Darkness's Flower: Pulling It Together

Chapter 45: She Left

~Nico~

"Don't let me go, Nico. Please. Help me stay. Don't let them take me," Lilly said.

I sniffled. "I wish I could. But I think that's mostly why they're making you go. Because of me. Your dad hates me. I'm just getting in his way of letting you have a perfect life."

She looked up at me and put her hand on my jawline. "But you are my perfect life."

Lilly pulled my lips into hers and we started kissing again. But nothing intense. Just a nice kiss, but it lasted for a decent amount of time. My lips left hers.

"And you're mine. I swear it on the River Styx, and that's a big deal, but this is even bigger. Lilly, I swear it on my life that we will end up together again. I don't care what it takes, but we will have a happy ending."

She smiled through her tears and kissed me again. Soon after, I fell asleep while holding Lilly tight. No dreams. Nothing. Then I woke up and she was gone. I choked thinking of the idea of my girlfriend being gone. There was a note and a dark red rose. I looked at the note and started crying.

Dear Nico,

By the time you read this, I will be getting closer to Paris. You know that I didn't want to leave. But I will be back. You said it yourself, we will have a happy ending.

These splotches? Those are my tears. The tears of me not wanting to leave, not wanting to leave my friends, not wanting to leave my home, and most of all, not wanting to leave you.

I swear I'll find a way back to you. I love you more than anyone can ever know, even me. Just remember that. I love you, Nico di Angelo.

Your girlfriend,

Lillian Michelle West (hopefully di Angelo sometime)

I smiled a little bit at the last part. Next time I see her, and know for sure she can stay, I'm proposing. So you know how I left a not for Lilly saying I wouldn't be back until around four? That's because I bought a ring. Yeah, a ring for me so I can propose to her.

I clutched them both and shadow-traveled to camp from the early shadows of the morning. I crashed onto my bed and cried. I cried into my pillow for a few hours. Then someone walked in.

"Nico? I thought-"

"Gabriella, she moved!" I screamed through my tears.

Gabby stopped. "She...she what?"

"LILLIAN MOVED!"

She pulled me up and dragged me out. We got everyone together and Iris-Messaged Lilly. It was just me in the image and I saw her, crying. She smiled and wiped her tears away, black smudges all over her face from her makeup.

"Nico," Lilly whispered.

Tears streaked my face. "It's not just me."

All of my friends stepped into the image and Lilly lost it.

"We miss you, Lilly," everyone yelled.

Then she saw Percy and smiled again. "Hi, Perc."

He started sobbing. "Lilly! Ah! What am I gonna do? You're gone!"

"I'll be back, I swear. I just don't know when."

"We have to go, but we'll talk to you soon," Percy said.

Everyone said bye and I was left with the image of my far-away-girlfriend crying.

"Nico," Lilly whispered again.

"I know. I read your note. I'm at camp. I'm keeping the flower and the note. I don't know what to do with myself, Lilly! Gabby said she's gonna keep going to see you regularly. I swear we will see each other again," I said.

She smiled through more tears. "I know, Nico. I love you so much!"

"Lillian Michelle West! Who are you talking to?" her father's voice boomed. He ran into into the room Lilly was in and immediately stared me down. "Say goodbye to Nico! You won't ever been seeing him again!"

"Nico!" Lilly screamed as the image disappeared.

"Lilly!" I screamed.

I started sobbing and ran back to my cabin. I threw myself down and continued to sob. Then someone walked in again.

"Nico," Gabby sniffled, "I'll visit her regularly and give her anything you want me to give her for you."

"Whoa. Say that again in English," I managed.

"I will visit her regularly and if you want me to give her anything, I will!"

"No. Maybe. Whatever. Just leave me alone!"

Gabby left me in my cabin to cry. And I did. For hours. Then I drifted to sleep. Then I heard a small whisper. I didn't know what time it was, but I wasn't ready to get up yet. I figured it was pretty late, maybe past midnight or so.

"Nico," the soft voice said, "Nico!"

I squirmed and opened one of my eyes. "What?" My eyes both went wide and I sat up quickly. "Lilly!"

"Shh! It's really early here and I'm trying not to wake my parents. They don't know I'm talking to you," Lilly explained through her tears.

"Oh, Lillian," I whispered. "You're breaking rules for me?"

"Of course I am! I had to talk to you! I miss you so much already. I can hardly sleep because I keep thinking about you. You can't let me stay here for all of college. Please, Nico. Save me."

"I will. I have to go to college in the morning, Lilly. I'm sorry, but I have to go. But don't worry. I'll send Gabby with some things from me when she comes to see you. I love you so much, Lillian. I'll talk to you later," I said.

"I love you too, Nico."

She blew me a kiss and I smiled sadly. Then her beautiful face disappeared.

She's gone. My girlfriend is gone. I don't know when I can see her again! I will see her again. I have to, there's absolutely no exception. I will propose and we'll get married and we can have kids- No. We can't have kids. She said it's impossible. Gods, dang it! Even when my life is perfect with her, something has to go wrong!

I lie there for a while and finally get up and go to college when it was time. I carried a picture of Lilly with me wherever I went. Nobody has really talked to me much in classes because I've been so quiet thinking about my long-distance girlfriend. And now I'm back at camp because Gabby pushed me to go to some stupid Halloween dance thing. And she's making me dress up...as a vampire...

She threw me the costume. I put it on and I look stupid. I had to put black makeup under my eyes and fake blood dripping from my lips. I had a cape and had to at least brush my hair. I put the fangs in and went over to the amphitheater. It was around eight-thirty and the skies were already dark. I walked in and slipped back into the corner where it was dark.