~Two years later

I'm flying back to America today.

Sure, Italy was fun, but I feel better at home. Asher and I Facetimed a lot, but it's not as fun as in real life.

Dylan wanted to meet up before I go home, so I'm on way there. I pass by the coffee shops and order a cappuccino. The boy asks for my name. "Scarlett," I tell him with a smile. "Double t."

He nods and goes off to work. Someone seated at the bar grips my wrist. I pull it away, not happy with the touch. "Oh, sorry. Did you just say your name is Scarlett?" the man frowns. I nod, frowning too.

"Hudson, by any chance?" Okay, this is creepy. I shake my head, although it's true. I take my cappuccino and run out of the shop. Who the hell was that?

I walk to the Dylan's house but stop dead in my tracks when I see the man again. He's standing across the road, calling someone and staring at me. I can hear him talk.

"Yeah, Scarlett's back. No, I'm not joking. Would you fucking believe me?" He's yelling. My heart stops. He's talking about me. He's stalking me, and who knows who is on the other side of the line.

I take out my phone and call Dylan. "Dylan! I'm being followed," I whisper and start walking faster. He gasps. "Send me your location! Where are you?"

"I'm just behind the corner, chill. I'll be there in five minutes. Just stay on the line in case something happens, kay?" "Kay."

We talk a bit about everything, and by the time I'm at his house, I'm calmed down again. The man didn't follow me. I ring the bell and he opens the door immediately.

"Hey! How are you?" he asks, grinning. I roll my eyes. We just did that over the phone. "How's the single life?" he teases. I stick out my tongue, "How's the fiancé?"

"Touché," he grins. "Let's get the fiancé. Babe!" he yells. I cringe. Too close to my ear...

Dallas pops his head through the door. "What? Oh, hey Scar. Ready for going out?" I nod, smiling. They're a great couple. A few weeks after graduation, they ran into each other again and Dylan finally agreed to go on a date. That's where I was too. They've been together ever since.

They put on a coat and we start walking to the restaurant Dallas picked out. "It's my cousin's," he grins. I roll my eyes. Not this joke again.

We pass my old bar and I sigh. Old memories flood into my thoughts and the tears sting again. I'm not over them—how could I ever be over them?

I frown. "Why did we stop?" Dallas rolls his eyes and points at the bar. "Restaurant. Food. Hunger." I roll my eyes, too. "It's not a restaurant, Dallas. It's a bar."

He frowns. "It is. Want proof? Let's go in," he grins and he's gone. Dylan stops next to me. "It's his favorite restaurant. I'm sorry. I tried to talk him into anything else, but you know how he shuts me up," he sighs. "Yeah, having sex is so hard," I roll my eyes.

He glares at me. I shrug and we walk in. Before I can sit down, the man from earlier grabs my hand. My eyes widen in fear. "Leave me alone!"

His eyes narrow. "Not Hudson, my ass. Scarlett, you need to come with me!" I look around and see Dallas and Dylan frowning at me. "I do not," I hiss. I won't make a big deal out of this. Not every single person in this restaurant has to know about this.

"You do. Wait. You don't remember me, do you?" His eyes soften when I shake my head. "Dante." My eyes widen. I snap my hand back. "Dante? Wha— how? Why?" He chuckles. "When did you dye your hair blonde? Woah!"

He grimaces. "Yeah, about that... never make fucking bets with Owen." I stiffen at the use of that name. "O-Owen?" He shrugs. "Yeah, I don't know how it happened either."

"It was nice seeing you again, but my friends are waiting," I gently smile. He looks behind me and his gaze lands on Dallas and Dylan, who are glaring at him. Unease takes over his body, making me frown.

"Er, right. See ya," he grins, but it looks fake. He rushes out of the restaurant without another word. I roll my eyes and walk to our table. While I sit down, Dylan and Dallas cock an eyebrow at me. "Well?"

I look up, confused. "Oh! Old friend," I shrug. "What did you order?" I ask Dallas. He shows me some good meals on the menu, and I end up choosing lasagna.

"Babe, you okay?" Dallas frowns at Dylan, who is staring outside. He jumps up. "Hm? What? Yeah, I'm fine," he smiles. He kisses Dallas and glances up at him with a loving gaze.

I look down at my plate. They really are a cute couple, don't get me wrong, but sometimes I just miss them. I want a relationship again. Hugs and cuddles...

The waiter brings Dallas' and Dylan's plates and winks at me. I blush and look away. Sure, I get attention from boys, but I can't actually make the move. I tried in Italy, the boys there are really hot, but I just couldn't.

Dante: Bar. Now Today, 12:27 am

Dante: Fuck wrong person Today, 12:28 am

Dante deleted this message. Today, 12:28 am

I start panicking. Why is he texting people to come to the bar? To here? Where I am?

"I need to go," I whisper while standing up in a panic. He for sure meant to send that to the guys. But I don't want to see them. Dallas and Dylan frown. "Why? What's happening?"

"Your cousins and their friends are on their way," I hiss. Their eyes widen and they glance at each other. "Er... isn't that a good thing?" Dylan asks. I shoot daggers at him and he cowers away.

"Okay... sorry," he mumbles. "Look, can we go to another restaurant? Please?" I beg them. Dallas nods. "Of course, Scar."

I sigh in relief and wait for them to stand up. I turn around to leave, but my stomach sinks below the ground when I see who just walked in.

I wish I was with my stomach now, six feet under.

I turn around and bend down, attempting to hide. Dallas gulps, and so does Dylan. He looks at me. "We can run?"

I nod, desperate to get away here. They each take place on a side on me and although I feel like dying right now, I'm happy I have such good friends. We walk to the exit and I lower my head to avoid any recognition.

"I swear to God, why the fuck do we have to go to this bar?" I hear one of them say. Aaron. Oh God, they're so close.

From the corner of my eyes, I see Jordan turning to us. I close my eyes and beg to all the gods he doesn't recognize me.

But he does recognize Dallas.

"Hey, Dal! Long time," he smiles. Dallas stops walking, but Dylan keeps walking, which results in us circling around Dallas. I crash into someone's chest and wince.

No. No no no.

I open my eyes in fear and slowly look up, seeing Ethan gazing down at me. I wince again when I see his eyes widening.

Dallas snorts, "Yeah, and I plan on making it longer. Now let me pass," he growls.

"No. Wait," Ethan's voice sounds. I cringe and hide behind Dallas. "Please go," I whisper.

He nods, takes my hand and walks out of the restaurant. Dylan follows closely.

"Wow! We are so adventurous, we should do skydiving next time," he exclaims. I give him a faint smile. I'd have laughed, but I just want to go out of here.

We get in the car and I sigh, relieved. I might have seen them, but I got away. It's all fine...

"Dallas! Don't you dare start that car!" A voice booms over the parking. All three of our head's turn to the side and see the five of them run outside.

Dallas looks at me. "So where do you want to go?" I shrug, urgency flooding through my veins. "Just... somewhere!"

He nods and starts the car, but before he can drive away someone jumps in front of the car.

My eyes widen. Elijah.

"Don't run him over!" I yell. He stops just in time and rolls his eyes. "Jesus. Whipped much?"

I give him an apologetic shrug. I stare outside and see them just standing there. "Should I go?"

Dylan grabs my hand. "Only if you want to. They can't stand there forever," he reasons. I swallow.

I really don't want to. But I don't want to live in fear either, scared to go outside because I might run into them.

I nod at Dylan. "I'm gonna talk to them. Just... keep the door open when I decide to run, alright?" He grins and nods. "Go you! Tell them right to fuck off."

I nod, take a deep breath and step outside. I cross my arms over my chest and lean against the car, hoping I look confident.

"Scarlett? Is that really you?" Owen asks. I can't help but see the hope in their eyes. All of their eyes.

I have two options here. Or, I tell them I'm someone else, or I tell them I am me and they have to screw themselves.

I choose the second one.

So, I nod. I don't know what I was expecting as a reaction, maybe some high five or something, but certainly not this.

Owen's knees give out and he falls to the floor. A faint whisper sounds, "What..."

Jordan searches support by Ethan, who's blinking rapidly.

Aaron wanders a bit. And Elijah... Elijah starts to cry. Like, cry. Big sobs, big tears.

I frown. Shouldn't I be the one crying? The girl who got replaced?

"You— you're back!" Jordan whispers. I nod and shrug. Aaron shakes his head. "Since when? When the fuck did you come back?"

I give them another shrug. They don't have to know.

"Listen. The only reason I got out the car to talk to you, is because I want you to leave me alone. I don't want to hide from you, although I don't want to run into you either. So what about this? You clearly have men all over the place. Par example Dante. If they tell you I'm here, you don't come to me."

Jordan opens his mouth, but stops when he sees me stern gaze. Owen looks up at me. "But you're back..."

"So what? My family lives here," I shrug and turn around again, heading to get back in the car.

"No! No, you can't leave," Elijah sobs and takes my hands in his. I close my eyes, blocking the shivers when I think of how they fit so nicely in mine.

I look up at him with a challenging look. "And why's that? So you can outwit me again?" He frowns and takes a deep breath before speaking.

"Outwit you? Why would we do that?" Again. He misses the word again. I frown and take my hands out of his, followed by a step backwards.

He looks at his hands, as if progressing the loss of mine. I look at the others, hand clutching to my chest.

"Why you would do that? I have no fucking idea either, but you are the ones familiar with it," I snap.

Ethan locks eyes with me. I see confusion in them. "Fam— what?"

I groan in frustration. Do they have short time memory loss or something? 

"I'm not going to explain. You know or you don't," I tell them and head for the car again.

I'm actually really hurt they don't remember how they broke my heart. Or do they think nothing was wrong with the way they were flirting with those girls, as if I didn't exist?

Any way, I didn't forget. I still remember it like it was yesterday, and the pain that the memory brings along hasn't lessened either. But it also hasn't intensified, so I guess it's a good thing.

Eventually, it's Owen who lets me stop in my tracks again. "She means The Incident, guys." When I look over my shoulder, everyone has tensed up. I frown.

"What is The Incident?"

Aaron narrows his eyes at Owen. "You promised to never bring it up again! And never means never, not even if Scarlett asks!"

So they do remember.

I lean against the car again, gently hinting they have to start talking or I'm out.

I do feel bad for Dylan and Dallas, who have to wait the whole time now. But when I look inside, they're doing thumbs-up. I smile.

"The Incident is what I'm pretty sure is what you're talking about. We—" "Fuck no. I'm out of here," Jordan groans and turns on his heels.

Aaron grabs his collar and harshly pulls, making Jordan fall down. "No. You're going to fucking stay."

Owen takes a deep breath to continue. "Two years ago, you saw us with girls, right?"

I nod, not happy with the aching in my chest. They're just adding up to the pain...

"You saw and got mad. We didn't give any explanation and you left. Right or wrong?"

"Right." That is exactly what I remember of it.

"Okay. Now, did you look closely?" I frown and shake my head, feeling uncomfortable. Why would I look closely at my boyfriends cheating?

He sighs. "If you had looked closely, you'd have seen Jordan giving public affection. Elijah was talking. I was being all jumpy and happy."

I nod. I have seen all those things. "I did see that... you were all doing things you never do with me. You looked like you were better off with someone for your own," I whisper.

Owen groans and hides his face in his hands. "No! We were pretending. Remember Belgium, that one weekend they were gone?"

I nod. Elijah and Owen had stayed home with me.

"Alliances were made. Well, not with this one guy, Greco. Aaron had some shit with him, details right now. He found you... he had pictures of you and he threatened us he'd kill you." He chokes out the last part.

I frown. I didn't know any of this. Why didn't I know any of this?

"It got worse with the day, and in the end we were so scared we had to do something."

I frown and nod, getting where this is going. "So you broke up with me to not get me killed?"

They could have explained it. I'd have gone to Italy and they could have killed that guy. We'd never have had these problems if they'd just talked to me.

Owen groans again. "No! We pretended to be with girls on our own to get him on the wrong track, not you! It was never our plan to hurt you."

I frown even more. I can't believe this!

"Oh my fucking God! You are so selfish! Instead of talking to me! You are so— ugh, I can't even look at you right now!" I groan.

I'm mad. Very mad.

"Scarlett, don't go," Elijah pleads me. I scoff. "I don't believe there is anything that keeps me here—"

"Us," Jordan whispers. "You have us."

Words I've wanted to hear since that one day two years ago. Words I've craved for two years now. Words I thought would mean the world to me.

And I stand here and I... feel nothing of that.