When the fear of isolation pulls Ashton and Ria together, nothing can prepare them for the collision. An anomaly shatters the repetitive fabric of their lives, sending them on a journey of discovering themselves and one another.
Beneath Ashton's gen...
❝There's a huge difference between us and it's the difference you've been dying for your entire life.❞
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VIVIAN IS HIDING when Jared arrives, locked away in Ashton's bedroom.A discouraging weight rests over his shoulders for the briefest moment, but with haste, he reminds himself of Ria's reassuring words this morning.
She's in a lot of pain. She just needs someone to talk to.
He swallows his self-doubt and leans on the doorframe. Raising his fist, he leaves two light raps against the wood and waits.
Dead silence.
He clears his throat. "Vivian?"
"Please go away." Her soft voice is swallowed up behind the door.
Jared rubs his ear, moving his glasses a few times. She needs a friend. I can be a friend. "I just wanted to see you. Make sure you're okay."
"I-I'm fine." Her voice cracks.
He scowls. Is she crying? "I actually wanted to talk to you. I feel like you owe me an explanation."
Silence again.
Rubbing his neck, he finds comfort in staring up at the ceiling. "Look, I'm not mad. I just want to understand some things. At least I deserve that if I'm going to be watching over you."
Small footsteps pad along the hardwood before shadows linger under the door. Vivian cracks it open, revealing half of her ghostly face. Her gaze is low, ridden with guilt. "Yes?"
"Can you come out?"
Vivian stares up at him for a moment before easing out of the room. She's sporting her usual long-sleeved sweater and tights. She hugs herself while her hair acts as a cloak to hide her face.
"I just need to know," he starts softly while supporting his own weight again, "what parts were lies and what was real?"
She swallows and stares hard at the ground. "I was just trying to find a way to Ashton's loft. I'm sorry I had to lie to you. I-I do love your poetry, and I wish I was smart enough to write as wonderfully as you. That was real."
A gentle smile stretches across his lips. "You are smart enough. If you want, we can finish our lessons."
Her eyes remain low and while the delicate plains of her face struggle to settle on an emotion. "But I lied to you. I used you to get close to Ashton."
"Apparently, to get away from your crazy brother, right?" He attempts to lighten his voice with humor. "We can put that in the past."
Finally, she lifts her head and the amount of relief on her face steals the remaining oxygen in his lungs. Her bangs brush over her bright eyes and faint shades of lily-pink dance along her fair cheeks. "Really?"