Chapter 4

When I arrived at the parking lot that morning, I spotted the SUV at a glance.

The four of them had already loaded all their luggage inside. I didn't utter a word.

When Landon spotted me, he handed me his phone. "The bus leaves at 11:00 am. It's a three-hour ride. I already bought your ticket."

I made no move to accept it.

Willow immediately climbed out of the passenger seat. "I'll take the bus today. Paige has been taking the bus by herself these past two days."

As soon as the words left her mouth, both of my childhood friends frowned.

"Your stomach just recovered."

"The whole route is full of mountain switchbacks. You're going to throw up again."

Landon pulled her back as well. "I'll worry about you if you take the bus."

I stood beside them, and all of a sudden, the six-hour bus ride from two days ago flashed through my mind.

When I didn't accept it, Landon urged, "Take it already."

I met his gaze. "I don't feel like taking the bus today."

Everyone froze.

Clyde was the first to snap back to his senses. "What are we supposed to do then? We can't let Willow take the bus."

"We can wait until our car's repaired."

"And scrap today's plans?"

"We can rent another car."

Mason clicked his tongue. "It's only a three-hour ride. Do you really have to make such a fuss?"

Landon's expression hardened as well. "Don't be difficult now, Paige."

I merely gazed at him.

In the past, whenever I heard that, I would immediately explain myself. I wasn't being difficult. I was just tired. I would feel carsick, too.

However, this time, I let the words sit on my tongue for a moment before deciding not to say a thing.

I pushed his phone back to him. "Go on without me."

Willow tried to get out of the car again. "How are you going to get to the next destination, though?"

I pulled up the handle of my suitcase. "I'll figure something out."

Clyde smiled. "See? I told you she could handle it."

Mason waved at me. "See you tonight."

Landon stared at me for a moment. "I'll still send the ticket to your phone. Call me when you get there."

I nodded. "Alright."

I stood rooted to the spot for what felt like an eternity after their car pulled away. Half of my sun hat was sticking out of the trunk. I didn't call after them.

When I returned to the hotel, I canceled all the accommodations and attraction reservations I had made for the rest of the trip. Then, I pulled up the work message from yesterday.

"Hi, I wanted to ask if the position is still available."

The hiring manager replied almost instantaneously. "It's still available."

I paused for a few seconds. "In that case, I'll take it."

After sending the message, I started packing my suitcase.

I left my hat behind. I didn't bother asking about the jacket I'd left in their car either.

…

At 11:00 pm, I dragged my suitcase back to campus.

My roommate, Jude Duarte, was startled when she saw me. "Weren't you supposed to be away for a few more days?"

"I came back early."

"Did you get into a fight with Landon?"

I shook my head. "No."

We genuinely hadn't fought.

Landon's headphones, charger, and two pieces of clothing were still sitting on my desk. I found a cardboard box and packed them inside.

The movie tickets and Polaroids I'd never had the heart to throw away were tucked at the bottom of my drawer. I took them out, looked at them for a while, and tossed them into the box as well.

The cardboard box wasn't even full yet.

…

At midnight, someone finally asked in the group chat, "Has Paige made it yet?"

Clyde: "She's probably still mad."

Willow: "Should we give her a call?"

Minutes later, Landon chimed in. "Don't worry about her. She'll get over it on her own."

I stared at his message, and for the very first time, I didn't feel hurt because he was right. I would get over it on my own.

However, I wouldn't go back to them again. If anything, I was slowly getting used to a life without them. I would never go back to them.

…

The following day, I completed the last of my graduation formalities.

By the time the cab pulled out of the campus gates, Landon finally sent me a message. "What do you feel like eating when we get back tonight? I really did put you in a tough spot yesterday. I'll take you somewhere nice."

As usual, he thought a single meal and sweet nothings would be enough to make me fall back in step with them.

I received a call from him when the airport announcement sounded. I didn't pick up. Before my phone screen went dark, I noticed the four of them were still discussing their next destination in the group chat.

They were still stuck on that five-person graduation trip. Yet I, who had always chased after them, was already rolling my luggage through the boarding gate. This time, I wanted to see what the world had in store for me.