Pretty Eyes & Bow Ties

See Ya Later (Finale)

With a groan I turned over in my bed, still in the state of half conscious half asleep. I cracked open an eye and peered at the digital clock on the dresser across from my bed.

In bright red numbers it read '12:34'

'Huh I thought I had set an alarm for-'

Isn't extreme panic a great way to jump start someone's morning?

"DAD!"

-

I ran through the airport as fast as possible in only my pajamas and tennis shoes, jumping over and weaving between people and luggage.

I'm late.

 I'm so late. 

I was supposed to be up at 12 because Eri's flight was set to leave at 1. But I had never set the alarm and with the added traffic the giant clock on the wall struck 1:05.

"ERI!" I screamed as I ran up to where he was supposed to be boarding. 

People walked down the loading tunnel but I couldn't see the black haired boy anywhere and I wasn't allowed to pass.

"ERI!" I shouted again, my vision blurring.

I'm too late.

I clutched at my hair and walked away from the boarding area, trying not to cry. 

"Haven?"

I looked up to find Eri setting a bag on the ground and his family standing behind him.

"Eri." I whispered before launching myself towards him like a heat seeking missile.

He laughed aloud as I tackled him to the ground, wrapping my arms around him.

"You aren't gone yet." 

"Our flight got delayed for a few minutes! But never mind that, you made it!" He laughed, his eyes glittering.

"Of course I'd make it!" 

He looked down at me and laughed harder. "And you're in pajamas!"

I was so scared that I was too late that I had just hopped into the car with what I was wearing, which was an old oversized t-shirt and a pair of fluffy black pajama pants with little bowties  of different colors of the rainbow printed on them.

Eri had given them to me for my birthday awhile back, having appeared at my house at 10 o' clock on a school night with twenty something balloons, a gift bag, and a huge chocolate cupcake. "It's never too late to celebrate." He used as an excuse.

The memory made me smile but the pajamas reminded me of why I was wearing them in public at the moment.

 "I-I'm sorry I'm late! My alarm never went off and there was traffic and-"

He shut me up with a firm kiss to the lips, followed up by a warm chuckle.

He's leaving. 

"It's alright, love." He mumbled against my lips.

He's leaving. He's leaving.

I choked a little, burying my face in his neck and hugging him tightly.

He'sleavingHe'sleavingHe'sleavingHe'sleavingHe'sleavingHe's-

"You're leaving!" I sobbed into his shoulder. 

I couldn't hide my sorrow from him anymore. 

"I know." He whispered back tightly.

"I've only own you for a year and yet I love and care about you more then I've loved anyone else in the world besides my dads. You can't just up and leave! You can't just-" My whispered rant broke off into a sob.

"I'll come back." He swore.

"But when?"

"It doesn't matter when...just know that I love you too. I'll always and only love you."

"Eri." Estrella whispered, putting a hand on his shoulder. "It's time to go." She mumbled reluctantly.

The boy and I slowly unfurled from each other and stood. Eri collected his bag and handed it to his sister, who left to give us a bit of alone time. The raven haired boy took my hands in his, which he raised and pressed a kiss to my scarred knuckles.

"I love you."

"I know." He mumbled against my skin. "I love you more."

I giggled and wiped my eyes with my free hand, although I knew it would be useless.

"So you swear. You swear you'll come back?"

He linked our pinkies together and grinned, making his lip scar stretch and flashing those tombstone straight, pearly white teeth of his. "I swear. But only if you swear to message and skype me everyday."

I dropped his hand and grabbed his face, pulling him down so our lips crashed together for what would be the last time in a long time. He buried his fingers in my hair and I fanned my fingers out across his cheeks, taking in the feeling of kissing the boy as if he'd be gone forever once he passes that gate.

We pulled back when the woman over the loud speaker announced that Eri's flight would be taking off soon.

"I-I should go."

"You should." I nodded, stepping back.

Eri began to walk away and I very hesitantly released his hand. He pulled his ticket out of his pocket, got cleared, and passed the gate before turning back to me. He gave me a once over and grinned.

"See ya later, bowties!" He called, making me smile through my tears.

"See ya...pretty eyes!" I shouted back.

He laughed and saluted me before turning and walking down the tunnel. I watched him walk until he disappeared around a corner. With a sigh, I turned my back and started my slow trudge back towards Dad, who met me halfway to the car. 

If you told me then, I'd laugh and call you a liar. Though what I would never know was that Eri would hold up his promise...but I wouldn't.