Where We Left Off Novels & Stories

“And the fact that you’ll actually show up is enough for me.” The rest of the evening passed quickly as we stuffed ourselves with pizza and drank sodas, joking about anything and everything. The hours seemed to slip by unnoticed until we finally stood up to leave. Alfred headed in one direction, Sai in another as we waved to one another before Milo and I went our own way. As we walked back toward our neighborhood, the sky had darkened, the stars starting to peek out above us. The cool evening air felt refreshing after the heat of the pizza place.

Like sealing something I couldn’t take back. When it was done, we left. Just like that. No adjustments. No second chances. Only tomorrow. “What should we do?” Isabella asked as we walked away. “I don’t know… maybe just get ready to leave,” I said. “Yeah… I guess so.” We headed back, reaching her room first. I dropped onto her bed while she moved to her wardrobe, already pulling things out. “I still can’t believe we’re going,” she said. “It’s been a journey… we’ve really come a long way.”

Finally, we pulled away and I placed one last soft kiss on her lips, "I love you so much, baby. Don't you ever think of leaving me okay?" She giggled, "I love you too and I won't ever leave you. Just don't get tired of me." "Until the day I die," I vowed and her smile widened. "Let's go back inside," She said and only then did I remember that we weren't alone. Hand in hand, we both walked back in but when we returned to the table, I noticed the thick tension between Carter and Hailey. I glanced at Temmy and she seemed to notice it too. What happened while we were gone?

he said, his voice tighter now. I nodded, even though every part of me wanted to close the distance between us again. We returned to the table and spent the rest of the afternoon pretending to focus on the case. But the damage was done. The line we had crossed last night was still there, and neither of us knew how to step back over it. By the time we called it a day, the sun was already setting. I packed up my things in silence. Damien did the same. Just before I reached the door, he spoke.

For three years, I, Julian Chase, was in a long-distance relationship with my girlfriend, Claire Winston, video calling her every single night. The first time I noticed a black tie that wasn't mine lying in the background of her call, I took a screenshot and confronted her. Her brother messaged me about it. [Julian, that's my tie. I left it at her place the last time I visited.] The second time, I caught a glimpse of two used condom wrappers in the background. Her best friend showed me a hotel booking to explain it away. "This one's on me. I was just messing around with Claire as a joke and ended up upsetting you. I'm sorry." The third time. The fourth time. Every single time something

I squeezed both of their hands as we walked back toward whatever waited next. We had saved the world once. Now we had to figure out how to save ourselves without unraveling what we’d already mended. One conversation at a time.

"We stay with Sara, and tomorrow morning we leave." "Sounds like a plan to me," Tristan said. Nathan rolled his eyes. "Let's get something to eat first." "Lead the way," * We left for Alaska the following day. Back home, everything fell into place—a kind of routine. We began more intense combat training. With the research for the cure ramping up and the wonderful effects of my blood discovered, I had this nagging feeling at the back of my mind that things were going to get worse from now on.

Dana says and I recall how mercilessly mader killed him. "Alex didn't die a nice death" I mutter but they both hear me. "I suspected. "Dana replies lowly and decides to change the topic. "Well, God blessed us with a perfect hiding place and we've been here a year now. We thought you guys bailed on us and initially planned on proceeding tomorrow. Twas indeed God's will that we found y'all today" Dana says and I feel my heart skip a beat. ~they were gonna leave without us!?

After we finished lunch, Bailey and I said goodbye to Cruz and headed to the Clinic. There wasn't anything going on for the rest of the day, so we sat around and chatted until I finally called it a day. "Well, it doesn't look as if we're going to be doing anything more today, so let's pack it up," I said, already shutting down the machines. "Hey! We have some time this afternoon, so why don't I show you a few things?"

I said and left. ***