Chapter 5: The One He Runs To

07.

My parents asked my childhood friend Derek to bring me some treats from back home.

To thank him for the apple pie I loved, I took him to this legendary diner near campus—packed with families in church clothes and college kids hunched over fries. Derek wanted a Franklin tour. I refused.

Carter had a big basketball game coming up.

Derek threatened to keep my treats hostage, but I just snatched the box back.

I hugged my apple pie, satisfied, thinking I’d save a piece for Carter tomorrow.

Suddenly, I got that prickly feeling someone was watching. I looked around—the sidewalk was a swirl of people.

“What’s up?” Derek asked, hand on my shoulder.

I glared at his hand. “Hands off.”

Derek, knowing I couldn’t break free, leaned in, smug: “And if I don’t, what’ll you do?”

I was about to snap back, but that feeling of being watched wouldn’t let up.

I spun around—just in time to see an orange cat slink out of the bushes.

I let out a shaky breath. For a split second, I really thought Carter was lurking like a jealous ex in a Netflix rom-com. But it was just some stray looking for leftovers.

The next day, I rushed to the basketball court, but Carter’s roommate told me he’d dropped out last night and left for Savannah for two days.

I opened our pinned chat.

Carter’s last message: [Tomorrow 9:30, Court 3. It’ll be cold in the morning, remember to wear a coat.]

Last night, I’d gotten back to the dorm at 11:30, showered, and crashed—totally forgetting to reply.

[Why did you drop out of the game?]

I waited. No answer.

I scrolled Instagram, half-distracted.

My finger froze on Natalie’s name. She’d posted last night:

[Happy breakup. From now on, we’ll just be the most familiar strangers.]

Location: Savannah.

I stared at the screen, stomach twisted in knots. The world outside kept humming—traffic, shouts from down the hall, the scent of pizza wafting in—but I couldn’t stop thinking about Carter, the secrets he was hiding, and how my heart kept chasing after him, no matter how far ahead he ran.

I stared at my phone, waiting for his name to light up my screen, knowing I’d chase him—no matter how many secrets he left behind.