Five People Traveled With Four Seats, Then They Panicked When I Left Chapter 06

Five People Traveled With Four Seats, Then They Panicked When I Left Chapter 06

The next afternoon, my roommate sent me a picture.

The cardboard box by my desk-it was empty now.

[Felix came by to get his stuff.]

She sent another message

[He looked pretty upset.]

I didn’t reply.

A little while later, she texted again.

[He asked when you’d be back. I said you left for work out of state.].

[He just stood there for a long time without saying anything.]

I read them, then set my phone facedown.

My first week was busy. Badge, training, learning the projects.

Once I got busy, I could go an entire afternoon without thinking about any of them.

A little after nine that night, Sawyer called.

“Rae.”

“Yeah?”

For once, he didn’t make a joke.

“You really broke up with Felix?”

“Yeah.”

“Over the trip?”

“Partly.”

He sighed. “Then fine, break up with him.”

“But you’re not even talking to me or Alden anymore. What’s that about?”

My hand stopped around my water glass.

Even now, he still thought this was about a breakup.

“Sawyer. Remember the hiking trip sophomore year?”

He paused. “Yeah. I remember.”

“The last cable car down only had four seats.” I said.

Silence.

I went on. “The three of you rode down with Pearl and left me to walk.”

“By the time I made it down, you’d already eaten.

Sawyer’s voice rose. “But Pearl was terrified of heights.”

“I know. I never blamed her.”

“Then why bring it up now?”

I smiled. “I’m not. Just… you asked why I shut you out.”

He fell silent.

After a bit, he said, “Rae, we never meant to hurt you.”

“I know.”

That only left him with less to say.

Because I’d known all along.

They never meant to. They just kept assuming I was the one who could give more.

Sawyer’s voice sounded rough. “So when are you coming back?”

“Not for now.”

“Not even after graduation?”

“Yeah.”

He finally seemed to get it.

“So you’re leaving all of us?”

I didn’t answer right away.

The other end went quiet.

Finally, I said, “Let’s leave it there. I have work tomorrow.”

I hung up.

A message from Alden came a few minutes later.

[Let’s talk when you’re free.l

I didn’t open it.

By morning, the group chat had already hit 99+.

I swiped it away without thinking.

For once, the number didn’t bug me.