𝑭𝑨𝑳𝑳𝑰𝑵𝑮, djs ✓

I'm Not Too Good At Goodbyes

DANIEL POV

"I'm going home." she says, tears streaming down her face. My eyes are red and puffy, I feel numb. 

"What do you mean you're going home?" I keep her hands in mine, trying to keep a brave face.

"I'm bringing Ethan home. My parents know a friend who works at a rehab, they'll take him in for free. He'll get the help he needs, it's for the best." I let go, and put my hands in my hair. I know I should be happy that Ethan's getting the help he needs, but it hurts to even think about the thought of her leaving so soon. I've know she had to go one of these days, but I never prepared for it. I don't know if I can prepare for it if I tried.

"Daniel, you're not mad at me are you?" I look at her face. Her beautiful face that is now broken. Tear stains all over her used to be rosy cheeks. I take her hands again into mine.

"No, I could never. I'm just processing everything." She's stopped crying, but I know she's hurting just as much as I am. "Hey," I hold her chin up with a finger. "We're gonna be fine, okay? I promise."

"Promise is a big word Daniel." She says, her voice breaking.

"I know it is, but this is something worth promising for. You are worth promising for." A weak smile forms on her beautiful. I take her into my arms, giving her a warm embrace. 

"Come here, it's okay, it's okay. We're gonna be alright. It'll be alright." Her tears fall on my shoulder, she's crying hard. She can't even get her words out. "Shush, shush, let it out, let it out. I got you, I got you."

"Daniel, I don't wanna go. I don't wanna go." she blubbers. That's when I lost it and I broke down drowning in my own tears.

Why?

Why us?

Why does this happen to her brother?

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Why do we have to be the ones who are hurting?

Why are we the ones who have to say goodbye?

Why do I have to lose her?

~

We spent the next 2 days packing and spending as much time together as possible. Her last night, we watched every movie possible. We slept in the living room, dead asleep on the couch. Except, I couldn't sleep that night. I just couldn't. All that lingered in my mind was that I had less than 24 hours left with the best girl in this world. I was always told to go to sleep in peace. How can I be at peace with this?

The next morning, bright and early, we all went to Santa Monica Pier for the last time. We went with Christian, Anna, Gabbie, Andre, and the boys. Ethan opted to stay home and finish up packing. We watched the sunrise since Y/n hasn't seen it yet. We were all at the beach, all of us huddled in one big group. We all brought blankets to keep us warm, Y/n was wrapped in my arms with the blanket securing the two of us. She rests her head on my arm, taking in the view. I couldn't keep my eyes off her, my attempts to take in as much as can. 

Y/N POV

We leave the beach and carpool back to the house. Jonah, Daniel, Corbyn, and I all ride with Christian in his car with Anna, Gabbie, Andre, Jack, and Zach following us in Gabbie's car. 

We get to the house as I say my final goodbyes, my luggage already at the foyer. I walk over to Jack and Zach first, the three of us in a group hug.

"I'll miss you guys, and eating french toast together." We all pull away, sad looks in both their faces. I walk over to Gabbie and Andre, giving them each a hug.

"Thanks for being my friends." 

"Girl, you made it easy being your friend." Gabbie says.

"You're the best." Andre follows. I walk to Anna, she brings me in her arms, each of us hugging tighter than the other.

"I'll miss having a sister around here." She says, sniffling. I feel a tear drop on my shoulder.

"No, I will." I reply, we weakly laugh, sharing one last hug. I walk towards Corbyn and Jonah. I go on my tiptoes to hug Jonah first.

"Thanks for filling me on about giraffe my first day here."

"Well, apparently it's turtle now, but you know." We both laugh as I walk over to Corbyn. He lifts me up a little off the ground as I go up to hug him.

"I'm sorry we didn't do your facetious yet capricious thing for prom." We both laugh, he lays his head on top of mine.

"Nah, I'll let it slide. But I'm definitely styling you guys for prom. I'll miss you, sis." I weakly laugh as I walk to Christian. I'm too sad to even say anything. He takes me into his arms as I cry into them.

"I'll miss having another brother. I'll miss your french toast too." 

"I'll send some over one day. I'll miss having you around too, my sister from another mister." Everyone laughs at Christian's response, I walk over to the last and hardest person to say goodbye to. Daniel.

He pulls me into him, wrapping his arms tightly around me. Everyone else is dead silent. We don't cry this time, we've ran out of tears or words to say. He lowers to my ear and whispers something only I can hear.

"We'll find our way back to each other, I know it." We press each others foreheads together, as if there was no one else in the room.

"Daniel, I'm not good at goodbyes." My voice, shaking.

"Who says this is goodbye? This isn't goodbye Ms. y/l/n. I promise."

"Promise?" I whisper, my voice breaking.

"Promise." He leans in and kisses me for the last time in a long time. I kiss back, tears falling down my face. We pull away at the sound of the taxi honking outside. Daniel helps me with my luggage and puts it in the trunk. Christian and Ethan do their infamous handshake. Daniel gives me last one kiss on the cheek as I go in the cab. 

~

The driver's about to drive when I tell him to stop. He stops the brakes short. We've barely moved an inch. I walk out of the cab, running after Daniel as he walks back into the driveway. Luckily, he sees me and turns around as I jump into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist. I give him a light kiss on his cheek, his face is burning.

"1:00?" I ask, he smiles, flashbacks race through my mind from homecoming week. 

"1:00." he kisses my cheek and puts me down. I run back to the car as I spot Jack and Zach, holding up their phones recording like they did that day that felt like millions of years ago. 

I get back in the cab and it instantly drives off. We pass Downtown, the palm trees, the pier, and all the other places where I've made my memories.