We were finally back in Texas. Which meant a lot of things. One of the most important ones being, I can talk to Kathryn and clear this whole situation up. I was heartbroken and overthinking about the breakup on the way to Florida. Coming back to Texas, I was hopeful and overthinking how I would approach the situation.

I inhale as I step into my apartment building, happy to be home. I get into the elevator and press my floor level. I finally get to see her again. I was a mixture of feelings. Happy, still kind of sad, nervous, confident, self-conscious, just a lot of things.

Getting to my floor, I let out a breath and head towards her apartment door. My heart is beating erratically in my chest but I ignore it and knock on the door. I wait impatiently for her to answer. I knew she was home since I had already seen her car parked in the parking garage.

The door opens and my smile is wide. However, it immediately drops as I stare back at a very familiar man. "Kings, I heard you'd be back today. I wasn't expecting you to come here right away."

I grit my teeth, a million thoughts coming to mind as I glare at the dark-skinned man. Anger immediately replaces all the emotions I was feeling earlier as Kathryn makes her way towards the door. My eyes scan over her neck, spotting 3 visible hickies. I glare at Thomas.

He smiles shyly before turning back to Kathryn. "I guess I'll see you later. Vincent is eager to meet you." Kathryn smiles at the man, "I'm eager to meet him as well. Get home safely Thomas."

The man offers me a smile again before making his way to the elevator. My eyes continue to follow him until he is no longer in view. Quickly my eyes land on Kathryn in distaste. I was coming here to talk things over, but I see she's been busy this past week. I guess some people move quicker than others.

"Hey, Casey. I didn't think you would come to see me once you got back."

I furrow my brows, "I'm starting to think it was a mistake. So, Thomas just comes to visit you now? Or is this a thing since you're a newly single woman?"

The woman sighs. She glances at me, "I don't want to fight with you. Whatever you're thinking, it's not what you think. Please believe me." I scoff, "Believe you? You've been keeping secrets away from me for 2 weeks. Why should I believe anything you say?"

Kathryn doesn't say anything. She shakes her head and begins closing her door. "I'm glad you're back Casey. I missed you but I can't fight with you right now."

She smiles softly towards me and closes the door in my face. I bite on my lip, instantly regretting my anger. I didn't mean to blow up at her but seeing the hickies and then Thomas leaving her apartment stirred something in me.

- - - - -

I yawn in my hand as I enter the class. I immediately frown as I notice Kathryn and Emily talking at her desk. I wasn't exactly in the mood to see either of them, but I had one goal and that was to get over my emotions and actually graduate.

Taking my seat beside Jasmine, my eyes betray me and land on Kathryn. My eyes crawl all over her figure, a frown settling on my face. I clench my jaw and force my eyes away as she turns away from her best friend.

I had heard not only from my friends but a few classmates that I looked like utter shit. I looked terrible, this breakup was eating my ass. Kathryn on the other hand looks as flawless as the day I met her. She didn't look tired or heartbroken like I did. She didn't look bothered about the situation at all like it had no actual effect on her.

Mrs. Evans begins the lesson, allowing my mind to escape from the brunette. However, for the entirety of the class period, my mind found its way back to the brown-eyed beauty every chance it got. I didn't know what I wanted to focus on, though. There was a lot I could tell was wrong.

Of course, at the first glance, you couldn't tell if anything was wrong. If I was an outsider, I wouldn't see past the mask she was wearing to stop herself from breaking down. School was just as much a distraction for me as it was for her. She needed to be strong. She wanted to feel needed.

I was supposed to be that factor but my emotions were getting the best of me. I seriously needed to get over myself and try to be there for her, even if she was no longer my girlfriend.

The bell rings, forcing me out of my seat. Once I exit the classroom, I stop in my tracks my eyes falling onto the door of Kathryn's classroom. Jasmine nudges my shoulder, "Go. I'll save you a seat."

I smile at the short girl as my feet guide me to a very desirable destination. Getting to the class, I'm not surprised that Kathryn isn't inside. Was she avoiding me? Could I even be mad at her for wanting to? I was being an asshole.

"You're not looking for a fight, are you? Because I just want to close my eyes and try to forget I am in this building."

My lips pull up into a smile at the voice. She walks around me and sits in her chair, her tired eyes landing on me in question. I turn around, closing the door behind me before walking over to her desk. Like I used to, I pull up a chair and sit on side of the woman.

Kathryn raises her brow at my actions.

"No lunch?" I question.

The woman eyes me a bit longer before sucking her teeth and turning towards her messy desk. "Not really hungry. I had a protein bar a few minutes ago, I think I'll be fine."

I chuckle. "Is that all you've been eating? I noticed you're looking a bit fatigued. Have you been eating well? Or is a protein bar the only thing you've been consuming for the past 2 weeks?"

Kathryn's eyes land on me, "I don't want to fi--"

"I'm not fighting. Just because I broke up with you Kathryn doesn't mean your health isn't important to me. I still care, a lot. You need to eat. At least a salad."

She eyes me longer before smiling softly. "Fine. I'll go get one." She begins to stand but I stop her. "No, stay. I'll go. You can stay here and nap a bit. I'll be back okay."

Her eyes soften and the brown eyes that I had been missing show for a second before she forces her eyes elsewhere. I nod my head and exit the classroom. Sending a quick text to my friends, I tell them I won't be able to join them for lunch. I had more important matters to tend to.

It takes me only 10 minutes to get a salad and head back to Kathryn. I enter her room, my eyes immediately landing on her sleeping face on the desk. She had her arms folded and her head on top, eyes closed and mouth slightly ajar. I can't help but smile, remembering all the nights we would spend together. All the sleepless nights that I spent just admiring her.

Closing the door behind me, quietly, I make my way towards the woman, sure not to wake her. However, her eyes open anyways and she immediately takes me in. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you" I apologize setting the salad down.

Kathryn shakes her head sleepily. She reaches for the food, thanking me silently before digging in. I take the seat on side of her, not bothering to leave.

Halfway through her salad she chuckles and glances at me. "I like that now that we're single" she admits, her eyes leaving me "You still ignore the fact that I told you not to visit me during school hours. I thought you would avoid me for the next few days until things seemed normal well minus us."

I hum and my eyes land on her. "That was originally part of my plan. But when I saw you in Mrs. Evans' class I couldn't help but actually take you in. Like all of you. And I knew Emily wouldn't say anything to you in fear of upsetting you but I would. That's why I'm here. The things you're not letting her in on, I can see right through you. You might still be hiding a lot from me but I know that you need me. And truth be told, I need you too."

Kathryn lets out a breath. "I know I'm holding out on you. But trust that in due time, I'll let you know everything. I'm just not ready right now." She rests her hand on my cheek, "It's killing me every day not to tell you, Casey. I love you please never doubt that."

The two of us jump as the bell rings. Kathryn quickly retrieves her hand, her face heating up. I clear my throat and glance towards the door, hoping no teachers would make an appearance. "I guess I should go," I say before looking back at Kathryn.

"Or you could stay. I mean, if you want. I feel a lot safer when you're around. Plus this desk isn't exactly nap material, your lap, however."

I smile, understanding where she was going with her statement. I remain in my seat and scoot back from the desk, patting my lap. She smiles and closes the lid on her salad. She leans towards me but before she rests her head, her lips press against my cheek.

- - - - -

I thought I made up with Kathryn at school last Friday. But just as quickly as I forgave her, she broke my trust again. The hickies on her body were increasing and she was arriving home late every night. I shouldn't be mad or jealous, she's a single woman. But I thought after our talk she would end it with whoever she was hooking up with.

Obviously, I was wrong.

"Oh, I forgot you were moving out today. Do you want me to help you?" I hear behind me. I set the box down and glare at the brunette, not very pleased with her at all. "No, Kathryn. I don't. I have enough hands."

She furrows her brows, wiping her forehead. "You know the offer for you to move in with me is still on the table."

I scoff and stand to meet her eyes, "I can barely stand seeing you right now what the hell makes you think I want to live with you. Please leave me alone." I turn on my heel and head back into my apartment, grabbing another box and taking it towards the elevator.

The tin doors open, revealing Edwin and Duke. I frown as I glance at their shirtless bodies. I gag and hand them the boxes for them to take down to the truck. Both of them roll their eyes and flick me off before heading down.

Turning back to my apartment, my eyes land on Kathryn. She still hadn't gone into her apartment. Her eyes were too busy staring at something in mine. She sighed and turned towards me. I didn't say anything as I walked around the woman and into my apartment.

Desire and Jasmine were supposed to help me pack while Edwin and Duke loaded the boxes onto the bus. But it was just me and my thoughts in this one-bedroom flat. There were so many memories resurfacing. From the moment I had first gotten this apartment.

And the most recent memories resurface, heavily. I frown as I remember the first time I let Kathryn into my apartment. We spent the night talking about Thomas and anything else that came to mind. It was the first time since I met her that I realized I had a crush. I remember the first night she actually stayed the night. I was extremely happy, to say the least, I couldn't even close my eyes that night.

Now things were so much more different.

Rolling my eyes, I finish getting everything out of the apartment. I would no longer have a reason to step foot into this place. I check the apartment once again, making sure I had everything out of the apartment. My dad and a few of his friends had already come this morning to get all my furniture which was why I only had boxes left to pack.

But now I was done. I exit the room, my hand gliding on the wall as I walk towards the kitchen. I let out a breath. I was definitely going to miss living here. This place held 3 years of my life, now it was time to make new memories elsewhere.

I exit the apartment and lock the door. My eyes land on Kathryn, who was still standing outside her apartment. My brows raise and I dig into my pocket, I hand her the spare key she had given me weeks ago.

"I'm not going to need this" I spit. She frowns and takes the key, shoving it back into my pocket. "Keep it. In case you change your mind. About us or something. I'll see you at school Casey."

I clench my jaw as I watch the woman finally enter her apartment. Letting out a breath I take the last box with me and head into the elevator. And even though I checked my entire apartment and made sure I wasn't forgetting anything.

I felt like I was leaving behind a very big part of my heart.