I'll Always Remember You

A Day with the Dying

Ellington's POV

I helped Nicki into my car before driving her to my house.

"Tell me about Kelly." were the first words out of her mouth after I started driving.

"Nicki, that was forever ago."

"But I want to know about her."

"Well, I think you would have been close friends with her."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Rydel was."

"Oh."

"She was really fun to be around. She was always laughing and saying the craziest things."

"She sounds great. Do you miss her sometimes?"

I hesitated, but finally gave in.

"Yeah. Sometimes."

"You should call her."

"Or I should focus on driving you to my house."

"True that!"

I turned up the stereo. I had a CD of all the covers R5 had ever done. Love Me Again started playing and Nicki jammed out. I started singing it out of tune on purpose and she laughed.

She turned the music off and gave me a smile.

"Sing for me. Except not out of tune. Sing for me like you're trying to be good."

"Why?"

"Rocky has shown me videos, and I think you're really good. I wanna hear it in person."

I hesitated, but then began singing Sunday Morning, like I used to at R5 concerts.

When I stopped I glanced over at her. She was beaming.

"That was realllyyyyy good!"

"You think so?"

"Yeah."

"How come all the sudden interest in me?" I asked as I pulled into my drive.

"You become interested in people when you realize that you don't have much longer to see them."

I stopped the car and sat there for a minute. I finally looked over at her.

"Did you know I used to have a crush on you?"

"What?"

"Yeah. Every Lynch boy except Riker did too. Obviously Ross prevailed, then Rocky did."

"How?"

"What do you mean how? You were there."

"Well, why did all of you like me? I'm not special."

"Actually, you really are special! You're pretty, you have a great personality, you're super funny, the list goes on. Every Lynch boy likes a girl like that. Even Riker. He just didn't like you that way. You were too much of a sister for him."

"Really?"

"Yeah. It was stupid, but I wished every day that I would have a chance to kiss you."

"Seriously?!?" She giggled.

"Go ahead and laugh, but I'm not joking!"

"Do you want me to peck you on the lips just to make your dreams come true?"

"That's not my dream anymore."

"What's your dream now?"

"That you'll live."

Everything was silent.

"Why?"

"It's not because I love you anymore. It's because I care about you. I wish I could've been your best friend. I wish I would've done that before and not waited till now."

"It was my fault. I had many chances to call you up and invite you over, but I didn't."

"It's okay. Let's just pretend like nothing bad is happening. Let's just have a good day."

We got out of the car and I lead her into the living room. When we got there I hugged her tight to make up for the awkward hug in the car.

"So what are we doing today?"

"Well first of all, you and Riley looked starved. Want a sandwich?"

"I'd love a sandwich."

"Good because I'm the best sandwich maker in the entire world."

"Surreee!"

This is going to be an amazing day.