Signed /Dream Team/

68

While talking to my brother, I came up with a thousand lies. He was constantly asking me the reason I wanted to move back to Florida, and if everything was okay. I knew it was the overprotectiveness in him, but it almost seemed like he knew something was up.

If I told him the truth, there would be a dead brit lying in the streets with his two grieving friends next to him. That's why I lied and said I just didn't like it in here.

All that matters is that he was supportive of my decision and even bought me a ticket back to Orlando.

It was weird how fast everything escalated, but I was getting used to things moving at the speed of light by now. All I know is that by the time I had everything I needed to move back home, it was already time to leave.

After officially resigning from work, my first thought was to meet up with Clay and say goodbye. Even though they were busy moving too, he did find some spare time to meet up.

Seeing him felt so different this time. The feeling was confusing - almost like nostalgic and unfamiliar at the same time. Knowing that it was probably the last time I was going to see him made me force a smile through the crippling sorrow when he approached me.

I took a deep breath and calmed myself.

"Hey," I press my lips together, leaning in for a hug.

"Hi," and that was the most awkward hug cause none of us knew when to pull away, "how are you?"

"You know, as always," I shrug. The last time we saw each other was yesterday when I went to the house to pack all of my things. I've been staying at a hotel alone for three days now, "you?"

"Yeah, same," he nervously bites his lip, "is your flight today?"

"It is. At 2 a.m.," I nod. I didn't think this would be awkward, "what are you guys gonna do? Are you gonna stay here or..?"

I expected him to answer faster cause my question wasn't that hard. But he kept chewing on his lip and stuttering. Then he ended up saying that they hadn't decided yet. And as weird as I found it, considering that they were actively packing and getting ready to move, I still nodded.

"So you're going to Florida," he says, sentence not sounding like a question, yet I still give him an answer.

"Yeah. Orlando."

I see his eyes widen momentarily. I'm not sure if he didn't hear me or was surprised by my words, but my brows furrow anyway at the odd reaction. He's acting so weird.

"You okay?" I look at his face and see him blink himself back to his normal self.

"Oh yeah, sorry," he shakes his head, "that's awesome. Happy for you."

"Thanks," then something crosses my mind, "maybe we'll meet someday.. I mean you used to live in Florida, maybe you'll visit home."

Clay takes in a deep breath, clearing his throat and nodding, "Yeah.. maybe. I don't know."

I smile again half-heartedly, waiting for something but not sure what that something was. I just expected.. something?

"So.." I get on my tiptoes barely and fall back down, rocking back and forth from the anxiety this whole situation was giving me.

"I.. I'm- uh, yeah.." it's almost like he's trying to say something, but decides against it at the last minute, "text me when you get there."

Well, I don't think anything else is going to happen.

"Of course," smiling, I go in for another hug. This time - the goodbye hug.

Expecting something quick and awkward again, I was surprised when Clay clung to me whole-heartedly.

I feel him exhale in my hair, hands curling into a fist on my back when my fingers dig into his shoulderblades. I feel a lump in my throat when we pull away. Clay sighs sharply.

"Have a.. have a safe flight," he clears his throat, and I nod, still waiting for something, "I.. I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too, Clay," my voice is small.

And there it is. The moment where I turn around hesitantly to leave.

"Ana-"

The way I turn back around is so sharp that I almost strain a muscle. I look at him, eyes full of hope - hope for something.

"Ana, I- ugh, I.."

"Yeah?" I try to encourage him, but I don't think it does anything.

"I want- I.. I was thinking..." I raise my brows, hoping he'll finally finish his sentence. But pauses and his whole face changes - any trace of emotion disappearing momentarily, "I wanted to say that we can still keep in touch? If you don't mind."

I don't think that's what he wanted to say.

"Totally," I give him a smile and a reassuring dip of the head, "yeah, of course. We will."

And he smiles back. It felt like I could see everything in that smile except for genuineness or happiness. However, that turned out to be the last glimpse I caught of him before finally turning around and leaving.

I'm ashamed to say that I went back to my hotel room and started rearranging every single thing in my suitcases from nerves. The lump in my throat never went away, and I couldn't even force myself to cry. Before I knew, every single piece of clothing became folded in a different way and ended up in another suitcase.

Then I got a call from Nick. After letting my phone ring for thirty seconds or something, I finally decided to pick it up.

Right as I accept the call, Nick speaks, not even letting me say a word.

"So you're gonna leave without saying goodbye to me?" I know he was supposed to be jokingly faking the hurt voice, but I swear, I could hear genuineness in it.

"How do you even know I'm leaving?" I chuckle softly.

I didn't tell him cause I thought he'd tell George. And not like George could do or say anything or was going to, but I wanted my life to stay as far away from his as possible. Especially after the letter I left on his desk when I left the house yesterday.

"I had a feeling, actually. I asked Clay, and he told me your flight is today," he explains, but my mind was somewhere else to react immediately. I only did when he followed up with a question, "are you too busy today?"

I have nothing to do, but my answer might change depending on what he says.

"Too busy for what?" I ask.

"For a cup of coffee and hopefully a goodbye hug."

A small smile creeps on my face. I shake my head as an answer, then realize we're on the phone.

"Never too busy for you," the sadness in my voice was still there, so I tried my best to cancel it out with more positivity in my words.

"Sweet," I hear a smile in his voice, "meet me at the park in 10 minutes then."