yet. His mind was racing... playing her words over and over... and his own too. Everything they had said.

  Finally... he started the vehicle and rode off in the opposite direction.