Best Friends 13

Ryan tore through every community college in a hundred–mile radius of Boston. 

He became that crazy person administrators complained about showing up at admissions offices demanding to see enrollment records, refusing to leave until they’d triple–checked their systems. 

“Sir, for the tenth time, there’s no Sienna Hart in our database,” the poor secretary at Bunker Hill finally snapped. “Please leave or I’m calling security.” 

He had Sienna’s parents‘ number saved in his phone, but it took him three days to work up the courage to call. 

When her mom’s cold voice came through the speaker, Ryan’s heart sank. 

“Sienna’s not in Boston. She’s not even in America anymore. She started classes abroad weeks ago.” 

“Abroad?” Ryan’s grip on his phone was so tight he thought it might crack. “Mrs. Hart, please – which school? I just need to know she’s okay.” 

“She specifically doesn’t want you to know.” Her voice could have frozen hell over. “Ryan, some mistakes can’t be undone.” 

The line went dead. 

Ryan collapsed on the library steps, staring at the dead leaves scattered around campus. For the first time in his life, he understood what people meant by rock bottom. 

He sat there for probably an hour before forcing himself to make a decision. 

Meanwhile, Nina was completely spiraling. 

She’d gotten used to Ryan’s attention, his protection, his devotion. Now that it had turned to disgust, she was falling apart. 

She kept showing up at his door, leaving tearful voicemails, trying to corner him between classes – anything to get him to look at her the way he used to. 

When she found out Sienna had gone to study abroad instead of some random community college, Nina was almost relieved. Different continents meant they could never get back together, right? 

That relief lasted exactly until she saw the plane ticket on Ryan’s desk. 

20:15 

T … 

Chapter 13 

She cornered him outside the registrar’s office where he’d been applying for emergency leave. 

“Ryan, you can’t seriously be flying to Europe! What about me? What about us?” 

“There is no us!” Ryan’s voice was sharp enough to cut glass. “There never was.” 

Nina’s face went ghost white. She clutched her chest dramatically and started swaying like she was about to faint. 

Six months ago, Ryan would have caught her before she hit the ground, would have carried her to the health center and held her hand until she felt better. 

Now he just stepped back and watched her crumple to the sidewalk. 

“Nina, cut the bullshit.” He looked down at her with zero sympathy. “I’m done falling for your little performances.” 

Nina stayed on the ground, her fake crying stopping completely. 

She hadn’t expected Ryan to turn so cold. Her heart felt like it was being ripped apart, and she could barely breathe. 

She wasn’t going to give up that easily. 

Nina screamed at him, her voice sharp and mean, “Sienna doesn’t even want you anymore! Why are you still chasing after her?“. 

Those words made Ryan see red. His eyes burned with anger as he stared down at her. “Say that again. I dare you.” 

“What if I do?” Nina glared back at him, wanting to hurt him as much as possible. “Ryan, you know I’m right! The moment you gave me that Harvard spot instead of her, you lost Sienna forever!” 

CRACK. 

The sound echoed through the empty hallway. 

Nina’s head snapped to the side,/her cheek burning from the hit. She stared at Ryan in shock. 

His hand was still raised, fury/blazing in his eyes like he wanted to destroy her. 

“Who the hell do you think you are?” Ryan’s voice was rough with anger. “You don’t get to talk about what Sienna and I had. You destroyed it.” 

20:15 

From Base Pl 

Chapter 13 

Nina was scared now, seeing how angry he looked. Her lips shook but no words came out. 

“Security!” Ryan called to the campus police who’d been watching the drama unfold. “This girl’s been stalking and harassing me. I want a restraining order filed immediately.” 

The officers moved toward Nina as reality started hitting her. 

“Ryan, wait!” She tried to crawl toward him. “You can’t be serious! I love you! Everything I did was 

because I love you!” 

“Get her out of my sight,” Ryan said, not even looking at her anymore. 

As they pulled Nina away, still screaming his name, Ryan pulled out his phone and typed a message to his academic advisor: [Taking emergency leave. Family crisis overseas. Will be back when I’m back.] 

He stared at Sienna’s contact info – still blocked, obviously – and made himself a promise. 

I’m going to fix this. Whatever it takes. 

20:15