The Day I Took a Different Path Chapter 1

Before graduation, my boyfriend, Landon Freeman, my two childhood friends, Clyde Medina and Mason Rivera, my best friend, Willow Castillo, and I set out on one last road trip through the Northwest. We plan to complete the entire loop together.

However, on the third day, one of our vehicles breaks down, leaving us with a four-seater. Without the slightest hesitation, Landon hands me a ticket for a six-hour bus ride. "You don't get carsick, so bear with it for a while. We'll wait for you at the next stop."

Willow offers to take my place, but Clyde and Mason immediately stop her. "You just threw up yesterday. Why are you trying to be a hero?"

Landon chuckles as he helps unload my luggage. "She's tough as nails, and she has never been one to hold a grudge."

As usual, I agree. Yet, six hours later, I arrive at the small town we'd agreed to meet in, only to find out that they'd changed course at the last minute and gone to another city.

In the group chat, the four of them are gathered around Willow, having a barbecue and beaming. Not a single one of them remembers to tell me.

All of a sudden, I see the pattern I've been blind to all these years. Whenever Willow feels cold, three jackets are waiting for her. Whenever she's tired, everyone stops.

Yet, the more sensible I am, the more they expect me to be the one who makes sacrifices. This time, I don't want to chase after them anymore.

I buy a ticket back home and reach out to the out-of-town company that I turned down two weeks ago. "Hello. I'd like to accept the offer."

I don't want this group of people who've been by my side for more than a decade anymore.

* * *

The mechanic told us that our car couldn't be repaired that day.

My boyfriend, Landon Freeman, leaned against the car door and checked his phone for a moment. Soon, he handed me a bus ticket. "1:00 pm. Six hours. You'll make it in time for dinner."

I took one look at the ticket. "It's for me?"

"Yeah." He pointed at the remaining SUV. "There are only four seats in total. Someone has to take the bus."

My best friend, Willow Castillo, immediately piped up. "Why don't I take the bus instead? Paige's going to be bored riding all that way by herself."

As soon as she picked up her bag, one of my childhood friends, Clyde Medina, pinned her hand down. "Did you forget how much you threw up yesterday?"

Mason Rivera, another childhood friend of mine, also frowned. "With your stomach, six hours on the bus will only make you feel sick again tonight."

Landon had already hauled my luggage to the curb. "Paige will be fine."

He smiled and jerked his chin at Willow. "She's been tough as nails since she was little; she can thrive just about anywhere."

Clyde chuckled. "That's true."

I used to laugh along whenever I heard that, assuming they were complimenting me for being easygoing and low-maintenance.

I accepted the ticket. "Fine."

Landon patted my shoulder. "Text me when you arrive."

Right after saying that, he turned to Willow. "Didn't you want to catch the sunset at the lake? If we don't leave now, we'll miss it."

I was caught off guard for a moment. "Aren't you guys going straight to the next stop?"

"We're just taking a quick detour." He had already settled into the driver's seat. "You won't be able to go on the bus anyway, so save yourself the hassle."

When the SUV pulled away, Willow leaned out the window, waving at me. "See you tonight!"

I waved back at her.

The vehicle turned the corner and soon disappeared from sight.

I lowered my head and looked at the ticket in my hand. Six hours. It genuinely wasn't that big a deal.

After boarding the bus, I realized I'd left my sunhat in the back seat of the SUV.

I was about to text Landon when a new post popped up on my feed.

Willow stood beside the lake, wearing my hat. Landon was crouching on the ground to get the best angle for her. Clyde held an umbrella over her, while Mason carried her bag.

The caption read, "A day in the life of the princess' personal photographers."

Willow replied with three heart emojis.

I stared at it for a while before exiting the app.

I also deleted the message I'd just typed. "Remember to pack my hat up for me."

It wasn't like it was expensive anyway.