Smoothie Shack still has the same brick exterior but with a valet service now.

"Get ready to be dazzled," Emma squeezes my arm as we enter the Shack. The old setup of sitting booths and the counter serving smoothies, milkshakes, and coffee is still there. We don't settle into our usual place by the side of the window, though. I haven't been there for almost three years, but the moment I see a young couple nestled in the booth where we spent so many lazy evenings, Augustus, I feel like running out of there in the next breath.

Although, before I can act on my impulse, Emma drags me down the narrow hallway towards the other end. We show our Ids to the bouncers guarding a small doorway, and we are heading downstairs to the basement. I'm sure this basement wasn't there when we were in high school.

"Are you sure we're safe in this place? It's getting a little creepy, Em," I say, falling behind Emma.

"It's as safe as heaven." She chuckles.

The staircase opens to a space with the party crowd. It's a speakeasy. We don't have to go to the other end of the town for a nightclub anymore, just four blocks from our house. It certainly blew my mind. There's music and laughter spread across the dimly lit room, along with a crowd that resembles half of the town population.

"This is crazy, Em. I'm certainly settling back in town after college." I yell, tipping my head down to her ear. She pulls me further inside, and my eyes follow the small den-like nooks built across the perimeter, although most of them are empty.

"I know, right," she says, gesturing for me to slide into one of the red booths as she sits across from me. " It's concert night tonight. That's why most of the town population is here. They bring in a new band every week. You'll love it, V."

Concert. Band. The words echo in my head like a deadbeat, accelerating my heartbeat. Those two words always remind me of your deep voice.

I cough out a laugh to hide the ache. "Let's not starve ourselves while we wait for the concert to start."

"Any second now," she beams with excitement. Her eyes flick towards the mountain of people around the stage by the bar, a piece of instrumental music thrumming through the room, and the lights turning dim.

Since Emma doesn't want to miss the fun, we ditch the menus and order our regulars. She asks for curly fries, salad with bud light, while I settle for wedges with gin and tonic.

"I'm happy that your Dad doesn't have cancer." She says, shoving a mouthful of fries and chasing it down with the beer.

I give her a nod, finishing my drink to tone down the dread that still lingers inside my head. He doesn't have cancer, but he's still sick.

She places her hand over mine and gives it a light squeeze. "My Mom says he'll be fine."

Her mom is my father's neurosurgeon, the best in town hence why Emma knew about my Dad's condition even before me.

"I'm still scared..." my voice drifts back down my throat as the crowd breaks with a nerve-breaking roar, people streaming out of the nooks down to the bar, their excitement spreading across the room. The loud thumping of drums vibrates through my ears, and then the first pull of strings, the infamous, unmistakable riff of the guitar, fries my heart, brain, my insides.

"Violet!" Emma calls after me as I rush out of my seat towards the herds of people blocking my vision of the stage. "Are you that excited about the music? Wait. Can you wait for me, Violet!" She holds my wrist, trying to stop me or join me- I'm not sure. But I'm dodging through the cheering crowd, wiggling my way to the front. My soul is gliding towards the voice I've been craving for years. The waiting has reached its crescendo now that it's about to end.

I push against the blocking bodies, shove away anyone who stops me, and finally find my footing to the front, coming face to face with my kryptonite, you, my Augustus. I freeze with my heart stuck to my throat and my heartstrings played by your voice.

"What the fuck, Violet?" Emma yells in my ear as my eyes are on the stage, glassing to the vision of you, Augustus. You've changed a lot over the years, but not so much. You stand under the spotlight, bathing everyone with your dimple smile, your fingers playing through the strings of your guitar, and your voice streaming through the mic.

Your golden hair is longer than before, tied up in a man-bun of the sexiest kind as you sing with your eyes closed. I want to look into those amber eyes, to believe that it's not a dream. You're here, Augustus, after such profound longing.

You dance again

waltzing to my broken melody

a lover who let go

but never again

if I ever get you back, baby

I will keep you this time

The fear of loss

burning me tonight

I want you back

with every beat of my heart

my soul burns for you

it burns for you this summer

A rumble of thunder erupts through the audience as they repeat after you, your melody. And like a captive to your voice, your presence, your existence, I stand there with my eyes watering and my heart burning.

You ease your fingers out on the strings, placing your palm over it to calm them down as the booming drumbeat echoes against your high notes. When the final note dies out with the music, and you finally open your eyes to the crowd, and your amber eyes lock with mine, I know I'm not dreaming.

I'm under the spell of your charming aura for a few fleeting seconds before the reality dawns upon me. You can't be back just like that after three long years of waiting, yearning, and longing. Not when I've already taken my first step towards moving on. But one look into your blazing eyes, all my resolve breaks, the intensity of your desperate eyes crumbles any new possibilities. So, I turn away from you and run in the opposite direction when you take a hurried step towards me.

I need to run away from you, dear Augustus. It isn't our time. Or is it? I don't know that either, but what I do know is that you can't come and go as you wish.

Pushing my way back through the ever-growing crowd around the stage, I reach our table. I can hear the faint calling of my name through the loud bass, and I'm not sure if it's you or Emma. In no world I can be around you, is the only thing running in mind in repeat when I bump into Emma while running out of the Speakeasy.

"What on earth has gotten into you?" She yells to my face as I run my trembling fingers through my hair. "You look so pale."

"The band," I point towards the stage as mist covers my eyes. "It's. him..." I take a heaving, breathtaking, sweeping look across the room. "Augustus, he's here."

"God! I can't believe this." Her mouth falls open. "And you're running away from him?" She asks, blinking at me with an exasperated look, and then she pulls me back inside towards the person I want to run away from.

A sudden rush of panic surges through me with anticipation and outcome. My feet trip forward as I pull my hands and shake my head at her. "I can't see him, now, ever. I need to leave, Em, before I can't."

I turn, walking backward, then rushing through the iron staircase and running straight out of the Smoothie Shack. As soon as I feel distant from you again, my back meets the brick wall. I lean back on my head and blow out the breath I've been holding since I met your amber eyes. I swipe away a sheen of sweat from my forehead and the moisture collecting on my eyelashes.

For three years, I've wanted to reunite with you, Augustus, but now that you're here, I'm afraid it will destroy what little comfort my heart has received.

"Hey there, Stranger."

I close my eyes, taking a deep inhale to settle the shivers. Those three words ripple through me. Turning around, I come face to face with the ghost of my past. You appear as calm as I first met you, dimples biting your cheeks and all that.

You're here, standing right in front of me with so much passion in your eyes and hope.

I press my back some more against the wall and wish it swallows me. It doesn't. I breathe out, "Augustus?"

You take a step closer towards me with your hands tucked into your jean pockets. I can see a fresh set of patterns inked around your forearms. "You're running away from me after all these years?"

Your words seep through my skin and set it ablaze. I release a low laugh, shaking my head. "Yes, dear Augustus, after all these years."

Before you can say anything else and convince me to stay, I slide past you, then race down the street and across the road, running down the sidewalk that leads to my home.

"Violet!" Your voice echoes through the isolated alleyway as you follow after me, but they don't stop me. I rush through my front porch and close the door just before I face you again. This time you look desperate, scared, and so very hurt. My back hits the closed door as your fist comes in contact with it from the other side, and I'm crying, ugly tears of meeting and parting again.

The living room is dark and empty, which means everyone has retired to their bed. It's good that no one sees me breaking down like this in the threshold of my haven. And then I hear your faint voice from the other side of the door.

"Violet," your voice hoarse and strained. "I can't bring back the years we've spent away from each other, but you've to know that my heart never once separated from yours. You were always one with me. I can assure you that. And if there's even half of me in your heart, please don't run away from me. I'm here, and I promise you in my life that I'm never letting you go again."

I place my palm on the wooden surface of the door and try to feel your words. They reach the most delicate corner of my heart, where you stay forever. I squeeze my eyes and breath through my tears.

And when I'm ready to open the door, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out and read the message, blinking away the mist in my eyes.

Adri: I'm falling for you, V, and your smile can be my only savior.

Adri: I can't wait to be with you.

I hold the phone to my heart, and a fresh set of tears breaks through my eyes. Because my heart is consumed in Adrian's longing now, and I'm not sure how not to feel the pain for pushing you away, Augustus.

You are here, Augustus, and the way your heated gaze studied me from afar, I could feel the same intensity in them. I'm not dreaming, you're here, and I fear this isn't the right time for us either. Fate is cruel. So I've heard.

***

Author's note: I know it's been a week since I last updated, but I was off to an unplanned vacation. Now that I'm back, I'll follow my regular schedule.

Also, who do you feel more in this chapter?