Chapter 3
[Seriously, you two are a total power couple, hot guy, gorgeous girl. Just get together already, for my sake!]
[Hey, don't forget Ryan's a die-hard Team Emily Forever fan.]
Seeing those words, I felt a little dazed.
I remembered how, every time the exam results came out, Ryan cared about my grades way more than my own parents did. He'd stay up late, helping me figure out how to study better.
Everyone said he was spoiling me so much, I'd never survive on my own.
Ryan just twirled his pen, totally unfazed.
"I'm Team Emily Forever. We're never breaking up," he said.
*****
The IV bag above me was finally empty, and I calmly called for the nurse.
I opened the job app and started scrolling through the jobs.
They were heading north, so I'd go south.
Just like they wanted, I wouldn't be the thorn in their side anymore.
Someone in the group chat asked for a job-hunting guide.
Annie thoughtfully shared a document.
The wording was instantly recognizable. I knew right away it was Ryan's work.
It was crammed with tips and reminders, way more detailed than the study guides Ryan used to make for me.
It was made a year ago.
So they'd already planned to leave me behind, way back then.
I was just flipping through the chat history without even thinking.
Then I noticed that the message telling Ryan and Annie to get together had been deleted by an admin.
Ryan was one of the admins too.
I fired up my laptop and started tweaking my resume.
After three days of job hunting like crazy, I finally landed a job that paid well and gave me weekends off.
The company wanted me to start in a week.
I checked out of my dorm and booked my flight.
After lugging my massive suitcase to check-in all by myself, my arm was aching and sweat dotted my forehead.
As I wiped the sweat from my brow, I spotted Annie in a dress, skipping along with a small bag on her shoulder.
Ryan followed right behind her, effortlessly pushing two suitcases.
Our eyes met, and Ryan pressed his lips into a thin line, his eyes full of emotions I couldn't even begin to decipher.
Annie rushed over and threw her arms around me, her face lighting up with excitement.
"Emily, I knew you'd come to see us off!" she said.
Ryan reached out and gently pulled Annie away, bending down to dust off her dress.
"Emily's sweaty. Don't mess up your favorite dress," he said.
He sounded so disgusted, it was like I was filthy or something.
My face flushed bright red, and I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms.
Annie tried to glare at Ryan, but it just looked adorable as she pulled me closer.
"Emily, don't pay him any mind. Even if you two broke up, I'm still your bestie," she said.
"I've been texting you these past few days, but you never replied," she added.
As she spoke, Annie pinched Ryan's cheek.
"See? This is all your fault. Now Emily's acting all distant with me," she pouted.
Ryan smiled, his voice soft. "It's all my fault. Don't be mad, okay?"
As he spoke, he shot me a quick glance out of the corner of his eye.
I didn't show him the anger or sadness he was probably expecting.
Instead, I just met his gaze, calm as ever.
"I'm not here to see you guys off. I'm flying out myself," I said.
Annie's eyes went wide.
Ryan's brows knitted together, all the warmth draining from his face.
"Emily, is going to Bexford with us really that important to you?" He spoke in a resigned voice.
"Whatever, if you want to tag along, go ahead.
"But don't expect a bed in Bexford. You'll have to sleep on the floor in the living room."
Hearing him talk about me like I was just an afterthought he could deal with however he wanted.
I bit my lip, but my eyes still turned red, no matter how hard I tried to hold it together.
Annie pressed her lips together.
"Ryan, that's a bit much!" she said.
Seeing my eyes turning red, Ryan's gaze flickered for a second, but he still wouldn't soften up.
"She's not anyone to me now. Honestly, she's lucky I'm not charging her rent," he said.
Just then, the airport announcement came on, reminding passengers that the flight to Bexford was about to board.
Ryan grabbed Annie's hand and started walking, just throwing over his shoulder, "Keep up if you want."
I'd been chasing after Ryan for ten years, but this time, I finally didn't have to anymore.
I turned around and headed for my own boarding gate.
I stepped onto the plane and slid into my seat.
As the flight attendant reminded everyone to turn off their phones for takeoff, my phone suddenly went wild, buzzing nonstop.
Ryan's calls and texts blew up my phone.
[Emily, the plane's about to take off. Why aren't you on board yet?]