tidal wave

• chapter thirty •

As the years went on the never-ending silence between the two grew. Bre hid herself away in her studies, and Conrad did the same. Bre had visited Belly many times at Finch and when Jere brought up Conrad in conversation the light in Bre's eyes dulled. Even after all the tears and time away one look at Conrad could ruin all her hard work.

It had taken a while for Bre to let anyone in until she did. His name was Tobias and he lived across from her apartment. They'd met in passing many times and then one day he asked her for a coffee. At first, she said no and laughed it off but after a while, she gave in. He was the sort of man who loved a challenge and Bre was.

He worked at Johns Hopkins like her and from there he became one of her favourite people or a distraction as Belly and Laurel would call him. They all made bets on how long Bre would stay with him, as he was never the man they expected her to be with. They all assumed that she and Conrad would have made their way back to each other.

After a few years of being together, they moved into her apartment. It was way bigger than his and cheaper on rent surprisingly, and it gave Bre an excuse to quote her part-time job and focus on her studies.

Both Bre and Conead had started going to therapy. Working through their grief and anxiety. It made the pair of them feel lighter. It was hard for them both at the beginning opening up about losing a parent and each other. But after a while, it became easier.

For Bre, it felt like she'd found the one. He started coming everywhere with her. Going on double dates with her and Belly and Jere. Travelling to see Laurel. She felt comfortable. When Hattie and Keegan came to visit, she had the most fun. But they didn't have full confidence in him, from the moment they met him they didn't get on. But Bre didn't mind, she liked the fact that he didn't want to hang out with them, which also meant that they could go out and have fun.

Hattie and Keegan would've mentioned Conrad ever so often as he and Finn had gotten quite close apparently. Bre felt happy in a way, that Conrad had someone. Even if it was Finn.

For Bre she'd buried herself in starting a new life for herself she had recreated herself.

Tobias had introduced her to his family and felt right at home. He had two sisters, the youngest called Evie and the Older one called Emily. They were both lovely.

In the four years since the motel, Bre had thought about Conrad more than she wanted to. But she was distracted every time she didn't.

For Conrad, it was the longest four years of his life. He saw photos of Bre on social media. And her smile. And when Laurel had come to visit her she showed him photos of Bre on holiday. She looked happy and that's what kept Conrad going. Hoping one day she'd come back to him.

Bre had grown her hair out again, and Conrad had a never-ending tan from the Californian sun. They both looked older and more mature but inside they were the same kids who fell in love over sand castles and muffins at the summer house.

And Bre was selfishly hoping that he'd come back to her too.