Stay Gold {O2L}

0 Days

KATIE GREENE

I hated goodbyes. I honestly have never felt a deeper pain then saying goodbye to someone, even if it was only for a day. Because so many things could happen in the course of one day. I could never see that person again, and I would only be left with the memories we shared.

Today I had to say goodbye to my boy friend. He was going on tour for the next six months. What if he forgot about me? What if he found someone better? Thoughts were racing through my mind as I struggled to get myself ready. I knew I had to say goodbye to him, but I didn't think the day would come so soon. I was letting him go right after I found him. I knew in the modern day that it's easy to stay in contact even when you're far apart. But I couldn't help but feel like things wouldn't last.

"Are you ready?" Candace. She looked at me with sad eyes as she knocked on the door frame of my room. I realized that I had just been front of the mirror staring at my reflection for a good 10 minutes. I wasn't even looking at myself but instead looking through me. 

I couldn't even believe that Candace had to leave. My best friend, confidant, and other half. In someways, I loved her more than I could ever love Kian. When she turned from an internet friend to something tangible, she quickly became my sister. I didn't know what I would do without her, I would miss her not eating cereal with me every morning. We took the world by storm this summer, and there was no way things would stay the same without her.

"Yeah" I smiled at her and the two of us linked arms as we walked out the the apartment room. All of her, Amber, and the O2L Boys' bags were already in the van we rented to take the whole group to the airport. The two of us made our way down to the lobby and into the van. She sat down next to JC, holding in tears she knew were bound to escape. I sat down next to Kian and laid my head on his shoulder, knowing that this will be the last time I could do that in a while.

The car ride was eerily silent. Melinda and Sam just looked at each other. Connor was in another world, his arms crossed and looking out the window as we passed by the buildings and cars. Trevor and Amber held each other, not nearly as worried as the rest of us. Ricky had already left to their first tour destination, Maui, yesterday. He figured that all the couples should get the last day to themselves. Connor didn't seem to get the message.

We got to the airport and all unloaded the bags. I looked at Melinda sadly watching as Sam lifted a huge duffle, and thanked God that I had her. I would be all alone here if it wasn't for her.

We began and decent to the boys gate slowly. Their flight took off an hour before Candace and Amber's, so we all decided we would wait there. We got through security, (Melinda and I had to beg out of love that they would let us through without a ticket) and got some food before sitting down in the notoriously uncomfortable LAX chairs.

The time had come. I felt the overwhelming sadness when the lady said "Last call for flight 72A to Maui, Hawaii" like it was a plague that infested my emotions. The pain felt so unbearable, even though I was confident in the fact I would see him again. Things were changing, and I was rapidly realizing I was not a fan of change.

"Goodbye" I said as I hugged all the boys, even Connor. He may have been a jerk, but he was still a friend who had a lot to figure out. I wished him luck as he boarded the plane.

"Well I guess this is goodbye, for now at least" Kian looked at me, his hands in his pocket. He obviously didn't know how I was going to react. I just began to cry as I ran into his arms.

"No, babygirl, don't you dare cry" He said to me as he stroked my hair, "When you cry, I cry and I need to keep up my bad boy facade" He said and for the first time that day I laughed. I looked up at him, taking in his beauty. I knew I wouldn't see his face like this for another six months, and I wanted to remember every little detail.

"I love you so much" I said as he used his thumb to wipe the last tear from my cheek. "words can't even describe. So if you find someone more beautiful, or more unique, please let me down gently. I love you and want you to be so, so happy while living your dream" 

"Katie, there is no one in this world more unique or beautiful. You're amazing, and I don't envision myself ever falling out of love with you. You're the one. The girl you find once in a lifetime. I'm lucky to find you so soon, and I'm so sorry I have to leave like this. I don't want my dream to get in between us" He said and cupped my face with his left hand, drawing circles on my cheek with his thumb.

"Nothing could get between us babe, we're stronger than that. We've been stronger han the shit with Andrea, the rumors and hurtful comments from our fans, everything. A little distance is not going to change how we feel. After all, absence makes the heart grow fonder, or so I've heard" I said and he kissed me. I smiled as we broke apart and gave him a long hug before the flight attendant told him it was time. He blew me a kiss as he walked down the hallway.

And in an instance, he was gone.

"I swore it was only summer love" Melinda came up behind me, "But, God, nothing has ever hurt as bad as that goodbye" I nodded and leaned my head on her shoulder.

"Guys, we should get going to our gate before they start boarding" Amber said and the four of us walked, arms intertwined with each other.

The only thing I found that I hated more than goodbyes were waiting for them. I had to sit for an hour in those stupid chairs talking about nothing as we waited to say the words we were so desperately avoiding. It was enough to drive a sane person mad.

"Guys" Amber all shook us out of our individual thoughts, "It's time"

At first I was numb. I said my goodbye to Amber and she boarded the plane. Melinda said a short goodbye to Candace and went to get the van pulled around. The two of us just stood there, unsure of how to go forward.

"Best fucking summer ever dude" She said to break the silence and I erupted in laughter. The two of us laughed at nothing for a good ten minutes. We sobered up and looked at each other, a mixture of joy and sadness in the fresh tears rolling down our cheeks.

"You're no longer just someone I know from the internet, you're real. You're more than my best friend, you're my sister" I said and hugged her tight, like in the mies where two people embrace after not seeing each other for a very long time. But this wasn't a movie, and she wasn't coming home, she was going back to hers. And we didn't know when the next time we would see each other would be, or if we would never see each other again. 

"I'll miss you so much" She said as she let go of me for the last time, "I'll still Kacetime you every damn day after school. This time next summer, I'll promise I will find a way to come back to you. This isn't goodbye forever, it's simply goodbye for now" she said.

"You're the best friend a girl could have" I smiled and handed her her carryon, "Now go back to Oklahoma and have a kick ass senior year"

She agreed and gave her ticket to the attendant before beginning the endless walk to the plane. She almost rounded the corner when I called out to her.

"Candace!" I screamed and she whipped her head around.

"What the hell could you want now, Greene?" She shouted back.

"Stay gold forever" I screamed and she just smiled widely and disappeared around the corner.