We Can’t Go Back Chapter 1
The second his mother’s car drove away, Archie Simpson dropped onto the small bed, completely drained from the long ride from Toronto. He probably should’ve said more to her than, “Thanks,” and “Drive safe.” At the very least, he should’ve thanked her for not spending the whole drive to Banting peppering him with questions.
Outside, students hurried back and forth with boxes and suitcases, dragging their lives out of trunks and back seats. Some were greeting new floormates. Others were hugging their parents goodbye like they were being shipped off to war.
His roommate had said he’d be there at 6:30.
Archie glanced at his watch and forced himself back up. As much as he wanted to lie there and disappear for a while, he still had to unpack. He groaned at the sight of the bags, boxes, and suitcases scattered around the tiny room. His mother must’ve packed half the house and sent it with him.
Not that he didn’t understand why. He’d been the last kid still living at home for a long time. Him leaving wasn’t just a big change for him. It was going to be a big change for her too.
As he dug through one of the overstuffed suitcases, his mind drifted back to the moment he’d accidentally blown up his oldest friend’s summer fling in front of his long-time girlfriend. One sentence, said way too loudly, and suddenly everything in their group had shifted.
“Joey Jeremiah spends the summer dating Caitlin and fucking Tessa,” Archie had announced.
Then Archie turned and saw Caitlin standing in the doorway. The look on her face said she’d heard every word.
It wasn’t like Archie to be that cruel. Not usually. But still… Joey had asked for it. He’d spent the whole summer bragging about hooking up with two girls while constantly teasing Archie about having no experience with women.
Derek Wheeler was in jail now for driving drunk and causing injury and death. A drunk driver had killed his adoptive parents, and then Wheels had gone and done the same thing. He’d driven drunk, seriously injured Lucy, and killed a two-year-old child.
Every time Archie thought about it, his blood boiled.
The worst part was that Wheels still wouldn’t take responsibility. He just did what he always did — blamed everyone else.
Archie picked up a photo of the three of them from junior high, after The Zit Remedy played their first gig. He smiled, but it hurt a little.
What he wouldn’t give to go back to when it was just the three of them, their band, and those ridiculous dreams of rock-and-roll fame.
Mostly Joey’s dreams, but still.
Over at Carleton University, Caitlin Ryan stood in the middle of her small dorm room and took a deep breath.
She was honestly impressed with herself. Somehow, she’d managed to unpack and organize five boxes and two large suitcases in less than an hour. Of course, if Lucy Fernandez had come with her like they’d planned, it would’ve taken twice as long. Maybe longer. The two of them would’ve spent more time talking than actually putting anything away.
But Lucy was still in Toronto, recovering from the terrible injuries she’d suffered in the car accident a few weeks earlier.
Caitlin moved one empty suitcase into the closet by the door, beside the other one. Then she paused, changed her mind, and carried both suitcases back to her bed. She hadn’t met her roommate yet, and for all she knew, the girl could be bringing just as much stuff as Caitlin had.
It was probably better to wait. Once her roommate got there, they could figure out together where everything should go.
Caitlin picked up the envelope from the drugstore. It held the photos from Bronco’s party. She snorted when she saw the words Memorable Moments written across the front in fancy cursive.
Memorable was one word for it.
She had just stepped into the living room to grab the beer Joey had saved for her.
“Dating Caitlin and fucking Tessa.”
Joey turned to look at her. Archie had been clapping, right up until he noticed Caitlin standing in the doorway. Then he got out of the room fast.
“Doing Tessa Campanelli?” Caitlin said, feeling like all the air had been sucked out of the room. “You were doing Tessa Campanelli?”
Joey had been seeing Tessa all summer.
Not long after that, Lucy had left the party with Wheels, who was far too drunk to be behind the wheel. Then came the crash. A little boy was killed. Lucy survived, but not without serious injuries. Wheels was arrested almost immediately for driving under the influence, causing injury and death.
Even though her mother wouldn’t have minded either way, Caitlin was glad she’d driven her to Ottawa. Partly because she was still shaken up from Lucy’s accident. Luckily, the drive had been quiet. Peaceful, even.
Caitlin looked down at her right hand, where Joey’s ring used to be.
He’d given it to her on graduation night. A proposal, technically. It had been a sweet gesture, and she knew that. But she wasn’t ready for that kind of commitment. It wasn’t that she was against marriage. She just wanted a career. She wanted to see the world. She didn’t want to be married at eighteen to the first boy who looked her way.
“Can you believe those two are getting married right after high school?” Lucy had whispered, sounding disgusted. “Talk about a nightmare.”
“I don’t know,” Caitlin had said.
Across the room, Simon Dexter was proudly showing off Alexa Papadopolis and her engagement ring to anyone who would look. They’d been together all through junior high and high school.
“They look pretty happy.”
“Caitlin, have you checked the statistics on teen marriage?” Lucy asked, giggling. “What if they’re terrible in bed?”
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