Love is a Verb (Riley/Before You Exit)

Tear Stains

Riley

The rest of the day was me being in an awful mood.. Not the one where I'm screaming at someone but the one where I keep spacing out..

And all because of that picture..

Why did someone photographed that anyway...

If they didn't take a picture then I wouldn't be---

"Oww.." I said as I dropped my mic and it rolled down the stage.. "WHAT WAS THAT FOR?" I turned, staring at my two brothers.

"Dude, you keep spacing out since yesterday.. We have a concert tomorrow.. You need to focus." Connor said sternly. Turning into a full brother mode. He scares me sometimes.

"Oh.." I said.. "I'm sorry." It was my fault anyway..

"What's the problem?"

"Nothing." I jumped off the stage to grab my mic.

"Are you sure?" Connor said to his mic.

"Yea." I scratched the nape of my neck.

"Let me guess, it's about Kaitlin?" My breath hitched in my throat.. What the ? H-how?

"Dude.. That was.. That was 3 years ago.."

"Yeah.. And 3 years ago.. A certain Riley McDonough was in love.. 3 years later? No girl can ever be enough." He said.

"I'm still young." I tried to reason it out to him.

"You're 20.."

"So.. ? You're single, aren't you? And oh how old are you now?"

"Okay. Fine but at least I try ... You? Have you tried?" He has a point.

"I have no time for that."

"No time.. If I have time for it then so do you. Stop denying.. What made you think of little Kai again?"

"Have you talked to each other?" I asked him. I gave in. What's the point in fighting when he firmly knows it anyway.

"No.. But I send her messages sometimes.. She's not on twitter that much anymore. As far as I've heard she's getting bigger on the professional photographers circle cause at such a young age.. Everyone wants her to be their photographer."

"Haven't we tried that last year?"

"Yes but she's very busy. Remember what Chandee said?" Chandee.. Yeah. Remember her? We met her when we were in Florida and she told us that Kaitlin went off to continue her blooming career. They're still friends.. She said they reconciled but Kaitlin has been so busy that she couldn't come to Florida anymore.. I don't know if they still talk cause she never spoke of her again when we're around.

"Can't we just search as to where she is?" I asked Connor.

"I don't know. I guess we can but we have our own lives too.. And before you react.. I miss her too but we live in a complicated world.. She also lives in a complex and diverse world than the one that we have. She may be connected to us but still, it's different. She isn't fixed to something.. She's everyone's photographer. She pleases everyone..because everyone loves photography .." Connor said. "Just remember what she told you.. 'If you guys are meant to be.. Then so be it. Your paths will cross again but if it isn't.. You see each other's paths but you'll just pass by because you have a different place to go and likewise to her." See? Connor's really wise when it comes to this. That's why I thank God for having him as my brother.

"It's just.. I don't really know anymore.. I really thought I've moved on .. I really thought I was over and done with it, that I've accepted it.. But I guess I was wrong because one single picture broke what I believed after years of not thinking about her. "