Chapter 1

Before graduation, my boyfriend, Ethan Johnson and I planned a cross-country road trip.

My roommate, Juliet Miller, kindly offered to organize our itinerary.

On departure day, her luggage sat in the front seat.

Her phone was connected to the car console.

The only bed bore a tag ‘Juliet’s Spot.’

Ethan patted my head with a casual smile.

“Juliet gets carsick in the back. Be good and sleep on the roof tent.”

Driving through the desert that night, they left me at a gas station to guard our gear while they shot stargazing videos.

I waited until dawn.

Then Juliet posted a photo in our group chat.

She wore my jacket in the passenger seat.

Ethan’s arm rested behind her chair.

My parents bought that RV.

Now it was two hundred miles away.

I didn’t chase them.

As three was going to be a crowd, I stepped out.

Chapter 1

The gas station owner, Mr. Lloyd, rolled up the metal shutter.

I sat on a plastic chair, clutching three backpacks.

He recognized me and looked out at the empty highway.

"Your friends aren't back yet?"

I shook my head and tucked Ethan’s forgotten charger into my side pocket.

Mr. Lloyd handed me a cup of hot water. "Where's the truck?"

"They went ahead to the next campsite."

My voice sounded raspy, even to me.

Yesterday at dusk, Ethan unloaded two boxes of gear.

He said he and Juliet were going to the salt flats to shoot night timelapses.

I wanted to go. He pointed at the equipment stack instead.

"This stuff costs more than the vehicle. Someone needs to guard it."

Juliet stood by the passenger door, chiming in.

"Diana, you don't do photography anyway. You'll just freeze out there. We'll come right back for you."

I believed them.

I waited from sunset until pitch black. I waited until the station lights went off.

Cell service flickered. I called Ethan seven times. He never answered.

Mr. Lloyd offered me a cot inside, but I stayed by the door all night so they wouldn't miss me.

At dawn, Juliet posted nine photos to the class group chat.

Someone asked where I was. She sent a playful emoji.

“Diana hates staying up late. She stayed back for her beauty sleep!”

Comments flooded in, teasing that she and Ethan looked like newlyweds on a honeymoon.

Ethan didn't correct them. He just liked the post.

I finished my water and used Mr. Lloyd's landline to call the bus station.

The next coach passed through at noon, headed to a town two hundred miles back.

I booked a seat. Then I separated the three bags and took only mine.

Ethan’s pack contained stomach medicine, knee braces, and a light jacket.

I had packed every single item for him before we left.

He always said I was thoughtful. He said with me around, he would never lose anything.

Mr. Lloyd watched me leave the other two bags behind the counter.

"Not taking theirs?"

"No. They have the truck."

At noon, Ethan finally texted.

“Just got service back. We drove further out chasing the light last night.

“Juliet wasn't feeling well, so she slept in the rig. Don't overthink it.”

A drop pin followed.

“Find a way over here. The inn only has two rooms tonight. Split them up when you arrive.”

I stared at the words ‘find a way over here’ and turned off the screen.

Every trip was like this. I booked the rooms, mapped the routes, and cleaned up their messes.

He always walked ahead, knowing I would follow.

Not this time.

The bus was two hours away. I borrowed a pen and left a note under their bags.

“Gear is behind the counter. Pay Mr. Lloyd for storage.”

Mr. Lloyd asked if I wanted to leave anything else.

I set the pen down. "No. That's all.”

Chapter 2

The bus got delayed.

The driver called to say a rock slide closed the highway. He was three hours out.

Mrs. Lloyd, the owner's wife, offered me lunch. As she set down a bowl of hot noodles, an RV pulled up outside.

Juliet stepped out through the door, her cheeks flushed red from the heat.

"Diana, why aren't you answering your phone?"

She leaned against the counter, huffing with annoyance.

"Ethan realized he forgot the camera gear. He drove two hours back so I could grab it. Come help me carry this."

I didn't move.

Juliet followed my gaze to the heavy pack by the wall. She yanked the handle. It didn't budge.

"It's loaded with three camera lenses. It's freezing up here, don't throw a fit."

She glanced out the window.

Once she was sure Ethan hadn't followed her inside, her voice dropped.

"Last night was an accident. We were supposed to turn around, but the view on the far side of the lake was incredible.

"Ethan said you're always sensible. He knew you'd be fine at the station."

I picked up my fork and asked calmly, "Where is he?"

"Napping in the truck."

She made it sound so reasonable, as if making Ethan wait in the drive while I did the heavy lifting was standard routine.

Then she pointed to the jacket she was wearing.

"I need to borrow your coat for a few days. The nights are freezing and I left mine at the dorm."

"Take it off."

Juliet’s hand froze on the zipper.

"What?"

"Take my jacket off. Right now!"

Mrs. Lloyd came out with another dish.

Sensing the tension, she quietly set the plate on the table.

Juliet’s face turned sour, but she forced a laugh.

"You're making a scene over a coat? I was freezing last night. Ethan found it in the back and handed it to me.

“Did you want him to just let me get sick?"

I put down my fork and stood up.

"My mom bought me that jacket. You didn't ask me. Neither did Ethan.

"Take it off and give it back."

The RV door slammed outside.

Ethan walked in, rubbing his temples.

Seeing the standoff, he pulled Juliet half a step behind him.

"What's going on now?"

"She's telling me to strip in public," Juliet muttered.

Ethan’s drowsiness evaporated. He glared at me.

"She isn't wearing a t-shirt underneath. You expect her to take it off here? Her own coat is in the truck and it's covered in mud!"

Ethan leaned down and hoisted the camera bag. It took him two tries to get a grip.

I had carried that exact weight for a mile last year so he and Juliet could chase the sunset light.

Neither of them lent a free hand.

Back then, Ethan smiled and promised to cook me dinner at camp.

That night, he spent three hours helping Juliet edit photos while I cooked for all three of us.

Juliet unzipped the coat. She was indeed only wearing undies beneath it.

Ethan immediately peeled off his own hoodie and threw it over her shoulders.

Then he patted down my jacket and shoved it into my hands.

"There. You have your jacket back. Can we go?"

I held the coat. The collar smelled like someone else's perfume.

"I'm heading back to the city."

Ethan blinked, as if he misheard.

"What for?"

"To pick up some things."

"It's not like you need them today."

He handed the lighter bag to Juliet and turned back to me.

"Since the bus isn't here yet, just get in the truck. We'll sort out the rooms at the inn."

"I'm taking the bus."

Ethan stared at me for a few seconds, then let out a dry laugh.

"Still sulking over last night?

"Fine. Cool off for a bit. Call me when you get to the inn tonight."

He was completely sure I would show up.

Juliet’s brow unpuckered.

She grabbed the smaller pack and headed for the exit.

Before climbing inside, she called over her shoulder, "I changed the truck's Bluetooth playlist, by the way. Hope you don't mind."

I laid the jacket over my lap and said nothing.

As the RV pulled away from the station, Ethan tapped the horn twice.

Just like every argument before this, it was his way of telling me not to stretch out the drama.

Chapter 3

I got back to town past midnight and checked into a motel near the bus terminal.

While the front desk verified my ID, Ethan called on FaceTime.

I ignored the video and texted back that I was in the shower.

He immediately sent a voice note with Juliet’s laughter echoing in the background.

"Get some sleep. Take a shared shuttle down the highway tomorrow.

"We're heading to the canyon first. When you get here this afternoon, go straight to cooking. Juliet wants that beef stew you make."

Before the note ended, Juliet leaned close to the mic.

"Easy on the pepper. My throat hurts."

I muted my phone and unzipped my backpack.

The spare RV key, the campground reservations, and our travel stamp journal were tucked in the inner pocket.

This trip was supposed to be a graduation promise between Ethan and me.

On our first date in freshman year, we lost our way on rental bikes and took shelter at a gas station convenience store half the night.

Ethan bought a blank journal and promised we would stamp a page every time we traveled somewhere new.

In four years, we only filled six pages.

He promised to complete the rest of the book after graduation.

He said I could choose the very first stop.

Then Juliet showed up with a thick binder of travel plans.

Ethan praised her for being thorough, and the route shifted entirely toward her wishlist.

My choice was crossed off.

The coastal town I actually wanted to visit was cut for being too out of the way.

I didn't object back then.

I thought having three people just meant a noisier trip.

As long as Ethan and I ended up together at the end, the route didn't matter.

Now the journal lay open on the bed. The empty pages dwarfed the few we had stamped.

I tore a piece of notepad paper and wrote down that the RV key would be returned to my parents, and they would repossess the vehicle.

Midway through writing, my mom called.

I left out the night at the gas station. I only asked if she and Dad could drive down to town tomorrow.

"The RV isn't right for that mountain route. I want to give it back to you guys."

Mom didn't push. She just said they would come tomorrow afternoon.

Once that was set, I called my high school friend, Maya.

She had asked me weeks ago to stay at her grandmother's place down south for a while. I had turned her down twice because Ethan hated humid weather.

"Aren't you on your graduation trip?" Maya asked when she picked up.

"It's over."

She paused for a second, sensing the tone. "I'm taking the train to my grandma's place the day after tomorrow. Want in?"

I agreed and used my own savings to buy a ticket on the same train.

By noon the next day, Ethan sent a photo with a message from a local butcher shop.

“Got the beef. Waiting for your signature dish.”

I didn't reply.

After Mom arrived, she accompanied me to the local DMV office to file the vehicle authorization papers.

The RV was registered under my dad's name.

Ethan always knew that, which was why he usually drove it with extreme care.

Yet when he drove off yesterday, he didn't even ask how Mr. Lloyd's daughter was getting anywhere.

Dad booked a tow truck to pick up the RV from their camp the next morning.

I handed him the key. I didn't ask my parents to confront anyone on my behalf.

That night, Ethan called again.

"Diana Thomas, how much longer are you going to throw this tantrum?"

I stood at the end of the motel hallway, watching long-distance coaches pull into the bays below.

"Keep the beef cold so it doesn't spoil."

He assumed I was worrying about dinner. His tone softened.

"Got it. Just get here early tomorrow."

After hanging up, I canceled every double campsite reservation booked under my name.

In Juliet’s master plan, these logistics were always left for me to manage.

I forwarded the cancellation receipts to her with a short line. “You'll need to arrange your own lodging from here on out.”

Her reply came back instantly.

“Diana, don't take your frustration out on the whole group.”

I didn't argue. I pulled the curtains shut and started packing my bags for the south.

Chapter 4

Ethan had sent dozens of texts this morning.

First, he told me to hurry up and come. Then, he asked why I canceled the campsite reservations.

I refunded the money back to whoever paid for what and sent him a brief reply.

“You guys can rebook under Juliet's plan.”

He took a long time to answer.

“Juliet wasn't feeling well last night and I was busy taking care of her. I don't have time for this. Just rebook them.”

I ignored it.

At noon, Dad went to finalize the tow truck arrangements.

Mom accompanied me to the bus terminal to retrieve the bag I left at the gas station.

Ethan’s pack was still stuffed tight, though a sleeve of stomach medicine was missing.

Mrs. Lloyd told me that when they came back for the gear, Ethan’s stomach was acting up, so he pulled the meds from his bag.

"Your boyfriend praised you for being so thorough," she added. "He said once you cooled off, you'd come find him."

I zipped my pack and corrected her. "He's not my boyfriend anymore."

The woman froze, then let the subject drop.

The tow team was set to leave this afternoon and arrive at the campsite by tomorrow morning.

My dad sent the transport driver's number to Ethan, using the excuse that the vehicle was due for scheduled maintenance and needed to go home.

Ethan didn't think twice about it. He even sent me a voice note.

"If your dad needs the RV, he can tow it back. Juliet already found a local rental shop anyway.

"When you get here, we'll switch to the sedan. Pack light this time, and stop overcomplicating things."

He was still planning tomorrow. He still assumed I would be part of it.

That evening, I ate with my parents at a quiet diner in town.

Mom picked the cilantro out of Dad’s soup bowl before ladling a fresh portion for me.

Watching her reminded me of dinner at my house the night before our trip.

Ethan hated cilantro. I had spent ten minutes picking every leaf out of his bowl.

When Juliet sent an updated draft of the itinerary, he dropped his spoon and walked out to the balcony to take her call.

Mom teased me back then, "Eat your own food. Stop fussing over him."

I nodded, but as soon as Ethan came back, I pushed the clean bowl toward him anyway.

Right now at the diner, there was nothing in my bowl that needed picking out, but I held my fork and froze.

Mom didn't push. She just asked if the weather down south was hot and whether I needed a few light summer shirts.

"I'll buy them when I get there," I said.

I kept my head down and drank my soup.

When a tear slipped into the broth, neither of them noticed it.

Before heading to the train station, I mailed the travel journal to Ethan.

Those six stamps belonged to the four years we spent together. I didn't want to tear out the pages, but I wasn't going to carry them to my next chapter either.

When the courier asked what was inside, I wrote, “Old notebook.”

At eleven that night, Maya was waiting in the terminal with her suitcase.

She took one look at my eyes, hastened the tight hug, and refrained from asking questions.

She simply shoved a bag of hot roasted chestnuts into my hands.

"My grandma aired out the guest bed for you," she said softly.

"She asked if you like spicy food. I told her you eat everything."

I peeled a hot chestnut. The steam stung my eyes.

Boarding started, and another text from Ethan popped up.

“Got the rental. Picking you up at seven tomorrow morning.

“Don't be late. Juliet hates waiting for people.”

I didn't bother telling him I was traveling in the exact opposite direction.

As the train pulled away from the station, the platform lights slipped behind us one by one.

I leaned against the glass and watched his final demand flicker on my screen.

“Buy tomatoes on your way over. I kept the beef.”

The wheels clacked over the tracks, and the world outside dissolved into pitch black.

The message remained unread.