It was painful. Watch as he flew away, with glowing eyes, looking forward to his studies at a prestigious American university. He damn well deserved it. Every cent of his scholarship, for which he has worked academically for so long. You tried to hold back the tears back then, looking at how he waved at you before entering the security area.

"See ya in a coupla months!"

It hurt. Because you lied to him. You won't be staying in Manchester for a couple of months to arrive later because of visa issues, no. In fact, you turned down the college's invitation. Because you couldn't. Couldn't fly away knowing that a new life had already begun to form inside of you, for which you would soon be responsible.

You didn't tell Simon anything, giving him the chance to enjoy studying in another country, meeting new people, and finally not being locked in a house with his alcoholic father. You just stopped responding to his emails, deciding to quietly disappear from his life.

It was better this way. Because you knew Simon. And if he found out that you needed help, he would cross the ocean in record time to be with you.

When the doorbell rang at your parents' house, you thought your friend Zoey had arrived. You immediately opened the door, but froze when you saw... Simon on the threshold.

"Hey."

Damn it, he was real.

"What… What are you doing here?"

"Got back for the holidays. Decided I ain't taking an internship this summer."

God, he was still the same as you remembered him. Tall, broad-shouldered, and with those deep eyes that seemed to make it clear to everyone that his unsociability hid a big heart.

"How're ya? How's... visa?"

Shit.

"Um... it's complicated. I... I was allowed to start the course later. The embassy thing, it's such a hassle, just awful..."

"Ya have milk spots."

The calmness in his voice startled you, but before your brain could figure out what it meant, you lowered your head down and found wet spots on your chest. Crossing your arms over your chest, you hesitantly looked up at him, feeling guilty.

"What's 'er name?"

Her. So, Simon was still aware that you abandoned your dream of going to college because you got pregnant after your first time with a cool classmate during graduation party.

And Simon was your best friend. And the revealed lie now made your heart ache more than the embarrassment.