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El Último Adiós de Stella – Una Historia de Amor y Despedida - Episodios Completos Español
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00:06The summer I turned 18, Asher made me cross a line I could never take back.
00:10I bit my lip through the ache, glowing secretly all night,
00:13convinced that six long years of loving him from a distance had finally, finally paid off.
00:18Then the next morning, I heard his friend laughing outside the classroom door.
00:22Okay, okay, got the nerd to give it up, huh?
00:26My face burned, and I turned to slip away before anyone saw me.
00:29I'm trying to get with Chloe, but she'd think I was too inexperienced.
00:33So I used Stella to get some practice in first.
00:35I didn't say a single word.
00:36I just quietly changed my college application from NYU to a school thousand miles away in California.
00:43His words hit me like a thunderclap out of a cloudless summer sky.
00:47No warning at all.
00:48My mind went completely blank.
00:49It was a scorching July afternoon, but I felt like ice was spreading through every inch of my body.
00:55The guys inside kept talking, pausing only for a half second before someone else piped up.
01:01Classic Ashen, even Stella was just a warm-up for him.
01:04Everyone knows how hard it is to get into her pants.
01:09So what does that make her?
01:10Like, a practice dully?
01:13Asher just laughed it off.
01:17Relax.
01:17She got something out of it, too.
01:19I mean, Stella's cute and all, but compared to Chloe, yeah, no contest.
01:23Right.
01:24Asher threw a textbook at him to shut him up.
01:27It was just a vibe, okay?
01:29The moment happened, and honestly, she seemed like she was enjoying herself.
01:33The guys all exchanged knowing looks and started roasting him.
01:36Who knew the book bird was that freaky under all those cardigans?
01:40Bro, Asher's just built different.
01:42Why leave free food on the table, right?
01:44She's been chasing him for years.
01:46Technically, she got what she wanted.
01:48The laughter inside the room got noticeably louder.
01:51I pressed my teeth into my lower lips so hard I tasted copper.
01:54Both hands balled into white-knuckled fists.
01:57It took every single ounce of willpower I had to stay upright,
02:00to not just crumple right there in the doorway.
02:02Footsteps echoed down the hall toward me.
02:04I snapped back to reality and bolted,
02:07shoving my way blindly through the corridor.
02:09In my panic, I threw myself into the nearest bathroom stall
02:12and locked the door behind me.
02:18The tears came like a dam breaking.
02:20Grief and humiliation pouring out all at once.
02:23Asher's words played on a loop inside my head.
02:26Every single syllable.
02:27They shredded what little self-worth I had left.
02:30If I hadn't heard it with my own ears,
02:31I never could have believed that the guy talking in there
02:34was the same one who had held me like I was something precious just last night.
02:38Turns out, you don't actually need to love someone to do that with them.
02:41Turns out, you can look a girl dead in the eyes,
02:44make her feel everything,
02:46and still be lying through every single second of it.
02:49The thing I thought was my happily ever after
02:51was just a punchline someone else got to laugh at.
02:54The more I cried, the worse it got.
02:56But I couldn't make a sound.
02:58My whole body was shaking so hard I could barely breathe.
03:01A long time passed.
03:02My phone buzzed.
03:04It was Asher.
03:05Just grab an Uber back.
03:06My crew's got a party tonight and it'd be awkward to bring you.
03:09I didn't reply.
03:10He sent a follow-up.
03:11Also, pick up a morning after pill yourself.
03:14I'm busy today.
03:15Don't forget to take it.
03:16Good girl.
03:16I stared at those two texts for a very, very long time without moving.
03:21From dusk until nearly sunrise,
03:23Asher had been relentless, like he had a point to prove.
03:26By the end, we were both completely wrecked.
03:28And right before he drifted off with his arms around me,
03:31he'd murmured the same thing twice.
03:33We weren't really prepared for your first time.
03:38I'll get you the pill first thing tomorrow morning.
03:41He'd even given me this little lecture about how girls needed to take care of themselves,
03:45said the morning after pill was really important,
03:48and that skipping it could mess up my body.
03:50And I had actually thought,
03:52this is it.
03:52He's the one.
03:53He's being so responsible.
03:55I finally got my person.
03:57And now, the clarity hit me like a slap.
04:00I dug my nails into my own palm until the pain forced the tears to stop.
04:04I wiped my face,
04:06straightened my glasses,
04:07and walked out of that bathroom like nothing had happened.
04:10I was too embarrassed to go to a real pharmacy,
04:12so I ordered the pill online instead.
04:14When the delivery guy left the package at my door,
04:17I waited another long stretch before I could even bring myself to go get it.
04:21I swallowed it with a mouthful of my own tears,
04:23and then I just sat down on the floor,
04:26staring at nothing,
04:27completely empty.
04:31Ever since Asher's family had moved next door to mine,
04:34I'd trailed after him like a shadow,
04:36and that had been 10 years of my life.
04:38I had genuinely never stopped to think about what a world without him would even look like.
04:43I couldn't picture it,
04:44but starting right now,
04:45I was going to have to figure it out alone.
04:47Outside the floor-to-ceiling window,
04:49the neighborhood lights blinked on,
04:51one by one,
04:52and then off again.
04:53At some point,
04:54I really didn't know how long I'd been sitting there,
04:57Mia called me on FaceTime.
05:11In the dark corner of the VIP booth,
05:14Asher and Chloe were sitting so close together,
05:16their thighs were touching.
05:17Chloe had worn a crop top and a curve-hugging mini skirt.
05:20Long, tan legs,
05:22tiny waist,
05:23even the way they were talking looked more like whispering secrets than having a conversation.
05:28I could feel the charged energy between them through the screen.
05:31Something in my chest locked up.
05:33He'd only said he wanted to chase her this afternoon,
05:36and apparently,
05:37tonight was all the time he needed.
05:39The game switched to truth or dare,
05:41and Chloe drew a card that said,
05:45Do a push-up challenge with a guy hovering over me.
05:50Predictably,
05:51Asher volunteered before anyone else could open their mouth.
05:54Chloe blushed bright pink and lay back against the couch cushions.
05:57Asher planted his hands on either side of her.
06:00He was controlled the whole time,
06:02deliberately keeping his body from making contact with hers,
06:05until the very last one.
06:07His arms gave out,
06:08and his entire weight came down directly on top of her.
06:11The room erupted.
06:13Everyone screaming so loud,
06:15the walls practically shook.
06:17Asher's and Chloe's faces went even redder.
06:19With the whole crowd going absolutely feral around them,
06:22Asher just tilted his head down and kissed her.
06:24Not a quick peck,
06:25a full, deep,
06:27for the whole room to see kiss.
06:29Three full minutes before they finally pulled apart.
06:32For all three of those minutes,
06:33I sat completely frozen.
06:34Eyes locked on the screen,
06:36barely remembering to breathe.
06:38I wanted to cry so badly.
06:41Oh my god, Stella,
06:43did you see that?
06:44He literally kissed her in front of everyone.
06:46He is so into her.
06:49Mia shook her head and stepped out of the booth,
06:51turning the camera as she went.
06:52Don't be mad at me.
06:54If I hadn't shown you,
06:55you never would have let yourself move on.
06:57I'm not mad at you.
06:59I'm only mad at myself for wasting so many years.
07:02I had always assumed that the spot beside Asher was mine,
07:05that it would always be mine.
07:07I am so done with him, Stella.
07:09Who does he think he is,
07:10watching you love him for years,
07:11acting all innocent like he had no idea,
07:12just letting you fall deeper and deeper?
07:14You saw what I showed you.
07:16I'm not giving myself the chance.
07:18Mia,
07:19I've already decided I'm going to California with you.
07:22But you have to promise me
07:23you'll keep it quiet for now.
07:25Right after I said it,
07:26I flipped open my laptop right in front of her.
07:29Without a single second of hesitation,
07:31I changed my first choice school
07:32to the one in California,
07:34one minute before the deadline.
07:36Mia basically levitated off the ground.
07:39She'd been begging me for months
07:40to apply to the same school as her.
07:42But back when we started high school,
07:44Asher and I had made this pact.
07:45We'd work hard together
07:47and go to his dream school
07:48up in Boston after graduation.
07:50It had his aerospace engineering program,
07:53the one he'd been obsessed with
07:54since we were kids.
07:55So even though I didn't particularly love
07:57the idea of brutal winters,
07:59and even though that school
08:00was a technical institute
08:01that didn't even have my major,
08:03I'd spent three years
08:04treating it like my only option.
08:06Our families had lived next door
08:07to each other for so long
08:09that both sets of parents
08:10thought it was basically a done deal
08:12we'd end up at the same school.
08:13Everyone, including me,
08:15assumed Asher and I
08:16would just naturally become official
08:18once we got to college.
08:19But right now,
08:20I couldn't think of a single reason
08:22to still go to Boston.
08:23Because honestly,
08:24after today,
08:25if I kept following Asher around
08:27the way I always had,
08:28I would never be able
08:29to look myself in the mirror again.
08:31I just needed to go somewhere far away.
08:33It didn't even matter where,
08:35as long as he wasn't there.
08:36He was going east,
08:37so I was going west.
08:39Before bed,
08:40I filled the entire bathtub.
08:41I needed to scrub
08:43every inch of myself clean.
08:45But when I took off my clothes,
08:47the bruises on my skin
08:48were still so vivid,
08:49it made me flinch.
08:51The memories from last night
08:52rushed back
08:53before I could stop them.
08:54The burning heat of his skin
08:56pressed against mine.
08:57The sound of his breath
08:59ragged and warm against my ear.
09:01The ghost of it all
09:02still seemed to linger
09:03in the air around me.
09:04I shook my head hard,
09:06physically trying to shake
09:07myself free of it.
09:08Then I grabbed
09:09the roughest loofah I owned
09:10and scrubbed myself raw
09:12over and over
09:13until my whole body
09:15was flushed pink and singing.
09:17I was trying,
09:18clumsily,
09:19desperately,
09:20to erase what was officially
09:21the worst night
09:22of my entire life.
09:24The result was that
09:25the pain kept me awake
09:27the whole night anyway.
09:28Asher didn't text.
09:29For the first time
09:30in six years,
09:31ever since we both got phones,
09:33we didn't say goodnight
09:34to each other.
09:35That was fine.
09:35It was going to happen
09:36eventually anyway.
09:37Tonight was as good
09:38a time as any
09:39to start letting go.
09:40I didn't fall asleep
09:42until just before sunrise,
09:43drifting in and out
09:44of exhaustion.
09:45Early the next morning,
09:47while I was still
09:47buried in sleep,
09:49I felt,
09:49in that foggy space
09:51between dream and awake,
09:52the soft press of lips
09:54against my forehead.
09:55I jolted awake.
09:56The first thing
09:57my eyes landed on
09:58was a jaw I knew too well
10:00and the soft dip
10:01of a throat right above me.
10:02The scent hit me next,
10:04cedarwood,
10:04that cologne he always wore,
10:06and underneath it,
10:07the faintest trace
10:08of something new,
10:09something citrusy
10:10that wasn't his.
10:12Right.
10:12I'd completely forgotten
10:13that Asher still knew
10:15my front door code.
10:16Seeing me awake,
10:17he shifted lower
10:18and tilted his face
10:19down toward my lips.
10:20I shoved him back
10:21with both hands
10:22and scrambled
10:22to the far edge
10:23of the bed.
10:24He blinked,
10:24then let out a short laugh
10:26like I'd surprised him.
10:29Since when are you shy?
10:30I didn't answer.
10:32I just yanked the blanket
10:33over my head
10:34and disappeared under it.
10:35Asher started talking.
10:39Stella, seriously.
10:40You didn't say goodnight,
10:41you turned your phone off
10:42and now you're hiding
10:43under a blanket?
10:45Still avoiding me?
10:46Then he just lifted the blanket
10:48and slid himself right in.
10:51Hey, how many times
10:53have I told you
10:54you can't skip breakfast?
10:56I ran half a mile
10:57to get you those croissants
10:58from your favorite place
10:59and they stood in line forever.
11:01Wanna get up and eat now?
11:03Or get eaten?
11:07Reality crashed back in
11:09and I fought like my life
11:10depended on it.
11:11But I'm 5'2 in sneakers
11:12and Asher is literally
11:146'2 of solid muscle.
11:16I honestly could not figure out
11:17what game he was playing.
11:19He had Chloe now,
11:20so what was he even doing
11:21in my bed?
11:22I tried to push him away
11:23only to be held even tighter.
11:25Let go of me!
11:27After what felt like forever
11:28of thrashing around,
11:29I was panting
11:30and had accomplished nothing
11:32except being held even tighter.
11:34What's the tantrum about?
11:37You're mad because
11:37I didn't bring you
11:38to the party last night?
11:39Over something that small?
11:41I said nothing.
11:42He buried his face
11:43in the curve of my neck
11:44and actually laughed.
11:45Let me guess.
11:47Mia told you something?
11:48It was a party game, Stella.
11:50Is it really worth
11:51getting jealous over?
11:53You're doing that thing
11:54you always do.
11:55I get slightly close
11:56to another girl
11:57and you go all silent
11:58and sulky.
12:00I was so furious
12:01I couldn't even form a sentence.
12:02I dredged up something
12:03from a self-defense unit
12:05in gym class,
12:06snapped my knee up
12:06hard between us,
12:07and the second he doubled over,
12:09I launched myself
12:10out of that bed.
12:11Stella.
12:12Asher's jaw went tight,
12:13his whole face going red.
12:15I grabbed a hoodie
12:16off the floor
12:16and yanked it on
12:17over my pajamas.
12:19I did not want to be
12:21in any room with him
12:22and especially
12:23not my bedroom.
12:33Hey,
12:34you took that pill
12:35yesterday, right?
12:36Because I really don't need
12:37that kind of drama
12:37and I definitely don't want
12:39to have that conversation
12:39with your parents.
12:48Come on,
12:49be reasonable.
12:50Eat something
12:50before you pick a fight.
12:55You know your stomach's sensitive.
13:05What is actually going on?
13:07Stella,
13:08even a tantrum
13:08needs a reason.
13:09There have to be
13:10some limits here.
13:11I kept my voice
13:13ice cold
13:13and set it flat.
13:14I don't deserve
13:15to have any say.
13:17Asher snapped.
13:18He slammed the cup down
13:19on the coffee table
13:20so hard it cracked.
13:22The plastic split
13:23and the smoothie
13:23spilled out in a wave
13:25soaking into the rug.
13:26What is that supposed to mean?
13:29Who do you think
13:30you are,
13:31Stella?
13:32Who do you think
13:33you are?
13:36We slept together once.
13:37It was consensual
13:39and now you think
13:40you own me?
13:41Do you know
13:42how suffocating
13:43that is?
13:44His voice
13:45had a viciousness
13:46to it
13:46I had never heard before.
13:48The second he finished
13:48speaking,
13:49my eyes flooded.
13:50No warning,
13:51no buildup,
13:52just instant tears.
13:54Yesterday's humiliation
13:55came crashing back,
13:56hitting me all over again
13:58like a fresh wound.
13:59Asher clearly
14:00hadn't expected me
14:01to cry this hard
14:02this fast.
14:02He looked genuinely thrown,
14:04scrambling for what to do.
14:05He crouched down
14:06and said he was sorry.
14:08I'm sorry.
14:09I drank too much
14:10last night
14:11and I was out of line
14:11just now.
14:12He reached out
14:13to wipe my face
14:14but I twisted away,
14:15putting distance
14:16between us.
14:16His hand froze in midair,
14:18hovering there.
14:18He opened his mouth
14:19to keep trying
14:20but his phone buzzed.
14:22He glanced at the screen once
14:23and his entire expression shifted
14:25and he stood up
14:26and moved toward the door.
14:27I've got something urgent.
14:29Take a minute to calm down.
14:30We're going to college soon.
14:32You can't keep throwing fits
14:34like a little kid
14:35who's going to put up with that.
14:42He hadn't been gone 30 minutes
14:44when Mia sent me a screenshot.
14:46Chloe's Instagram story
14:47just said,
14:48I'm hungry
14:49and breakfast appeared like magic.
14:51Pretty sure this is mutual now
14:52with a little heart.
14:54The photo was of the exact same croissants
14:56that were sitting on my kitchen counter.
14:58I didn't respond.
14:59I just quietly wiped my eyes,
15:01got on my hands and knees
15:02and started cleaning up the smoothie
15:04Asher had spilled.
15:05I scrubbed for a long time
15:07before I accepted
15:08with a hollow feeling in my chest
15:10that the stain had soaked
15:11all the way through the wool rug
15:13and wasn't coming out.
15:14So I just threw the whole rug in the trash.
15:16It didn't matter anyway.
15:18That rug was something
15:19Asher and his parents
15:20had spent an entire afternoon
15:22picking out on a family trip
15:23and he'd lugged it home
15:24in his carry-on himself.
15:26Then I went through everything else.
15:27Every single thing Asher
15:29had ever left at my place.
15:31Every gift he'd given me over the years.
15:33Every photo of the two of us.
15:35Every small souvenir and keepsake.
15:37It took the rest of the day
15:38but I packed every last bit of it up
15:40and threw it all out.
15:45I doubted he'd want any of it back anyway.
15:47After he left that day
15:48the silence stretched.
15:50Days went by
15:51and he didn't reach out at all.
15:52Things with Chloe were probably going great
15:54or maybe he was waiting for me
15:56to be the one who caved first.
15:58In every fight we'd ever had
15:59I was always the one who broke first.
16:01Every single time.
16:03No exceptions.
16:04But this time I didn't go looking for him
16:06and I didn't have any reason to.
16:08I blocked him on everything.
16:09Text all social media.
16:11Changed my front door code
16:12and deleted every account
16:14he might use to find me.
16:15After that
16:16I called my parents
16:17who were both traveling for work.
16:18I told them I wanted to spend the summer
16:20visiting my aunt
16:21on the other side of the country.
16:22My plan was to stay there
16:24until school started
16:25then head straight to California
16:26with Mia
16:27instead of coming home.
16:28Other than Mia
16:29no one else knew yet
16:30that I'd changed my application.
16:33This plan should work perfectly.
16:34There was basically zero chance
16:36I'd run into Asher
16:37if I pulled this off right.
16:38My mom actually laughed over the phone.
16:42Ooh
16:43so you and Ashler
16:44are taking a vacation together?
16:46I made up a quick excuse
16:47and didn't go into detail.
16:48I just told her
16:49I wanted to visit my aunt and grandma.
16:51I begged my dad
16:52to book me the first available flight
16:54and I was ready to leave
16:55that same night.
16:56Of course
16:57because the universe has no chill
16:59I ran into Asher's mom
17:00right at our front door
17:02on my way out.
17:03She grabbed my arm warmly
17:04and started chattering.
17:06Stella
17:07honey
17:07where's Asher
17:08he's not going to pick you up?
17:10Didn't he say
17:10he was taking you on that ski trip?
17:13Go have fun.
17:15I am 100% behind you two.
17:18I was confused.
17:19I had mentioned once
17:21during senior year
17:22that I'd always wanted
17:23to try skiing in Colorado
17:25just offhand
17:26but given everything
17:27that had happened between us
17:28the idea of going on a trip together
17:30seemed completely impossible.
17:32I was running out of time though
17:34so I said something vague
17:35and non-committal
17:36and slipped away.
17:37What I never expected
17:38was that at the airport
17:40I would come face to face
17:41with Asher.
17:44He was with a group of friends.
17:46Chloe was there too.
17:47Asher had her designer bag in one hand
17:49and his other arms
17:50slung around her shoulder.
17:52They were trailing at the back of the group.
17:54Every so often
17:54Chloe would lean her head
17:56toward him to say something
17:57and every single time
17:58without any hesitation
18:00he would bend down to listen.
18:02He never did that with me.
18:03Asher had always been taller than me
18:05and the gap had only gotten bigger
18:07over the years.
18:08When it was the two of us
18:09I was always the one
18:10bouncing on my toes
18:11craning my neck up
18:13just to catch his eyes.
18:14Turns out
18:15for the right person
18:16he would be the one who bends.
18:18I breathed in slowly.
18:20I told myself
18:20I needed to have
18:21some dignity about this.
18:23Whatever he did
18:23was none of my business.
18:25If I let myself overthink it
18:26I deserve to be slapped.
18:28But
18:28there seemed to be
18:29only one path to the gate.
18:31All I could do
18:32was stay far enough behind
18:33that he wouldn't notice me.
18:35By some miracle
18:35we eventually reached
18:37a fork in the terminal
18:38where the path split.
18:39Asher seemed to get
18:40distracted around that.
18:41He made a bunch of calls
18:42none of which seemed to go through
18:44and then spent a long time
18:45staring at his phone.
18:47Eventually
18:47he borrowed someone else's phone
18:49his face dark and unreadable
18:51and disappeared
18:51into a nearby bathroom.
18:53A moment later
18:54my phone rang.
18:55Unknown number.
18:57So you've got a real attitude
18:59on you this time.
19:00You're just not gonna
19:01come to me first?
19:03You actually blocked me?
19:05Fine.
19:06Keep it up.
19:07See how great you do
19:08when we're both in Boston
19:09and you don't know anyone
19:10and there's no one
19:10to look out for you.
19:11Asher came out swinging
19:12rattling off complaints
19:14in one long
19:15irritated breath.
19:16I had absolutely
19:17nothing to say
19:18to any of that
19:19but Asher seemed
19:20to get angrier
19:21at my silence.
19:22I'm done talking about this
19:23just unblock me.
19:25I'm heading out of the country
19:26for a couple days
19:27with some friends
19:28probably won't have
19:29great reception.
19:33Don't get all weepy
19:34about it.
19:34I couldn't even be bothered
19:35to say a single word back.
19:37I hung up
19:38and turned my phone off.
19:39From across the terminal
19:40I watched Asher
19:41stalk back to his group
19:43his expression stormy.
19:44He grabbed Chloe's hand
19:45didn't hesitate for a second
19:47and walked toward
19:48the left gate.
19:49I let out a long breath
19:50turned around
19:51and headed right.
19:54With my family
19:55I performed happiness
19:56and honestly
19:57I got pretty good at it.
19:59I deliberately kept myself
20:00slammed with plans
20:01filling every gap in the day
20:03so I had no room to spiral.
20:05I definitely didn't add Asher
20:07back the way he'd demanded
20:08but Mia and some others
20:09kept me updated
20:10on his life anyway.
20:12Asher and his friends
20:12had apparently been
20:13screaming Colorado for days.
20:15For some reason
20:16he was suddenly posting
20:17on social media
20:18every single day
20:19which was completely
20:20unlike the version of him
20:22who used to go months
20:23without posting anything.
20:24Sometimes it was
20:25slow motion clips of him
20:27carving down the slopes.
20:28Sometimes it was food
20:29and late night parties
20:30but mostly it was big group
20:32shots of everyone
20:33clowning around in the snow
20:34even though I genuinely
20:35didn't want to see it.
20:37Somehow people kept
20:38sending it to me
20:38unprompted.
20:39Everyone was very
20:40casually curious
20:41about why I hadn't
20:42gone with Asher.
20:43I didn't know what to say
20:44so I just told people
20:46I had family stuff going on.
20:48Mia was the only one
20:49who openly called him
20:50a trash human.
20:51Everyone else around me
20:52seemed to be constantly
20:53stopping themselves
20:54from saying something.
20:55I knew
20:55they'd probably figured out
20:57something was wrong.
20:59In every single group photo
21:01Asher posted
21:02he and Chloe
21:02were glued together
21:03inseparable
21:04but that spot beside him
21:06had been mine for years
21:07just mine.
21:08Every time I saw
21:09one of those photos
21:10my face stayed
21:11completely neutral
21:12but something deep
21:13in my chest would clench.
21:14He was the first person
21:15I ever fell for
21:16someone I had genuinely
21:18completely
21:19embarrassingly loved
21:20for such a long time.
21:21In the middle of the night
21:22alone
21:23I would fall apart a little
21:24and sometimes
21:25I felt this stubborn
21:26stupid feeling
21:27that I wasn't ready
21:28to let go
21:29but every time
21:30that feeling started
21:31rising
21:31I'd replay his words
21:33and give myself
21:33a mental slap.
21:34I'd repeat it to myself
21:36over and over
21:37Stella
21:37don't be pathetic
21:38that's the fastest way
21:40to make yourself
21:40even less worth respecting
21:42just hold on
21:43a little longer.
21:44Once the detox period
21:45was over
21:45everything would be fine.
21:47We went a full month
21:48without any contact
21:49the longest we'd ever gone
21:50since the day we met.
21:52Distance and time
21:52turned out to be
21:53the best medicine.
21:54I ground through
21:55the worst of it
21:56and came out
21:56the other side.
21:57Just when I'd reached
21:58the point where
21:59I didn't think about him
22:00every hour of every day
22:01he switched to a new number
22:03and called me
22:03from across the country.
22:07So you're just that bold
22:09running off without me
22:11and staying this long?
22:13Summer's almost over
22:14Stella.
22:16Did you forget
22:16you promised
22:17to go on a trip with me?
22:18Maybe it was because
22:19we'd gone so long
22:20without talking
22:21but underneath
22:22all the complaints
22:23his voice had this edge
22:24to it
22:25almost careful.
22:26I still didn't want
22:27to talk to him.
22:27I was about to hang up
22:29when his mom
22:29snatched the phone.
22:31Stella!
22:31Sweetheart!
22:32Are you having fun
22:33out there?
22:34This boy won't
22:35tell me anything.
22:36I only just found out
22:37you two had a fight.
22:39Don't be too hard
22:40on him, honey.
22:41When you come back
22:42I'll make him
22:43apologize to your face.
22:45Oh, and Ashler
22:46just got his
22:47acceptance letter today.
22:48Yours should come
22:49soon too.
22:50Have you thought about
22:51when you'll come home
22:52for your going away party?
22:54I've got a little
22:55surprise planned.
22:56Ashler's mom
22:57had been like
22:57a second family
22:58to me since
22:59I was little.
23:00I couldn't bring
23:00myself to hang up
23:01on her
23:01so I stayed on
23:02and let her talk.
23:03I'm not really
23:04planning to have
23:05a party.
23:05My parents are
23:06always traveling
23:07and honestly
23:08we can just do
23:09a video call thing
23:10with family.
23:11I probably won't
23:11be back before
23:12school starts anyway.
23:13I'll just come home
23:14right before move in.
23:15I didn't even
23:16finish the sentence
23:17before Ashler
23:18took the phone back.
23:19His breathing
23:19was heavy.
23:20I could feel
23:20the anger
23:21coming through
23:22from 3,000 miles away.
23:26Stella
23:26I'm literally
23:27the one
23:27reaching out
23:28first here.
23:29How much longer
23:30are you going
23:30to keep this up?
23:31If you don't
23:32come back
23:32don't expect
23:33me to wait
23:33for you.
23:34I'll head
23:35to Boston
23:35without you.
23:36He delivered
23:37the threat
23:38in this cold
23:38flat voice
23:39waited
23:40and waited
23:41without getting
23:42the answer
23:42he wanted.
23:43My acceptance
23:44letter
23:44had already
23:45arrived at home.
23:46When they saw
23:46the school name
23:47on the letter
23:48my parents
23:48finally found out
23:49I changed
23:50my application.
23:51my mom
23:51video called
23:52me.
23:53Hi baby
23:54why didn't
23:54you talk
23:55to us
23:55before changing
23:56your application?
23:57Does Asher
23:58know?
23:59His mom
23:59called this
24:00morning
24:00asking if
24:01your letter
24:01had come
24:02yet.
24:03I had
24:03no words.
24:07Baby
24:08how are we
24:08supposed to
24:08feel okay
24:09about you
24:09going all
24:09the way
24:10to California
24:10alone?
24:11Aren't you
24:11the kid
24:12who's
24:12terrified
24:13of bugs
24:13and can't
24:14handle heat?
24:15You really
24:16think you
24:16can manage?
24:17Don't call
24:17me to come
24:18deal with it
24:18for you.
24:19That school
24:20has a lot
24:21to offer
24:21and Mia
24:22will be
24:22going there
24:22too.
24:23You don't
24:24have to
24:24worry.
24:25Is this
24:25about a
24:26fight with
24:26Asher?
24:27Because
24:28that's not
24:29a reason
24:29to switch
24:30schools
24:30across the
24:30country.
24:32What if
24:33you change
24:33your mind
24:34in a week
24:34and want
24:35him back
24:35then what?
24:36It's
24:37hard your
24:37caption.
24:38I just
24:39decided
24:39to say
24:40it straight.
24:42Asher
24:42has a
24:42girlfriend.
24:43Mom
24:44dad
24:45I have
24:46my own
24:46life
24:47and I
24:47don't want
24:48to just
24:48orbit
24:48around
24:49his
24:49forever.
24:50So
24:51please
24:51support
24:51my
24:52choice
24:52and
24:53please
24:53keep
24:53it
24:53between
24:54us
24:54for
24:54now.
24:55My
24:56parents
24:56looked at
24:56each other
24:57for a long
24:58time
24:58without
24:59speaking.
24:59The only
25:00thing they
25:00asked
25:01was that
25:01I come
25:01home
25:02sooner
25:02rather than
25:03later.
25:03School
25:04was starting
25:04soon
25:05and they
25:05wanted
25:05time
25:06with me.
25:06My
25:07mom
25:07mentioned
25:07that
25:07Asher
25:08had
25:08gone
25:08off
25:08on
25:08another
25:09trip
25:09with
25:09friends
25:09the
25:10very
25:10next
25:10day
25:10after
25:11getting
25:11his
25:11acceptance
25:12letter.
25:12He'd
25:12been
25:12gone
25:13for
25:13days.
25:18On
25:19the
25:19day
25:19I
25:19landed
25:19my
25:20parents
25:20showed
25:20up
25:20at
25:21the
25:21airport
25:21dressed
25:22like
25:22they
25:22were
25:22going
25:22somewhere
25:23formal.
25:23I
25:23woke
25:24up
25:24from
25:24my
25:24nap
25:24on
25:25the
25:25drive
25:25and
25:25realized
25:26they'd
25:27pulled
25:27up
25:27to
25:27a
25:27five
25:28star
25:28hotel.
25:29I
25:29was
25:29still
25:29half
25:30asleep
25:30when
25:30my
25:31mom
25:31grabbed
25:31my
25:31arm
25:32and
25:32steered
25:32me
25:33through
25:33the
25:33lobby
25:33and
25:34right
25:34there
25:34standing
25:35in
25:35the
25:35middle
25:35of
25:36it
25:36was
25:36Asher
25:37who
25:37I
25:37hadn't
25:38seen
25:38in
25:38months
25:39my
25:39feet
25:39stopped
25:40moving
25:40on
25:41their
25:41own.
25:42Asher
25:42was
25:42in
25:42a
25:42perfectly
25:43fitted
25:43black
25:43suit
25:44leaning
25:44casually
25:45beside
25:45the
25:45lobby
25:46fountain
25:46like
25:46something
25:47out
25:47of
25:47a
25:47magazine
25:48spread.
25:48Just
25:49one
25:49summer
25:49was
25:49all
25:50it
25:50took.
25:50The
25:50boyish
25:51edge
25:51had
25:51faded
25:52and
25:52he
25:52looked
25:52exactly
25:53like
25:53the
25:53version
25:54of
25:54him
25:54I
25:54used
25:54to
25:55imagine
25:55when
25:55I
25:55tried
25:56to
25:56picture
25:56him
25:56grown
25:57up.
25:57Something
25:57complicated
25:58twisted
25:58in
25:59my
25:59chest.
26:00I'd
26:00avoided
26:00this
26:00moment
26:01for
26:01months
26:01and
26:01now
26:02here
26:02it
26:02was
26:02sprung
26:03on
26:03me
26:03with
26:03no
26:03warning.
26:06Asher
26:19seemed
26:20to
26:20sense
26:20something
26:20because
26:21right
26:21then
26:22he
26:22casually
26:22glanced
26:23over
26:23and
26:23his
26:24gaze
26:24landed
26:24directly
26:25on
26:25mine.
26:26My
26:26heart
26:26lurched
26:27sideways
26:27still
26:28felt
26:28like
26:28the
26:28floor
26:29dropped
26:29out
26:29but
26:30Asher
26:30moved
26:30first
26:31he
26:31took
26:31one
26:32step
26:32toward
26:32us
26:32and
26:33then
26:33Chloe
26:33appeared
26:34out
26:34of
26:34nowhere
26:34and
26:35slipped
26:35her
26:35arm
26:35through
26:36his
26:36she
26:37pulled
26:37him
26:37along
26:37with
26:37her
26:38smiling
26:38wide
26:39and
26:39walked
26:40right
26:40over
26:40to
26:40us
26:41Oh my
26:42gosh
26:42Stella
26:43you're
26:43back
26:44I've
26:45been
26:45wanting
26:45to
26:45properly
26:46meet
26:46you
26:46forever
26:47I
26:48always
26:48saw
26:49you
26:49around
26:49with
26:49Asher
26:51I'm
26:51from
26:51the
26:52AP
26:52track
26:52so
26:53we
26:53never
26:53officially
26:54met
26:54and
26:55I'm
26:56genuinely
26:56sad
26:57about
26:57that
26:58yeah
27:00uncomfortable
27:01why
27:01would
27:01you
27:02want
27:02to
27:02get
27:02to
27:02know
27:02her
27:03she's
27:04just
27:04a
27:04drama
27:05queen
27:05who
27:05throws
27:05fits
27:07I
27:07honestly
27:07thought
27:08she'd
27:08stayed
27:08in her
27:09aunt
27:09state
27:09forever
27:09the
27:10world
27:10will
27:11keep
27:11on
27:11turning
27:11and
27:12your
27:12name
27:12will
27:12be
27:12forgotten
27:12I
27:13had
27:14nothing
27:14to say
27:14to
27:14that
27:14there
27:15was
27:15genuinely
27:15no
27:16response
27:17Chloe's
27:17silver
27:18bodycon
27:18dress
27:18was
27:19covered
27:19in
27:19tiny
27:20crystals
27:20that
27:20caught
27:21every
27:21bit
27:21of
27:21light
27:22in
27:22the
27:22room
27:22I
27:22glanced
27:23down
27:23it
27:23myself
27:23white
27:24tea
27:24jeans
27:25sneakers
27:25hair
27:26that
27:26still
27:26had
27:26a
27:26slight
27:27slept
27:27on
27:27wave
27:28from
27:28the
27:28plane
27:28I
27:29looked
27:29like
27:29I'd
27:29made
27:29a
27:29wrong
27:30turn
27:30on
27:30the
27:30way
27:30to
27:31a
27:31convenience
27:31store
27:32I
27:32brought
27:32a
27:32dress
27:32for
27:33you
27:33baby
27:33you
27:33can
27:33go
27:33change
27:34in
27:34the
27:34powder
27:34room
27:48I
27:53go
27:53in
27:53I
27:53little
27:54hungry
27:56it
27:57was
27:57a
27:57small
27:57gathering
27:58Asher
27:58had
27:59only
27:59invited
27:59close
28:00family
28:00and
28:00a
28:00handful
28:01of
28:01friends
28:01every
28:02single
28:02person
28:02I
28:03knew
28:03looked
28:03visibly
28:04shocked
28:04when
28:04they
28:05saw
28:05me
28:05walk
28:05in
28:05I
28:06just
28:06smiled
28:06and
28:07said
28:07hello
28:07and
28:08acted
28:08like
28:08I
28:08didn't
28:08notice
28:09but
28:09nobody
28:09was
28:10subtle
28:10about
28:10their
28:10curiosity
28:11the
28:12people
28:12watching
28:12energy
28:13was
28:13off
28:13the
28:14charts
28:16I
28:16slipped
28:17out
28:17to
28:17the
28:17terrace
28:17for
28:18some
28:18air
28:18and
28:18could
28:25wait
28:25didn't
28:26Stella
28:26fall
28:26out
28:26with
28:26you
28:27over
28:27the
28:27Chloe
28:27thing
28:27why
28:28is
28:28she
28:28here
28:28did
28:28she
28:28come
28:29crawling
28:29back
28:30she's
28:31just
28:31quick
28:31tempered
28:32and
28:32in
28:32a
28:32mood
28:32she
28:33always
28:33comes
28:33around
28:33after
28:33a
28:34couple
28:34of
28:34days
28:34we've
28:34known
28:34each
28:34other
28:35our
28:35whole
28:35lives
28:35she's
28:36not
28:36actually
28:36going
28:36to
28:36cut
28:36me
28:36off
28:37I
28:37mean
28:37Stella's
28:38genuinely
28:38great
28:38she's
28:39been
28:39ride
28:39or
28:39died
28:39for
28:40you
28:40for
28:40years
28:40all
28:40of
28:40us
28:43are
28:43low
28:44best
28:44friend
28:45honestly
28:45Stella's
28:46amazing
28:47but
28:47it
28:47also
28:48feels
28:48kind
28:48of
28:49limiting
28:49I'm
28:50young
28:50I
28:50don't
28:51want
28:51to
28:51only
28:51ever
28:51have
28:51one
28:52person
28:52that's
28:52too
28:53predictable
28:53I
28:54need
28:54to
28:54see
28:54what
28:54else
28:54is
28:55out
28:55there
28:55but
28:56that
28:56doesn't
28:56mean
28:56anything
28:57has
28:57to
28:57end
28:57as
28:58long
28:58as
28:58I
28:58know
28:58there's
28:58always
28:58a
28:59light
28:59on
28:59at
28:59home
28:59for
28:59me
29:01you're
29:01such
29:01a
29:02player
29:02I'd
29:02heard
29:03enough
29:03I
29:03backed
29:04away
29:04as
29:04quietly
29:04as
29:05could
29:05the
29:05evening
29:06breeze
29:06hit
29:06my
29:07face
29:07and
29:07I
29:07felt
29:08my
29:08eyes
29:08go
29:08hot
29:09I
29:09just
29:09hated
29:10myself
29:10for
29:11spending
29:11so
29:11many
29:11years
29:12being
29:12blind
29:13to
29:13who
29:13he
29:13actually
29:14was
29:14I
29:15was
29:15in
29:16absolutely
29:16the
29:17worst
29:17mood
29:18of
29:18the
29:18entire
29:19summer
29:19but
29:19Asher's
29:20mom
29:20was
29:21thrilled
29:21to
29:21see
29:21me
29:22and
29:22spent
29:22most
29:22of
29:23dinner
29:23doting
29:23on
29:23me
29:24refusing
29:24to
29:24let
29:25go
29:25of
29:25my
29:25hand
29:25Stella
29:26Boston
29:27can
29:27get
29:27really
29:27dry
29:28in
29:28winter
29:28let
29:29Asher
29:29take
29:29you
29:29shopping
29:30tomorrow
29:30and
29:30stock
29:31up
29:31on
29:31some
29:31good
29:31moisturizers
29:32oh
29:33it's
29:33fine
29:33there
29:34are
29:34plenty
29:34of
29:34shops
29:34out
29:35there
29:35and
29:35online
29:35shopping
29:36is
29:36so
29:36easy
29:36she
29:37nodded
29:37warmly
29:37and
29:38turned
29:38to
29:38my
29:38mom
29:38I
29:39already
29:40picked
29:40out
29:40all
29:40the
29:40bedding
29:41for
29:41the
29:41dorms
29:42got a
29:42set
29:42for
29:43Asher
29:43and
29:43one
29:43for
29:43Stella
29:44at
29:44the
29:44same
29:44time
29:44all
29:45four
29:45seasons
29:45covered
29:46Boston
29:46winters
29:47are
29:47brutal
29:47I
29:48went
29:48with
29:48really
29:48thick
29:49comforters
29:49and
29:50got
29:50a few
29:50winter
29:51coats
29:51for
29:51Stella
29:51too
29:52don't
29:52you
29:52worry
29:52about
29:53a
29:53thing
29:53my
29:53mom
29:54made
29:54a
29:54face
29:54like
29:55she'd
29:55swallowed
29:55something
29:56all of
29:56that
29:56would
29:57be
29:57completely
29:57useless
29:58in
29:58California
29:58but
29:59she
29:59didn't
29:59want
29:59to
30:00embarrass
30:00anyone
30:00so
30:01she
30:01thanked
30:01her
30:01graciously
30:02Chloe
30:03sitting
30:03nearby
30:03looked
30:04like
30:04she
30:04was
30:05biting
30:05through
30:05her
30:05own
30:05cheek
30:06Asher's
30:06mom
30:07didn't
30:07seem
30:07to
30:07notice
30:08she
30:08kept
30:08right
30:08on
30:09talking
30:09addressing
30:10both
30:10of
30:10us
30:11once
30:12you're
30:12both
30:12in
30:12Boston
30:13you'll
30:13be
30:14each
30:14other's
30:14family
30:15Asher
30:15you better
30:16take good
30:16care of
30:17Stella
30:17and stop
30:17making her
30:18upset
30:18you hear
30:19me
30:19Asher threw
30:20a glance
30:20my way
30:21with zero
30:21expression
30:23she doesn't
30:24need anyone
30:24to look
30:24after her
30:25she's
30:25perfectly
30:25capable
30:26of flying
30:26on her
30:27own
30:27the table
30:27got a little
30:28stiff
30:28and that's
30:29when Chloe
30:29smoothly
30:30cut in
30:31oh don't
30:31worry
30:31my school
30:32is in
30:32Boston
30:33too
30:33I'll
30:33be there
30:33to look
30:34after
30:34Asher
30:34and Stella
30:35will be
30:36all the
30:36way
30:36in
30:36California
30:37anyway
30:37so
30:37it's
30:38not
30:38really
30:38practical
30:40before
30:40she even
30:41finished
30:41the sentence
30:42Asher
30:42and his
30:43parents
30:43faces
30:43changed
30:44California
30:45every
30:46single
30:47one
30:47of them
30:47looked
30:48at me
30:48and asked
30:49it
30:49at the
30:49same
30:50time
30:51Asher
30:51you didn't
30:52know
30:52it's been
30:53on the
30:53school's
30:54honor board
30:54oh wait
30:55you haven't
30:56been back
30:56to campus
30:57every
30:57pair of
30:58eyes
30:58at the
30:58table
30:59swiveled
30:59to me
31:00under
31:00the weight
31:00of all
31:01that
31:01attention
31:01I
31:02quietly
31:02nodded
31:03my mom
31:03stepped
31:04in
31:04to explain
31:05Stella
31:06a last
31:06minute
31:07decision
31:07to change
31:08her
31:08application
31:09she's
31:10going
31:10to a
31:10great
31:10school
31:11in
31:11California
31:11and
31:12it's
31:13actually
31:13the
31:14perfect
31:14program
31:14for her
31:15Asher
31:15didn't
31:16believe
31:16it
31:16he
31:16grabbed
31:16my
31:17hand
31:17and
31:17made
31:17me
31:18look
31:18at
31:18him
31:19Stella
31:20I
31:21literally
31:21watched
31:21you fill
31:22out
31:22that
31:22application
31:23we were
31:24going
31:24to
31:24the
31:24same
31:24school
31:25his
31:25grip
31:26was
31:26tight
31:26enough
31:26to
31:26actually
31:27hurt
31:27and
31:28it
31:28pushed
31:28me
31:28over
31:28the
31:29edge
31:30yeah
31:30I
31:30changed
31:30it
31:31what
31:31does
31:31it
31:32have
31:32to
31:32do
31:32with
31:32you
31:32Asher
31:33looked
31:33stunned
31:34for a
31:34second
31:34then
31:35started
31:35laughing
31:35like I'd
31:36said
31:36something
31:37ridiculous
31:37you're
31:38joking
31:38you're
31:39literally
31:39the girl
31:40who jumps
31:40onto my
31:41back
31:41at the
31:41sight of
31:42a bug
31:42and you're
31:43moving to
31:43California
31:45and you're
31:45moving to
31:46California
31:46I pulled
31:47out my
31:47phone
31:48found the
31:48crystal clear
31:49photo of
31:50my acceptance
31:50letter
31:50and held
31:51it up
31:51in his
31:52face
31:52Asher
31:52took the
31:53phone
31:53zoomed
31:54in
31:54zoomed
31:55out
31:55read it
31:56over
31:56and over
31:57and finally
31:58let out
31:58a laugh
31:59that had
31:59no humor
32:00in it
32:00at all
32:01in the
32:01middle
32:01of
32:01everyone's
32:02gasps
32:02he grabbed
32:03my wrist
32:04and pulled
32:04me out
32:05of the
32:05dining room
32:07he pulled
32:08me into
32:08a side
32:09room
32:09and locked
32:09the door
32:10behind us
32:10Asher
32:11planted
32:11himself
32:11against
32:12it
32:12cutting
32:12off
32:13any
32:13escape
32:13and came
32:14at me
32:14hard
32:14I lifted
32:22my head
32:23I took
32:24a breath
32:24and made
32:25myself
32:25look him
32:25straight
32:26in the
32:26eye
32:26I have
32:27my own
32:27plans
32:29since
32:29when do
32:29I have
32:30to build
32:30my entire
32:30future
32:31around
32:31what
32:31you
32:32want
32:32Asher
32:33be honest
32:33with
32:33yourself
32:34are you
32:35actually
32:35upset
32:36about
32:36the
32:36plan
32:37or
32:38are
32:38you
32:38upset
32:38because
32:39I'm
32:39not
32:39available
32:39to be
32:40your
32:40fallback
32:40girl
32:41anymore
32:41the color
32:42drained
32:42from his
32:42face
32:43what is
32:43that
32:43supposed
32:44to mean
32:44could
32:44you
32:45not
32:45phrase
32:45things
32:45like
32:46that
32:46we're
32:47adults
32:47that night
32:48was
32:48completely
32:49mutual
32:49are you
32:50seriously
32:50still
32:50bringing
32:51that
32:51up
32:51I
32:51was
32:51embarrassed
32:52but I
32:52held
32:53his
32:53gaze
32:53anyway
32:57that
32:58I
32:58would
32:58have
32:58kept
32:58throwing
32:58myself
32:59at
32:59you
32:59but
33:00you
33:00knew
33:00you
33:00didn't
33:01like
33:01me
33:01back
33:01and
33:01you
33:01just
33:02watched
33:02me
33:02walk
33:02straight
33:03into
33:03the flame
33:03that was
33:03fun for
33:04you
33:04wasn't
33:04it
33:04even
33:05now
33:05he
33:05still
33:06didn't
33:06get
33:06it
33:06people
33:07don't
33:07say
33:07goodbye
33:07until
33:08they've
33:08completely
33:09run
33:09out
33:09of
33:09hope
33:09he
33:10flushed
33:10something
33:11in
33:11what
33:11I
33:11said
33:12hit
33:12his
33:12face
33:12went
33:13from
33:13white
33:13to
33:13red
33:14and
33:14he
33:14visibly
33:15swayed
33:15what
33:15do
33:16even
33:17listen
33:17to
33:17what
33:17you're
33:17saying
33:18you
33:18he
33:18couldn't
33:19finish
33:19the
33:19sentence
33:22stella
33:22we've
33:23known
33:23each
33:23other
33:23since
33:23we
33:23were
33:23eight
33:24years
33:24old
33:24and
33:24we're
33:2418
33:25now
33:26if
33:26you're
33:26choosing
33:27to
33:27walk
33:27away
33:27from
33:27what
33:28we
33:28have
33:28then
33:29we
33:29don't
33:29have
33:29to
33:29be
33:29friends
33:30either
33:30and
33:30with
33:31just
33:31that
33:31he
33:31turned
33:32and
33:32walked
33:32out
33:32of
33:33the
33:33hotel
33:41from
33:41that
33:41day
33:42until
33:42the
33:42day
33:42I
33:42left
33:43for
33:43school
33:43I
33:43never
33:44saw
33:44Asher
33:44again
33:45Mia
33:45sent
33:45me
33:46a
33:46screenshot
33:46of
33:46his
33:46official
33:47couple's
33:47post
33:48with
33:48Chloe
33:48I
33:49deleted
33:49it
33:49without
33:49even
33:50opening
33:50it
33:50every
33:51mutual
33:51friend
33:52connected
33:52to
33:52him
33:52I
33:53blocked
33:53there
33:53was
33:54genuinely
33:54no
33:55point
33:55in
33:55following
33:56any
33:56of
33:56it
33:56anymore
33:59the
34:00only
34:00exception
34:00was
34:01the
34:01day
34:01I
34:01flew
34:01out
34:02to
34:02California
34:02of
34:03course
34:03because
34:03the
34:04universe
34:04has
34:04a
34:04terrible
34:05sense
34:05of
34:05humor
34:05I
34:06walked
34:06straight
34:06into
34:07Asher
34:07at
34:07the
34:07airport
34:08again
34:08with
34:09Chloe
34:14kept
34:14walking
34:15clearly
34:15still
34:15angry
34:16he
34:16didn't
34:16look
34:17at
34:17me
34:17once
34:17we
34:18scattered
34:18in
34:18different
34:18directions
34:19and
34:19neither
34:20of
34:20us
34:20looked
34:20back
34:21right
34:21before
34:21I
34:21got
34:22to
34:22the
34:22security
34:22line
34:23I
34:23glanced
34:23over
34:24and
34:24caught
34:24Asher
34:25at
34:25his
34:25gate
34:25about
34:26to
34:26board
34:26he
34:26gave
34:27me
34:27one
34:27cold
34:28flat
34:28look
34:28and
34:29then
34:29disappeared
34:29through
34:30the
34:30door
34:30without
34:30turning
34:31around
34:31the
34:32person
34:32who
34:32had
34:32been
34:32part
34:33of
34:33every
34:33chapter
34:34of
34:34my
34:34growing
34:34up
34:34we
34:35were
34:44time
34:44passed
34:45without
34:45either
34:45of
34:46us
34:46hearing
34:46a
34:46single
34:46thing
34:47about
34:47the
34:47other
34:47I
34:48specifically
34:48asked
34:49my
34:49parents
34:49not
34:50to
34:50bring
34:50up
34:50anything
34:51related
34:51to
34:52Asher
34:52or
34:52his
34:53family
34:53in
34:53front
34:53of
34:53me
34:54over
34:54New
34:54Year's
34:54break
34:55a
34:55girl
34:55from
34:55our
34:56high
34:56school
34:56came
34:56to
34:56visit
34:57he's
34:57nothing
34:57like
34:58that
34:58cold
34:59focused
34:59straight-A
35:00guy
35:00he was
35:01in
35:01high
35:01school
35:01he's
35:02completely
35:02different
35:05honestly
35:06if you ran
35:07into him
35:07now
35:07you
35:08might not
35:08even
35:09recognize
35:09him
35:09I
35:10didn't
35:11say
35:11anything
35:11Mia
35:12kicked
35:12her
35:12under
35:12the
35:12table
35:13and
35:13smoothly
35:14changed
35:14the
35:14subject
35:14and
35:15the
35:15girl
35:15dropped
35:15it
35:16we
35:16did
35:16the
35:16New
35:17Year's
35:17countdown
35:17by
35:17the
35:18water
35:18and
35:18Mia
35:18told
35:19me
35:19to
35:19make
35:19a
35:19wish
35:20hope
35:21New
35:21Year
35:21Syria
35:22parent
35:22healthy
35:22can
35:23keep
35:23under
35:23the
35:23world
35:24I
35:24realized
35:25it
35:39I
35:40knew
35:40I
35:40had
35:40finally
35:41actually
35:41completely
35:42let
35:43go
35:44the
35:44first
35:44winter
35:45break
35:45of
35:45college
35:46I
35:46missed
35:46my
35:46parents
35:47so
35:47badly
35:48I
35:48couldn't
35:48stand
35:49it
35:49the
35:49second
35:49my
35:50last
35:50exam
35:50was
35:50done
35:51I
35:51was
35:51on
35:51the
35:51first
35:52flight
35:52home
35:52what
35:53I
35:53didn't
35:53expect
35:54was
35:54that
35:54Asher
35:55had
35:55come
35:55to
35:55the
35:55airport
35:56with
35:56my
35:56parents
35:56to
35:57pick
35:57me
35:57up
35:57after
35:58half
35:58a
35:58year
35:59apart
35:59we
35:59had
35:59both
36:00changed
36:00he
36:00was
36:01thinner
36:01had
36:01dyed
36:02his
36:09problem
36:10why
36:10else
36:11would
36:11I
36:11have
36:11been
36:11trailing
36:11after
36:12him
36:12since
36:12we
36:12were
36:13five
36:13hey
36:13there
36:14big
36:14bro
36:14Asher
36:15he
36:15stared
36:15at
36:15me
36:15like
36:15I
36:16had
36:16spoken
36:16a
36:16different
36:16language
36:18we
36:18ran
36:18into
36:19him
36:19outside
36:19he
36:20insisted
36:20on
36:20coming
36:21along
36:21to
36:21help
36:21I
36:22smiled
36:22and
36:23waved
36:23her
36:23off
36:23it
36:24was
36:24fine
36:26in
36:26the
36:27car
36:27I
36:27immediately
36:28launched
36:28into
36:28all
36:29the
36:29funny
36:29things
36:29that
36:29had
36:30happened
36:30at
36:30school
36:30and
36:31my
36:31parents
36:31were
36:31the
36:32whole
36:39seemed
36:40like
36:40he
36:40wanted
36:40to
36:40come
36:40inside
36:41when
36:41we
36:41got
36:41home
36:42but
36:42all
36:42three
36:42of
36:42us
36:43politely
36:43turned
36:43him
36:43down
36:44together
36:44my
36:45grandma
36:45and
36:45my
36:45aunt
36:46had
36:46both
36:46come
36:46back
36:47to
36:47celebrate
36:47the
36:47holidays
36:48that
36:48year
36:48New
36:49year's
36:49eve
36:49was
36:49loud
36:50and
36:50packed
36:50with
36:50family
36:51after
36:51the
36:51big
36:52dinner
36:52the
36:52older
36:53relatives
36:53parked
36:53themselves
36:54in front
36:54of
36:54the
36:54TV
36:55while
36:55the
36:55rest
36:55of
36:56us
36:56were
36:56teaching
36:56each
36:56other
36:57card
36:57games
36:57that's
36:58when
36:58Asher
36:58showed
36:59up
36:59at
36:59the
36:59door
36:59with
36:59his
36:59parents
37:00arms
37:00full
37:01of
37:01bags
37:01our
37:01house
37:02is
37:02too
37:02quiet
37:03tonight
37:03hope
37:04you
37:04don't
37:04mind
37:04us
37:05crashing
37:05your
37:05game
37:09our
37:10house
37:10is
37:10too
37:10quiet
37:11tonight
37:11hope
37:11you
37:12don't
37:12mind
37:12us
37:12crashing
37:12your
37:13game
37:13Asher's
37:13mom
37:13laughed
37:14as she
37:14walked
37:14in
37:15every
37:15year
37:16growing
37:16up
37:16the
37:16two
37:17families
37:17had
37:17spent
37:17the
37:17holiday
37:18together
37:18this
37:19year
37:19because
37:20of
37:20everything
37:20that
37:20had
37:21happened
37:21my
37:21mom
37:22had
37:22turned
37:22down
37:22the
37:22invitation
37:23to
37:23share
37:23the
37:23big
37:24dinner
37:24but
37:25you
37:25can't
37:25exactly
37:26turn
37:26people
37:26away
37:27once
37:27they're
37:27at
37:27your
37:27door
37:28Asher
37:28settled
37:29himself
37:29naturally
37:30my
37:30cousins
37:30had
37:30no
37:31idea
37:31about
37:31any
37:32of
37:32the
37:32drama
37:32and
37:33kept
37:33teasing
37:33us
37:33like
37:33they
37:34always
37:34had
37:34I
37:35laughed
37:35it
37:35off
37:36it's
37:37not
37:37what
37:37you
37:37think
37:38Asher's
37:39expression
37:39went
37:39a little
37:40flat
37:40when
37:40midnight
37:41came
37:41and
37:41we
37:41all
37:42went
37:42outside
37:42for
37:42sparklers
37:45he
37:45caught
37:45my
37:46arm
37:46and
37:46looked
37:47like
37:47he
37:47was
37:47working
37:47up
37:47to
37:48say
37:48something
37:48my
37:49phone
37:49rang
37:49my
37:50face
37:50went
37:50a
37:50little
37:50warm
37:51it
37:51was
37:51a
37:51guy
37:52from
37:52one
37:52of
37:52my
37:52clubs
37:52at
37:53school
37:55hi
37:55Stella
37:56I'm
37:56just
37:57a bit
37:57bored
37:57and
37:57wanted
37:57to
37:58say
37:58happy
37:58new
37:58year
37:58to
37:59you
37:59a
37:59local
38:00California
38:00boy
38:00named
38:01Jake
38:01he
38:01was
38:17and
38:17when
38:17he
38:17finally
38:18hung
38:18up
38:18Asher
38:18was
38:19standing
38:19right
38:19behind
38:20me
38:20with
38:20a
38:20face
38:20like
38:21a
38:21thundercloud
38:23boyfriend
38:25not
38:26yet
38:26I
38:26guess
38:30not
38:30yet
38:31I
38:31guess
38:31I
38:32thought
38:32about
38:32it
38:32and
38:32answered
38:33honestly
38:33I
38:34assumed
38:34he
38:34was
38:34done
38:35but
38:35then
38:35he
38:35spoke
38:36again
38:36long
38:37distance
38:37guys
38:38aren't
38:38always
38:38reliable
38:39you
38:39should
38:40find
38:40someone
38:40local
38:40someone
38:41you
38:41actually
38:41know
38:44I
38:45nodded
38:45something
38:46in
38:46that
38:46seemed
38:47to
38:47land
38:47somewhere
38:47tender
38:48you're
38:48right
38:48you
38:49really
38:49can't
38:49tell with
38:49people
38:50I'll
38:50keep
38:50my guard
38:51up
38:52Asher
38:52went
38:52quiet
38:53for a
38:53very
38:54long
38:54time
38:54I
38:55assumed
38:55he
38:55was
38:55done
38:56I
38:56didn't
38:57think
38:57too
38:57hard
38:57about it
38:59thanks
38:59for
38:59the
38:59advice
39:00big
39:00bro
39:00you
39:01should
39:01figure
39:01out
39:01your
39:01own
39:02situation
39:02too
39:02he'd
39:03always
39:03been
39:03unpredictable
39:04like
39:04that after
39:05that
39:05I
39:06spent
39:06the
39:06rest
39:06of
39:06break
39:07bouncing
39:07around
39:07visiting
39:08relatives
39:08with
39:09my
39:09grandma
39:09and
39:09parents
39:10and
39:10then
39:10we
39:10did
39:11a
39:11little
39:11road
39:11trip
39:11I
39:12was
39:12barely
39:12home
39:12I
39:13didn't
39:13run
39:13into
39:14Asher
39:14once
39:14the
39:15break
39:15was
39:15short
39:15and
39:16soon
39:16enough
39:16I
39:16was
39:16back
39:17at
39:17school
39:17but
39:18the
39:18very
39:18next
39:18day
39:18after
39:19I
39:39can't
39:39you
39:39come
39:39eat
39:39with
39:40me
39:40just
39:40once
39:43sorry
39:44about
39:44that
39:44man
39:44I've
39:45already
39:45got
39:45Stella
39:46booked
39:46you'll
39:46have
39:46to
39:46get
39:46in
39:47line
39:48Stella
39:49you
39:49came
39:50back
39:50to
39:50school
39:50this
39:51early
39:51for
39:52him
39:54sorry
39:54Asher
39:55we're
39:56heading
39:56out
39:56to
39:56eat
39:56I'll
39:56see
39:57you
39:58let's
39:58go
39:58didn't
39:59you
39:59say
39:59the
39:59place
39:59was
39:59far
40:00stop
40:00standing
40:00there
40:01Asher
40:02was
40:02still
40:02standing
40:02at
40:03the
40:03campus
40:03gate
40:03watching
40:04us
40:04and
40:04under
40:04the
40:05shadow
40:05of
40:05the
40:09started
40:09showing
40:09up
40:10in
40:10my
40:10world
40:10constantly
40:11I
40:11never
40:12found
40:12out
40:12what
40:12excuse
40:13he
40:13gave
40:13his
40:13school
40:14but
40:14he
40:14kept
40:14appearing
40:15in
40:15California
40:15out
40:16of
40:16nowhere
40:16he
40:17started
40:17showing
40:17up
40:17with
40:18gifts
40:18flowers
40:18bags
40:19jewelry
40:20and
40:20I
40:20turned
40:21every
40:21single
40:21one
40:22down
40:22when
40:22there
40:22was
40:23nothing
40:23else
40:23to
40:23do
40:24he
40:24just
40:24sit
40:24outside
40:25my
40:25dorm
40:25building
40:26and
40:26refuse
40:26to
40:27leave
40:27no
40:27matter
40:27how
40:28many
40:28times
40:28I
40:28asked
40:29whenever
40:29he
40:29managed
40:30to
40:30catch
40:30me
40:30he
40:39calling
40:39and
40:39messaging
40:40me
40:40from
40:40multiple
40:40angles
40:41she
40:41begged
40:42me
40:42to
40:42please
40:42talk
40:43some
40:43sense
40:43into
40:43him
40:44I
40:44was
40:44beyond
40:45done
40:45I
40:45genuinely
40:46could
40:46not
40:46figure
40:47out
40:47what
40:47Asher
40:47thought
40:48he
40:48was
40:48doing
40:50Stella
40:51why
40:51does
40:52Jake
40:52get to
40:52pursue
40:52you
40:53but
40:53I
40:53don't
40:54son
40:54of
40:55white
40:55to
40:55stas
40:56he's
40:57known
40:57you
40:57for
40:57what
40:58a
40:58few
40:58months
40:58how
40:59many
40:59years
41:00have
41:00I
41:00known
41:00you
41:02no
41:02one
41:02in
41:03this
41:03world
41:03understands
41:03you
41:04the
41:04way
41:04I
41:04do
41:04not
41:05even
41:05your
41:05parents
41:06and
41:06no
41:07one
41:07is
41:07better
41:07for
41:07you
41:07than
41:07me
41:13Ashler
41:14do
41:15you
41:15genuinely
41:15not
41:16remember
41:16what
41:16you
41:16did
41:18ask
41:18yourself
41:19honestly
41:20did
41:20you
41:20ever
41:21actually
41:21treat
41:22my
41:22feelings
41:22like
41:22they
41:23mattered
41:25you
41:25just
41:26liked
41:26the
41:26ego
41:26boost
41:27of
41:27having
41:27me
41:27chase
41:28after
41:28you
41:28you
41:29knew
41:29no
41:29matter
41:29what
41:29you
41:30did
41:30I
41:30wouldn't
41:31leave
41:31so
41:31you
41:31just
41:32did
41:32whatever
41:32you
41:32felt
41:33like
41:33with
41:33my
41:33heart
41:35yeah
41:35I
41:36did
41:36some
41:36things
41:36wrong
41:36back
41:36then
41:37I
41:38was
41:38young
41:38I
41:39thought
41:39the
41:39whole
41:39world
41:39was
41:39waiting
41:40for
41:40me
41:40and
41:41I
41:41didn't
41:41want
41:41to
41:41feel
41:41like
41:42I
41:42was
41:42tied
41:42to
41:42any
41:42one
41:42person
41:44I
41:44owe
41:44you
41:44a
41:44real
41:45apology
41:45Stella
41:46I'm
41:46sorry
41:48but
41:48even
41:49if
41:49you
41:49treat
41:49me
41:49like
41:49a
41:49stranger
41:50can
41:50I
41:50at
41:51least
41:51have
41:51the
41:51chance
41:51to
41:51start
41:52over
41:52and
41:52earn
41:52it
41:52back
41:53after
41:53you
41:53left
41:54I
41:54realized
41:54I
41:55don't
42:04that
42:04real
42:04mutual
42:05feelings
42:05don't
42:06require
42:06you
42:06to
42:06shrink
42:07yourself
42:07down
42:07to
42:07nothing
42:08I
42:08can
42:08just
42:08be
42:09myself
42:09my
42:10mood
42:10doesn't
42:10have
42:11to
42:11orbit
42:11around
42:11someone
42:12else's
42:12and
42:12when
42:12I
42:12realized
42:13that
42:14I
42:14started
42:15to
42:15wonder
42:15if
42:15what
42:15I
42:15felt
42:16back
42:16then
42:16was
42:16ever
42:17real
42:17love
42:17or
42:18just
42:18something
42:18a
42:19younger
42:19more
42:19naive
42:20version
42:20of
42:20reinvented
42:23but
42:24but
42:26we
42:27made
42:27promises
42:30we said
42:30we'd go
42:31to
42:31college
42:31together
42:31study
42:32abroad
42:32together
42:33travel
42:33the whole
42:33world
42:34together
42:34are
42:34you
42:34gonna
42:35walk
42:35away
42:35from
42:35all
42:35of
42:35that
42:36too
42:37Stella
42:37are
42:37you
42:38gonna
42:38leave
42:38all
42:38this
42:38behind
42:39too
42:40you
42:40broke
42:40the
42:41promises
42:41first
42:43and
42:43I've
42:43already
42:43found
42:44someone
42:44I
42:45want
42:45to
42:45do
42:45all
42:45of
42:45those
42:46things
42:46with
42:48stop
42:49Stella
42:49please
42:50just
42:50stop
42:56maybe
42:56you're
42:56not
42:56actually
42:57in love
42:57with
42:57me
42:57maybe
42:58you
42:58just
42:59can't
42:59stand
42:59the
42:59idea
43:00of
43:00losing
43:01Asher
43:01honestly
43:03it's time
43:03for you
43:04to move
43:04on
43:04too
43:07I didn't
43:08wait for
43:08a response
43:09Jake had
43:09been waiting
43:10across the
43:10street for
43:11a while
43:11I jogged
43:12over
43:12and he
43:13immediately
43:13reached down
43:14and took
43:14my hand
43:17finally
43:17shook
43:17the
43:18ex
43:20did
43:20you
43:20tell
43:21him
43:21I've
43:21got
43:21full
43:21bug
43:22patrol
43:22rights
43:22now
43:22he
43:23doesn't
43:23get
43:23a
43:23single
43:23one
43:25everyone
43:26is
43:26going
43:26through
43:27their
43:27own
43:27goodbyes
43:28as
43:29for
43:29us
43:30it's
43:30finally
43:31completely
43:31over
43:33fading
43:33away
43:34like
43:34the
43:34rain
43:34everyone
43:35in the
43:35middle
43:35of
43:35their
43:36own
43:36goodbye
43:36and
43:37just
43:37like
43:37that
43:37the
43:38two
43:38of
43:38us
43:38were
43:38finally
43:39completely
43:40over
43:40scattered
43:41like
43:41rain
43:42you
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