Page 76 of Rewriting the Story

“Can we just focus on the fact that we’re all here with the people we love instead of harping on the past?” Paige smiles at us, and we nod collectively. “And I never hated Oliver, so that is where I differ from you two.”

“Yes, but you were scared to have feelings for him,” I remind her. “And I don't know how Hads didn't see that. You two were glaringly obvious. I mean, the first time you guys messed around, Hads was at Oliver’s door minutes prior, and you were trying not to giggle behind the door.” I laugh.

“What?” Hads shrieks, and I forgot Paige only told me about that. “Are you serious?”

Paige only blushes, and Hads throws a makeup brush towards her, but she dodges it.

“My bad,” I say to the room, still giggling into my glass.

I don’t know how tonight is going to go, especially after Henry and my impromptu chat on the beach yesterday. It was weird, the two of us having a civil conversation. Not only did we talk about the past, but Henry knows about my diagnosis now—not that it’s going to change anything. Both of our walls seem to be down, the two of us suspended in the air because neither of us knows what we want from one another. Sure, we still have some things to talk about, but maybe we’ll be civil enough to chat about us after the wedding. Maybe we can make the next few days not as horrible as it started out.

Though it is getting late, and I’m worried about what could happen tonight when my medication wears off. I told my therapist there's a noticeable difference when it wears off before I fall asleep, and I’m worried my brain might turn on me at the blink of an eye. I guess we’ll find out as the night progresses.

Nothinginmyheadis ever really silent when my medication wears off, but I’m having fun while I dance with my friends. Still, I can't help but steal glances at the guy I used to know.

Once upon a time, he loved me, and I loved him, but now, we’re strangers again. That cuts me open, and I can practically feel my blood spilling out all over the place. I wonder why he came up to me at the beach the other night. I wonder what happened after he left. I wanted to chase after him, but I figured he needed some space after the conversation we had. It was heavy and full of questions neither of us could answer because we can’t repeat the past.

I step off the dance floor to grab some water, dehydrated and sweaty.

All the boys are sitting at a table, talking amongst themselves while us girls are dancing and enjoying ourselves. I have to say, we all look super hot, and being able to get out of the hotel room has done wonders.

Well, it’s done what it can. I don’t think there’s any way to outrun Henry and our collective past, but I feel like the two of us are in a decent place, despite not having said a word to each other all night.

By the time I get back to the dance floor, Paige grabs my arm and pulls me into her.

“I’ve been looking for you for a few minutes. Where did you go?” she shouts over the music.

“I needed some water,” I shout to her. “I went back to the table for a second.”

“By yourself?”

“Yeah,” I say, confused as to why that would matter. “I’m not drinking, I promise.”

“That’s not why I asked.” She flicks her eyes to Henry and then looks back at me. “Are you two okay?”

“As okay as we can be,” I tell her as a new song comes on, and Ella grabs both of us to dance. She must have requested this one, because it’s one of our favorites. On every playlist we ever made, this one was always on it. It’s basically the soundtrack to our friendship, and I could cry in the middle of this dance floor thinking about the four of us.

It feels good to dance it out with them around me. It feels like the old days, when everything was okay and we were all just four girls who bonded over books. Now, we have so much more life under our belts, yet somehow, we’re still here.

I’m thankful I was brave enough to get on the plane and come back here, because I truly can’t imagine not being around them.

Oliver interrupts our moment when he whispers in Paige’s ear, and her face lights up as she jumps up and down on the dance floor.

“What’s going on?” Hads asks.

“She was excited to finally hear Oliver speak!” I joke, and he shoots me a glare.

“Sadie is here! Her flight just landed! I thought she was supposed to get in tomorrow, but apparently, she caught an earlier flight,” Paige tells us.

“Are you going to pick her up?” Ella asks.

“Yes! I’m not letting her take a car to the hotel when we can just get her. I’m sorry I’m leaving earlier than intended, but—”

“Paige, don’t apologize.” Ella smooths her hair down. “It’s late, and we’ve been out for hours. It’s okay.”

“Grant and I are probably heading out too, so can we catch a ride with you guys?” Hads says as she looks up from her phone. I assume Grant texted her something from over at the table, because I’ve never seen her look at her phone how she is now.

“Where are you two going?” Oliver asks his sister.

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