AnotherFanGirlyo
There are some people you never really get over. You simply learn how to live without them. River had spent years convincing herself she'd done exactly that. She'd moved on, grown up and built a life that no longer revolved around Landon Barker. At least, that's what she told herself. Landon had been part of River's life long before he'd ever been part of her heart. Their parents had been close for years, making the Barker family feel like an extension of her own. Birthdays, holidays, dinners and family gatherings meant Landon was always there. He was the boy who annoyed her, made her laugh, stole food from her plate and somehow always ended up beside her. Until one autumn, something changed. Late-night conversations became something more. Lingering glances became stolen touches, and before either of them realised it, River had fallen completely in love with him. For a while, Landon made her believe she was the only person in the world. They created memories that seemed insignificant at the time but would later become impossible to forget. Cold autumn nights. Long drives. Family dinners. His jacket around her shoulders. Quiet conversations until morning. Photographs. Promises they believed would last forever. But forever didn't last. Slowly, the calls became less frequent, the conversations shorter and the distance impossible to ignore. Then there was someone else. Landon moved on, and River had to watch him fall for another girl while pretending it didn't hurt. Their families remained close, forcing them into the same rooms and uncomfortable silences. River tried to forget. She couldn't. Some memories don't disappear. They hide in photographs, familiar places, old clothes and autumn evenings, waiting until you're least prepared to bring everything rushing back. Years later, River would discover something she never expected. Landon remembered too. The love. The laughter. The promises. The mistakes. The ending.