"Can't tell me what?"

7 Daryl

"Can't tell me what?"

Do it, man.

Tell her.

Fucking get it off your chest.

There were so many things I wanted to say, so many confessions and secrets I yearned to spill from my soul. I wanted it gone, the weight of my conscience, and the godforsaken pain in my heart.

I opened my mouth, but the look of vulnerability – of unbroken innocence – in her brown eyes had me swiftly clamping my mouth shut.

It she finds out, it'll kill her.

Do you want her pain on your conscience?

Do you want to be the one to ruin her?

Her dad's right.

Just walk away, Daryl.

"I can't," I finally choked out, feeling like the worst piece of shit on the planet. "I'm sorry."

"Can't what?" The look in her eyes almost broke my damn heart all over again. "You can't give me an explanation for that epic display of assholeness back there?"

"Molly –"

"If you regret what happened between us, that's fine," she cut me off by saying. "I'm a big girl, D. I can take the truth. I don't need kid gloves to be told you made a mistake."

"What? Molly, no! Fuck, it's not like that," I tried to argue, but my words weren't getting through to her anymore. Her walls were shooting up quicker than I could perform damage control. The look she gave me in return screamed bullshit, and I felt myself die a little more inside. "I don't regret –"

"I understand that you were drunk that night, okay?" she hissed, throwing her hands up in frustration. "I'm not your type. I get it. Big freaking surprise. But I don't deserve the cold shoulder from you. That's not how friends are supposed to treat each other, and if I remember correctly, you were the one begging for another shot at that!"

"Can you stop?" I practically begged. "Just give me a second to get this out…"

"Don't bother, D," she whispered, shaking her head. "I'm done."

I could see the heartache etched on her face and it fucking crippled me.

"Molly…"

"Oh, and just one more thing," she added, voice trembling. "If the only reason you've been skipping school was to avoid drama with me, then consider yourself off the hook. No need to ghost me, Daryl. I'm not that girl."

"Molly!"

"Good luck at your game tonight, QB1."

And then, with a grace that only she could muster, Molly turned around and walked away from me.

8 Molly

Ever since the fire, I couldn't handle the hot baths I once used to enjoy so much. My skin was far too sensitive, therefore, I had to settle for lukewarm soaks in the tub instead.

"Mama, I'm lost." Feeling small and desperately alone, I pulled my knees to my chest and gave in to the feeling of devastation as it washed over me. Wiping my tear stained cheek against my sudsy knee, I exhaled wearily. "Mama, I miss you so much."