Nathan punched the horn too many times. He should have waited until the rush hour subsides. It wasn't like he was in a rush to go home. He was just in a rush to be alone. He left the Lewises' house, cautious not to run into her because if there's anyone who shouldn't be there in the first place, it was him.

He wanted to get away. Needed it for his own sake. He can't be in the same room with her without unraveling. An independent, grown man like him still hilariously loses his head around her. Chassie George always had these fortuitous ways of drawing him in.

Nathan impatiently drummed his fingers on the stirring wheel. There was a drilling in his chest that hurt like hell. He'd pay good money to make it all go away. But then, if such privileges could be bought, he might as well buy himself a second chance on Chassie.

He might just be her childhood sweetheart. He could live with that. To him, though, it wasn't just some fleeting childhood memory she was bound to grow out of. She was a crush when he was a kid. She was a dream in high school. She was a life he wanted to live in in college. And now she's a future he couldn't be a part of anymore.

It leaves a gigantic hole in his gut.

Nathaniel Forester is a broken-hearted man.

He had been for quite some time. For years – if he were to be honest and pathetic than he already is. Some days it was a tolerable discomfort. Most days like this one it was unbearably bad.

Nathan allowed himself a curse after finally breaking loose from the traffic. The road away from the chaos of the city used to give him a sense of calm. He sped up a notch as the urge to turn the car back around and change his mind overwhelms him.

He's limiting his choices. Just this once.

His house neared and he let his hands loosen around the stirring wheel. Easing the car into the driveway, his brows knitted at the sight if his sister's car already parked out front. He yanked his keys out and treaded toward the house.

He opens the door. His sister almost knocked him off his feet when she threw herself at him in a hug that he had trouble breathing in. "Starlet, what are you doing here?"

"I used my spare key. I'm here for you." She steps back and kept him in arm's length. "We heard about the Farewell Party." She pushes her huge sunglasses to her head.

Nathan studied his sister's face. He was glad she'd gain all the weights that she lost in the past few months. He had kept close watch on her since her meltdown. "I'm not going to the party."

"I know, silly." She links her arm with his and led him to the living room.

Jett was lounging on the couch in his trunks. His blue eyes darted to them. "Hi. We heard about the party. So, we brought you some of these babies," he points to the bottles of alcohols on the coffee table, "to numb the pain."

He could only roll his eyes.

Starlet strutted over the couch and sunk gracefully next to their youngest sibling. He patted the seat next to her. "Come here. Let's talk it out."

"What do you mean? There's nothing to talk about."

The doorbell rings.

"Are you expecting anyone?" Jett asks.

"No." He turns to leave. When he opened the door, he had to suppress a groan. His friends, Vren and Christian Parkinson stood on his doorstep.

"Hey," the brothers chorused.

"What are you doing here?" He says in monotone.

Vren offered him a smile. "We heard about the Farewell Party. And we're sorry."

"We brought booze though." Christian grinned, brandishing the bottles of alcohol in his either hands.

He opens the door further. "What's next? The whole town leaving booze in my doorstep?" He grumbles.

Vren patted his shoulder. "Let's drown all that pain with booze, shall we?"

"Nate, who's at the door?" His sister's voice carried through the quiet hall.

"We're not the first to drop by offering you alcohol, are we?" Christian smirks.

"Jett and Starlet are here." He treaded back into the living room, his buddies a step behind.

His siblings lit up when they saw the newcomers.

"It's nice to see some familiar faces around here." Jett waves them over. "Pardon my lack of business suit. I had been trying to sunbathe, but the damn birds are creeping me out. Do they poop on people?"

"They're not pigeons, Jett," Nathan pointed out.

"I haven't seen you guys for ages. How are your parents?" Starlet turned the volume down and ignored the TV altogether.

"Desperate for grandchildren." Vren flops on the sofa across her.

Christian puts the bottles on the coffee table, an amused smirk on his face "There's a lot of pain to drown."

Nathan shot him a glare.

Christian sat next to her brother, thinking better of it. "Their desperate for decent women too."

Starlet giggled. "And your oldest brother Cade?"

"He doesn't say much. But we could tell the misery he's in. Our mother is dragging him by the ear to go to parties."

Her nose scrunched up. "Yikes. That's a nightmare for him."

"I know."

"And Matthew?"

"Overseas."

"Still the good kid?"

"Always."

Nathan sighed, taking the furthest seat from the chatty bunch.

"How's Andrei?"

"Business is going well. And our youngest sister might be following Matthew's footsteps."

"Is she still cute?" This came from Jett who earned two middle fingers in return.

Starlet patted his back. "She's off limits. Besides, I thought you're back in town for Summer Daniels."

"When are we going to open these booze?" Jett swerved to another train of conversation. "We can't forget about the elephant in the room."

Four heads turned to him.

Nathan gave them a scowl. "What? You guys came to drink them all with me?"

"Yes. Only the most numbing alcohol for our best pal." Christian wags an eyebrow.

"She's leaving again, Nathan." Starlet sighed. "And you must be hurting."

"I can live with that."

"But you can't live in silent agony. You've been waiting in the sidelines. You can't let words kept unspoken." She shifted so she's facing him.

"I agree with her." Vren nods.

"They've been spoken, all right?" He snapped.

Four mouths hung open.

"You told her you're still in love with her?" Starlet blurted.

"And that I'm letting her go," he murmurs.

"You what?" Christian's voice echoed in the living room.

Jett chuckles. "You a huge fan?"

"You bet I am. Why?" He questioned out.

Nathan shakes his head.

Then says nothing more.