Raine had never been one to chase after people.
She believed that if someone wanted to stay, they would.
But Celeste was different.
She came and went like the changing seasons, slipping into Raine's life only to disappear again before she could ever hold on.
And yet, Raine still waited.
Still hoped.
Even after the night Celeste played her guitar—then vanished.
But tonight, Celeste was back.
She walked into the bookstore as if nothing had happened, her usual quiet presence settling into the space as naturally as breathing.
Raine wanted to be mad.
Wanted to ask where she had been, why she had left, why she never said anything.
But when she looked at Celeste—at the tired eyes, the slight slump of her shoulders—
The words never came.
Instead, Raine sighed, setting down the book she had been pretending to read.
"You can't just disappear like that, you know."
Celeste glanced up, a ghost of a smile playing at her lips.
"I didn't know I had to report my whereabouts."
Raine rolled her eyes, but her chest still ached.
"Not reporting. Just… telling me. So I don't wonder if you're okay."
Something unreadable flickered across Celeste's face.
She didn't answer.
Didn't promise that she wouldn't disappear again.
And Raine realized—
She never would.
Celeste was never going to stay.
No matter how much Raine wanted her to.
No matter how much she—
Raine swallowed hard.
The truth had been there for a long time now, buried beneath unspoken words and stolen moments.
And she was tired of pretending she didn't feel it.
So before she could stop herself, before she could let fear take over, she said it.
"Go out with me."
The words hung in the air between them, fragile and uncertain.
Celeste blinked.
Then—
She laughed.
A soft, disbelieving laugh, as if Raine had just said the most ridiculous thing in the world.
Raine's heart clenched.
"I'm serious."
Celeste shook her head, looking away. "You don't mean that."
Raine stepped closer. "I do."
Celeste sighed, rubbing a hand over her face. "Raine…"
"I like you," Raine admitted. "I don't know when it started, or maybe I've known all along, but I like you. And I know you feel something too."
Celeste's fingers curled into a fist.
"I don't."
"You do."
Celeste exhaled sharply, stepping back. "Raine, stop."
Raine stared at her, heart pounding.
"Why?"
Celeste's jaw tightened. "Because this isn't going to happen."
Raine's throat burned. "Why not?"
"Because I don't want it."
The words cut sharper than Raine expected.
She forced out a laugh, but it sounded hollow. "You're lying."
Celeste looked at her, gaze cold, unreadable.
"If you think that, then you don't know me at all."
Silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.
Raine wanted to scream.
Wanted to tell Celeste she was a coward, that she was running away from something real.
But she didn't.
Because deep down, she already knew—
Celeste was always going to run.
Raine just hadn't expected her to run from this.
Celeste reached for her guitar case, slinging it over her shoulder.
"I should go."
Raine swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Of course you should."
Celeste hesitated for half a second—
Then walked away.
And this time, Raine didn't stop her.
She let her go.
Even though it hurt like hell.