The summer was coming to an end, and so was your time at Hackett’s Quarry. You’d been evading your feelings for Nick the whole summer, and unbeknownst to you, he’d been doing the exact same.

The sun peeked through the various cracks of the trees above, beating down on the coarse soil beneath them. But the peace was soon interrupted by the sound of Nick’s trainers kicking the gravel beneath them.

The tension was thick with an uncomfortable awkwardness, an unfortunate silence following up to your confession. Nick couldn’t utter a single word out of his mouth, despite having at least a million words to say right now.

He loved you, he really did. But he didn’t want to be stuck between that time space of confessing his love and having to leave you alone after tonight. Hell, he’d watched Jacob be humiliated about the exact same situation.

“I’m sorry.” Was all he could hoarsely croaked out, his hands nervously fidgeting in his lap. It pained him to even muster that out to your already faltering expression, it was just something he had to do — considering the circumstances.