- 7 hours ago
Chasing The Girl He Did Englishsub Fullfilm
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🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00The summer I turned 18, Asher made me cross a line I could never take back.
00:05I bit my lip through the ache, glowing secretly all night,
00:08convinced that six long years of loving him from a distance had finally, finally paid off.
00:13Then the next morning, I heard his friend laughing outside the classroom door.
00:16Okay, okay, got the nerd to give it up, huh?
00:20My face burned, and I turned to slip away before anyone saw me.
00:24I'm trying to get with Chloe, but she'd think I was too inexperienced.
00:27So I used Stella to get some practice in first.
00:30I didn't say a single word.
00:31I just quietly changed my college application from NYU to a school thousand miles away in California.
00:37His words hit me like a thunderclap out of a cloudless summer sky.
00:41No warning at all.
00:42My mind went completely blank.
00:44It was a scorching July afternoon, but I felt like ice was spreading through every inch of my body.
00:49The guys inside kept talking, pausing only for a half second before someone else piped up.
00:55Classic Ashen, even Stella was just a warm-up for him.
00:58Everyone knows how hard it is to get into her pants.
01:03So what does that make her, like a practice dully?
01:08Asher just laughed it off.
01:11Relax.
01:12She got something out of it, too.
01:13I mean, Stella's cute and all, but compared to Chloe, yeah, no contest.
01:17Right.
01:18Asher threw a textbook at him to shut him up.
01:21It was just a vibe, okay?
01:23The moment happened, and honestly, she seemed like she was enjoying herself.
01:27The guys all exchanged knowing looks and started roasting him.
01:30Who knew the book bird was that freaky under all those cardigans?
01:34Bro, Asher's just built different.
01:36Why leave free food on the table, right?
01:38She's been chasing him for years.
01:40Technically, she got what she wanted.
01:42The laughter inside the room got noticeably louder.
01:45I pressed my teeth into my lower lips so hard I tasted copper.
01:49Both hands balled into white-knuckled fists.
01:51It took every single ounce of willpower I had to stay upright,
01:54to not just crumple right there in the doorway.
01:57Footsteps echoed down the hall toward me.
01:59I snapped back to reality and bolted,
02:01shoving my way blindly through the corridor.
02:03In my panic, I threw myself into the nearest bathroom stall
02:06and locked the door behind me.
02:12The tears came like a dam breaking,
02:14grief and humiliation pouring out all at once.
02:17Asher's words played on a loop inside my head.
02:20Every single syllable.
02:21They shredded what little self-worth I had left.
02:24If I hadn't heard it with my own ears,
02:26I never could have believed that the guy talking in there
02:29was the same one who had held me
02:30like I was something precious just last night.
02:33Turns out you don't actually need to love someone to do that with them.
02:36Turns out you can look a girl dead in the eyes,
02:39make her feel everything,
02:40and still be lying through every single second of it.
02:43The thing I thought was my happily ever after
02:45was just a punchline someone else got to laugh at.
02:48The more I cried, the worse it got.
02:50I couldn't make a sound.
02:52My whole body was shaking so hard I could barely breathe.
02:55A long time passed.
02:57My phone buzzed.
02:58It was asher.
02:59Just grab an Uber back.
03:00My crew's got a party tonight
03:02and it'd be awkward to bring you.
03:03I didn't reply.
03:04He's gonna follow up.
03:05Also, pick up a warning after pill yourself.
03:08I'm busy today.
03:09Don't forget to take it.
03:10Good girl.
03:11I stared at those two texts for a very, very long time.
03:15From dusk until near the sunrise,
03:17Asher had been relentless,
03:19like he had a plan for me.
03:20By the end, we were both looking direct.
03:23Right before he drifted off,
03:24his arms around me.
03:25He'd burn like the same thing twice.
03:28I really prepared for the first time.
03:32I tried to go for sleep for a morning.
03:35He'd even given me this little lecture
03:37about how he was able to take care of himself.
03:40That the morning after pill was really important to him
03:42and that skipping it could mess up my body.
03:44And I had actually thought,
03:46this is it.
03:47He's the one.
03:48He's being so responsible.
03:49I finally got my person.
03:51And now,
03:52the clarity hit me like a slap.
03:54I dug my nails into my own palm
03:56until the pain forced the tears to stop.
03:59I wiped my face,
04:00straightened my glasses,
04:01and walked out of that bathroom
04:03like nothing had happened.
04:04I was too embarrassed
04:05to go to the real pharmacy,
04:07so I ordered the pill online instead.
04:09When the delivery guy left the package at my door,
04:11I waited another long stretch
04:13before I could even freak myself to go get it.
04:15I swallowed it with a mouthful of my own tears,
04:18and then I just sat down on the floor,
04:20staring at nothing,
04:21completely empty.
04:25Ever since Asher's family had moved next door to mine,
04:28I trailed after my life's shadow.
04:30That had been ten years of my life.
04:32I had genuinely never stopped to think about
04:35what a world without him would even look like.
04:37I couldn't picture it,
04:38but starting right now,
04:39I was going to have to figure it out alone.
04:42Outside the floor-to-ceiling window,
04:44the neighborhood lights blinked on,
04:46one by one,
04:47and then off again.
04:48At some point,
04:49I really didn't know how long I'd been sitting there.
04:51Mia called me on FaceTime.
04:57Stella,
04:57why didn't you come to the party tonight with Ashler?
04:59That girl Chloe from the AP track is here, by the way.
05:02She has been all over him since she did the show.
05:04It's actually disgusting.
05:06In the dark corner of the VIP booth,
05:08Asher and Chloe were sitting so close together,
05:10their thighs were touching.
05:12Chloe had worn a crop top and a curve-hugging mini skirt.
05:15Long tan legs,
05:16tiny waist.
05:17Even the way they were talking
05:19looked more like whispering secrets
05:20than having a conversation.
05:22I could feel the charged energy between them
05:24through the screen.
05:25Something in my chest locked up.
05:27He'd only said he wanted to chase her this afternoon,
05:30and apparently,
05:31tonight was all the time he needed.
05:33The game switched to truth or dare,
05:35and Chloe drew a card that said,
05:39Do a push-up challenge with a guy hovering over me.
05:44Predictably,
05:45Asher had one's ears before anyone else
05:47could open their mouth.
05:48Chloe blushed bright pink
05:49and lay back against the couch cushions.
05:52Asher planted his hands on either side of her.
05:54He was controlled the whole time,
05:56deliberately keeping his body
05:58from making contact with hers.
05:59Until the very last one,
06:01his arms gave out,
06:03and his entire weight came down
06:04directly on top of her.
06:06The room erupted.
06:07Everyone screaming so loud,
06:09the walls practically shook.
06:11Asher's and Chloe's faces went even redder.
06:13With the whole crowd going absolutely feral around them,
06:16Asher just tilted his head down and kissed her.
06:19Not a quick peck,
06:20a full, deep,
06:21for the whole room to see kiss.
06:23Three full minutes before they finally pulled apart.
06:26For all three of those minutes,
06:27I sat completely frozen,
06:29eyes locked on the screen,
06:31barely remembering to breathe.
06:32I wanted to cry so badly.
06:35Oh my God, Stella,
06:37did you see that?
06:38He literally kissed her in front of everyone.
06:41He is so into her.
06:43Mia shook her head and stepped out of the booth,
06:45turning the camera as she went.
06:47Don't be mad at me.
06:48If I hadn't shown you,
06:49you never would have let yourself move on.
06:51I'm not mad at you.
06:53I'm only mad at myself for wasting so many years.
06:56I had always assumed that the spot beside Asher was mine,
07:00that it would always be mine.
07:01I am so done with him, Stella.
07:03Who does he think he is,
07:04watching you love him for years,
07:05acting all innocent like he had no idea,
07:07just letting you fall deeper and deeper?
07:09You saw what I showed you.
07:10I'm not giving myself the chance.
07:13Mia, I've already decided I'm going to California with you,
07:16but you have to promise me you'll keep it quiet for now.
07:19Right after I said it,
07:21I flipped open my laptop right in front of her.
07:23Without a single second of hesitation,
07:25I changed my first choice school to the one in California,
07:28one minute before the deadline.
07:30Mia basically levitated off the ground.
07:33She'd been begging me for months to apply to the same school as her.
07:36But back when we started high school,
07:38Asher and I had made this pact.
07:40We'd work hard together and go to his dream school up in Boston after graduation.
07:44It had his aerospace engineering program,
07:47the one he'd been obsessed with since we were kids.
07:49So even though I didn't particularly love the idea of brutal winters,
07:53and even though that school was a technical institute that didn't even have my major,
07:57I'd spent three years treating it like my only option.
08:00Our families had lived next door to each other for so long
08:03that both sets of parents thought it was basically a done deal we'd end up at the same school.
08:07Everyone, including me,
08:09assumed Asher and I would just naturally become official once we got to college.
08:13But right now, I couldn't think of a single reason to still go to Boston.
08:17Because honestly, after today,
08:19if I kept following Asher around the way I always had,
08:22I would never be able to look myself in the mirror again.
08:25I just needed to go somewhere far away.
08:27It didn't even matter where, as long as he wasn't there.
08:30He was going east, so I was going west.
08:33Before bed, I filled the entire bathtub.
08:36I needed to scrub every inch of myself clean.
08:39But when I took off my clothes,
08:41the bruises on my skin were still so vivid, it made me flinch.
08:45The memories from last night rushed back before I could stop them.
08:48The burning heat of his skin pressed against mine.
08:52The sound of his breath ragged and warm against my ear.
08:55The ghost of it all still seemed to linger in the air around me.
08:59I shook my head hard, physically trying to shake myself free of it.
09:02Then, I grabbed the roughest loofah I owned and scrubbed myself raw,
09:06over and over, until my whole body was flushed pink and stinging.
09:11I was trying, clumsily, desperately,
09:14to erase what was officially the worst night of my entire life.
09:19The result was that the pain kept me awake the whole night anyway.
09:22Asher didn't text.
09:23For the first time in six years, ever since we both got phones,
09:27we didn't say goodnight to each other.
09:29That was fine.
09:30It was going to happen eventually anyway.
09:32Tonight was as good a time as any to start letting go.
09:35I didn't fall asleep until just before sunrise,
09:38drifting in and out of exhaustion.
09:39Early the next morning, while I was still buried in sleep,
09:43I felt, in that foggy space between dream and awake,
09:46the soft press of lips against my forehead.
09:49I jolted awake.
09:50The first thing my eyes landed on was a jaw I knew too well,
09:54and the soft dip of a throat right above me.
09:57The scent hit me next.
09:58Cedarwood.
09:59That cologne he always wore.
10:00And underneath it, the faintest trace of something new.
10:04Something citrusy that wasn't his.
10:06Right.
10:06I'd completely forgotten that Asher still knew my front door code.
10:10Seeing me awake, he shifted lower and tilted his face down toward my lips.
10:14I shoved him back with both hands and scrambled to the far edge of the bed.
10:18He blinked, then let out a short laugh like I'd surprised him.
10:24Since when are you shy?
10:25I didn't answer.
10:26I just yanked the blanket over my head and disappeared under it.
10:29Asher started talking.
10:33Stella, seriously.
10:34You didn't say goodnight, you turned your phone off,
10:37and now you're hiding under a blanket?
10:39Still avoiding me?
10:40Then he just lifted the blanket and slid himself right in.
10:46Hey, how many times have I told you?
10:48You can't skip breakfast.
10:50I ran half a mile to get you those croissants from your favorite place,
10:53and I stood in line forever.
10:55Wanna get up and eat now?
10:57Or get eaten?
11:01Reality crashed back in,
11:03and I fought like my life depended on it.
11:05But I'm 5'2 in sneakers,
11:07and Asher is literally 6'2 of solid muscle.
11:10I honestly could not figure out what game he was playing.
11:13He had Chloe now,
11:14so what was he even doing in my bed?
11:16I tried to push him away,
11:17only to be held even tighter.
11:20Let go of me!
11:21After what felt like forever of thrashing around,
11:24I was panting,
11:25and had accomplished nothing,
11:26except being held even tighter.
11:28What's the tantrum about?
11:31You're mad because I didn't bring you to the party last night?
11:33Over something that small?
11:35I said nothing.
11:36He buried his face in the curve of my neck,
11:38and actually laughed.
11:40Let me guess.
11:41Mia told you something?
11:43It was a party game, Stella.
11:44Is it really worth getting jealous over?
11:47You're doing that thing you always do.
11:49I get slightly close to another girl,
11:51and you go all silent and sulky.
11:54I was so furious,
11:55I couldn't even form a sentence.
11:57I dredged up something from a self-defense unit in gym class,
12:00snapped my knee up hard between us,
12:02and the second he doubled over,
12:03I launched myself out of that bed.
12:05Stella.
12:06Asher's jaw went tight,
12:08his whole face going red.
12:09I grabbed a hoodie off the floor
12:11and yanked it on over my pajamas.
12:13I did not want to be in any room with him,
12:16and especially not my bedroom.
12:27Hey,
12:28you took that pill yesterday, right?
12:30Because I really don't need that kind of drama,
12:32and I definitely don't want to have that conversation with your parents.
12:42Come on,
12:43be reasonable.
12:44Eat something before you pick a fight.
12:49You know your stomach's sensitive.
12:59What is actually going on?
13:01Stella,
13:02even a tantrum needs a reason.
13:03There have to be some limits here.
13:06I kept my voice ice cold and set it flat.
13:09I don't deserve to have any say.
13:12Asher snapped.
13:12He slammed the cup down on the coffee table so hard it cracked.
13:16The plastic split and the smoothie spilled out in a wave, soaking into the rug.
13:20What is that supposed to mean?
13:24Who do you think you are, Stella?
13:27Who do you think you are?
13:30We slept together once.
13:31It was consensual.
13:33And now you think you own me?
13:36Do you know how suffocating that is?
13:38His voice had a viciousness to it I had never heard before.
13:42The second he finished speaking, my eyes flooded.
13:44No warning, no buildup, just instant tears.
13:48Yesterday's humiliation came crashing back,
13:51hitting me all over again like a fresh wound.
13:53Asher clearly hadn't expected me to cry this hard this fast.
13:56He looked genuinely thrown, scrambling for what to do.
14:00He crouched down and said he was sorry.
14:02I'm sorry.
14:03I drank too much last night and I was out of line just now.
14:06He reached out to wipe my face, but I twisted away, putting distance between us.
14:11His hand froze in midair, hovering there.
14:13He opened his mouth to keep trying, but his phone buzzed.
14:16He glanced at the screen once, and his entire expression shifted.
14:19And he stood up and moved toward the door.
14:21I've got something urgent.
14:23Take a minute to calm down.
14:25We're going to college soon.
14:26You can't keep throwing fits like a little kid who's going to put up with that.
14:36He hadn't been gone 30 minutes when Mia sent me a screenshot.
14:40Chloe's Instagram story just said,
14:42I'm hungry and breakfast appeared like magic.
14:45Pretty sure this is mutual now, with a little heart.
14:48The photo was of the exact same croissants that were sitting on my kitchen counter.
14:52I didn't respond.
14:54I just quietly wiped my eyes, got on my hands and knees,
14:57and started cleaning up the smoothie Asher had spilled.
14:59I scrubbed for a long time, before I accepted, with a hollow feeling in my chest,
15:04that the stain had soaked all the way through the wool rug, and wasn't coming out.
15:08So, I just threw the whole rug in the trash.
15:11It didn't matter anyway.
15:12That rug was something Asher and his parents had spent an entire afternoon picking out on a family trip.
15:17And he'd lugged it home in his carry-on himself.
15:20Then, I went through everything else.
15:22Every single thing Asher had ever left at my place.
15:25Every gift he'd given me over the years.
15:27Every photo of the two of us.
15:29Every small souvenir and keepsake.
15:31It took the rest of the day, but I packed every last bit of it up, and threw it all
15:35out.
15:39I doubted he'd want any of it back, anyway.
15:41After he left that day, the silence stretched.
15:44Days went by, and he didn't reach out at all.
15:46Things with Chloe were probably going great.
15:49Or maybe he was waiting for me to be the one who caved first.
15:52In every fight we'd ever had, I was always the one who broke first.
15:55Just every single time.
15:57No exceptions.
15:58But this time I didn't go looking for him.
16:00And I didn't have any reason to.
16:02I blocked him on everything.
16:03Text all social media.
16:05Changed my front door code.
16:07And deleted every account he might use to find me.
16:09After that, I called my parents, who were both traveling for work.
16:13I told them I wanted to spend the summer visiting my aunt on the other side of the country.
16:17My plan was to stay there until school started.
16:19Then head straight to California with Mia, instead of coming home.
16:22Other than Mia, no one else knew yet that I'd changed my application.
16:27This plan should work perfectly.
16:29There was basically zero chance I'd run into Asher if I pulled this off right.
16:32My mom actually laughed over the phone.
16:35Ha ha ha.
16:37Ooh, so you and Ashler are taking a vacation together?
16:40I made up a quick excuse and didn't go into detail.
16:43I just told her I wanted to visit my aunt and grandma.
16:45I begged my dad to book me the first available flight, and I was ready to leave that same night.
16:50Of course, because the universe has no chill,
16:53I ran into Asher's mom right at our front door on my way out.
16:57She grabbed my arm warmly and started chattering.
17:00Stella, honey, where's Asher? He's not going to pick you up?
17:04Didn't he say he was taking you on that ski trip?
17:08Go have fun.
17:09I am 100% behind you two.
17:12I was confused.
17:13I had mentioned once during senior year
17:16that I'd always wanted to try skiing in Colorado, just offhand.
17:20But given everything that had happened between us,
17:23the idea of going on a trip together seemed completely impossible.
17:26I was running out of time, though,
17:28so I said something vague and non-committal and slipped away.
17:31What I never expected was that at the airport,
17:34I would come face to face with Asher.
17:38He was with a group of friends.
17:40Chloe was there, too.
17:41Asher had her designer bag in one hand
17:43and his other arms slung around her shoulder.
17:46They were trailing at the back of the group.
17:48Every so often, Chloe would lean her head toward him to say something.
17:51And every single time, without any hesitation,
17:54he would bend down to listen.
17:56He never did that with me.
17:57Asher had always been taller than me,
17:59and the gap had only gotten bigger over the years.
18:02When it was the two of us,
18:03I was always the one bouncing on my toes,
18:05craning my neck up just to catch his eyes.
18:08Turns out, for the right person,
18:10he would be the one who bends.
18:12I breathed in slowly.
18:14I told myself I needed to have some dignity about this.
18:17Whatever he did was none of my business.
18:19If I let myself overthink it,
18:21I deserve to be slapped.
18:22But there seemed to be only one path to the gate.
18:25All I could do was stay far enough behind
18:27that he wouldn't notice me.
18:29By some miracle,
18:30we eventually reached a fork in the terminal
18:32where the path split.
18:33Asher seemed to get distracted around that.
18:35He made a bunch of calls,
18:37none of which seemed to go through,
18:38and then spent a long time staring at his phone.
18:41Eventually, he borrowed someone else's phone,
18:43his face dark and unreadable,
18:45and disappeared into a nearby bathroom.
18:47A moment later,
18:48my phone rang.
18:49Unknown number.
18:52So you've got a real attitude on you this time.
18:54You're just not going to come to me first?
18:57You actually blocked me?
18:59Fine, keep it up.
19:01See how great you do when we're both in Boston
19:03and you don't know anyone
19:04and there's no one to look out for you.
19:05Asher came out swinging,
19:07rattling off complaints
19:08in one long, irritated breath.
19:10I had absolutely nothing to say to any of that,
19:13but Asher seemed to get angrier at my silence.
19:16I'm done talking about this.
19:18Just unblock me.
19:20I'm heading out of the country
19:21for a couple days with some friends.
19:23Probably won't have great reception.
19:27Don't get all weepy about it.
19:28I couldn't even be bothered
19:30to say a single word back.
19:31I hung up and turned my phone off.
19:33From across the terminal,
19:34I watched Asher stalk back to his group,
19:37his expression stormy.
19:38He grabbed Chloe's hand,
19:40didn't hesitate for a second,
19:41and walked toward the left gate.
19:43I let out a long breath,
19:45turned around,
19:46and headed right.
19:48With my family,
19:49I performed happiness.
19:51And honestly,
19:51I got pretty good at it.
19:53I deliberately kept myself slammed with plans,
19:56filling every gap in the day
19:57so I had no room to spiral.
19:59I definitely didn't add Asher back
20:01the way he'd demanded.
20:02But Mia and some others
20:03kept me updated on his life anyway.
20:06Asher and his friends
20:07had apparently been swimming in Colorado for days.
20:09For some reason,
20:10he was suddenly posting on social media
20:12every single day,
20:14which was completely unlike the version of him
20:16who used to go months without posting anything.
20:19Sometimes it was slow motion clips of him
20:21carving down the slopes.
20:22Sometimes it was food and late night parties.
20:24But mostly,
20:25it was big group shots
20:26of everyone clowning around in the snow.
20:28Even though I genuinely didn't want to see it.
20:31Somehow,
20:31people kept sending it to me unprompted.
20:34Everyone was very casually curious
20:36about why I hadn't gone with Asher.
20:38I didn't know what to say,
20:39so I just told people
20:40I had family stuff going on.
20:42Mia was the only one
20:43who openly called him a trash human.
20:45Everyone else around me
20:46seemed to be constantly stopping themselves
20:48from saying something.
20:49I knew,
20:50they'd probably figured out something was wrong.
20:53In every single group photo Asher posted,
20:56he and Chloe were glued together,
20:58inseparable.
20:59But that spot beside him
21:00had been mine for years,
21:01just mine.
21:02Every time I saw one of those photos,
21:04my face stayed completely neutral,
21:06but something deep in my chest would clench.
21:08He was the first person I ever fell for,
21:11someone I had genuinely,
21:12completely,
21:13embarrassingly loved
21:14for such a long time.
21:15In the middle of the night,
21:17alone,
21:17I would fall apart a little,
21:19and sometimes I felt this stubborn,
21:21stupid feeling
21:21that I wasn't ready to let go.
21:23But every time that feeling started rising,
21:26I'd replay his words
21:27and give myself a mental slap.
21:29I'd repeat it to myself over and over.
21:31Stella,
21:32don't be pathetic.
21:33That's the fastest way
21:34to make yourself even less worth respecting.
21:36Just hold on a little longer.
21:38Once the detox period was over,
21:40everything would be fine.
21:41We went a full month without any contact,
21:43the longest we'd ever gone
21:44since the day we met.
21:46Distance and time
21:47turned out to be the best medicine.
21:48I ground through the worst of it
21:50and came out the other side.
21:51Just when I'd reached the point
21:53where I didn't think about him
21:54every hour of every day,
21:56he switched to a new number
21:57and called me from across the country.
22:02So you're just that bold,
22:03running off without me
22:05and staying this long?
22:07Summer's almost over, Stella.
22:10Did you forget you promised
22:11to go on a trip with me?
22:13Maybe it was because
22:13we'd gone so long without talking,
22:15but underneath all the complaints,
22:17his voice had this edge to it,
22:19almost careful.
22:20I still didn't want to talk to him.
22:22I was about to hang up
22:23when his mom snatched the phone.
22:25Stella, sweetheart,
22:26are you having fun out there?
22:28This boy won't tell me anything.
22:30I only just found out
22:31you two had a fight.
22:33Don't be too hard on him, honey.
22:36When you come back,
22:37I'll make him apologize to your face.
22:39Oh, and Ashler just got
22:41his acceptance letter today.
22:42Yours should come soon, too.
22:44Have you thought about
22:45when you'll come home
22:46for your going away party?
22:48I've got a little surprise planned.
22:50Asher's mom had been like
22:52a second family to me
22:53since I was little.
22:54I couldn't bring myself
22:55to hang up on her,
22:56so I stayed on and let her talk.
22:58I'm not really planning
22:58to have a party.
23:00My parents are always traveling,
23:01and honestly,
23:02we can just do a video call thing
23:04with family.
23:05I probably won't be back
23:06before school starts anyway.
23:07I'll just come home
23:08right before move in.
23:09I didn't even finish the sentence
23:11before Asher took the phone back.
23:13His breathing was heavy.
23:14I could feel the anger
23:15coming through
23:16from 3,000 miles away.
23:20Stella,
23:21I'm literally the one
23:22reaching out first here.
23:23How much longer
23:24are you going to keep this up?
23:25If you don't come back,
23:27don't expect me to wait for you.
23:29I'll head to Boston without you.
23:30He delivered the threat
23:32in this cold, flat voice,
23:34waited and waited
23:35without getting the answer
23:36he wanted.
23:37My acceptance letter
23:38had already arrived at home.
23:40When they saw the school name
23:41on the letter,
23:42my parents finally found out
23:44I changed my application.
23:45My mom video called me.
23:47Hi, baby.
23:48Why didn't you talk to us
23:49before changing your application?
23:51Does Asher know?
23:53His mom called this morning
23:54asking if your letter
23:55had come yet.
23:57I had no words.
24:01Baby,
24:02how are we supposed
24:03to feel okay
24:03about you going all the way
24:04to California alone?
24:05Aren't you the kid
24:06who's terrified of bugs
24:07and can't handle heat?
24:09You really think
24:10you can manage?
24:11Don't call me
24:12to come deal with it for you.
24:13That school has a lot
24:15to offer
24:15and Mia will be going there too.
24:17You don't have to worry.
24:19Is this about a fight
24:20with Asher?
24:21Because
24:22that's not a reason
24:23to switch schools
24:24across the country.
24:27What if you change your mind
24:28in a week
24:28and want him back?
24:30Then what?
24:31It's hard at your caption.
24:32I just decided
24:33to say it straight.
24:36Asher has a girlfriend.
24:37Mom,
24:38Dad,
24:39I have my own life
24:41and I don't want to just
24:42orbit around his forever.
24:44So please support my choice
24:46and please keep it
24:48between us for now.
24:49My parents looked at each other
24:51for a long time
24:52without speaking.
24:53The only thing they asked
24:55was that I come home sooner
24:56rather than later.
24:58School was starting soon
24:59and they wanted time with me.
25:01My mom mentioned
25:01that Asher had gone off
25:02on another trip with friends
25:04the very next day
25:05after getting his acceptance letter.
25:06He'd been gone
25:07for days.
25:08His mom was apparently
25:09calling my mom regularly
25:11asking when I was flying back.
25:13On the day I landed,
25:14my parents showed up
25:15at the airport
25:15dressed like they were
25:16going somewhere formal.
25:17I woke up from my nap
25:19on the drive.
25:19I realized
25:20they'd pulled up
25:21to a five-star hotel.
25:23I was still half asleep
25:24when my mom grabbed my arm
25:26and steered me
25:27through the lobby
25:27and right there
25:28standing in the middle of it
25:30was Asher
25:31who I hadn't seen
25:32in months.
25:33My feet
25:33stopped moving
25:34on their own.
25:36Asher was in a perfectly
25:37fitted black suit
25:38leaning casually
25:39beside the lobby fountain
25:40like something
25:41out of a magazine spread.
25:42Just one summer
25:43was all it took.
25:44The boyish edge
25:45had faded
25:46and he looked exactly
25:47like the version of him
25:48I used to imagine
25:49when I tried to picture
25:50him grown up.
25:51Something complicated
25:52twisted in my chest.
25:54I'd avoided this moment
25:55for months
25:55and now here it was
25:56sprung on me
25:57with no warning.
25:59Stella,
26:00it's Asher's
26:00going away party.
26:02We figured we'd pick you up
26:03and bring you straight here.
26:05You said you didn't want
26:06a party of your own,
26:07right?
26:08Asher asked his parents
26:09to set the date
26:10for the day you got back
26:11so you can kind of
26:12both celebrate together.
26:13Asher seemed to sense something
26:15because right then
26:16he casually glanced over
26:17and his gaze
26:18landed directly on mine.
26:20My heart lurched sideways
26:21still felt like
26:22the floor dropped out
26:23but Asher moved first.
26:25He took one step
26:26toward us
26:27and then Chloe
26:27appeared out of nowhere
26:28and slipped her arm
26:30through his.
26:30She pulled him along
26:31with her
26:32smiling wide
26:33and walked right over
26:34to us.
26:35Oh my gosh,
26:37Stella,
26:37you're back.
26:38I've been wanting
26:39to properly meet you
26:40forever.
26:42I always saw you
26:43around with Asher.
26:45I'm from the AP track
26:46so we never
26:47officially met
26:48and I'm genuinely
26:51sad about that.
26:52Yeah,
26:53Asher looked vaguely
26:54uncomfortable.
26:55Why would you want
26:56to get to know her?
26:57She's just a drama queen
26:59who throws fits.
27:01I honestly thought
27:02she'd stayed in her
27:03aunt's state forever.
27:04The world will keep
27:05on turning
27:05and your name
27:06will be forgotten.
27:07I had nothing
27:08to say to that.
27:09There was genuinely
27:10no response.
27:11Chloe's silver
27:12bodycon dress
27:12was covered in tiny
27:14crystals that caught
27:15every bit of light
27:16in the room.
27:16I glanced down
27:17at myself.
27:18White tea,
27:18jeans,
27:19sneakers,
27:20hair that still
27:20had a slight
27:21slept on way
27:22from the plane.
27:23I looked like
27:23I'd made a wrong
27:24turn on the way
27:25to a convenience store.
27:26I brought a dress
27:27for you, baby.
27:27You can go change
27:28in the powder room.
27:29I nodded,
27:29then shook my head.
27:31There was no point.
27:32This wasn't my party.
27:33Asher kept staring
27:34at me with this
27:35unreadable expression.
27:36Chloe's eyes
27:37kept flicking back
27:38and forth
27:38between the two of us.
27:39Luckily,
27:40a few more guests
27:41arrived just then
27:42and Chloe immediately
27:43pulled Asher over
27:44to greet them.
27:45Like she was already
27:46the hostess.
27:47Mom, let's go in.
27:47I'm a little hungry.
27:51It was a small gathering.
27:52Asher had only
27:53invited close family
27:54and a handful of friends.
27:55Every single person
27:56I knew looked visibly
27:58shocked when they
27:59saw me walk in.
28:00I just smiled
28:01and said hello
28:01and acted like
28:02I didn't notice.
28:03But nobody was subtle
28:04about their curiosity.
28:06The people watching
28:06energy was off
28:07the charts.
28:10I slipped out
28:11to the terrace
28:12for some air
28:12and could immediately
28:13hear a small group
28:14in the hallway
28:15cornering Asher
28:16for the gossip.
28:19Wait,
28:19didn't Stella
28:20fall out with you
28:21over the Chloe thing?
28:22Why is she here?
28:22Did she come crawling back?
28:24She's just quick-tempered
28:26and in a mood.
28:26She always comes around
28:27after a couple of days.
28:28We've known each other
28:29our whole lives.
28:29She's not actually
28:30going to cut me off.
28:31I mean,
28:31Stella's genuinely great.
28:33She's been ride or died
28:33for you for years.
28:34All of us are low-key jealous
28:35of how she treats you.
28:36But like,
28:37one is your childhood
28:38best friend.
28:39Honestly,
28:40Stella's amazing.
28:41But it also feels
28:42kind of limiting.
28:44I'm young.
28:44I don't want to only
28:45ever have one person.
28:46That's too predictable.
28:48I need to see
28:48what else is out there.
28:50But that doesn't mean
28:50anything has to end.
28:51As long as I know
28:52there's always a light
28:53on at home for me.
28:55You're such a player.
28:56I'd heard enough.
28:57I backed away
28:58as quietly as I could.
28:59The evening breeze
29:00hit my face
29:01and I felt my eyes
29:02go hot.
29:03I just hated myself
29:04for spending so many years
29:06being blind
29:07to who he actually was.
29:09I was in absolutely
29:10the worst mood
29:12of the entire summer.
29:13But Asher's mom
29:14was thrilled to see me
29:16and spent most of dinner
29:17doting on me,
29:18refusing to let go
29:19of my hand.
29:20Stella,
29:20Boston can get really dry
29:22in winter.
29:23Let Asher take you
29:24shopping tomorrow
29:24and stock up
29:25on some good moisturizers.
29:26Oh, it's fine.
29:28There are plenty of shops
29:28out there
29:29and online shopping
29:30is so easy.
29:31She nodded warmly
29:32and turned to my mom.
29:33I already picked out
29:34all the bedding
29:35for the dorms,
29:36got a set for Asher
29:37and one for Stella
29:38at the same time,
29:39all four seasons covered.
29:40Boston winters are brutal.
29:41I went with really thick
29:43comforters
29:44and got a few winter coats
29:45for Stella too.
29:46Don't you worry
29:46about a thing.
29:47My mom made a face
29:48like she'd swallowed something.
29:50All of that would be
29:51completely useless
29:52in California.
29:52But she didn't want
29:53to embarrass anyone,
29:55so she thanked her graciously.
29:56Chloe, sitting nearby,
29:58looked like she was biting
29:59through her own cheek.
30:00Asher's mom didn't
30:01seem to notice,
30:02she kept right on talking,
30:03addressing both of us.
30:05Once you're both in Boston,
30:07you'll be each other's family.
30:09Asher, you better take
30:10good care of Stella
30:11and stop making her upset.
30:13You hear me?
30:13Asher threw a glance
30:14my way with zero expression.
30:17She doesn't need anyone
30:18to look after her.
30:19She's perfectly capable
30:20of flying on her own.
30:21The table got a little stiff
30:22and that's when Chloe
30:24smoothly cut in.
30:25Oh, don't worry.
30:26My school is in Boston, too.
30:27I'll be there
30:27to look after Asher.
30:29And Stella will be
30:30all the way in California anyway,
30:31so it's not really practical.
30:34Before she even finished
30:35the sentence,
30:36Asher and his parents'
30:37faces changed.
30:38California?
30:40Every single one of them
30:41looked at me
30:42and asked it
30:43at the same time.
30:45Asher, you didn't know?
30:47It's been on the school's
30:48honor board.
30:49Oh, wait.
30:50You haven't been back
30:50to campus.
30:51Every pair of eyes
30:52at the table swiveled to me.
30:54Under the weight
30:54of all that attention,
30:56I quietly nodded.
30:57My mom stepped in
30:58to explain.
30:59Stella made a last-minute
31:01decision to change
31:02her application.
31:03She's going to a great
31:04school in California
31:05and it's actually
31:08the perfect program
31:09for her.
31:09Asher didn't believe it.
31:10He grabbed my hand
31:11and made me look at him.
31:13Stella, I literally
31:15watched you fill out
31:16that application.
31:17We were going
31:18to the same school.
31:19His grip was tight
31:20enough to actually hurt
31:21and it pushed me
31:22over the edge.
31:24Yeah, I changed it.
31:25What does it have
31:26to do with you?
31:27Asher looked stunned
31:28for a second,
31:28then started laughing
31:30like I'd said
31:30something ridiculous.
31:32You're joking.
31:32You're literally
31:33the girl who jumps
31:34onto my back
31:35at the sight of a bug
31:36and you're moving
31:37to California?
31:39And you're moving
31:40to California?
31:41I pulled out my phone,
31:42found the crystal clear
31:43photo of my acceptance
31:44letter and held it
31:45up in his face.
31:46Asher took the phone,
31:48zoomed in,
31:49zoomed out,
31:49read it over and over
31:51and finally let out
31:52a laugh that had
31:53no humor in it at all.
31:55In the middle
31:55of everyone's gasps,
31:57he grabbed my wrist
31:58and pulled me
31:58out of the dining room.
32:01He pulled me
32:02into a side room
32:03and locked the door
32:04behind us.
32:04Asher planted himself
32:05against it,
32:06cutting off any escape
32:07and came at me hard.
32:09Stella, I cannot believe you.
32:11You're so mad
32:12that you just forget
32:12our whole plan,
32:13go behind my back
32:14and commitment
32:15to a school
32:16across the country.
32:16I lifted my head.
32:17I took a breath
32:18and made myself
32:19look him straight
32:20in the eye.
32:20I have my own plans.
32:23Since when do I have
32:24to build my entire future
32:25around what you want?
32:26Asher, be honest
32:27with yourself.
32:29Are you actually
32:30upset about the plan?
32:31Or are you upset
32:32because I'm not available
32:33to be your fallback
32:34girl anymore?
32:35The color drained
32:36from his face.
32:37What is that supposed
32:38to mean?
32:38Could you not phrase
32:39things like that?
32:40We're adults.
32:42That night was
32:42completely mutual.
32:44Are you seriously
32:44still bringing that up?
32:45I was embarrassed
32:46but I held his gaze anyway.
32:48Asher, if you like
32:49someone else
32:49you could have just
32:50said so.
32:51I'm not so shameless
32:52that I would have
32:52kept throwing myself
32:53at you.
32:54But you knew
32:54you didn't like me back
32:55and you just watched
32:56me walk straight
32:57into the flame.
32:57That was fun
32:58for you, wasn't it?
32:59Even now,
32:59he still didn't get it.
33:00People don't say goodbye
33:01until they've completely
33:03run out of hope.
33:04He flushed.
33:05Something in what
33:05I said hit.
33:06His face went
33:07from white to red
33:08and he visibly swayed.
33:09What do you even
33:11listen to what
33:11you're saying?
33:12You...
33:12He couldn't finish
33:13the sentence.
33:16Stella, we've
33:17known each other
33:17since we were
33:18eight years old
33:18and we're 18 now.
33:20If you're choosing
33:21to walk away
33:21from what we have
33:23then we don't
33:23have to be friends either.
33:24And with just that
33:25he turned
33:26and walked out
33:27of the hotel.
33:35from that day
33:36until the day
33:36I left for school
33:37I never saw
33:38Asher again.
33:39Mia sent me a screenshot
33:40of his official
33:41couple's post
33:42with Chloe.
33:42I deleted it
33:43without even opening it.
33:45Every mutual friend
33:46connected to him
33:46I blocked.
33:47There was genuinely
33:48no point in following
33:50any of it anymore.
33:53The only exception
33:55was the day
33:55I flew out
33:56to California.
33:57Of course
33:57because the universe
33:58has a terrible
33:59sense of humor
34:00I walked straight
34:01into Asher
34:01at the airport
34:02again
34:02with Chloe
34:03still glued
34:04to his side.
34:05When we passed
34:05each other
34:06he said a stiff
34:07hello to my parents
34:08and kept walking
34:09clearly still angry.
34:10He didn't look
34:11at me once.
34:12We scattered
34:12in different directions
34:13and neither of us
34:14looked back.
34:15Right before I got
34:16to the security line
34:17I glanced over
34:18and caught Asher
34:19at his gate
34:19about to board.
34:20He gave me
34:21one cold flat look
34:23and then disappeared
34:23through the door
34:24without turning around.
34:25The person who had
34:26been part of every
34:27chapter of my
34:28growing up
34:29we were finally
34:30completely done.
34:31Different destinations
34:32at last
34:33and I hope yours
34:34goes well.
34:34I said it only to myself.
34:36After that
34:37a long long time
34:38passed without
34:39either of us
34:40hearing a single
34:41thing about the other.
34:42I specifically
34:42asked my parents
34:44not to bring up
34:45anything related
34:45to Asher
34:46or his family
34:47in front of me.
34:48Over New Year's break
34:49a girl from our
34:50high school
34:50came to visit.
34:51He's nothing like
34:52that cold
34:53focused
34:53straight A guy
34:54he was in high school.
34:56He's completely
34:56different.
34:59Honestly
35:00if you ran into him
35:01now
35:01you might not
35:03even recognize him.
35:04I didn't say anything.
35:06Mia kicked her
35:06under the table
35:07and smoothly
35:08changed the subject
35:08and the girl
35:09dropped it.
35:10We did the New Year's
35:11countdown by the water
35:12and Mia told me
35:13to make a wish.
35:14Hope New Year
35:15Syria Parent Healthy
35:17cankeating under the world
35:18I realized it was
35:19the first wish
35:20I'd ever made
35:21that had absolutely
35:21nothing to do with him.
35:23For a full six years
35:24of my life
35:25every single wish
35:26I made had involved
35:27Asher in some way.
35:30Mia!
35:31Happy New Year!
35:31I felt genuinely happy.
35:34I knew I had finally
35:35actually
35:36completely let go.
35:38The first winter
35:39break of college
35:40I missed my parents
35:41so badly
35:42I couldn't stand it.
35:43The second my last exam
35:44was done
35:45I was on the first
35:46flight home.
35:47What I didn't expect
35:48was that Asher
35:49had come to the airport
35:50with my parents
35:50to pick me up.
35:52After half a year apart
35:53we had both changed.
35:54He was thinner
35:55had dyed his hair
35:56but was still
35:57honestly
35:58annoyingly good looking.
35:59I've always had
36:00terrible judgment
36:01about people
36:02but my taste
36:03has never been
36:03the problem.
36:04Why else would I
36:05have been trailing
36:06after him
36:06since we were five?
36:07Hey there
36:08big bro Asher.
36:09He stared at me
36:09like I'd spoken
36:10a different language.
36:12We ran into him outside.
36:14He insisted on
36:14coming along to help.
36:16I smiled and
36:17waved her off.
36:18It was fine.
36:20In the car
36:21I immediately launched
36:22into all the funny
36:23things that had
36:24happened at school
36:24and my parents
36:25were the whole ride.
36:27No one was paying
36:27any attention to Asher.
36:31You've worked hard.
36:32Please send our
36:33regards to your parents.
36:33He seemed like
36:34he wanted to come
36:35inside when we got
36:35home but all three
36:36of us politely
36:37turned him down
36:38together.
36:39My grandma
36:39and my aunt
36:40had both come back
36:41to celebrate
36:41the holidays that year.
36:42New Year's Eve
36:43was loud and
36:44packed with family.
36:45After the big dinner
36:46the older relatives
36:47parked themselves
36:48in front of the TV
36:49while the rest of us
36:50were teaching each
36:51other card games.
36:52That's when Asher
36:52showed up at the door
36:53with his parents
36:54arms full of bags.
36:55Our house is too
36:56quiet tonight.
36:58Hope you don't mind
36:58us crashing your game.
37:03Our house is too
37:04quiet tonight.
37:05Hope you don't mind
37:06us crashing your game.
37:07Asher's mom laughed
37:08as she walked in.
37:09Every year growing up
37:10the two families
37:11had spent the holiday
37:12together.
37:13This year
37:13because of everything
37:14that had happened
37:15my mom had turned
37:16down the invitation
37:17to share the big dinner.
37:18But you can't exactly
37:20turn people away
37:21once they're at your door.
37:22Asher settled
37:23himself naturally.
37:24My cousins had no idea
37:25about any of the drama
37:26and kept teasing us
37:27like they always had.
37:28I laughed it off.
37:31It's not what you think.
37:32Asher's expression
37:33went a little flat.
37:34When midnight came
37:35and we all went
37:36outside for sparklers
37:39he caught my arm
37:40and looked like he was
37:41working up to say
37:42something.
37:43My phone rang.
37:44My face went a little
37:44warm.
37:45It was a guy from
37:46one of my clubs
37:47at school.
37:49Hi Stella.
37:50I'm just a bit bored
37:51and wanted to say
37:52Happy New Year to you.
37:53A local California boy
37:55named Jake.
37:55He was good looking too.
37:57Not in that cold
37:58aloof way.
37:59More like the guy
38:00who's always laughing
38:01at everything
38:01and making you laugh
38:02right along with him.
38:04He never ran out
38:04of things to say
38:05and he had a way
38:06of making me
38:07completely lose it
38:08at the most random things.
38:09We talked for a while
38:10longer
38:11and when he finally hung up
38:12Asher was standing
38:13right behind me
38:14with a face
38:14like a thundercloud.
38:17Boyfriend?
38:19Not yet
38:20I guess.
38:24Not yet
38:25I guess.
38:26I thought about it
38:26and answered honestly.
38:28I assumed he was done
38:29but then he spoke again.
38:31Long distance guys
38:32aren't always reliable.
38:33You should find
38:34someone local
38:35someone you actually know.
38:38I nodded.
38:40Something in that
38:40seemed to land
38:41somewhere tender.
38:42You're right.
38:43You really can't tell
38:43with people.
38:44I'll keep my guard up.
38:46Asher went quiet
38:47for a very long time.
38:48I assumed he was done.
38:50I didn't think
38:51too hard about it.
38:53Thanks for the advice
38:54big bro.
38:54You should figure out
38:55your own situation too.
38:57He'd always been
38:57unpredictable like that.
38:59After that
38:59I spent the rest of break
39:01bouncing around
39:01visiting relatives
39:02with my grandma
39:03and parents
39:04and then we did
39:05a little road trip.
39:06I was barely home.
39:07I didn't run into
39:08Asher once.
39:09The break was short
39:09and soon enough
39:10I was back at school
39:11but the very next day
39:12after I arrived
39:14Asher was standing
39:15outside my campus gate.
39:17Asher,
39:18what are you doing here?
39:20I wanted to see
39:20what your school
39:21looks like
39:23and check if you're
39:24actually doing okay
39:24out here.
39:26Really well actually.
39:28The food here
39:28is amazing.
39:29You should look up
39:29some spots
39:30and try them.
39:31Stella,
39:32can't you come
39:33eat with me
39:34just once?
39:35I don't know.
39:38I don't know.
39:39I don't know.
39:39I don't know.
39:40I don't know.
39:55Asher was still
39:56standing at the
39:57campus gate
39:57watching us
39:58and under the
39:59shadow of the trees
40:00he looked
40:00incredibly alone.
40:02He suddenly
40:03started showing up
40:04in my world
40:04constantly.
40:05I never found out
40:06what excuse
40:07he gave his school
40:08but he kept
40:08appearing in
40:09California out of
40:10nowhere.
40:10He started
40:11showing up
40:11with gifts
40:12flowers,
40:13bags,
40:13jewelry
40:14and I turned
40:15every single
40:15one down.
40:16When there was
40:16nothing else to do
40:17he'd just sit
40:18outside my dorm
40:19building
40:20and refuse to
40:21leave no matter
40:21how many times
40:22I asked.
40:23Whenever he
40:23managed to
40:24catch me
40:24he'd fallen
40:25to step
40:25beside me
40:26to every
40:27single class
40:27then follow
40:28me to the
40:28dining hall.
40:29Jake was
40:30visibly miserable
40:31about the
40:31whole thing.
40:32Asher's mom
40:32had been calling
40:33and messaging
40:34me from
40:34multiple angles.
40:35She begged
40:36me to please
40:36talk some sense
40:37into him.
40:38I was beyond
40:38done.
40:39I genuinely
40:40could not
40:40figure out
40:41what Asher
40:41thought he
40:42was doing.
40:44Stella,
40:45why does
40:45Jake get
40:46to pursue
40:46you but
40:47I don't?
40:48Son of
40:48White
40:49to
40:49Stas.
40:50He's known
40:51you for
40:51what,
40:52a few
40:52months?
40:53How many
40:53years have
40:54I known
40:54you?
40:56No one
40:56in this
40:57world
40:57understands
40:57you the
40:58way I
40:58do,
40:59not even
40:59your parents
41:00and no
41:00one is
41:01better for
41:01you than
41:01me.
41:07Asher,
41:08do you
41:09genuinely
41:09not remember
41:10what you
41:10did?
41:12Ask yourself
41:12honestly,
41:14did you
41:14ever actually
41:15treat my
41:16feelings like
41:16they mattered?
41:19You just
41:19liked the
41:20ego boost
41:21of having
41:21me chase
41:21after you.
41:22You knew
41:23no matter
41:23what you
41:24did,
41:24I wouldn't
41:25leave,
41:25so you
41:25just did
41:26whatever you
41:26felt like
41:27with my
41:27heart.
41:29Yeah,
41:29I did
41:30some things
41:30wrong back
41:30then.
41:31I was
41:32young,
41:32I thought
41:33the whole
41:33world was
41:33waiting for
41:34me,
41:34and I
41:35didn't want
41:35to feel
41:35like I
41:36was tied
41:36to any
41:36one
41:36person.
41:38I owe
41:38you a
41:38real
41:38apology,
41:39Stella.
41:40I'm
41:40sorry,
41:42but even
41:42if you
41:43treat me
41:43like a
41:43stranger,
41:44can I
41:44at least
41:45have the
41:45chance
41:45to start
41:46over
41:46and earn
41:46it
41:46back?
41:47After
41:47you
41:47left,
41:48I
41:48realized
41:48I
41:48don't
41:49know
41:49how
41:49to
41:49live
41:49without
41:49you
41:50in
41:50it.
41:51I
41:51can't
41:52imagine
41:52going
41:52forward
41:53and
41:53not
41:53having
41:53anyone
41:54to
41:54share
41:54everything
41:54with.
41:55Honestly,
41:56since
41:56leaving
41:56you,
41:57I
41:57figured
41:57out
41:58that
41:58real,
41:58mutual
41:59feelings
41:59don't
42:00require
42:00you
42:00to
42:00shrink
42:01yourself
42:01down
42:01to
42:01nothing.
42:02I
42:02can
42:02just
42:02be
42:02myself.
42:03My
42:04mood
42:04doesn't
42:04have
42:04to
42:05orbit
42:05around
42:05someone
42:05else's
42:06and
42:06when
42:06I
42:06realized
42:07that,
42:08I
42:08started
42:08to
42:09wonder
42:09if
42:09what
42:09I
42:09felt
42:10back
42:10then
42:10was
42:10ever
42:11real
42:11love
42:11or
42:12just
42:12something
42:12a
42:13younger,
42:13more
42:13naive
42:13version
42:14of me
42:14invented.
42:17But
42:20we made
42:21promises.
42:24We said
42:24we'd go
42:25to college
42:25together,
42:26study
42:26abroad
42:26together,
42:27travel
42:27the whole
42:27world
42:28together.
42:28Are you
42:28going to
42:28walk
42:29away
42:29from
42:29all
42:29of
42:29that
42:29too?
42:31Stella,
42:31are you
42:31going to
42:32leave
42:32all
42:32this
42:32behind
42:33too?
42:34You
42:34broke
42:34the
42:35promises
42:35first,
42:36and I've
42:37already
42:37found
42:38someone
42:38I
42:38want
42:39to
42:39do
42:39all
42:39of
42:39those
42:39things
42:40with.
42:42Stop,
42:43Stella,
42:43please,
42:44just
42:44stop.
42:49Maybe
42:50you're
42:50not
42:50actually
42:51in
42:51love
42:51with
42:51me.
42:52Maybe
42:52you
42:52just
42:53can't
42:53stand
42:53the
42:53idea
42:54of
42:54losing.
42:55Asher,
42:55honestly,
42:57it's
42:57time for
42:57you to
42:58move
42:58on
42:58too.
43:01I
43:02didn't
43:02wait
43:02for a
43:02response.
43:03Jake
43:03had been
43:03waiting
43:04across the
43:04street for
43:05a while.
43:05I jogged
43:06over,
43:06and he
43:07immediately
43:07reached down
43:08and took
43:08my hand.
43:11finally
43:11shook
43:11the
43:12X.
43:14Did
43:14you
43:14tell
43:15him
43:15I've
43:15got
43:15full
43:15bug
43:15patrol
43:16rights
43:16now?
43:16He
43:17doesn't
43:17get
43:17a
43:17single
43:17one?
43:19Everyone
43:20is
43:20going
43:20through
43:20their
43:21own
43:21goodbyes.
43:22As
43:23for
43:23us,
43:24it's
43:24finally
43:25completely
43:25over,
43:27fading
43:27away
43:27like the
43:28rain.
43:28Everyone
43:29in the
43:29middle
43:29of
43:29their
43:30own
43:30goodbye.
43:30And
43:31just
43:31like
43:31that,
43:32the
43:32two
43:32of
43:32us
43:32were
43:32finally
43:33completely
43:34over,
43:35scattered
43:35like
43:35rain.
43:36rain.
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