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Chaprer TO
Chapter 10
Dylan was walking over with an umbrella.]
My heart jumped. Was he here for me this late?]
Did he know I didn’t have an umbrella? Was he actually-[]
“Dylan…” I started, hope creeping into my voice. “What are you still doing here?“]
He frowned, clearly annoyed. “Have you seen Madison? Is she still inside?”
Oh.]
He was looking for Madison. My heart dropped into my stomach.]
“No.” My voice came out barely a whisper.[]
“That’s weird. She said she’d be at the library.“]
He pulled out his phone to call her, fingers flying across the screen.[]
Just then, Madison came out from another exit.]]
She was wearing this white dress that was getting soaked by the rain.[]
“Dylan!” She ran over with this huge smile. “You came to pick me up!“[]
“We agreed on it, didn’t we?” Dylan moved the umbrella over her without even thinking. Like he’d done it a million times before.
Madison finally “noticed” me. Her acting was flawless–pretending she hadn’t seen me standing there the whole time.]
“Oh! Avery’s here too. You don’t have an umbrella?“]
Her voice was all fake surprise mixed with pure satisfaction.]
I shook my head. Couldn’t trust myself to speak.]
She smiled sweetly. “What a shame. Our umbrella’s only big enough for two people.“]
Then she added, “Maybe you should wait here? See if anyone you know comes by?“[]
Dylan glanced at me.]]
It was this weird look–hesitation, maybe some guilt, but mostly just annoyance.[]
His mouth opened like he wanted to say something.]]
I waited. For him to say “I’ll walk you back.” For him to say “You take the umbrella.” For him to show even the tiniest bit of
Chapter 10
care.
But he said nothing. Just held the umbrella over Madison and walked away.[]
Madison looked back at me with this smug little smile.[]
She’d won. Completely and totally won.]]
I stood there watching them disappear under that umbrella.[]
Dylan was being so careful, tilting it mostly over her to keep her dry. Just like he used to do for me.[]
The rain kept getting heavier. Each drop stung when it hit me, but nothing hurt like my chest did.]
Twelve years ago, he tilted that umbrella completely over me.]]
Twelve years later, he walked away with someone else.[]
And I was just the leech left standing in the rain.[]
The pathetic part? I kept waiting. For him to turn around. For him to remember I existed. For him to realize I was still stuck out there.
But he didn’t. Just kept walking without looking back.]
Like I was already gone.[]
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