What They Did

It's Over

Heather and Ryan were at Mia's New Year party, the place was jam-packed and Heather had drunk enough to fit in with complete strangers. Ryan lost her in the house around half past eleven and found her before the countdown on the balcony.
"HERE YOU ARE," shouted Ryan, over the chattering of other people.
"HERE I AM," replied Heather, looking up to the sky.
Slowly, the full house began chanting and diving to windows to look at the sky, "5...4...3...2...1! HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
Fireworks went off accompanied by the sound of cheer and laughter.
Ryan gave a light laugh as he approached his not-so-good girl and wrapped his arms around her waist. He pulled her in close to him and lowered his lips to hers before whispering, "Happy New Year,". He lightly kissed her lips before drawing the full way back.
"You call that a kiss?" asked Heather, looking offended at the lack of effort.
"Promise me something?" asked Ryan, still holding Heather.
"I am promising everything," smiled Heather, shaking her head, "Wa-Wait, what am I promising? Ahaha,"
"Promise me that we'll spend the next few years together wherever we are," said Ryan, throwing his empty beer bottle over the side of the balcony.
"..Ryan, you know I can't promise that," whispered Heather, pulling away from Ryan.
"Why not?" asked Ryan, taking a step away from Heather.
"A long distance relationship wouldn't suit us. Texting and skyping doesn't work...It'd be like-" started Heather, before Ryan put his finger to her lips.
"Dating a ghost," finished Ryan, whispering and nodding.
"I'm sorry, but we're still together now and we have until summer which is six months away," said Heather, trying to comfort Ryan.
"I guess we both know where this is going," sighed Ryan, leaning on the balcony railing.
"Yeah, I guess so," mumbled Heather, walking towards the door, "I'm sorry," 
Heather walked back inside as she felt warm tears slide down her cold cheeks, everyone around her was so oblivious and she felt her throat swell up as she whimpered.
"Heather?" called Mia, leaving the crowd she was talking to and coming over, "Heather?"
"...Mia, where can I sleep?" asked Heather, grabbing Mia's arms in an attempt to comfort herself, "It's late, I'm drunk and I can't go home,"
Mia took a hold of Heather's arms and pulled her close, "It was always the plan for you to stay, c'mon," 
Mia led Heather past large crowds of people before finally reaching her bedroom.
"Here we are," smiled Mia, sitting Heather down on the bed and sliding Heather's leather jacket off her body and pulling her boots off her.
Mia lay Heather back before standing up and tucking her in.
"Goodnight, sweetheart," mumbled Mia, exiting the room.
Heather stared at the door which was slowly swinging shut. Bang, the door was shut and Heather was lying in the dark, alone. 
-
The next morning, Heather was one of the first people to wake up. After pulling her jacket out from under a pastel-goth and sliding her shoes back on, she made her way to the front door and left, she didn't bother to look for Ryan or leave him a note, they had this perfect...time together and now Ryan shattered it because Heather couldn't make a promise.
Outside, it was beginning to get cloudy and the morning air still had quite a chill to it.
It took her roughly half an hour to get home and when she did, everybody was inside. Cameron, Graham and Fiona, Heather's grandparents...It was just as jammed here as it was at Mia's.
Graham popped his head out from the living room and seen Heather hanging her jacket up, "YOU," 
"...Me," mumbled Heather, looking up and she pulled the sleeves of her jumper down.
"If you're drunk, you're totally grounded, if not then I'll let this one slide," laughed Graham, pointing at her.
"I'm definitely not drunk," said Heather, barely whispering.
"C'mon, come and say hey to everyone," smiled Graham, as Heather approached him.
"Actually, where's mum?" asked Heather, feeling the back of her eyes burn up as they always did before she cried.
"In the kitchen, you okay?" asked Graham, frowning at his daughter.
Heather nodded before wandering through to the empty kitchen. 
Fiona had her back to Heather and was washing dishes from the night before.
"Mum?" asked Heather, whimpering.
"Oh, hey, baby," smiled Fiona, turning round and grabbing a towel.
"...Mum," cried Heather, wandering towards Fiona.
"Baby, what's wrong?" asked Fiona, throwing the towel on the counter and approaching Heather with open arms.
Heather let herself cry as her mother hugged her tightly. 
After a few minutes of standing in the middle of the kitchen, hugging and sobbing, Heather broke free, "Ugh, I'm sorry, it's gross,"
"It's not gross, sweetheart, here sit," smiled Fiona, letting go of Heather and pulling a chair out from under the small breakfast bar, "Wanna talk about it?"
Heather nodded as she sat down, "We had this perfect infinity together and now it's just...over,"
"It's very inconvenient to fall in love at your age," said Fiona boiling the kettle.
"You're supposed to break up with someone because you're NOT in love with them...Not because you're completely in love with them," cried Heather, feeling herself get worked up again.
"True love's a bitch and life is just a big mess but it is what you make of it and that...Is the beauty of it too, I guess," explained Fiona, sitting down next to Heather whilst handing her a cup of coffee.
"Maybe in another life..." mumbled Heather, staring down into the cup.
"That's a load of bullshit, Heather, sometimes these things look worse than they actually are," said Fiona, placing her hand on top of Heather's.
"He won't come back," sighed Heather, looking up and staring at the wall in front of her.
"He might, and you have two options. To move on with your life and go to Gilbert...or not, to go to Whitton with Ryan, or not. To continue playing the piano, or not. It's all up to you, Heather. What can I say? Living is the hardest thing ever but the hardest choice we'll ever have to make are the ones that often force us to lose ourselves," said Fiona, smiling.
Heather nodded as Fiona stood up and went over to the archway leading to the hall.
"Now c'mon, you've got family and friends here,"
-
ONE MORE PART LEFT
Photo On The Side: Fiona Farrow//Sarah Paulson
Video On The Side: 'Long Way Down' by Tom O'Dell//i chose this bc it goes with the full break-up and Heather's heart-to-heart with Fiona.