I cracked my eyes open as my phone buzzed over and over again on Jack's nightstand. Jack slapped around until he'd grabbed it, slapping it onto my chest.

                "Ow," I groaned.

                "Your phone, your problem," he said, pulling the covers over his head.

                "Hello?" I mumbled, rubbing my eyes.

                "You never came over last night," Roan said, sounding mad. "You ignored my texts and my calls, Garrett. I was worried about you."

                "Sorry," I said, feeling a lot more awake now. "I'm sorry, Roan. Jack and I were playing a game, and then..."

                "And then what? What the hell was so important that you couldn't message me back?" he demanded. "Yea, you don't text back sometimes. But you rarely ignore my calls."

                I felt guilt slipping into my voice. "I'm sorry, Roan, I really am. I...Well, I took Silas to the hidden falls pool. He'd never been there before. He wanted me to teach him about the stars, so I thought he might like it. I never heard my phone going off."

                "I told you not to get involved with him, so you go to the falls alone with him?" Roan said, anger growing. "Jesus fucking Christ, Gar, he could've shoved you right into the water. You could've been jumped or something."

                "We were fine. It was the middle of the night. It's not like anyone knew we were there. And it's not like Silas was going to hurt me," I said.

                "You don't know that! It's a miracle that kid wasn't expelled from school for his violence," Roan said.

                "Stop it," I said, feeling my own anger starting up. "You don't know him."

                "Neither do you," he said sharply.

                "I know him better than you. He's never been a threat to me, Roan. He just wanted to learn about the stars a little," I said.

                Jack had poked his head out from the blanket by this point, watching me curiously. I tried to calm myself, but I just felt so mad. Why was Roan judging Silas so harshly? I knew he had a reputation for being violent, but Roan didn't know him personally. He shouldn't base his judgments based on rumors alone. It wasn't fair to Silas.

                "Look, I'm sorry I didn't answer you last night, okay, Roan? But if Silas wants to visit the falls or learn about the stars or go out to lunch, I'm going to do that with him," I said, trying to make my voice sound final on the matter. "You're judging him based on rumors, and that's a shitty thing to do. You need to trust me more."

                "How can I trust you when you love to get into trouble? Akira is the only friend you have who isn't a fucking idiot," he said.

                "Don't talk about my friends like that!" I said.

                "Jack is always getting into trouble and dragging you down with him. Now you want to get involved with someone even worse than Jack? Can you seriously blame me for being concerned?" Roan said. "I tolerate Jack because I care about you. I won't tolerate Silas too. I'm not going to sit around and watch my boyfriend fling himself into trouble. You're too nice, and way too adventurous. It's a dangerous combination that always gets you into more trouble than you can get out of."

                "I can handle myself," I said. "Maybe you should get to know people before judging them and telling me I can't be around them."

                "I'm telling you I don't want you around him," Roan said, as if there was actually a difference with him. "Sorry I don't want you to get arrested, Garrett."

                "I'll be fine," I said, hating that I was starting off my morning with a fight like this. "I'll talk to you later."

                "Sure, run from the problem. Don't call me when you need someone to bail you," he said and hung up.

                I tossed my phone aside, Jack just barely managing to catch it before it slipped off his bed. I ran a hand through my hair, letting out a frustrated noise.

                "At least you stood up to him for once, pal," Jack said, slapping me on the back.

                "He doesn't listen," I said, that frustration entering my voice. "He sees things his way and that's it. How are we supposed to talk things through if he won't even try to see my side?"

                "Listen, Garrett, you're my best friend, and I keep my shit talking about Roan minimal so I don't piss you off. But, frankly, the guy's an ass, and you should've dumped him a while back," Jack said. He rubbed the back of his neck and laughed nervously. "I mean, uh, you know, buddy, I know he's good to you and all. Most of the time. But he's stuck up, and you give in too easily. He expects to get his way by now."

                "He's not bad," I said, not looking at Jack. "He's a good person, he really is. He just..."

                "Doesn't work with you," Jack said, and I stared at him. He shrugged. "Akira and I have been talking about it a lot lately. You're not as happy. Akira's been worried, but he didn't want to bring it up too soon because you always seemed so confident the two of you could work out your relationship. You're not working it out."

                "We can fix it," I said, but my voice sounded weak even to me.

                "Let's go eat breakfast and head to Aki's house. He's better at this than I am," Jack said, getting out of bed. "Come on. I'll force dad to make us those peanut butter and honey pancakes!"

                I wasn't very hungry, though. It felt like a heavy weight had settled in my gut, tucking itself away in a spot that made itself known.

                But I followed Jack downstairs to the living room. His dad was typing on a laptop, not looking up at us as we entered.

                "Hey!" Jack said, snapping a few times until Mr. Waymire looked up at him. "We want those good, good pancakes." After being leveled with a look, Jack gave a nervous smile. "Uh...Please?"

                Mr. Waymire closed his laptop and got up. The two of us followed him into the kitchen, taking seats at the table as he started to cook for us.

                "My dad would kill me if I just snapped to get his attention while he was working," I said.

                "Your dad wouldn't even know you were snapping. He sucks at wearing his hearing aids," Jack said. "Thank god he didn't pass that on to you. I suck at sign language, and it's hard enough to get your attention when your hearing is fine."

                "You don't suck at sign language, you just don't care to learn it," I said. I'd been taught sign language since I was born, my parents worried I might inherit my dad's hearing loss, and also wanting me to be able to communicate with him in case he ever fully lost his hearing.

                "Because your ears function perfectly fine," Jack said, which almost made me smile a little. I knew Jack would bitch and moan about it, but he'd learn sign language just to talk to me if he had to. This is what Roan didn't seem to get. Jack could be rude and even mean, but he had his own way of loving his friends.

                Like his father. Mr. Waymire had always been a silent man, but he had his own ways of protecting his son. People had different personalities and different ways of showing they cared, but that didn't make them bad. Sometimes you just had to get to know someone.

                Mr. Waymire set pancakes down in front of us. I still had that unease in my stomach, but looking at the delicious food in front of me, I couldn't help but feel hungry. The pancakes were lightly covered with melted peanut butter and drizzled with honey, banana slices tossed about on top.

                "Oh, I didn't even ask for the bananas," Jack said happily, digging into his breakfast.

                "Thank you, Mr. Waymire!" I said before also digging in. Mr. Waymire simply nodded before leaving the room.

                We ate, took turns in the bathroom to shower and brush our teeth, and changed into fresh clothes. Jack followed me out to my car, pretending not to notice as I looked over my shoulder at Ray's backyard.

                But no one was outside, so I turned back around and got in my car. Jack kicked his feet up on the dashboard as I stared to drive towards Akira's, texting on his phone to let Akira know we were coming over to bother him.

                "The airbag will snap your legs right off if we get in an accident," I said.

                "I don't need legs to set off fireworks. That's the least of my concerns," Jack said dismissively.

                "Concerning, but fair," I said.

                We reached Akira's house a few minutes later, heading up and ringing the doorbell. As we waited for someone to answer, I wondered if Silas was here with Kaito. Maybe I'd invite him to the falls to swim sometime. We could go swimming at dusk so he could see the stars start their lazy turn against the sky.

                The door opened and Jack and I both grinned. Mrs. Riku smiled and ushered us into the house.

                "Garrett! Jack!" she said. "I feel like I haven't seen the two of you in forever."

                "How was your trip, Mrs. Riku?" I asked.

                She waved her hand dismissively. "Bunch of egotistical business men. I got the contracts signed, got the money we needed, and hopped on the first flight back home."

                She led us to the kitchen, where Akira and Kaito were promptly ignoring each other as they ate lunch. Mrs. Riku noticed and glared at the two of them.

                "Kaito," she said, and he looked at her warily. "Tell me, what are your brother's plans for the day?"

                Kaito glanced at us and back to his mom. "To hang out with his friends, I'd assume. I don't see what it matters."

                "Akira, what are your brother's plans for the day?" Mrs. Riku said, turning her attention to her younger son.

                Akira shrugged. "Not a clue."

                "If the two of you would have one damn civil conversation every once in a while, maybe you could answer that simple question about each other," Mrs. Riku said, crossing her arms and fixing both of them with a stern look. "We're not playing the silent game at meals. Everyone is going to talk, because I've been stuck with obnoxious business men for the past three weeks, and I'm fed up of wanting to rip my hair out during meals. So get used to each other." She paused and furrowed her brow. "Kaito, what are you doing today?"

                Kaito stood up, empty plate in his hands. "I'm going to pick Silas up and we're hanging out at Jill's. I'll be home for dinner. Jill has to go to her grandma's tonight."

                "Is Silas coming over for dinner?" Mrs. Riku asked.

                Kaito shrugged. "I'll let you know. I'm going now."

                "Say goodbye to your brother before you go," she said, blocking the doorway.

                Kaito glared in Akira's direction, and Akira raised an eyebrow. Mrs. Riku cleared her throat loudly, and the brothers reluctantly grumbled out a goodbye to each other before she'd let Kaito pass.

                "Kids," Mrs. Riku grumbled, shaking her head. She gave a fond hair ruffle to Akira before leaving the room.

                "Come on," Jack said, tugging Akira out of his chair. "Talk time. I opened my big mouth and now it's too late to go back."

                "Jack, you didn't," Akira said, narrowing his eyes.

                "Train left the station, Aki. I hear you have some things to say to me about Roan," I said, trying not to sound accusing. I knew they didn't get along with Roan. But Akira had always been open and honest with me. Why would he stop now?

                Akira sighed and gestured at us to follow him. We went up to his bedroom, sitting on his bed as he shut the door. He sat on the chair at his desk and rubbed the back of his neck.

                Finally, he met my eyes. "Garrett, I know you care about Roan a lot. I know he cares about you a lot. But you two just...aren't working anymore. It's like he loved you because you were wild, but he caged you. You haven't been the same the past few months. And it's always after you spend time with him that Jack and I notice how unhappy you really are."

                "I'm not unhappy!" I said. "Yes, Roan and I have been having some problems lately. But we just need to sit down and talk it out."

                "You've been having these problems for months and Roan doesn't talk about it. He just guilt trips you whenever you bring it up, because he doesn't want to admit he's done anything wrong," Akira said. "He knows you're a nice person, and he knows you're optimistic about the relationship so you won't give up. He takes advantage of that. Someone who really loves you wouldn't do that."

                "It sucks to hear it pal, but we're telling you because we care," Jack said. "The relationship isn't working out. It's not going to get fixed with a conversation, because that conversation is never going to happen. You keep telling him what's bothering you, and he doesn't listen."

                I opened my mouth, but no sounds came out. I felt defeated, that weight in my stomach growing steadily heavier as my friends spoke.

                I was wild, and he'd caged me.

                "I know." My voice was quiet, my words choked. I closed my eyes, swallowing the lump in my throat, taking slow breaths until I was sure I wouldn't cry in front of them. I opened my eyes, hating that concern on their faces.

                I'd known. Of course I'd known. It had been an ever persistent whisper in the back of my mind for months, something I'd pretended not to hear. I'd been so sure we could fix it, but I knew Roan and I weren't working together anymore. We'd been trying in our own ways to fix it for months, but this was one wreck we couldn't salvage.

                When I thought of my future, I couldn't fit Roan into the picture. That terrified me, and I'd hidden that truth from myself, fought it off for so long.

                My dad always told me he knew mom was the one for him because when he thought about the future, he knew exactly where she'd fit into it. He told me he didn't know how to picture the days ahead without her at his side.

                When I thought of the future, I thought of traveling. I thought of seeing the world, watching the stars from all over the world. But Roan didn't fit in the picture. When I tried to make him fit, he was just crossing his arms asking me if we were done yet.

                I looked up as Jack put a hand on my shoulder. "It's over, Gar."

                "It's been over," Akira said, sitting on my other side and putting his hand on my free shoulder.

                Grounded by my friends, I nodded in defeat. Loving someone didn't mean you fit well with them. Emotion couldn't overcome incompatibility. As Roan and I grew and found our own passions and our own dreams for the future, we stopped fitting together as neatly as we had when we first started dating.

                "Anything you need, name it," Akira said.

                "I'm going to Roan's," I said, standing up and letting their hands drop from my shoulders. My stomach had twisted around, choking me from the inside out. "I've been putting it off. I knew."

                Akira's expression softened a little. "We know you did. You just needed to hear it."

                "It's not the wrong thing to do?" I said.

                "Only you know that," Jack said.

                "You'll never reach the stars if you let him clip your wings and call it love," Akira said.

                I thought of that future I dreamed of. Of chasing the stars around the world, exploring all the beauty that places I'd never been to had to offer, trying to fit the whole world into my memory. That future didn't exist if I stayed with Roan. I knew that, no matter what way I tried to convince myself I was wrong.

                I could still love Roan. I just had to learn to love myself more.

                "Garrett," Jack said, and I looked at him. "It's okay. It's okay."

                I nodded, needing that more than Jack would ever know. I left the house, getting in my car and driving off towards Roan's house. I didn't blast my music or roll my windows down. I didn't think about what I was going to say. I just thought about that free future, trying and failing to find a place for Roan in it.

                I reached Roan's house, forcing myself to go up and ring the doorbell. Roan answered, frowning as he looked at me.

                "Gar? What are you doing here?" he said. "Thought you were spending the day with your friends, not me."

                There it was, that bite when he could've just been pleasant about seeing me. I stepped into the house, glancing at his driveway before he shut the door. His parents' cars were gone. Good.

                "Can we talk? In your room," I said.

                "Is this about the Silas thing? I still think it's stupid of you to spend any time with that guy," he said, leading me up the stairs to his room.

                I stood there as Roan sat on his bed and waited for me to speak. He was drumming his fingers on his bed, a small sign of impatience.

                "Roan, I want to break up." The words filled the space between us, and Roan stopped drumming his fingers, his expression changing.

                "That's not funny," he said, his voice harsh.

                "It's not a joke," I said.

                "What...Why...You..." He struggled, growing more and more frustrated. "No, Garrett, no."

                "It wasn't me asking permission. I shouldn't have said I want to break up. I should've said I am breaking up with you," I said. I'd never been good at standing my ground against Roan, but this is when it was going to count the most.

                "Why?" Now his expression had changed to one of desperation. "I don't...why?"

                "Because we're not working." I went over, taking his hand and pulling him to his feet, looking into his eyes. "We're not working, Roan. We've tried. I know you have, in your own way. I hope you know I have, in mine. We just don't work together anymore. That doesn't mean...I still care about you, you know? I do. I think I always will. You're a really important part of my life. But that doesn't change the fact that as a couple, we're not making it. If we stay together, neither of us will be happy. We'll be content at most, and that's not fair. We both deserve to be happy. It's not with each other. That's...it's sad, but it's okay. It's okay."

                He didn't say anything, just pulled me into his arms and hugged me tightly. I used to love those tight hugs of his, like I was his and he was never letting go. Now it was just suffocating.

                "Roan," I mumbled, lightly pushing against his chest.

                He looked at me, tears in his eyes. "We can-"

                I shook my head. "We can't. We've tried." And we had. I felt confident that I wasn't giving up on a sinking ship that could be rescued. We were past the point of saving, drowning in the ocean with sharks circling all around. All that was left was to get ourselves to safety. As long as we both made it, it didn't matter anymore if we made it together or not.

                He put his hand on my cheek, swallowing audibly. "I can't convince you, can I?"

                "No," I whispered.

                He closed his eyes, hand sliding down to the back of my neck and pulling me in close. "We don't have to give up."

                "There's nothing left for us, and you know that," I said.

                "I don't want to lose you," he said.

                "You don't have to. I know it'll be weird for a while, but we could work back to the friendship we had in high school. Remember when you used to throw your fruit snacks at me during lunch? You thought it was the funniest thing when I'd try to catch them in my mouth but they'd hit me in the eye instead," I said, reaching out and taking his hand in mine. "It was easy back then. We were just friends. Maybe that's all we ever should've been. Maybe we can be that again."

                "I don't want to fall in love with you again," he said.

                "You won't." The certainty of my words surprised me, a stab at my heart. But no, it was true. Roan and I had experienced the high of a young couple, and now we were realizing just how ill-suited we were for each other. Sure, there'd be those memories of us lying together in the dark, vulnerable in all new ways, hands clasped together, the warmth of each other a reality we embraced. But it was cold now, whatever flames we'd had smothered out beneath the weight of our differences.

                People could love each other. People could try their hardest to make it work. But sometimes, it just didn't.

                We pulled away from each other. Roan looked like he had so much to say, but we both knew it was pointless. It was past time for words. Caring when it was ending wasn't good enough.

                "Goodbye, Roan," I said, squeezing his hand before releasing it.

                "Garrett..." He shook his head and shoved his hands in his pockets, looking away from me.

                I left his room, walking slow out of his house. We'd made so many memories together here. This was one I couldn't let myself forget. Roan had been my first serious relationship, and I wanted to make sure I didn't let any future ones spiral down like this.

                I left his house, shutting the door behind me, the sound of it shutting firmly a little too loud in the sudden silence. I climbed into my car, hooking my phone up and backing out of the driveway.

                I turned my music up loud, rolling the window down. There was a freedom in the wind hitting my face, a harmony in the way my heart beat along to the music. I'd done what had to be done. I'd taken care of myself, and Roan in the process. There was only that wide open future, that sudden freedom from his arms. It should've been exhilarating.

                But it didn't stop a tear from slipping down my cheek, dried away by the wind before I could think too hard on it.

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A.N.- Unfortunately I've started posting faster than I can write, so I have to slow updates to once a week until I can catch back up. Sorry! Updates will now be every Wednesday only, at least until I have more time to write. Hopefully you guys are enjoying this story and these characters, and can be patient with me while I try to catch up on my writing!