30

Sixteen Years Old

I STARE AT THE text on my phone, tears building in my eyes. I glance around the park, making sure no one notices me.

Atlas : sorry I can't make it… Moriah's step-brother is in town and she wants me to meet him. Meet up tomorrow?

I don't give him the dignity of a response. Instead, I let my phone rest on my lap, pretending he didn't just stab a knife into my heart once again.

"Ophelia?"

I open my eyes, finding Milo standing in front of me in running shorts and a tank top. He's pulled one earbud out of his ear to talk to me.

I quickly wipe my eyes. "Hey, Milo."

"Are you okay?"

I could make up some lie, tell him everything is great. He could continue on his run. I could continue sitting in misery alone, then eventually go home and be mad about the number of times Atlas has ditched me for Moriah.

"I was supposed to meet Atlas here," I say instead. Something about Milo's kind eyes makes me want to say the truth, even if I don't really want to face it.

"I'm guessing he's not coming?"

I shake my head. "Something came up again."

"With his girlfriend." He doesn't say it like a question because we both know it isn't one.

"Yeah. But honestly, it's fine. I have so much to do today. I should probably head home."

"Or… you could walk the track with me. I'm not really in the mood to run today. A nice walk always clears my head."

I rise from the bench, slipping my phone into my back pocket without another thought. "I would love to walk." I smile.

Milo takes out his earbuds, stuffing them in his pocket. "I take it Atlas abandons his plans with you a lot."

Another question that isn't a question because the answer is clear.

"Yeah, he does. I think what hurts me the most about it is that Atlas and I have been best friends since we were really young. And he promised me that we wouldn't change just because he was dating Moriah. We were all friends for a while, and at first, I hung out with Moriah a bit, just the two of us. But now Moriah doesn't really talk to me unless it's all three of us. And Atlas… well, he's always busy."

"What will he do when they break up?"

"They will probably never break up. They're perfect for each other." I let the bitterness slip into my voice, hoping Milo doesn't notice.

"You liked Atlas before she did."

Of course he notices. "I don't know. All I know is I miss my best friend."

"You do know. You liked him as more than a friend. Maybe not now. But you did before all of this."

I cross my arms defensively. "I guess I did. But it doesn't matter. That's not what's important to me. What's important is that he's at least in my life."

Milo shrugs. "Look, I know you think they'll be together forever, but Moriah is not good for him. I know it's weird for me to say that. I don't know either of them well enough. But I have noticed she's very controlling. Eventually, their castle will crumble and he'll come to you to pick up the pieces. The question you have to ask yourself is… will it be too late?"

I'm silent for a moment, wondering if it's true. Every time I'm third-wheeling, they seem perfect. But Milo is someone who observes more than the average person. Even if what he says is true, there is the question of whether I'll be here for Atlas.

"I don't think that's much of a question," I finally say. "Of course I'll be here. He's not intentionally hurting me. He thinks it's okay. He doesn't realize what he's doing, and even though it's terrible and I should let him figure it out, if they were to break up, I would be here to help him. If he needed me to be, that is."

"You're pretty generous to let him ignore you."

"He doesn't know he's ignoring me. He answers all my texts. If I call about a homework question, he answers right away. He drives me home from school. It doesn't register in his mind that he's blowing me off. And I will probably talk to him about it once I'm no longer angry."

Milo smiles. "I'm glad you're mature about it."

"I don't want to be. But I'm practically raising myself, so I have to be an adult about this."

Milo doesn't question what I mean, just nods as though he understands. Maybe he does.

"Enough about me. What about you?"

He smiles. "What do you want to know?"

"I don't know. What do you want to reveal?"

He pauses for a moment, as though he's considering his next words. "My parents don't really support my dreams. I'm working on getting two jobs so I can support myself the minute I turn eighteen."

"What are your dreams?"

"I want to study art in college. They want me to follow the family business… which I definitely don't want to talk about."

I nod. "Fair enough. You like to draw, right? I've seen you drawing sometimes at school."

"Yeah, but it's more than that. I want to know the history of all the greatest art in the world. I want to paint and draw and have my pieces shown in museums and galleries, but I also want to know about all the other art that exists in the world."

Dreams like this seem simple, yet perfect. And the way he talks about his ambitions makes him seem like he's already got his life figured out. Me, not so much. I don't see myself going to college after high school. I love learning, but I don't have a clue what I'd want to learn. Besides that, I need to get a job instead, start saving up.

"I like your dreams."

Milo smiles as though this is the best thing he's heard.

I like his smile, too. But I don't say that out loud. I don't know if I'm ready for the tangle of feelings that are developing beneath the surface. Am I really over Atlas? Would it even be fair to start having feelings for someone else?

In this moment, though, I throw all of that to the side, taking in the time with Milo.

If it takes a little support to make him happy, then I'll support him.

He deserves a little bit of happiness.