Cal Jackson's new life as a rockstar fails to account for one thing: the existence of the girl he loves.
*****
"What are you thinking about?" she asks.
"A song," I say. "A new song."
I stare at the ocean as I sing the song that I wrote, something th...
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My phone rings as Cal calls me again. He must have read my message. For the past few minutes, I've been struggling to compose myself, because I would break if I talked to him. If I heard his voice, I wouldn't be able to think clearly. I would let my heart win, and my heart wants to be with him.
I'm sitting on my bed, hugging my knees. My eyes never leave my phone lying on the mattress, and Cal's name keeps appearing on the screen.
I take a deep breath. My hand is shaking as I finally reach for it. Slowly, I bring my phone to my ear, picking up the call.
"Amy." Cal's voice echoes, and I feel like bursting into tears. He sounds panic. "I saw your text," he pauses, his voice restless, like he's pacing back and forth over there. "What happened? You scared me with your text. I don't understand. You're leaving? What does that mean?"
I let out out a shaky breath. "Cal," I whisper brokenly, and before I know it, my tears fall. I can't hold all these emotions torturing my insides.
Cal goes silent, probably taken aback after hearing me crying. "Baby, why are you crying?" he rasps, sounding even more worried. "Talk to me, please."
I sniff, wiping my tears. I swallow a lump in my throat, trying to calm down first so that I can explain to him properly.
"My parents and I are going to New York," I say, my voice shaking. "My father will start a new business there with his acquaintance."
"New York?" His voice is laced with disbelief.
I know that he can't go there. He has just got a stable job here. Jasmine is continuing her education here too. Even if he has to leave, it would be LA, where he may be able to pursue his dreams, not New York.
"I'm sorry." My voice breaks. "I know that this is too sudden. I was shocked too when my father told me about this."
"Do you want to go there?" Cal whispers, but I can hear the fear in his voice very clearly.
He's scared that we're going to part ways, and he hasn't even heard the whole truth. It's not about doing a long-distance relationship, but it's about ending everything once and for all. Dad wouldn't let me be with Cal. It's his ultimatum, choosing him or Cal, no matter how bad it would break my heart. Dad knows that it's the only way for him to make me leave Cal.
I'm torn, and I don't know what I should do.
Still hearing nothing from me, Cal breaks the silence, "Amy--"
"I don't know, Cal," I cry. "I don't know what I should do. I'm so confused, and it's killing me to be like this." I let out a sob, sensing that our end is nearing. It shatters my heart into a million pieces.
I love Cal. I don't want to leave him, but it would make me lose my family.
"The thing is that--" I choke, trying to hold back my sobs. "Is that once I leave, I don't think that we can continue this anymore."
