Page 2 of Diverge

“I see you haven’t changed one bit, Billie.” His ocean-blue eyes lift, and I swear it feels like he’s looking directly into my soul.

How would you know?

I avert my eyes from his and nervously begin making myself a drink. How can he still affect me like this when I haven’t seen or spoken to him in tenfuckingyears!?

“Well, you certainly have. You were a lot shorter before you left.” I say as he stares down at his drink and clenches his jaw. A moment passes before either of us speak again.

“How have you been?” he asks, and I look up at him like he’s just asked me how I am after my dog had died or something.

“Are you joking? I’m not doing this with you.” I finish making my drink and turn to walk over to the group huddled by the fire, when he reaches out to grab me, his strong hand clasping my arm with an iron grip.

“Will you just talk to me?” His tone is impatient and unyielding.

The nerve of this man.

“Talk to you!?” I scoff. “What gives you the right to turn up after a decade and demand a conversation with me?” I rip my arm out of his hold, staring up at him as my hands begin to shake.

Running a hand through his hair, he looks at the floor. “I know I messed things up, but this is why I came back.” He pleads, “Please just give me the chance to explain things to you.”

Red-hot rage simmers underneath the surface of my skin at the sight of him standing in front of me, practically begging.

Begging.

After he left, without a single word.

“How dare you stand there and ask me how I am like ten years haven't passed without any contact from you?!” My breathing has become erratic, and I feel the others’ eyes on us now. Everything I left unsaid is being unleashed in a raging tornado out of my mouth. “How can you pretend like nothing has changed?!” I yell at him as he looks back to the group, and I know they’re staring, but I don’t care. “Did it all mean absolutely nothing to you... was it all a lie, some sick joke?” I push him with both hands, but he barely even budges. “Did you feel like a stud telling all your friends about what we did?!” I can hardly recognise my own voice as I spew the words at him.

“Billie...” He reaches out to grab me again, but I swat his hand away before he can touch me. “Please, just calm down.”

“Calm down?” I place my drink down on the table. “Would you be calm if the person who ghosted you just turns up after a decade? The person who you grew up with?” I feel my breath hitch and force the pain back down into my chest.

He doesn’t respond, just stands there, looking at me.

My skin is on fire, my ears buzzing with fury. “You’re pathetic.” I point to him, my finger digging into his chest.

“You’re a fucking coward!” I spit the last words at him like I’m aiming a dagger at his chest. Iwanthim to hurt, just like he hurt me all those years ago. I’ve kept so much hidden, so many things locked up deep inside me for too long.

I hear him audibly sigh as I turn and walk away. Glancing back over, I see him downing his entire drink and pouring a new one.

Good luck. You really think you can just come back into my life and ask me how I am without so much as a phone call in the past ten years?

We grew up together, for fuck’s sake. I had known him since I had known Grace. We slept together once, followed by a week of silence, then he left without even a goodbye. Justpoof, gone. Did I think after sleeping together, we would spend the rest of our lives together and just be happy? No, don’t be silly. Those things only ever happen in fairy tales. However, I did expect to at least talk about what happened, but before we even had a chance to, he left with his father to go halfway across the world.

“I need to talk to you for a second,” I say with gritted teeth. Grabbing Grace’s hand, I guide her inside through the large floor-to-ceiling glass doors, closing them once we are inside.

“Look, I’m sorry!” she blurts out. “I knew he was going to stop by. I didn’t know when, and I was kind of hoping you two could just move past it. It has been a decade after all.” She gives me a half smile in an attempt to soften her words.

“Grace, I love you, but I don’t want to see him.” I grab my bag and my jacket off the lounge as I make my way through the large white lounge room towards the front door.

“Billie, please, I’m sorry. Please stay for a bit longer?” she pleads after me.

“I’ll text you when I get home.” I know she will text me incessantly until I let her know I’m safe anyway. Opening the front door, I hear Riley’s voice from my left.

“B, where are you going?” I look up at my older brother Riley and his friend Nathan beside him.

“Uh, I think I’m just going to head home. I have a headache, and I need to get some more things finished for work,” I speak as I hastily make my way off the porch, done with the constant questions. I just want to get out of here.

“Wait, you came with me. How are you getting home?” Riley reaches for his keys inside his pocket. “I’ll drive you.”

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