✔︎ | Part of Me (Trilogy)

40 | I will be there

BONUS CHAPTER

40 | I will be there

Will's POV

A year, or even a month ago, I would never have imagined I'd be on a plane following a girl across the country. It was an impulsive decision, really. One second I was playing Fortnight, and the next, I was at my computer printing a oneway ticket to New York City. 

I packed a backpack, having less than an hour to catch my flight, and called my mom on the way. 

Surprisingly, she didn't seem to be upset, or even confused. Maybe Avi's relationship with Axel has opened our parents up a little bit. Or maybe it's because I didn't tell her Sam doesn't know that I'm coming.

But it doesn't matter now. I could care less if the whole world was opposed to me surprising her. I need to see Sam again. I need to know where we are, and I'll be damned if I give her up without a fight. 

Luckily, she's told me where she's staying. Sleepily, after an over 7 hour flight, I'm shuffling down the New York City streets, trying to get directions to the apartment Sam is staying in because my phone has died. The people are actually friendlier than I've heard, but I can't navigate well at all, or pick up a Taxi, or figure out the subway. 

I give up and get a coffee, and charge my phone, needing the rest, and the caffeine, and the battery. 

A man surprises me when he sits next to me with a large mug and stares out the window. Without glancing at me, he asks, "rough day?"

I'm propped up on an elbow when I glance at the man, dressed all in black despite the hot weather, with a black baseball cap and aviators shielding his eyes. 

When I don't answer, he removes his hat and glasses and places them on the table, taking a swig of his coffee. "Rough—" he furrows his brows, "week?" 

I shrug and sit up. "Not really. I just got off of a 7 hours plane ride." 

"Ah," he nods. "What's in New York for you?"

Looking at the guy, I can tell he appears to be much older than he actually is. He can't be older than 25, but his expression, even when he grinned, is hard, like it's been shaped by, well, some pretty fucked up shit. 

"A girl," I tell him. 

He smiles, his eyes sparkling. He reminds me a lot of Axel. "A girl?" He asks. "She know you're here?"

I shake my head. "Nope." 

"Shit." 

I nod, and turn to him, "can I get advice? You seem like you've been through some stuff." 

He chuckles, shrugging, considering, and nods. "Yeah, shoot." 

"If a girl flies across the country to get her book published, does that automatically mean she doesn't want to be with you anymore? Like, am I fool to follow her here? I know she's busy but she's always been busy, and she's always had time for me." I sigh, realizing that my complaining to complete stranger is completely insane, but I'm exhausted, and fed up. "Is her ignoring me a sign I'm supposed to be able to read?" 

He shakes his head. "I've never really been able to read my girl. I mean, I still can't, but whenever she's ignoring me, I can tell there's something she's not telling me, but wants to, but doesn't know how. You just need to find her, and talk to her. I'm sure she loves you, man. Talk to her. You made the right choice coming here. I'd follow my girlfriend, too."

"You think so?" I ask. "What if I fuck something up being here?"

"If she's meant to be, she'll love you through it. Trust me," he laughs, remembering.