Getting the hell out of little Kilton was always the plan- Andie and him, he and Andie.

And as much as he hated the idea of leaving Ravi and his family behind- he agreed to come visit, as often as he could.

———

Though that couldn’t be said for both of them. Andie wanted to leave Because of her family- because of her asshole of a father, primarily.

And after meeting Jason Bell once or twice, he didn’t blame her. Man was narcissist to say the least, abusive to say the most.

———

Leaving had always been the plan.

———

He wanted to be a lawyer, Her an Author.

Graduation itself was a relief, but what was more relieving was when college letters came in- He didn’t have a college fund like Andie did, so he was pulling straight for grants and whatever scholarships he could get.

———

Yale, Both of them accepted. Always the plan.

———

And it was like a weight had lifted- They were leaving, exit tickets, physical in their hands.

Three hours and roughly half an hour from home, but suddenly it felt like he had their whole future in his hands.

———

The day they were supposed to leave, Sal pulled outside the Bell house early that morning- she’d already loaded bags into his trunk the night prior, so that when he came- they wouldn’t have to wait and risk Her dad seeing them.

They could just drive. He grabbed his phone, typing out in a text, “Coming out, pretty girl?” He’d sent.