The Heartbroken - S01 E231

Story 2 years ago

The Heartbroken - S01 E231

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 231

I stayed somewhere a few steps back, partially

hidden by Rev’s tall figure, but when our eyes met, I

could have sworn his gaze lingered on mine a

second longer than necessary.

Warren eyed the suitcases standing just a few feet

from Seth. With a sigh, he said, “I still can’t believe

you’re really leaving. You better not forget us.”

Seth chuckled, shaking his head. “Are you kidding?

When I get there and meet all these people who are

way better than you, I’m forgetting you all.” This

was followed by a girlish yelp as Alyssa stepped on

his foot.

“You better not!”

“I was joking!”

I didn’t say anything as they all talked about this. I

stayed there in the back, listening to their easy

banter, until Dan and Lily arrived. They were holding

a small rectangular object covered in some brown

paper. Greetings ensued as they handed the

wrapped object to Seth.

“From all of us,” Lily said.

Seth unwrapped it, ripping the paper off to reveal a

picture enclosed in a simple black frame, the size of a

pocket book. I watched as the expression on his face

shifted, eyes softening as he took the image in.

When I peeked over to look at it, I saw a picture of all

of us in Cloudland. I vaguely remember Lily asking

someone to take a picture of us all before the night

ended. I was standing next to Seth there, who had

childishly put up two fingers over my head.

All of a sudden, he looked up and caught my gaze.

My hand clutched the strap of my shoulder bag as I

remembered the letter once again. I couldn’t even

think of how I was going to give it to him, and part

of me was hoping that I wouldn’t have to.

They spent a few more minutes talking, in which

Alyssa had to ask me if I was all right because I was

awfully quiet, and I just mumbled something along

the lines of I’m fine. If Seth noticed my sudden and

semi-selective muteness, he didn’t point it out.

They were in the middle of a heated debate about

how Seth’s life would be in New York (“Duuude, he’s

going to realize that he’d been gay all along”) when

he did decide to talk to me.

“Hey,” he said, “can Kyla and I talk for a while? We’ll

be back in five minutes. I promise.”

They all but pushed him to drag me away, not

bothering to consult me about the whole talking-

alone-with-Seth thing. Alyssa even shoved me a little

when I didn’t instantly follow Seth. We walked until

we were out of earshot, half hidden by a line of

people buying some kind of doughnuts.

“I didn’t think you’d come,” was what he said when

we stopped walking. Then, more quietly, he added,

“You didn’t show up last night.”

“Oh.” I looked down, still fiddling with the strap of

my bag. “I’m—um—I’m sorry.”

I didn’t offer an explanation and he didn’t ask for one.

“I’m glad you came today.” When he looked at me,

I knew he meant it. “I really am.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

He smiled. “So.”

“So.”

“Okay, this is awkward.”

“F--k, yes, it is,” I agreed and dropped my gaze.

He reached over his shoulder to place a hand on the

back of his neck. His other hand was shoved in his

pocket. He took a deep, ragged breath as he dropped

his gaze.