The Harsh Reality Of Life

Departuring

Maddie was restless the rest of the night, so she decided just to stay up. It gave her a lot more time to pack up all her things. Her eyes watered as she taped the last box shut. The walls of her cabin room were now dull, but almost looked new. Just like when she first came and settled in. A room without all her clothes, books and several photos from the past weeks. She could imagine in her head vaguely, sitting down in a New York apartment and staring at the photos nostalgically.

The clock silently chimed, another hour had past. It only meant it was closer to her departure time. However, Maddie decided to try and leave the cabin earlier in order to make it back to town in time for her flight. It also meant that she wouldn't need to say goodbye to everyone in their morning. It was to hard for her.

But right by her side were Jessica and Lea, they were the only ones who actually knew that she'd be leaving early. You couldn't face Chloe, Chase, Tyler, Nick, or Dean, and definitely not Liam.

"Okay umm, are you ready to go?" Jessica whispered taking Maddie's hand.

With Jessica, no matter where she went, she had to be dressed appropriately, the adult side of her always took over more than the childish side. However, Lea didn't care. Lea had a hair done in a messy bun, with black joggers on and a shirt that said 'where's the wifi'. Maddie's top was Marceau Intarsia by Lucy Paris and so was her skirt. It was an outfit she had always kept at the back of her closet or at that bottom of her suitcase but never wore. It looked just right. (AU: Message me if you want to see the dress or just ask in the comments)

"I'm ready. At least that's what I keep thinking..." she said, smiling through all the pain of leaving everyone. "The California sunrise is something I will definitely miss and the ones at home. Might not be the same in the big apple." The colours of the night light receded into the horizon with the indigo slowly blending in with the red, and the red with the pink.

Jessica and Lea picked up as many suitcase as they could while Maddie held her handbag. She looked around the cabin room one last time. How could a cabin be filled with so many memories? She took in every little detail, feeling different kind of emotions each time. Deep down in her mind, she wondered if she would ever come back. Would she? Maybe 10 years from now, maybe even in a matter of days. She turned her heels around, halfway out the door until she heard her name. Looking back, it wasn't Lea nor Jessica.

There and then at 4 in the morning, Liam Fitzgerald stood many steps away from Maddie Foster. Despite it being early, he dressed like he was ready to go out. He wore a cream checkered sleeveless top, with black jeans. His hair was set, no sign of him sleeping. But you could see that from his eyes.

Jessica cleared her throat. "Lea and I will be in the car with your bags. You probably need to talk so we will leave you to it." And with that being said, the two girls walked out, leaving the two alone.

"I couldn't sleep." He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand and gave a sheepish smile. "So...this is it, I guess? Or at least that's what they say in the movies."

"I guess so." She bit her lip, unsure of what to say.

"Listen, Maddie, I..."

she shook her head. "Liam, I don't think anything will ever change my decision. And I don't want to say something I'll regret. What we both said last night and everything that happened was...intense. I think what we both said was true regardless of our emotional state." Maddie laughed lightly, thought there was no humour to it.

"You're probably right...I just want you to know that I did love you, you know that right? I still do."

She sighed and took a step back. "I can't think about this right now."

"okay." He stood there silent, only a few steps away but it was so hard for him to reach out to her.

"I guess I have to go then." She shrugged as she stood by the door. He turned his head and managed an unbalanced smile, and she returned the gesture. She turned around finally walking away. But stopped. There was his voice again. This time though, Maddie didn't turn around, she was frozen like ice.

"I...Whenever someone would stare at you for too long, you'd look away or you'd play with your hands. Your hair would get a little knotted sometimes and your smiles sometimes isn't always real. You would laugh at all my jokes--- funny or not; you still laughed. You would fall asleep with a book in your hand at 3AM and go crazy if your favourite TV show is left on a cliffhanger."

She turned around to face him as he continued.

He went on, laughing a little at a few. "You get annoyed when you can't reach the top shelf because your too short. You're afraid of heights and you have always been afraid to get on airplanes. You don't like waking up early but hate to admit it. Your a little clumsy. You won't be able to fall asleep knowing you are angry at someone. You blink a few more times when your confused. You sleep with one hand under your pillow. This is my personal favourite, when your lying or keeping something a secret, you do that thing with your voice, you go all defensive. You'd pace back and forth if your nervous or play with the sleeves of your shirt. If you like something, you'd go on and on about it, not leaving a single detail out. If you want an answer out of me, you'd try to lift an eyebrow up, but fail. You'd do all these things and I've just been keeping note in my head so if I ever had the chance to sit down and tell you, I would. I didn't have much time to actually sit down and tell you but yeah."

"You missed one crucial one out."

"What was it?" He smiled.

She forced a grin and walked up to him. "That Liam Fitzgerald can make me happy in a way no one else can. And hey, I've picked a few things of yours too."

"Is it a competition now, Miss Foster?" He asked, making her grin even more. But her smile faded away as she looked at the wooden wall clock on her left.

He sighed, knowing that this next part will kill him inside and out. "Be careful, okay?"

Instead of responding, she walked into his arms. She just stood there. And so they both stood there swaying in each other's arms, hoping to stay there for as long as they can. She didn't want it to end. Finally, looking up at him, she moved even closer, if that was even impossible. Grabbing her waist one last time, he looked into her tearful eyes. Slowly, he grabbed the side of her face and leaned in to kiss her. And for a long moment, they clung to each other. Pulling away from her lips, she still rested her hands around his neck, with his forehead resting on hers.

"I...I guess I should go."

Maddie Foster turned around and walked out the door and out of Liam Fitzgerald life. For good? That's not even possible.

He rushed to the window to watch her get into the car and leave. Having assured she was completely out of sight, he not only had a sense of emptiness, but also a sense of heartbreak come over him.

---LINE BREAK---

After hours of driving, going back home, saying goodbye to family, packing a few things from her house and being driven to the airport, Maddie was knackered.

All passengers on the New York flight 2157 must go to the gate. The plan will begin boarding in 10 minutes.

"Call us as soon as you land." Lea exclaimed.

"I will." Saying goodbye was a million times worse in real life than in her head. She hugged the two girls, with tears in their eyes and didn't want to let go. She was leaving home. She was leaving everyone she loved for New York University.

Jessica wiped her eyes and then took out a envelope from her bag. "Dean wanted me to give this to you. He said to read it when you get to New York."

She gently took the envelope, not letting out of her sight. She wanted to hear at what Dean had to say and why he'd wrote it in a letter.