I would describe that day as my last good day in Oakville. 

After school ended, Quinn and I went to the rink and ice-skated to our hearts content. We had been going every winter and this was the perfect way to end my life in Oakville. I was going to miss the friends I made and I was going to miss Quinn. 

Today was my last day in town and I was decided. I was going to tell Quinn how I truly felt despite the fact he was still in a relationship with Eliza. I knew it was wrong to interfere, but I didn’t want to leave without saying anything. 

Our home was all packed up and we sent a U-Haul ahead of us to our new place in Cosava. All we had left were light carry-ons. 

It was down pouring after school let out and I didn’t think to bring an umbrella. Quinn and I promised to walk home together one last time, but I was doubting whether or not he wanted to face the rain. 

I felt a light tap on my head and looked up to see an umbrella looming over me. 

“I thought you might have forgotten, Z.” Quinn commented, linking an arm through mine. 

“You’re always so prepared.” I muttered. We left the shelter of the overhang. It was too rainy for me to give my high school a proper farewell. I was a little saddened by that. “Thanks, Q.” 

Quinn’s face stretched in a smile. He looked down at me. “I’ve always loved that nickname. You’re the only one who’s ever called me it.” 

Despite my resolve to tell him my true feelings, my stomach knotted in anticipation. To diffuse my sudden tension, I elbowed him and said, “Yeah, well, you’re the only one that’s ever called me Z.” 

“You were so against that name, remember?” 

There was a smile in his voice that melted my heart. “I remember. And I thought ‘Q’ would be the perfect way to get you back.” 

Quinn let out a rare laugh and it made my spirits soar higher. 

“I’m going to miss hearing that.” I muttered without thinking. 

At this point, we were almost halfway home and drenched in cold rain water because of the wind. The sky was a murky, overcast gray and the wind was shrill and foul.

Quinn glanced at me and quickly pulled me down a seldom used alley. I looked at him in confusion. He only shook his head. “Tell me, Z, do you like me as more than a friend? I need to know.”

I looked up at him in shock. My heart started beating at an alarming rate. I was starting to breathe faster than was normal. I had already decided to tell him the truth…at some point. Taking a deep breath, I said, “Yes. I’ve liked you since eighth grade.”  

My heart was pounding in my throat. My hands were starting to shake out of fear of what he might, or might not, say.  

“Is that so?” He raised an eyebrow, looking down at me. 

“Quinn?” 

“So, you accept me? All of me?” There was a note to his voice that I didn’t like. 

“Of course I do.” I stated without thinking. 

“Hmm,” was all he said. 

Before I knew it, Quinn threw the umbrella to the ground and pushed me against the back of a chain-link fence. My heart stuttered in fear as I tried to push him away. 

No. This wasn’t right. 

Quinn knotted his hands in my hair and brought his lips to mine. I tried to pull away from him but it was no use. His mouth found mine and soon I was lost in his will yet again. It seemed that Quinn was always leading me by the nose.

This isn’t what I wanted. 

Quinn pulled me even closer before I started to struggle.

My self-defense kicked in and I rammed my elbow in his stomach and heard a satisfying ‘oaf’ from him. It was enough to free my mouth and push him away, but only just. 

“What are you doing?” I demanded; my voice ragged. 

“Kissing you.” he seethed as he made to kiss me again. 

“Wait!” I yelled.

Quinn had no intention of waiting and claimed my mouth once more. I forced myself not to get lost in his kiss and, somehow, I managed. I pulled my face away from his but that didn’t stop his kiss. He trailed rough kisses down my cheek and to my neck, whispering my name. 

“Please, Quinn, stop.” I demanded, trying to wriggle out of his grasp. 

“Why?” he asked between kisses. 

“Damn it, Quinn! You’re dating someone else!” I yelled, yanking myself free. 

“So?” he shot back. “I don’t like her!” 

“Then why the hell are you two dating?” I hissed through my teeth. 

“I did it to protect you!”

“Protect me?” I demanded. “In what idiotic world does that make sense?” 

Quinn glared down at me. He put his hands on either side of me, trapping me between him and the fence. “Eliza told me that she and her friends would stop bullying you, but only if we dated. It’s what any best friend would do.” 

My mouth popped open at his words. I didn’t know what to say. “That…I don’t get it.” 

Quinn sighed, resting his forehead against mine. “I decided to agree to her terms the day you got jumped in eighth grade. That’s why I asked you to kiss me that day.” 

Suddenly, a lot of things made sense. The reason Quinn always walked me home. The reason why I never had a problem with anyone else at school. The reason why I was able to make friends and be happy despite hiding my true feelings around the person I liked. 

It was all because Quinn made it so. 

“I don’t—” 

Quinn suddenly leaned forward and kissed me again. “Time for ‘don’ts’ is over, Z. I want to kiss you one last time before you leave.” 

“What are you saying, Q?” I didn’t like his tone and my heart felt as if it was going to break. 

“After today, I don’t think we’ll ever see each other again.” Quinn whispered. 

“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s only a two-day trip.” 

“Yes. But people forget about other people, despite promises made.” 

I glared up at Quinn. “My parents finally got me a phone. We can keep in touch that way.” 

Quinn shook his head. “Z…please…kiss me one last time.” 

I didn’t understand. I didn’t understand at all. But I kissed him. I kissed him because I was afraid that if I didn’t, he would be lost to me forever. 

When we arrived at my house, soaking wet, I demanded to swap cell phone numbers despite his protests. He wasn’t going to kiss me like that and not give me his number. But when we moved away the next day and said our goodbyes, Quinn’s eyes were distant and cool. It was the complete opposite of how he usually was. 

“Take care, Z.” Quinn whispered in my ear as we hugged goodbye. 

“You too, Q.” I responded before we both pulled away.

Ever since that day, I have been unsuccessful in contacting my best friend. 

I never heard from him again.