Chapter Text
Grandad was dead. Her father had lied to her and Connor. Her mother had left again. Rory was somewhere in Canada.
And her period was six days late.
Somehow, Grandad being dead wasn't even the worst part of her week.
What kind of person thought that?
She was anything but sad. She was angry.
Angry at Grandad for dying. Angry at her dad for lying. Angry at her mother for leaving. Angry at herself for failing, for not being able to just breathe and let go.
And she was angry at Rory for leaving.
That one was particularly unfair. Which, naturally, only made her angrier.
He was only going to be gone for two weeks. Fourteen days. It shouldn't have felt like that long.
Except two weeks was a very long time when there was barely any signal where he was going. No video calls. No stupid texts in the middle of the day. No pictures of whatever he was eating accompanied by you would hate this. No Rory showing up at her apartment unannounced and somehow still ending up staying the night.
Two weeks without him.
And the worst part was that he had asked her to come.
“You could come with me.”
He had said it with that shy expression of his, like he wasn't sure whether he was actually allowed to ask.
Annie had been at his apartment, supposedly helping him pack, although they had barely left his bed since she'd arrived.
“You know I'll hopefully be at camp,” she'd replied, hiding her face against his neck.
It was easier that way.
She didn't want to see the disappointment on his face. She knew he would try to hide it, but Rory was an open book to her.
And she was terrified he could read her just as easily.
Because then he might figure out that she would rather pack her things, get on a plane with him, and disappear into Canada than think about Business School again.
About camp.
About expectations.
About everything she was supposed to want.
“I know, but…” Rory paused.
She felt his lips brush against her hair, barely there.
A ghost of a kiss.
“I'll miss you.”
Something uncomfortable tightened in her chest.
“You'll survive.”
She'd meant it as a joke.
At least, she thought she had.
Now, six days later, with a Grandparent dead, her family falling apart, and Rory somewhere in Canada where she couldn't even call him, Annie wasn't entirely sure she would.