Song: poncho and lefty by Willie Nelson
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Tyler's POV:

Monday Morning, three days after the fight

My fingers tap against my steering wheel, the song, 'Don't stop believing' playing through my speakers. A boyish grin erupts across my face as I remember the day Shrimp and I picked up Cannon together, this very song playing from her Cassette tape as she tried to sing along.

I snort, although it was sorta cute, she was awful at singing.

My Jeep cruises down the road, palm trees swaying in the late November wind. Looking to the passenger seat next to me, I grin. Shrimp was going to love the gift I got her. The small, black, jewelry box held a silver charm bracelet with two custom charms. One being a piece of shrimp and the other, a small-penny sized-Han Solo.

I think back to the sales lady who helped me order it, her concerned looks and 'helpful' remarks as she tried to convince me that 'my girl' would want something a bit more romantic.

I almost died on the spot.

Shrimp was everything but romantic. That's one reason why I liked her so much, she didn't care about her nails that were chewed down or her birds nest of hair. In fact, just last week, I had caught her dipping her sliced pickle into a glass of milk. I shudder, Just watching that completely traumatized me.

She was almost a different type of breed. Like a rare, exotic squirrel.

The point is, she's always herself, she's never afraid to be who she is, even if that means being weird and dipping her dill pickles into dairy.

I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts as I pass Haywood Park and turn down her street, my small scented tree swaying from my dash.

I really needed to stop thinking about her so much.

When I pull into her driveway and put my Jeep into park, I hop out and walk up her concrete steps. Shrimp was always either scrambling to get ready at this time or she was still sleeping.

I smirk, knowing her, she was most likely still asleep.

I knew Shrimp had a hard time sleeping at night and that normally resulted to her taking small naps in the morning. Small naps that I would have to wake her from.

Let me just say, she wasn't exactly the most pleasant person to wake up and most of the time it ended with me having a bruised eye. She always said that my face was just punchable, even after she apologized ten thousand times. However, even with a black eye, her bed hair and groggy morning voice made everything worth it.

I stand on the porch for a couple more minutes, waiting for Audrey to fling the door open in a mad rush. I stand on the door mat and look around for Cat, noting that he wasn't curled up on the porch as usual. I wait for a couple more minutes but no one answers the door. Not thinking twice, I push it open and walk inside.

I quickly notice that all the lights were off and the blankets that were usually splayed across the couch were gone. "Shrimp!" I whisper yell, looking from her empty couch to the kitchen.

My eyebrows crease into a frown before I walk outside, looking for her bicycle.

My eyes scan her lawn, the green grass overgrown from not having been cut. Her bike was gone. Had she left for work already?

My stomach sinks at the thought and I quickly shut her door behind me. I run down the steps and climb into my car, turning on the ignition and pulling out of her driveway as an unsetteling feeling grows in the pit of my stomach.

I had told her countless of times, that riding her bike everywhere wasn't safe. I'd seen the way some of the middle-aged men would look at her while she rode past the sketchy area of our town. Just imagining her riding her bike alone in the morning makes me feel sick to my stomach.

I had no clue how such a small and tiny little thing had that much bravery. Even I was unsettled by going places alone.

I clench my fists while gripping the steering wheel, just the thought of how much shit she'd been through made me want to wrap her in my arms and never let anyone hurt her again. I scowl, I knew I sounded like a mushy teenage boy, but she had been through a lot and seen things that no one deserved.

I scan the side of the road, looking for her blue bike.

I wonder why she hadn't waited for me to pick her up. I run a hand through my tangled hair before quickly putting my blinkers on and turning into the Friendly Market's parking lot. I park in my usual spot under an oak tree and look over to the bike racks, frowning when I notice that they're empty. Where was she?

I hop out of my car, glancing over at our bench. Maybe I passed her and she's just running a bit late.

Yeah, I tell myself. Everything's okay.

---------------

Shrimp was gone.

I look around the store, casually ringing a customer up while looking for a certain mop of messy, brown hair. Normally, I wouldn't have to look for her, she'd be here annoying the hell out of me with her cheesy pick-up lines and weird jokes. Her big brown eyes, looking up at me as I taught her how to use the cash register.

I was worried. Not only was she not at home but her bike was missing.

I give the lady in front of me change before glancing toward the parking lot and pulling out my phone, checking my messages and searching for any texts.

Nothing. No messages, no calls, no anything. I let out a frustrated groan, a permanent frown making its way to my face. Where was she? Was she okay?

I quickly scroll through my contacts, finding the number under 'Shrimpy' and pressing it.

The phone rings before going straight to voicemail.

"Hello bello! This is Batman speaking," Shrimps voice echos through the phone as she trys to sound deeper. The sound of her uncontrolled laughter rings through before she continues. "I'm just messing, this is Audrey Jackson here, just leave a message after the beep and I'll try to get back to you."

I roll my eyes at her voicmail before speaking into the phone. "This is Tyler, Call me back." I say blandly before shoving my phone into my back pocket.

This was ridiculous, why wasn't she answering her phone?

I look over at the clock that hangs against the back wall and squint, trying to read the time. I let out a sigh as I realize it's time for my break. I quickly hang my apron and push the closed sign out onto the register before I walk outside.

I make my way over to our bench but my sneakers come to an abrupt halt when something catches my eye. There sitting on Shrimp and I's bench was a brown, cardboard box.

Glancing over my shoulder, I scan the parking lot, searching for someone who might have left the box. However, when I realize no one was around, I begin to walk towards the bench cautiously.

I walk closer and peer inside the box, my breath catching in my throat as I realize what's inside. There laying inside the box, was a neatly folded pair of basketball shorts, a hoodie and a grey shirt. I pick up the clothes from the box, instantly recognizing them as my own.

My mind goes back to the night Audrey and I were babysitting Cannon. The night we had hid in the shower and she had gotten soaked. These were the clothes I had let her borrow.

I frown, looking back into the box. Why were these here?

Suddenly my heart drops as I pick up the red hoodie, the exact hoodie that I had let Shrimp borrow the night we kissed. However, that's not what had my mind racing. There sitting at the bottom of the box was an envelope. An envelope with my name scrawled on it.

I reach down and grab it, opening it carefully. I pull out the lined paper, unfolding the creases. I recognize the soft curves of Audrey's handwriting and begin to read.

"Tyler,

Here are some of your things, I'm sorry that I didn't give them back sooner. To be honest, I kept them for so long because I liked the way they smelled. (You have a really nice smell.) Not only do they no longer smell like you but they also have a few Cheeto stains.

Sorry.

I'm also sorry that you feel the way you do, if I had known how you truly felt, I would not have bugged you so much, although I most likely would have said hello from time to time and continued to stare.

Back to the point, however, I have decided that you are right. I'm going to stay away. Not just because of you but because I've realized that I need to find myself. I need to find out who I am.

I want you to know that just because we aren't talking anymore doesn't mean I've forgotten about you. It doesn't mean that I don't care. The truth is, I care, I care too much.

Tell Cannon that I love him.

- Audrey

P.s. Here are the five dollars I owed you from our 'not-date.'"

My eyes scan the paper again, reading over the words for what feels like the hundredth time. How could she write this? How could she sound like she was saying goodbye?

My mind couldn't seem to process the words. What did this mean? It was like she was breaking up with me, even though we were never together. Why did I feel this way? Why was my heart sinking to my stomach?

I couldn't be sick, I had felt fine minutes before.

Anger suddenly courses through my body as I shove the clothes back into the box, the five dollars in change, falling out of the envelope and rolling across the asphalt.

Why was she feeling like a burden? What had I done to make her feel that way. My thoughts suddenly go back to Friday night and my heart stops.

I needed to find her, I needed to tell her that I hadn't meant anything I said.

My eyes shift over to Grumpy as he walks out of the store, his eyes meeting mine as he walks towards his minivan. His eyes grow cold and he sends me a glare before turning away from me.

I grab the box off of the bench before running after him.

"Grumpy!" I yell after him, before quickly correcting myself. "Hey, Kenny!"

I watch as he makes it to his car and begins to unlock his door, "Hey, wait! I have to talk to you!" I say as I finally catch up to him, my chest heaving as I take a few deep breaths.

"What do you want?" he asks, as he turns around with tired eyes.

"Do you know where I can find Audrey? She isn't at her apartment and she didn't show up for work today and then I just found this box—" I begin before getting cut off.

"You have some guts comin' up here asking where she is when you were the one who told her to stay away from you." Kenny says before turning back to his car.

Stay away from me? I hadn't meant it and I sure as hell didn't think she'd actually do it. Normally when I'd say something like that she would just ignore it and continue to be her bubbly and annoying self. I didn't mean anything I had said that night, I was so caught up in my own shit I hadn't had thought about anyone else.

I'm an idiot.

"Do you know where she is?" I ask, my voice coming out strained. "Is she okay?"

Grumpy sighs before turning to me with a tired frown. "listen boy, Audrey is safe and she's doing just fine but I think it's for the best if you stay away from her."

A sharp pain stings through my chest.

I nod my head, refusing to open my mouth in case I'd say something I'd regret.

I sigh and back up, nodding at grumpy. "Will-will you tell her I said I'm sorry?" I ask, my voice coming out stained.

Grumpy sighs before looking down at me with heavy eyes. "Sure, Kid."

My mind replays everything I had said to Audrey. All the shit things I had made her believe. I nod before turning around and walking towards my Jeep.

I think back to her eyes, the sadness I saw flash through, the hurt I had caused.Was I such an idiot that I thought she wouldn't be upset? That things wouldn't change?

Although I knew it was my fault and that I didn't deserve her, I couldn't stay away. I had messed up but I couldn't just let her get away. There was no way that I could do what Grumpy had asked, no matter how much I knew he was right.

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AN: Thank y'all so much for making it this far! What did you guys think of this chapter?

I hope you guys enjoyed, love y'all!

-Lee

Thank you so much @prettyimbecile for making these awesome aesthetics! I love them so much!