I couldn’t look at him, couldn’t let him know that I was crying.

“Mel?” he asked, taking a step towards me.

“I’m sorry.” I whispered, daring a look at him. “I am so, so sorry..”

Without another second, he took me in his arms and held me there, tight and protective. “It’s alright, Mel, it’s alright..”

“No, it’s not. This isn’t right at all. I love you, Hayden-”

“I love you too.”

We didn’t speak very much after that. I remained in his arms for what seemed like a good hour or more, and then we started on the way to his house.

Right away when we got through the doorway, though, we were confronted by his father. “Mel?”

“Uh, yes sir?”

“Your mother called, and was over here a little while ago.”