Part One: Let's Run Away

Justin was in his college room packing everything in his way. Charlie, his roommate, was watching him in amusement as he pretended to read a book.

"The sheets are school property, Justin," he said in an effort to not laugh.
"Oh?" stammered Justin snapping out of his thoughts.
"You're packing the sheets," he laughed.

The honey-eyed brunette noticed this and pulled the cloths out of his suitcase with some embarrassment.

"I'm a little nervous."
"I could tell. Relax, brother, you'll see, it'll be all right."
"I don't know, Charlie. Anne didn't answer any of my e-mails. I'm sure she hates me."
"Don't give up hope. If the love you two had is as great as you told me, then there's still a chance. Just explain things to her."
"I'm scared," Justin said sitting up on the bed and holding his face in his hands.
"It's only natural, especially in your situation. If it were me, I'd be balls deep in my ass."
Justin laughed. "I don't think that's possible."
"Anyway, you get my analogy," he walked over to his friend and took a seat next to him. He hoped his presence would bring him some comfort. "She's a great girl. She'll understand."
"I know she is," he sighed. "But I can't really think of a way to solve this mess. Even if she forgives me, my parents will go to great lengths to keep her away."
"A few dollars more, a few dollars less. I don't think an inheritance matters that much."
"I don't care about the money. I just don't want them to hurt her again."
"Hey, take it easy. It'll be all right. Even if your parents don't accept it, I know you well enough to know things will work out perfectly."
The brunette's gaze wandered off into nothingness. "I don't think so."
"Put the negativity aside, brother," he patted his back. "Better finish packing and we'll celebrate your return with a few beers," Charlie got out of bed and walked away effusively saying something that Justin didn't pay much attention to.

Henry Clarke. They still had unfinished business, and he wouldn't forget about it so easily. A year of his life had been ripped away because of him and his secret. The least she could do was to give him answers.

He scratched his chin absent-mindedly. How much could he find out before he learned of his return? The last time they'd spoken he'd mentioned something about a bar in London. He could go and have a look around before looking for his girl.

He closed his eyes feeling the familiar ache in his chest again.

Anne, forgive me, it was something I had to do.

***
"What do you mean you're leaving, why?" the girl asked trying not to cry.
"I'm going on an exchange to London."
"But we're in our last year of college! Justin, you can't leave..." her eyes were pleading. He was the only support she had in that shitty town. The only one who didn't fear retaliation or care about the stupid comments. He was willing to stand up for her even if it meant going against his parents. Even Ryan couldn't give her that. If he left, she would be adrift again, with no way out of it, and that was the last thing she wanted.
"I'm sorry, An, but our thing can't go on," he said trying to keep the emotions in his chest from showing on his face. He couldn't even see her.
"Why!", the stress of the last few months had won. Was it so hard to come up with an explanation?
"Because I don't love you! You were just a game!" A dead silence filled the air. His heartbeat echoed in his ears. Time seemed to have stopped and trapped them in a little bubble, just the two of them inside. The face he loved so much turned pale, shattered, as it was the first time he saw her. Was there any way to turn things around, could he go back for two seconds? The memory of their first hello flashed through his eyes a few moments, making him wish to stay there forever.

He watched as the girl raised her hand and stamped it on his cheek. The time bubble burst and, once again, they were back in their awful reality. "You're such a jerk!" tears began pouring from her eyes.
"I..."
" No! Get the hell out of here! To London or wherever you want! You're dead to me!" she said angrily, turning around to walk away.

Justin stood frozen in place. Five seconds had been enough to collapse the world he had built in 3 years.

Anne...

It was too late to try to mend things. He couldn't take things back anymore. What he had said was stupid, he wasn't even thinking straight. He just knew he needed to get her away as soon as possible.

If only his girl knew....

***

A cry coming from her left side brought Anne out of the world of dreams and back to reality.

She saw her little boy standing in his crib and remembered that she had to had a life outside of the one she lived with her bed and pillow. She had to get up and start her day.

"What happened, my love, are you hungry?" she asked lovingly as she carried her little bundle of cuteness. He was only a few months old, but he already managed to perfectly understand that, if mommy didn't get up when he opened his eyes, a few screams could wake her up. "Mommy is a bad mommy. She leaves you here with no food... and a dirty diaper?" she added as she smelled a not-so-pleasant odor coming from her baby.

A frantic and insistent knocking on the door startled the black-haired girl and her little one, which fueled the baby's cries. The girl walked towards it crossing the cramped area in her apartment trying to avoid some of the toys scattered on the floor.

"Who is it?"
"It's, me, Ryan! Open the door!"

She opened the door and a nervous, startled blond stepped into her apartment. She frowned at the sight of him. It wasn't like him to act like this.

"What's wrong, Ryan?" she questioned soothing her little boy.
"An...," he began in a tone she didn't like at all.
"What's the matter? Come on, Ryan, talk," she ordered and began rocking her son.
"Justin's coming back to Canada."