Sadie's POV

As soon as I closed the door to the Jeep, Lilly swung open the front porch door and jumped off the 3 steps. She did not even falter in her steps and knocked me flat on my back giving me the biggest hug. I started laughing uncontrollably while Tobias just groaned.

"Lilly Mariah, get off from Sadie right now!! Leave the poor girl alone! She has been through enough this week!" I could hear Mrs. Dobson scream from her kitchen window.

"Oh, right, Sadie I am so sorry what happened," Lilly sat up and rubbed my face with her fingertips.

"What happened?" Tobias asked concerned.

"My... my aunt passed away last week, we just had the funeral yesterday." Tobias looked hurt and upset. "Why didn't you tell me, I could have been here?"

"I didn't want to worry ya'll, plus it was an exceedingly small funeral. She didn't like big crowds anyway. It is what she wanted." It was true, I knew Maria didn't want a big fuss over it. In all honesty I didn't want Lilly there either, so I worked out for the best.

"Well, I'm so sorry..." Tobias helped me up and gave me a hug. Not the flirty, rub his hands all over my back and try and get me to blush hug, but a warm one.

"Welp!" Lilly jumped in surprise, "let's get inside." She was never one for awkward situations.

Lilly's hair had grown and I see that she has kept up with her hair dying routine. She was sporting a pastel purple bob with her matching fingernails. She was always the artistic one while I settled for things less, let's just say attention grabbing.

We all walked inside and grabbed a seat. Lilly and Tobias took the couch while I took the rocking chair in the corner and crossed my legs. I fiddled with my hands and started to space out a bit while Tobias said hello the Dobsons.

With all the news of having a cabin in my name gave me some great excitement. There has been a lot that I missed out on growing up. I had as close to a normal childhood as I possibly could but I did work an awful lot. Now that I have a place to stay and not pay rent, this might be good. I just need to work enough for food, clothes and some furnishings for the place.

This might be good for me. I think I should take this chance. I've never thought about leaving because of Marie, but now I have nothing holding me back. Lilly and Tobias will be upset but they have their own lives in college and are only back for a short amount of time.

Once everyone had a few snacks and the room became silent I took this opportunity to let people know of my plans. Something completely out of my "safe bubble."

"Guys, I'm moving."

Everyone in the room looked towards me like I had horns growing out of my head. Tobias stood up from his chair and knocked it over while he was coming towards me.

The look in his eyes said it all, he was not happy.

"I'm,..." I started, "I'm going to move. In Aunt Marie's will there is a cabin a few provinces over. It's all mine and I think I want to move there and start something new." I gave a faint smile. "It would be good for me, to start over, a new adventure."

The Dobsons looked excited for me to do something different, they knew I've been here too long. The town was too small and I never really did take the time to make a lot of friends. A few acquaintances here and there, but nothing substantial like Lilly. Lilly looked concerned and Tobias looked absolutely pissed.

"You can't leave here Sadie!" Tobias yelled. Mr. Dobson put his hand on his shoulder and had him sit down. "I think you need to watch your tone." Mr. Dobson grunted towards Tobias.

Mr. Dobson was a typical southern gentleman, and he does not tolerate men raising voices to women. It is uncivilized and downright rude. Plus, I'm like a daughter to him anyway.

"You have never spoken to Sadie with that tone, what is wrong with you? You don't even live here, you are off at college with Lilly?"

Tobias ignored Mr. Dobson and got up and walked towards me. Tobias has never openly spoken of his love to me in front of people. People knew by the way he looked at me, but he was still quite quiet about it since I've rejected him in private every time.

"Sadie, I will move back home, I'll complete school online. I want to be with you, please." He grabbed my hand and put it flat against his face.

Lilly is in the corner looking absolutely devastated and it didn't go unnoticed by her mother. Mrs. Dobson didn't know what to do in this situation.

"Tobias,..." I started but he interrupted me. "Please, Sadie,.. I care for you, I love you. I always have, you can't leave. I'm moving home. When you have the Dobsons here, I knew you were safe. I've got all my transfer papers done where I can do it online and be close to you."

He looked so heart broken. He knows what my answer will be and yet he still has that small sliver of hope that I will change my mind. This is so hard, I wish I could reciprocate his feelings. I prayed every night that I could, but when it feels so wrong I can't. I can't pretend to love him, it wouldn't be fair to me or him.

"Tobias,..." I took my hand from his. "Let's talk in private, this shouldn't be talked about here..."

"No, say it now. They all know I care for you,'' he begged.

I shut my eyes tight and gripped his hand in mine. "This is for the best. You are wonderful but I cannot return those feelings." I could feel my nose start to tickle and my eyes begin to sting. He has been a wonderful friend and always been there for me during high school.

At that moment, with all the tension in the room, I decided to leave. This was not what I wanted. I didn't know Tobias would make such a big scene. Lilly is completely heart broken. In her heart she knew, she knew Tobia's heart belonged to me and in that instant I broke his heart again and again.

Everyone was silent, staring at Tobias and I and slowly sat up from my seat in the corner and walked to the door. I turned around and gave a slight smile and grabbed the keys to my jeep. Shutting the door I could feel the pain in my chest. Some how I knew I wasn't just saying good bye to Tobias but to Lilly as well.

Lilly may not hate me, but she knows I'm the reason why she can't have what she truly wants. I almost felt the pain when he confessed in front of me. I love her, she has always been there for me at her parent's diner but I can't say that we would have ever been friends outside of that. Part of me knew that.

The rest of the week I spent packing up boxes and taking things to the dump to be disposed of. We didn't have much, so it didn't take long. I set up a local management company to look over the property and to rent it out, that way I would get a monthly check of the renters who will now occupy the house.

The last night I sat on my bed, staring that the over head fan. I didn't have work all week because the Dobsons said it was best if I rested after dealing with the funeral, packing and getting ready for my new life.

I was going to miss them, but I also knew they didn't want me there while Lilly was working. They have to be close with their daughter, we just aren't blood. The hurt in their eyes when I saw them for the last time today told me that did in fact care for me.

Mrs. Dobson gave me my last paycheck and smiled at me and told me she loved me. Her husband gave me a quick squeeze on the shoulder and let me know they would be a phone call away if I needed anything.

My mind was made up at that moment that I wouldn't call, just for Lilly. This was her family, not mine. She needed their comfort more than me having my own heart healed from the passing of my aunt and friend, or I guess friends.

Tobias had stopped by earlier this evening, the first time I saw him since the incident. He looked tired, bags under his eyes and his hair disheveled. The haunted look in his eyes really told me just how much he loved me and really did not want me to go.

In this moment I wanted to love him. I wanted to tell him I cared for him and kiss him and make him feel better. The pain he was experiencing hurt me to the core. Could I do that? Could I just lie to myself and love him and make him the happiest man on Earth?

All the flirtatious comments, always telling me I'm beautiful and worth waiting a thousand lifetimes for made me want to. However, I knew he was with other girls. He knew it too, he couldn't keep it in his pants. If he truly cared, I mean truly. Wouldn't he have waited for me?

Besides that, I just do not have the sparks I wanted. The ache that would appear when you missed something. When he was at college I didn't crave his attention nor miss his touch. There was something missing. He didn't fill my heart like my Aunt says your soulmate does.

Am I being selfish and overthinking things?

"Sadie," he whispered. He looked at me, pleading. "I know I can't change your mind, you've always been so determined." He sniffed as he glanced down into my eyes. "I want you to be safe, and text me when you get there."

I smiled back at him, tears threatening to wash away what little of my eyeliner had left.

"You know," I started. "You are really strong Tobias, and quite a hit with the ladies," I winked. I started chuckling but became serious. "You deserve someone who will love with a fire and intensity as you do."

I walked over to him and put my head to his chest and engulfed him in a warm hug. He quickly grabbed me and didn't let go. We stood there a for a long time, listening to the crickets sing their sad song.