The next morning Shannon was no longer by my side when I woke up. I shuffled into the kitchen and found her there, having breakfast with his father.
„Good morning, Shaelynn." Mr. Weaver greeted me kindly. „What can we thank for your presence?"
„She clearly needs mental help." She answered instead of me. „Look at her, Dad! Round, tired eyes and a miserable figure." I didn't even have to speak.
„I don't know what happened, but if you're this depressed because of a man, I suggest you forget about him quickly. I'm a man, I just know." He winked at me and I smiled faintly.
„Come on, Dad!" Shannon grinned at him. „You are a true Casanova. I heard the other day that Aunt Ronda and Aunt Ruth had a fight over you. Dazzle only one woman at a time!" Mr Waiver just laughed.
„Don't worry about that, my dear." He said as he stood up. „Now I'm going so you can take apart the male gender to your liking. It wouldn't be good if I heard about our castration or something like that." And with that, he left us alone while Shannon giggled heartily.
„Coffee?" She asked and I just nodded. „There are also croissants. I went straight to the bakery, just for you, honey." She winked at me like his father before.
„Sorry for being such a terrible company." I muttered, nibbling on my croissant.
„Dah!" She waved. „You had a heartbreak, that's perfectly acceptable." She placed a mug of coffee in front of me.
„I do not have..." I wanted to protest, but she looked at me in a way that I preferred to stay silent.
„And anyway, how many times have you listened to me when I had a problem? Otherwise, this change of roles is quite refreshing. So!" She dropped into the chair next to me. „Just tell Aunt Shannon what happened." She looked at me expectantly.
„I just realized that we don't have a future together, so I broke up with him."
„But what did he do to make you have such thoughts? There must be a reason." She frowned at me.
„Well...he didn't say anything like that before, but after I told him that there was no point in continuing this relationship, he then admitted that he was only interested in my body in the beginning." I bit into the croissant angrily. I can't blame Rhys. I have no right. He wasn't completely honest from the beginning, yes, but neither was I. I have no right, yet I feel so miserable. I don't have the right, but I do have a reason. I didn't leave him because I don't love him, but because it's better for him. I took another bite, even though I didn't know who my anger was directed at. To myself? On him? To Seth? A little bit for all of us?
„Rhys seemed like such a nice guy though." She felt sorry for me.
„He is." I was absolutely sure of that. I've never met a nicer man than he and I don't think I ever will. „But enough about that. What happened to Liam?" Her eyes narrowed.
„I thought he was joking when he said you invited him. But it seems he was serious."
„I'm the one to blame." I admitted it. „I just wanted to give you guys a chance to talk things out. How did it go?"
„Not easily. When I saw him at first, my blood pressure immediately went up. What does he want again? Destroy everything? That's what I thought, and then we started talking honestly. What did we screw up, what should have been done differently. I thought we could be friends again, but he didn't agree with me. He told me that this was not enough and asked me out on a date."
„What did you say to him?" I leaned a little closer.
„Of course, I said yes." She said this as if a negative answer was out of the question. „I want to give him a chance and then we'll see. Maybe it won't work, maybe we'll be together forever. Who knows?" She shrugged. „It's worth a try anyway."
„I'm glad I could help."
„I'm not going to thank you." However, I'll put you in a better mood, that's all I promise. There will be a meteor shower in a few days. You can wish as much as you want." Her gaze turned wistful. „Do you remember how much we used to look at the sky? I've never been able to find a shooting star. Well, now is my time!"
„Where do you want to watch it?" I inquired.
„At your place, of course. The sky is much clearer there than in the city, so our chances are better."
„Are you bringing Liam too?"
„I bring? He is not a dog to take anywhere. He goes where he wants, we are not joined at the hip. I planned it to be a girl's night. Maybe your mom and your sister can join."
„That's a good idea." I drank the last sip of coffee. „Could you lend me some more modest clothes?"
„Do you want to go to your classes?" She was completely shocked.
„I have to and at least it distracts me. I want to talk to my teacher about the competition."
„Of course, I'll lend you something, but will it be modest?" She shrugged.
Fortunately, she managed to find a pair of jeans that were ripped at the knees and roughly fit me and a simple sweater that didn't have a low neckline. I said goodbye to her and hurried to the university. But before that, she promised to get me a driver to take me home.
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As soon as I left the university, I immediately saw Rhys. It was as if his presence demanded my attention. But I pretended not to notice, after all, I've always been good at it. However, he didn't leave it at that. I didn't even think he would leave it, because that's not how I knew him. He came after me.
„Please stop and face me, Shaelynn!" He asked louder than necessary and I stopped and turned to face him, but only because I didn't want to be the center of attention. I hated being stared at. „We have to talk." He tried to take my arm and led me somewhere but I didn't let him and took a step back.
„No, we don't have to." I surprised even myself with my composure. „I think we discussed everything yesterday. We both said what we wanted and let's leave it at that."
„I didn't say half of what I wanted to say." He interrupted me.
„I don't care about the rest." I tried to shake him off.
„Please!" This, however, caught me by surprise and I stopped for a moment. I looked into his eyes and the hope I saw there almost broke my resolve. Then I steeled myself and donned a mask.
„No." My voice came out softer than I intended and I took another step back. „I don't want anything but peace." What a lie! All I want is you. I would be very happy if we could go through life hand in hand, but you deserve more. I can't ask, I'm not willing to ask you to make the sacrifices that would come with me. I will not ask you to look away from my sins. I'm not going to put you in a situation where you have to question your morality.
„Rhys." My gaze softened, I could no longer feign anger. „Find yourself a nice girl and be happy with her. This is what I wish for you."
„Well, this is really annoying." It was an understatement compared to his expression. „Why does everyone think I want a nice girl?" I thought it better to keep quiet. „I need you, not some unknown, random woman." I wonder how he can shout all this out into the world? Where does he get his courage from? There are so many things that I want to say out loud, but the words have been stuck in my throat for so long. I feel like I will never be able to say them again.
„But I don't need you." I wanted to break his heart once and for all. Please, just forget me and think about this part of your life as a bad dream.
„I know that..."
„Enough." I interrupted, my voice was soft but firm and powerful. „We've hurt each other enough, let's go our separate ways from here." I raised my chin and walked past him. Fortunately, this time he left me and I saw Shannon after a few meters. Liam was standing next to his car and waved at me. Shannon wasn't so afraid of cars anymore, but if it wasn't necessary, she preferred not to get into one.
„Liam will be a darling and take you home." She said instead of saying hello when I got to them.
„Are you seriously leaving me alone with another girl?" Liam raised his eyebrows playfully.
„I trust Shaelynn. If you try anything, she will take care of you." She grinned.
„You don't even trust me?" He feigned offence.
„Given your past... No. Trust takes time." She got serious.
„Don't worry, it will come." Liam was apparently not afraid of that. „Let's go! Get in, Lynn!" No one has ever called me that before.
„Be careful!" Shannon waved at us and Liam stepped on the gas. We drove in silence for a while, then I broke the silence.
„I see you're not an idiot after all." I muttered.
„I hesitated for a while, but in the end, I couldn't pass up such an opportunity. And how well I did!"
„Don't be so smug. You don't deserve it, and I didn't do it for you."
„Sure, I know. But I am grateful to you." He glanced at me, but his eyes quickly returned to the road.
„Express this by treating Shanon well. And don't hurt her."
„I don't plan to. I waited so long for her..."„It wasn't an idle wait, though." I looked at him pointedly.
„I didn't think I had a chance with her." He defended himself.
„And you wanted to comfort yourself with other women?"
„Yes and no." He answered honestly. „I was hoping to find someone better than her."
„There is no one better than Shannon." He sighed in submission.
„I know. I always knew, but I tried anyway. What are your plans with your boyfriend?" He changed the subject.
„Do you mean Rhys? He's not my boyfriend anymore. I don't have any plans with him."
„He obviously has a different opinion than you."
„Let's leave it at that, I don't feel like talking about it." I mumbled in irritation.
„If you can have a say in my life, why can't I have a say in yours?" He asked legitimately.
„Because you have nothing to do with it and because we are here. Stop." I asked, that is, I demanded.
„As the missus orders." He said mockingly but stopped. „But running away won't make it any better."
„Maybe, but I didn't ask for advice." I got out and slammed the door, then ran into the house to finally be alone with my misery.