I didn't think you would mean this much to me. I was never suppose to fall so hard for you, but every time you smiled it would make my heart pound and butterflies to erupt in my stomach. I thought it was just a crush, but the more we talked the harder I fell.

"Do you have to leave?" I say through tears. "I promise I'll be home before you know it." That's a lie. It'll feel longer than what it actually is. And it will all feel like hell. "I'll be lost and...and...alone without you, Matt" I sob even harder. "Don't say that. You'll have Aunt Kathy and Jo. Trust me when I say this: they know exactly what they're doing. They've been through plenty of these before." I nod, not trusting my voice, afraid I'll break down again. His hand comes to my cheek as he wipes a tear that's falling. His arms then indulge me in a huge hug, his familiar cologne invading my nostrils. "STARKS! We're boarding!" I flinch at the fact that its time to let him go. He kisses the top of my head, "I love you." He whispers in my ear. "I love you too." I respond weakly. "I love you most." And with a final, hard kiss, he walks away from me. Kathy holds me and lets me cry on her shoulder as Matt looks back at me, and walks into the plane. ~~~ **This is an original story by @QuackingDuck. Any other publication of this story has been stolen** ~~This story contains mature content~~

^Top Five Finalist in the 2013 Watty Award^ ATTENTION: Due to publishing this is only HALF of the book. For the complete story, this book is available on Amazon! Meet Reece Collins, Washington's star quaterback, best pitcher, and track star. Reece has the money, killer looks, and the perfect family. His life was perfect. Until the shooting. Now meet Payton Jennings. Payton is a quiet, shy, nobody that no one even knows she exists. She has little money, a severed family and bad looks. Most people don't even know she attends Washington high. She is the definition of a no body. The school is rattled and turned upside down when a weird, troubled kid brought a gun to school and opened fire in the hall. Luckily no one was killed or had any serious injuries besides one. Reece Collins and that's because the boy envied him so much it made him hate him so he meant to kill Reece. He almost did, but Reece survived. He lost his sight though and is now, blind. This changes his whole life and brings him to Payton a girl who doesn't care that he is blind. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1680308211/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1586995563&sr=8-32 Copyrighted 2012 © Tara L. Declan