Broken Promises

Chapter 21

The hours ticked by, getting closer and closer to midnight. Closer and closer to the time of my departure. Pretty soon I would be staring out of the window of an airplane, looking down at the little world beneath. 

As we were all gathered in the cinnamon scented living room, all dressed up, a sudden rush of nostalgia came over me, actually realising that these would be my final few moments in this place, with all these people that I cared about so deeply. I would be leaving a huge piece of my heart right in that room. 

We talked, laughed and if I thought that day couldn't get any better it did. Just by sitting there and having simple conversations, and dancing around goofily. My day kept getting better and better by each minute that went by. With each smile we shared. With the laughter that roared through the room. With the love in the air of that sweetly scented room. 

"I'll go and get more champagne," I suggested and walked over to the kitchen. It was quiet except for the sounds of everyone cheering and singing in the other room and the song Happy New Year by Abba on the radio. I reached over for one of many bottles on the kitchen counter. A voice that was almost a whisper, slightly startled me. 

"Hi," Spencer was standing at the door with his slightly, crooked smile.

I smiled back, tucking a bit of hair behind my ear "Hi." I replied. 

"Want help opening that?" He asked, pointing at the bottle. "I can do it with a knife." He winked which caused me to laugh. 

"Go ahead," I encouraged him as I handed him a bottle and took a step to the side, to be at a safe distance. 

He grabbed a knife from one of the drawers as he asked, "Are you ready for this?" I just nodded and he swiftly, slid the knife across the bottle causing the cork to fly, crashing into the wall opposite as the champagne began pouring out of the bottle on to the tiled floor.

"Wow. Impressive." I complimented his skill, clapping, as he bowed in front of me. I laughed. 

"Thank you." He chuckled. And then we were standing there silently, both avoiding eye contact. "So... earlier..." he started.

I closed my eyes, sighing. "I'm sorry. We got caught up in the moment, I guess." I explained. 

"I like you, Cassie." He blurted out and we could no longer avoid eye-contact. Carefully, he approached me until our noses were almost touching. "But you're leaving and we might not ever see each other again. And we have a great friendship to just ruin it with a long distance relationship. We both have our lives." He gazed into my eyes, longingly. 

I smiled with relief. "I like you too. I like you too much to ruin everything." 

"I don't want to lose you. You're my best friend." 

My breath got caught with his words, as I glanced away from his hypnotising gaze. I managed to smile a little smile. I wanted to say "You won't lose me." but I couldn't. 

Gently but quickly, he pulled me into his warm embrace and I caught my breath again. Taking in deep breaths of his expensive cologne. "Promise me you won't spend too much time thinking of me. You need to live your life." I chuckled, looking up into his eyes again.

He laughed at my request, " I promise." 

I sighed thinking about what was going to happen. We joined the others in the joyful atmosphere. Savannah was putting on old, slow songs. Spencer and I started slow dancing immediately. We got lost in the music, listening to each beat and keeping up with the pace. We were also talking, almost whispering. We were talking about my time there. About how he intimidated me at the start and we both laughed at our first impressions of each other.