Chapter Seven ~ Fiona #3
“Try harder then, Nathan.” The forcefulness in my voice has him glancing up, his eyebrows raised.
“I’m sorry for hurting you all those years ago, I really, truly am.
But I’m tired of everyone always assuming the worst of me or acting as if I think I’m too good for this town, even though I’ve never said that or acted that way.
I know you never understood why I wanted to leave, but I expected better of you than to treat me like all the other people in Honeywell.
And for what? Was I a bad person? Did I break any laws?
Did I kick puppies or take candy from little kids?
No. My big crime was wanting to see the world, something my own dad did and was admired for. ”
“You may have expected better of me, but I expected better of you too, Fiona,” Nathan says, a sadness I never expected flashing in his eyes.
“I may have known you planned to leave, but I didn’t expect you to leave and never look back.
I never expected you to forget about me and just cast aside two decades of history. ”
If I thought my heart was racing before, it was nothing compared to the way it’s trying to leap out of my body now. “Is that honestly what you think? That I forgot about you? That I could ever forget about you or what we meant to each other?”
He shrugs, his arms dropping to his sides and slapping against his denim-clad thighs. I wait for him to say something, to tell me he knows I’d never forget him, but he simply shakes his head.
When I left Honeywell at nineteen, Nathan and I agreed we weren’t ready to break up, but we also didn’t want to attempt a long-distance relationship.
Without a set travel plan in mind, I didn’t know how long I’d be gone or when I’d be in places that would make it difficult to stay in regular contact.
Nathan came up with the idea of ‘hitting the pause button’.
We’d be together, yet not, and would decide on the future of our relationship when I returned.
We stayed in semi-regular contact, but it didn’t take long for things to become strained.
I was constantly on the move, making new friends, and working odd jobs when I could, while Nathan remained here in Honeywell, apprenticing with a local construction company.
He was always on my mind, and my love for him remained as strong as ever, but he told me it felt like he was living in suspended animation, waiting for me to come home, waiting to learn the future of our relationship.
When I returned home after travelling through Canada, the States, and South America, it was Nathan who ended things when I told him I wanted to continue travelling.
It made sense—it was unfair and unrealistic for him to continue waiting for me—but I hoped we could remain friends or at least eventually be close again. Obviously, that wasn’t meant to be.
“I guess we were both wrong then,” I say. This time, when I turn and walk away, I manage to reach the gate.
“Fiona.” From the sound of his voice, he’s not following me this time.
“Screw you, Nathan,” I call over my shoulder.
There are a few gasps from nearby. My gaze reluctantly travels to a group of women huddled around empty strollers, glaring at me and whispering furiously.
This day just keeps getting better. I throw my hands up and call out an apology, even though there are no children close.
My attention shifts to Nathan; I expect him to still be all Frowny McBroodyface, but the backs of his fingers are brushing his lips as if he’s trying to hide a smile.
With a huff, I wrench open the gate and hurry through.
I’ve just stepped onto the sidewalk in front of the pizzeria when a woman calls my name.
Assuming it’s one of the mothers from the park chasing me down to berate me, I suck in a breath and whip around.
“I said I was sorry. I promise to stay far away from the park from now on.”
Aneesha stands a few feet away, holding up her hands in defense the way Nathan did a few moments ago.
“Oh god, Aneesha, I’m sorry. I thought you were...” I wave a hand toward the park and shake my head. “Never mind, it doesn’t matter. I’m an idiot whose big mouth keeps getting her in trouble.”
Aneesha gives me a quick smile, which instantly puts me at ease.
“I don’t know about the getting in trouble part, but you’re far from an idiot.
” She hefts her purse up on her shoulder and points toward a cherry-red Beetle parked at the curb.
“My shift at the café is over, so I’m heading home.
I was hoping to catch you before I left. ”
I glance at my watch and realize I’ve been gone longer than intended. “Is my mum okay?”
“Oh, yeah, she’s fine. I stopped in her office on my way out and left her a plate of cookies.
I actually just wanted to see if maybe you’d like to do something together sometime.
You know, two town outcasts hanging out, doing whatever it is outcasts do.
Like...not giving a shit what everyone else in this town thinks? ”
Mrs. Fleming, a retired high school teacher, walks by just then.
The old woman narrows her eyes and tuts at Aneesha, who smiles sweetly until Mrs. Fleming has passed, and then she shrugs at me and rolls her eyes.
I sense a kindred spirit in Aneesha, and god knows I could use that right now, especially with Mila and most of my other friends being scattered around the world.
“I’d love that,” I tell her. “I’m free any time.”