On the sixth day of freshman orientation, the heat was brutal. Liam handed his “best friend” Chloe a cold bottle of water while I stood right there, sweating in the sun. This time, I didn't cry. I just calmly told him it was over. “All this over a bottle of water?” Liam scoffed. “Yes.” He let out a dry laugh. “Fine. Try to stay mad for more than three days this time, Maya. I could use the peace and quiet.” His friends started jeering. “Go easy on her, man. Your girl is a ten. If you don't watch out, some frat guy is gonna swoop in.” Liam just shook his head. “She’s too high-maintenance. She starts a fight over every little thing.” “Her parents had a full-ride set up for her in London, but she chose a local state school and a major she hates just to be with me.” “Trust me,” he added, “three days of the silent treatment is her absolute limit.” I stayed silent. I had loved him for seven years. I followed him to this university, making him the center of my entire youth. But what he didn't know was this: When something doesn't fit, you drop it. When a person isn't right, you start over. I’d already processed the withdrawal papers. I applied to a school abroad, and as soon as my visa clears, I’m gone. Liam, I’m done chasing you. Chapter 1 After the breakup, Liam was the first one to block me. Then his “sister,” Chloe, called me. I was in the middle of deleting photos and my thumb slipped—I accidentally hit "Accept." The video feed popped up. A group of them were at a rowdy sports bar, the atmosphere loud and thick with the smell of wings and beer. “So, you really blocked her?” one of them asked. “You think she’s actually going to come crawling back?” “Aren't you worried she might actually be done for real?” Hearing his friends, Liam just shook his head and took a long swig of his beer. “You guys don't get it. Maya can't live without me.” “She’s a bit slow,” he continued. “Her parents had a whole life planned for her in the UK, but she threw it away to follow me here. She even took a spot in a major she doesn't like just to stay close.” He said it with total conviction. “She’ll last three days tops. Then she’ll be right back here, following me around like a puppy.” Chloe, wearing a tiny crop top, leaned in and draped an arm over his shoulder. “Wow, look at our Liam. Such a heartbreaker.” The guys laughed. “Seriously, take it easy. She’s cute, and it’s only freshman year. Some senior is gonna snatch her up.” Liam smirked, completely unfazed. “Let them. I could use the break. Once she realizes nobody treats her as well as I do, maybe she’ll actually learn how to behave.” Another guy chimed in. “Man, you’re cold. If I had a girl that looked like a literal doll, I’d be worshiping her. I definitely wouldn't block her.” Liam sighed, looking genuinely annoyed. “It’s just... she’s exhausting. We’ve been at orientation for six days and she’s cried four times, always about Chloe.” “Chloe was having a rough day, so I brought her a drink. Maya wouldn't even listen to me. She just started a scene. I don't know how she got this spoiled.” Chloe shrugged, playing the "cool girl" perfectly. “It’s fine. If she hates me that much, I’ll just stay away from you. I don't want to be the reason you guys fight. I’m not trying to make things hard for you, bro.” The guys immediately took her side. “Maya’s definitely being dramatic.” “Is it just girl jealousy? Chloe’s basically one of the bros, but let’s be real—she’s got the body and the face. Maya’s 'cute,' but cute doesn't win against sexy.” Before Chloe could reply, Liam frowned. “Cut it out.” “Maya is my girlfriend, and Chloe is my best friend. They’re both important to me. I’m not actually trying to break up with Maya; I’m just trying to break her habit of being so sensitive. She’s such a crybaby; she’d drive a saint crazy.” I couldn't listen anymore. I hung up. Chapter 2 My mood hit rock bottom. Just then, my DoorDash arrived—a small chocolate cake. I sat there on my dorm bed, shoveling cake into my mouth while tears streamed down my face. It tasted bitter and sweet at the same time. I grew up with Liam. We were those "childhood sweethearts" everyone talked about. Over a decade of history. Following him around had become a reflex. But this time, I meant it. I wanted out. It wasn't like all the other times he described. I wasn't going back. My phone rang. It was my mom. “Maya, honey... about wanting to withdraw and go abroad. Are you sure?” “Yes, Mom. I’m sure.” She paused. “What about Liam? I thought the whole point of that school was to be with him. Long distance is hard, honey. You need to think.” The mention of his name made my throat tighten. I forced myself to explain that we had broken up. “I'm sorry, Mom,” I whispered. “But I realized I can't stay at a school I hate, studying something I don't care about, just for a guy. I want to find my own path. Not just follow his.” My mom sounded surprised, but then relieved. “You’ve grown up, Maya,” she said. “I just wanted you to be happy. It sounds like Liam is the one losing out here. Classes abroad don't start until next month, and your offer is still valid. I’ll handle the visa. Love you, sweetie.” I wiped my eyes. “Love you too.” Chapter 3 I packed up everything Liam had ever given me and hauled the box down to the dorm dumpsters. As I walked out, I saw Liam pulling up to the curb, dropping Chloe off. She was practically hanging off him, laughing loudly. “It was just a six-pack, Liam! I can totally out-drink you. Admit it, you lost the bet!” Liam was laughing too, until he saw me. He awkwardly pushed Chloe back a bit. He probably expected me to blow up, to start crying and screaming about Chloe again. But I just walked past them toward the trash. I didn't even look at them. Liam smirked and stepped in my way. “Alright, Princess. Throw the rest away if you want, but keep that wooden carving. It took me a month to make that. My hands would fall off if I had to make another one.” I looked at him, expressionless. “You’re overthinking it. I don't keep trash from my exes.” Liam’s smile twitched, but he nodded. “Fine. Just don't regret it later.” As I turned to leave, Chloe grabbed my arm. “Maya, don't be like that. Don't get the wrong idea. I had a bit too much to drink tonight, so I asked Liam to drive me back. We’re literally just bros. Can't you just think of me as one of the guys?” “One of the guys?” My temper finally flared. “Does a 'guy' ask him to buy her tampons? Does a 'guy' make him play duo-queue in games with matching skins every night? Do you have a gender identity crisis or are you just a pick-me? If you’re sick, get therapy. Stop trying to gross me out.” Chloe froze. She let out a fake, nervous laugh, looking both humiliated and "wronged." “I didn't realize you were so insecure about small things. Fine, I’ll apologize if it makes you—” Liam cut her off, pulling her back. “Don't apologize to her. She thinks she’s a queen just because we’re in college now. She’s spoiled. Throw it away then. See if I care. I’m not replacing any of it.” I didn't waste a second. I walked to the bin and slammed the box inside. Chapter 4 Back in my room, I crashed. I fell into a restless sleep filled with memories of Liam. Five years old, at a family dinner. Someone called me “chubby.” I started bawling. Liam jumped off his chair, ran over, and hugged me. “It’s okay! Maya is the cutest! I love Maya the most!” He planted a messy kiss on my cheek while the adults laughed. I stopped crying. From childhood playmates to high school sweethearts. Over a decade. He used to say, “Crybaby. Who else is going to put up with you besides me?” I thought he was my "forever." Until Chloe showed up junior year. She was everything I wasn't. The “bad girl.” Rebellious, edgy, always with a lollipop in her mouth, claiming she was trying to quit vaping. I lost count of how many times Liam broke our plans for her. “You don't get it, Maya,” he’d say. “Chloe acts tough, but she’s actually really fragile. Her dad is an alcoholic. I feel like she and I are the same... we both just want to be free.” They became inseparable. Dirt bikes, skateboarding, adrenaline stuff. Liam would “help” her study, which just meant I was ignored while he tutored her. Every time we had a date, she’d call with some emergency. I finally snapped. “Can you stop hanging out with her? I don't like her.” Liam just looked at me like I was crazy. “You can't do the stuff we do! I don't take you because I don't want you to get hurt. Don't be like that.” Eventually, my crying just gave him a headache. He’d go hang out with Chloe until he was bored, then bring me a cupcake like I was a toddler. “Hey, crybaby. You done leaking yet?” Nobody knew the bottle of water wasn't the real reason I left. It was the second night of orientation. Everyone was exhausted. Liam snuck out with Chloe to go street racing and didn't come back all night. We had just fought, so he ignored all my calls. Then I saw a social media post of a bike accident nearby. I panicked. I rushed out in my pajamas to find him. I was so frantic that I jumped out of my Uber before it fully stopped and tumbled onto the asphalt. My leggings tore, and my leg was a bloody mess. But then I looked up. Across the street, Liam was perfectly fine. He was holding a “shaken” Chloe in his arms, whispering to her and stroking her hair. At that moment, I was just... tired. I realized that nothing is "forever."
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "389355", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel