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All Chapters of I Was Done Being Second: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1 Someone Else's Home

"What are you doing?" Miranda frowned at the suitcase in my hand. "I asked you to keep it down, and now you're packing your bags? Seriously, Randy? Don't you think you're being a little dramatic?"Ashton's expression shifted. "Come on, Miranda. If he's upset enough to leave, maybe you should talk to him first."Then, he turned to me. "Hey, man, I didn't mean anything by it. And don't be mad at Miranda. You know she's not great at saying what she means. She probably just wants you home earlier."He paused for a moment before adding, "How about this? We'll find a place closer to your office once the lease is up. There's no point making a big scene this late and waking the neighbors, right?"The exhaustion from days of overtime hit me all at once, and my throat tightened.I thought, 'Really? I'm the one making a scene? All I want is to get home a little earlier, eat something after a long day, and get some rest. How did that turn into me being the problem?'My hands went still.Ash

Chapter 2 The Third Wheel

In the end, one of my coworkers gave me a ride home.When I opened the door, I found Miranda and Ashton curled up together on the couch, watching TV. Their shoulders were touching, and Miranda had her legs casually draped across Ashton's lap. She was laughing so hard she could barely keep her eyes open."Old movies really are the best." She glanced toward the door. "Oh, Randy, you're home."She didn't even bother to move her legs. "How'd you get back? I was going to come get you later. You should've seen Ashton earlier. It was hilarious."Ashton reached over and pinched her cheek. "Hey. You promised you wouldn't tell anyone about that.""Okay, I won't." Miranda grinned. "But seriously, you almost cried over one stupid game. Was it really that big a deal?""Oh, please." Ashton hooked an arm around her neck and pulled her closer. "Who was the one crying on a roller coaster last time and hanging on to me for dear life?"I had just managed to peel off my soaking-wet shoes when my ha

Chapter 3 I Promise

I froze.That was when it hit me. With all the overtime I'd taken recently, I'd completely forgotten something terribly important.A few weeks ago, my father went for a checkup back in my hometown. The doctors found something wrong with his liver. My parents decided to come to Sutton Bay so he could get a full evaluation at a better hospital, but work had been so insane that I hadn't even arranged a place for them to stay."They can just get a hotel," Miranda said without hesitation. "It'll be easier."I thought it over for a moment. Then, I texted our landlord to ask if he had any other apartments nearby. If my father needed treatment, my parents might be here for weeks, maybe even months. Staying in a hotel that long just wasn't practical.Our landlord didn't get back to me until right before bed."I do have another unit available, but it's much more expensive than the one you're in now."A second message came through a moment later."Oh, and next time, have your girlfriend

Chapter 4 We're Done

My mind went completely blank.Then, I ran.By the time I got to the hospital, I was panting so hard that my vision had gone blurry. The red light above the operating room seared into my retinas as I rushed down the hallway.My mother was sitting outside.Tears started streaming down her face the second she saw me."Your father and I were waiting outside the hotel for Miranda this morning, but she never came." Her voice broke. "We were scared he'd miss his surgery, so he said we should just call a taxi. But a car came out of nowhere and hit him while we were waiting."She grabbed my arm, her fingers trembling. "Randy, what if your father doesn't wake up?"Her tears fell onto my sleeve, and my chest tightened. I was also terrified, but I couldn't let her see it."He'll be okay, Mom. Dad's tough. He's going to make it."I'd been trying to reach Miranda ever since I got there, but every call went straight to voicemail. I crouched in the hallway, my head pounding as I tried callin

Chapter 5 It Doesn't Matter Anymore

"How... How did this happen?" Miranda whispered in horror.She stood frozen before the TV, staring at the screen. My father lay motionless on the pavement, blood pooling around him, while the reporter said his condition was still unknown.Suddenly, everything she had pushed out of her mind rushed back.She had planned to leave early that morning.However, she noticed how pale Ashton looked just as she was about to leave. He'd always suffered from stomach problems, and sometimes the pain became so severe that he would curl up in bed, unable to move. He would even throw up blood on his bad days.She couldn't bring herself to leave him like that.So, she stayed.She went out to get him medicine, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and made him oatmeal so he'd have something gentle on his stomach. By the time she'd finished caring for him, a lot more time had passed before she even realized it.She'd thought it would be fine.She'd thought nothing would happen.Miranda snatched he

Chapter 6 The Only Person I Love

I rushed toward the doctor. "How is my dad?"He removed his surgical mask, his expression calm. "He made it through. We were able to stabilize him. He's been moved to a regular ward, and we'll keep him here for a few days to monitor his recovery once he wakes up."The breath I'd been holding finally left me, and all my strength drained away at once. My knees nearly buckled."Randy!"Miranda caught me before I fell, but I pulled away from her and followed my mother into my father's ward.A flicker of hurt crossed Miranda's face, but she said nothing.Once my parents were settled, I went back to the apartment and started packing my things.The noise must have caught Ashton's attention because he came rushing out of his room. "Man, what's going on? Why are you packing? Everything's been fine. Why are you moving out?"I looked at him. The concern on his face seemed genuine, and suddenly I couldn't resist asking that burning question on my tongue."Ashton, how long have we been fri

Chapter 7 Not Mine to Save

Miranda immediately declined the call."That stupid contact name... Ashton changed it after we lost a game and thought it would be funny. I'll change it back right now."I got out of the car before she could finish what she was saying and headed inside without waiting for her.When I strode into my father's ward, I found that he was already awake and eating. He looked up at me and gave me a weak smile. "Scared you pretty bad, huh?"I tried to smile back, but my voice broke the moment I opened my mouth."Dad..." I swallowed hard. "I'm just glad you're alive."The room fell silent with only my muffled sobs breaking the quiet.Neither of my parents said a word. They simply let me cry.Eventually, I composed myself and roughly wiped my face. "Dad, when you're better, come to Montrose with me."That was where I'd be transferring for my new position.He frowned slightly. "You and Miranda... You're really ending things?"I nodded. "Yeah. I've made up my mind."My father was still

Chapter 8 Ten Years

Ashton had jumped from the tenth floor.By some miracle, an awning over the building's entrance broke his fall and saved his life. Unfortunately, both of his legs were shattered beyond repair, and the doctors said he would never walk again.My heart still panged for me when I heard the news. After all, I couldn't simply erase ten years of friendship overnight. In some ways, how was losing that any easier than losing a ten-year relationship?Honestly, it wasn't that I didn't want to see him; I just didn't know how to face him anymore....A week later, my mother finally called me out on it."Randy, you can't keep avoiding him forever. Regardless of what happened, he was still your friend for ten years." She gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Visit him."Eventually, I did.Ashton had been moved to a different wing of the hospital. I had barely arrived at his ward when I heard him shouting inside."Miranda, I don't want your pity! Get out! Why couldn't you just let me die? Why d

Chapter 9 What Came Too Late

Miranda was waiting for us outside the hospital the day my father was discharged.I frowned the moment I saw her. "We ended things. What are you doing here?"She froze for a second before smiling awkwardly. "Well... I never agreed to the breakup. Besides, you used to say a breakup doesn't count if only one person wants it."She glanced toward my parents before I could reply. "Come on. It's hot out here. We shouldn't keep your dad standing in the sun."I ignored her and walked over to the taxi waiting by the curb."Come on, Dad."Neither of my parents said much during the ride home. I glanced at my phone when a calendar notification popped up, reminding me I was leaving Sutton Bay the next day."Why don't we invite Miranda over for lunch tomorrow?" my mother asked, breaking the silence.I frowned, not wanting anything to do with Miranda.Before I could object, she sighed and said, "You two were together for a long time. Things might have ended badly, but you should at least say

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