Chapter 36

Ariel spent a sleepless night reliving her date with Jade as she lay in bed. Even in the morning, after she was informed of breakfast, she didn't bother to move.

I'm not hungry, anyway.

Knock, knock. "Ariel, I'd rather you not skip any meals," Jade said through the door.

"I'm not hungry. If anything, I'm nauseous, so food probably wouldn't stay down."

Jade sighed. "Fine, I'll leave your breakfast in the fridge for when you feel hungry, along with some ginger tea."

"Thanks..."

Ariel heard the doorbell and chatter as they walked around the living room. Solidifying their plans. She turned on her side, covering her ears as she curled up.

Why did this happen so soon? Would it have been better to happen later or worse? Why at all? She clutched her necklaces as her chest clenched and tears threatened to fall. Why did he come here and steal my heart only to leave shortly after? It's not fair. Everyone always leaves me.

Knock, knock. "Okay, it's lunch, and you haven't come out; you're worrying me," Conner said.

"Go away," she grumbled.

"Ariel, he's leaving soon; are you sure you don't want to talk to him before then?"

"We've said everything we need to."

"Other than goodbye?"

"..."

"Thought so."

"What good will that do? It won't make any of this easier." She wiped away her tears and sniffled.

Conner opened her door. "So after all of this, you're going to stay here and not see him off? Possibly the last chance you'll ever see him? Is that how you want to end this?"

"Shut up, Conner."

"No." He sat on the edge of her bed and played with the bear their parents got her at birth. "If you had a chance to say goodbye to our parents, would you take it?"

She gasped. "How dare you compare the two?!" She grabbed her pillow and smacked him with it a bunch of times until he took it from her and handed her the bear, and she turned her back to him again. "That's not the same, and you know it."

"He may not be dying, but I'm pointing out that moments with the ones you love are precious. I'd give almost anything to have another hour with them. I just don't want you to regret not seeing him off."

Ariel tightened her hug on her bear and stayed silent.

"We're leaving in an hour." Conner kissed the top of her head and left, closing the door behind him.

As if I don't know that. I don't know if I could keep it together to see him off. Watch him get whisked away to a place I'll never know.

"Ugh." She roughly rubbed away her never-ending tears.

Knock, knock.

"Go away, Conner."

"It's Jade."

"Oh..." What do I say to him?

"May I come in?"

"..." I don't know if that's a good idea.

When she didn't answer, Jade peeked into her room to see her curled up, hugging her teddy. His jaw clenched as he thought about what to say. He sat beside her on the bed. "I'm sorry."

"I know."

"I don't blame you for wanting to stay home." He sighed and lay down. "You don't have to see me off if you don't want to. I guess I'll say my goodbye here." His hand shaking, he reached out and hugged her from behind.

She tensed from surprise, but relaxed right away in his arms. Part of her wanted to turn around and return the hug, but she didn't want to face him. Couldn't face him. Especially with her tear-stricken face.

Jade rested his forehead on her shoulder as he hugged her. "I wish things could be different," he whispered and kissed the back of her neck.

"Oh! Hey!" A shock ran through her, and she automatically turned to look at him, eyes wide.

"You finally looked at me." He smiled.

"You tricked me."

He hugged her tighter so she couldn't run away. "Not exactly. While I wanted to see your face, there is a meaning to that kiss in my world."

"There is? What is it?"

He winked at her. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"You're not going to tell me?"

After searching her eyes for a moment, he shook his head. "No. What I will do is wish you well. I wish all the happiness in the world for you, because you deserve it. Don't give up on yourself; you're an amazing woman."

She forced her trembling lips shut.

He swallowed hard and took a deep breath. "Goodbye, Ariel. I will always remember you." His eyes dipped as he gave her a sad smile and released her. Without another word, Jade left, closing the door behind him.

Ariel sobbed, struggling to breathe as the dam opened up. See! It would've been better if he didn't say goodbye. She curled up again with her teddy, not caring that she was getting him wet. Is there a point in getting close to people when it hurts so much when they leave?

By the time she ran out of tears, her throat hurt, and her eyes were red and puffy. I should get something to drink. She glanced in the mirror and cringed. Glad no one's home to see me. She opened her bedroom door.

"Finally going to leave your room?"

She jumped back in surprise. "Conner? What are you still doing here?" She combed her hair over to cover her face. "I thought you left with Jade and Leo."

He pushed off from the wall he'd been leaning against with his arms crossed. "I was going to, and then I thought about waiting for you before leaving."

"Well, you saw me; you can see him off now."

"Shouldn't you be doing that? Other than Leo for his expertise, I'm not the one he wants there."

"He saw me before he left; being there won't make a difference."

"Did you tell him goodbye? Did you tell him how you feel?"

"I..." Did I say goodbye? "What good would come from telling him about my feelings? I'm not even sure about them."

Conner raised an eyebrow. "You're not sure about your feelings? After last night, I was certain about them. This is all so tragic, like a Shakespearean novel. Star-crossed lovers."

"Shut up, Conner," she huffed. "You're not helping any. It's done and over with all of this. Jade will be gone before we know it, and that's it. There's no turning back." She choked up. "Damn you. I had finally calmed down."

"How can you question your feeling when you're having such a strong reaction to him leaving?"

"What good would it do to tell him?! Don't you think this is hard enough without that?"

"Don't you think he deserves to know how you feel about him? Don't you think he deserves a proper goodbye? And yes, I was eavesdropping earlier."

"It doesn't change anything. It'll only hurt more..."

"It's for closure, and so he knows for sure it wasn't a one-sided love. Can you imagine confessing to someone, only to never hear the reply? Heartbreaking."

"Stop trying to guilt me into going."

"Guilt isn't quite what I'm going for. I'm trying to force you to realize what will happen if he leaves and you miss your chance. I don't want you to be burdened by this." He brushed away her tears. "I don't want you to stay stuck in this moment. Besides, don't you want to express your love to show gratitude for your time together?"

"You're not going to lay off, are you?" She brushed his hand away and wiped her own tears.

"Well, there's only a short timeline for me to complain, so until Leo comes back, it's fair game. Come on, Ariel; give him a real goodbye. He deserves it. And who knows what he'll be teleported into? He—"

"You're making this worse."

"Well..." Conner threw his hands into the air. "I don't know what else to say, or how to convince you this needs to be done. I can't keep watching you cry, though." He hugged her.

"I... wish he was staying."

"I know."

"I wish for his safety, and his happiness."

"You're telling the wrong person. Jade's the one who needs to hear this." Conner pulled out his keys. "So, are we going? They've got quite the head start, but I think we can catch them."