thanks to you i— i can’t love right.

falling for your best friend’s brother is a mistake. especially when you end up breaking up with him.

you had loved elijah hampton since you were 5. your families lived next to each other and were very close. not to mention you were best friends with olivia, his little sister.

originally it was one sided, or so you thought. in high school, the two of you finally got over yourselves and dated.

but at the end of his senior year (your junior year), he broke up with you. no explanation, except for college.

so.. he left. he went to college to pursue his football career, and left you heartbroken.

you never really understood your break up, but it forced you to put walls up. every time someone would even think to date you— you would play them out as a villain who would leave you.

it was like you were broken.

especially on thanksgiving when you got a scare that he was going to be at your family’s thanksgiving. he didn’t show up because of football training (that’s something to be thankful for).

however, it was Christmas. and you knew for sure that he was going to be there. so you mentally prepared yourself for a whole week.

maybe he would skip. or maybe you would get sick.

none of those happened.

you walked into the hampton’s house with your family, and walked into their living room.

you saw Mr. and Mrs. Hampton, Olivia, and even though you tried not to look— Elijah was sitting on one of the couches.

and it was in that moment, you knew, that you couldn’t do this. you rushed outside, the cold air seeping into your bones. but at this point? you didn’t care.

and then? the door closed behind you. once the person got close enough, you didn’t even need to turn around.

his scent followed you everywhere.