Chapter 3: One Last Stolen Goodbye

“Emily, don’t dress up like this again, okay? Look, all the guys are staring at you. I’ll get jealous.”

Noah half-joked. He reached for my hand.

His fingers brushed mine. Warm. Familiar. But I pulled away.

Noah’s hand froze. He tilted his head, confused.

He seemed about to say something. Then a few drunk guys started making a scene.

“Oh, the class president and Madison are gonna spend the night together.”

“Class prez is a legend, he’s gonna take the prom queen’s first time.”

“That’s not for sure. The prom queen is still hung up on Noah.”

“Noah already turned her down. Why should she save herself for him?”

Noah froze, stunned.

He pulled his hand back, maybe to hide. Picked up his beer, took a sip. His eyes followed Madison and the class president as they left.

After they left, Noah seemed distracted. He made up an excuse to leave early.

I called out. “Noah.” My voice was steadier than I felt.

He was checking his phone over and over, looking anxious. “What is it, Emily?”

I stared at his face. Slowly, piece by piece, I carved him out of my heart.

“Goodbye.” The word tasted bitter. But it was all I had left.

Never again. No more second chances. I promised myself.

Noah didn’t suspect a thing. He forced a gentle smile.

“Emily, see you after summer break.” He waved, like nothing had changed.

“You think he’s gonna chase after Madison?” my best friend leaned in, eyebrow raised, voice low.

I picked up my purse. Ready to leave.

“Doesn’t matter. I’ll never see him again anyway.” I tried to sound casual, but my voice shook just a little.

But things didn’t go as planned. I called a Lyft and headed to the parking garage. Ran into Noah and Madison again.

The air was thick with tension, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead.

“Why are you going out with him?” Noah’s voice was sharp. He sounded more jealous than I’d ever heard him before.

Madison smirked and tugged at his collar. “So you’re jealous after all. Noah, admit it—you want me too.” Her voice was teasing, but there was an edge to it.

“The only person I like is Emily.”

I felt something twist inside me. For a second, I almost believed him. Almost.

“Then why’d you give your first time to me? Oh, and the second and third times too.” Madison laughed, running her fingers over her lips. “Stop saying you’re afraid her body can’t handle it. She’s just not as good as me. I turn you on more, don’t I?”

Noah’s face darkened. But he couldn’t deny it.

“Because you’re cheap.” The words came out like a slap, harsh and ugly.

Madison didn’t even flinch. “But you like it, don’t you?” She leaned in, daring him to contradict her.

I’d never seen Noah like this. He grabbed Madison by the back of the neck and kissed her—hard and angry.

The sound of it echoed in the empty garage, sharp and raw.

I thought I was done feeling sad. But seeing it—my heart still ached like hell.

It was like watching a car crash in slow motion—painful and impossible to look away from.

I dug my nails into my palm. Needed to feel something real.

Don’t be pathetic. I told myself. Over and over. Trying to hold it together.

Suddenly, a camera flash went off. Caught the two of them kissing.

“What are you doing?” It was the parking garage security guard. He looked more annoyed than surprised, like he’d seen it all before.

Noah turned. His stunned eyes met mine.

For a split second, neither of us moved.

I shrank back, hiding in the shadows. Couldn’t face him. Not now. Not like this.

Noah acted like he hadn’t seen me. His eyes flashed with anger as he walked to the security guard.

His shoulders were tense, fists clenched at his sides.

While they talked, I slipped away. Into my Lyft.

The car smelled faintly of vanilla air freshener, and I pressed my forehead to the cool window, trying to breathe.

On the way, my phone buzzed. A Facebook Messenger text from Noah.

“Emily, you saw it, didn’t you?”

I paused, then blocked him everywhere. My hands shook, but I didn’t hesitate. Not this time.

When I got home, my mom told me Dad’s transfer had gone through. We’d be moving in two weeks.

She looked tired, but relieved, like this move was a fresh start for all of us.

She also said Oliver had a little stomach trouble. Asked me to take him to the vet.

Her voice was gentle, careful not to push too hard.

Oliver’s a sensitive orange tabby. And he was the confession gift Noah gave me three years ago.

He’d shown up on my doorstep, tiny kitten in his arms, grinning like he’d just won the lottery.

No matter what Noah did, it wasn’t Oliver’s fault.

I ran my fingers through his soft fur, promising him we’d stick together.

I’d take him with me to Maple Heights. I’d already bought him a new carrier and a little blue collar with a bell.

The vet gave Oliver a full checkup and a shot. Said to keep him overnight for observation. If all was well, I could pick him up in the morning.

I kissed his head before I left, whispering that I’d be back soon.

When I got home, Mom looked troubled.

“Noah came looking for you just now. Said he wanted to wait for you and explain everything. I sent him away.”

I lowered my eyes. "If Noah comes by in the next two weeks, just tell him I’ve already left to visit family. Mom, I don’t want to see him again."

She looked at me with sympathy and squeezed my shoulder.

“My daughter’s smart and beautiful. She’ll find someone better in college.”

She smiled. For the first time in days, I almost believed her.

The next day, I went to the vet. The nurse said Oliver had already been picked up.

Her words barely registered. My mind refused to believe it.

A chill ran through me. I almost panicked.

My first reaction was to ask for the security footage. My voice was sharp, more forceful than I meant.

But deep down, I already knew. Only one person would do something like this.

The nurse looked panicked too.

“It was a tall boy. He said he was your boyfriend, said you had a fever and fainted and couldn’t come get the cat…” Her hands twisted nervously in her scrubs.

I saw Noah’s familiar figure on the security tape. Fury and anxiety twisted inside me.

“Why didn’t you call me to check? Didn’t you think he might be a scammer?” My voice trembled with frustration.

The clinic manager hurried over. Apologized for the new nurse’s mistake. Promised to fire her. Asked if I wanted to call the police.

The room felt small, everyone’s eyes on me, waiting for my decision.

I saw the nurse’s pale lips and shaking hands. Let my anger go.

I just said there was no need to call the police. Hurried to Noah’s house. My mind was racing. Heart pounding in my chest.

I grabbed the spare key from under the mat. Opened the door. Pushed open his bedroom door.

The house smelled like coffee and old cologne, a mix of comfort and regret.

Noah was playing with Oliver. The cat purred in his lap, completely at ease.

It was quiet. The kind of quiet that feels loaded, every second stretching out.

His arm rested on the desk, face buried in his elbow. Glasses off. Dark eyes and brows exposed. He stroked Oliver’s head absentmindedly.

“Emily, you really came.” Hearing me, he looked up and smiled. His smile was soft, almost hopeful, like nothing had changed.

I stared at him. “Give Oliver back to me.” My voice was flat. My hands shook at my sides.

He suddenly grabbed my hand. Pulled me onto the bed. Fast. Desperate.

I gasped. Tried to push him away. But he pinned my hands down.

His grip was gentle but unyielding, his eyes searching mine for something I couldn’t give.

He leaned close. His breath was warm against my ear. “Emily…”

My heart hammered in my chest. For a moment, the world shrank to just the two of us. The bed. Sunlight slanting through the blinds. The distant sound of a lawn mower outside.

I tried to remember why I’d come. What I was supposed to say. But all I could feel was the weight of everything unsaid pressing between us.