Never Look Back Again

Not even half an hour after Nathan left, Phoebe sent me a screenshot.

It was from Claire's latest post. [My handsome prince brought crepes to save me, the starving princess!]

In the picture were the exact same crepes sitting on my dining table.

Phoebe's texts came right after, dripping with sarcasm.

["The starving princess"? Give me a break.

[She makes me sick. Is that really what guys like?]

I didn't know about other guys, but Nathan clearly liked it.

I stared at the crepes on the table, then picked them up and tossed them straight in the trash.

After that, I started gathering everything Nathan had ever left at my place—his stuff, his gifts, all of it. I packed them all up in a box and threw it out, too.

I only had five days left before leaving, so it was better to get rid of them now.

Five days passed quickly. Nathan never called or texted. Things were probably going very well with Claire.

Or maybe he was waiting for me to cave in first. That was how it always went—after every fight or silent treatment, I was the one apologizing first. No exceptions.

But this time? I didn't go running back.

I blocked every single way he could reach me. I even told Susan and my butler, Charles Atler, that Nathan wasn't allowed in anymore.

Once I'd done all that, I called my parents and Andrew, who were away on business trips.

I told them I wanted to go to Eltoria to see the northern lights.

The plan was to spend the whole summer traveling with Phoebe, then head straight to college when school started. That way, I wouldn't risk running into Nathan again.

Phoebe's parents were business partners with my family, so they trusted us traveling together.

Andrew even sent me a fat allowance, worried I might not have enough for the trip.

Phoebe had already left two days early because of something she had to do.

On my last day, bags packed and ready to go, I stepped out of the house, only to run into Nathan's mother at the gate.

She was sweet as always. Raising Nathan alone hadn't been easy, but she never complained and was always kind to me.

She smiled warmly. "Going on a trip? But why are you leaving alone? Isn't Nathan coming to pick you up? I thought he was taking you to Poneemia to see the fireworks by the lake."

I blinked, confused.

I had mentioned wanting to see a Poneemian winter before finals, but Nathan had never agreed. Lately, he hadn't even talked to me.

So why would he suddenly take me there?

Since time was running short, I mumbled a few quick excuses and left.

But I wasn't ready for what happened at the airport.

I saw Nathan and Claire together.

They stood so close that they looked like a couple.

It turned out that Nathan wasn't against going to Poneemia—he just didn't want to go with me.

Claire leaned in, whispering something, and Nathan bent his head to listen carefully, giving her his full attention.

He had never once treated me like that.

I found my gate and sat down. And wouldn't you know it—their gate was right next to mine.

Nathan seemed distracted, frowning at his phone. He made call after call, none of them going through.

Finally, he borrowed Claire's phone and walked toward the restroom with a scowl on his face.

A few minutes later, my phone rang. It was an unknown number.

When I picked up, Nathan's voice came through, low and angry.

"Mavis, how long are you gonna stay mad? You won't come to me, and now you block me, too? Seriously?"

His words came sharp, each one stabbing. "You can stay away all you want. See what happens when you're at college, away from Andrew. Who else do you think is gonna take care of you?"

He ranted on and on, not even letting me answer.

Then he said, "I've got things to do, so don't waste my time. You'd better take me off your block list. I'm heading abroad with friends for a couple days. If I don't pick up, don't freak out and cry about it."

I didn't say a word.

I just hung up, blocked the new number, and shut my phone off completely.

By the time Nathan came storming back to his seat, I was already standing, pulling my suitcase toward my gate.

He yanked Claire along with him and disappeared into their boarding line.

I boarded my plane without looking back, carrying only my bag.