Chapter 1by Livia
The sun was falling in a wonderful mix of red, pink and orange. Livia brought her legs closer to her, surrounding them with her arms and allowed her head to lean against her friend's shoulder as her lips curled into a smile. She watched the beauties of nature this way every summer day and it made Taylor smile too.
"Did you get your mom's permission?" the brunette asked, looking at her best friend's feet.
There has always been more than just friendship between them, but neither seemed to know what it was exactly. There were definitely sparkles at some point. Those moments when it seems like there's only you and the other person in the world. Those moments who make your heartbeats accelerate and wonder what's going to happen next. Livia waited, and nothing happened. Weirdly, though, she still had her hopes up, like some sort of burning fire inside her stomach.
"I did." Taylor confirmed.
Livia's heart jumped in her chest at the night to come. Spending the whole night in their tree house was something they waited for all year and when summer was finally there, they would make it their goal to spend as many nights possible there, only the two of them.
"I will miss you." she breathed, her eyes closed to stop the tears from falling on her cheeks.
They have been best friends forever but Taylor was leaving on tour with his brothers the next day and it was breaking the young girl's heart. It was even harder to accept knowing that the only girl friend she had, Julie, was also moving out of the state around the same time. Livia was going to stay in the town she's always known but this time, alone. How was it supposed to feel like home, now?
She felt Taylor's arm sliding on her back to surround her shoulders and looked discretely at his hand now very close to her cheek. Out of everyone that was leaving, he was the one she felt the worst about. She knew he'd come back but he shouldn't even leave. She was jealous of every fan he would meet along his journey, every person who would get the chance to spend time with him, even if just a minute, and every girl who would get a smile from him. To be without him was something she couldn't recall living and she was not ready to experience it. She was ashamed to admit it but sometimes, she wished he wouldn't have signed that record deal. It was selfish, she knew it. It was his dream. It was all he aspired to. And he clearly had the talent to go far and do it as a living for the rest of his life.
"I wish I could bring you in my suitcase." he admitted shamelessly.
Livia got out slowly of his embrace and looked up in his light blue eyes, her tears now freely flowing on her cheeks.
"Do it."
It was impossible, she knew it, but she had to say it. It was stronger than her. He didn't reply and stared at her. With his free hand, he wiped the teardrops on her face and smiled sadly. If only he could, he would. But there was no reason to tell her that. She knew. They both did.
"Don't cry. You'll be with me every second." he swore in a low tone.
"It's not enough." she disclosed.
Reaching to his hand on her right, he made his bracelet slide from his wrist and handed it to her.
"So you won't forget me."
She breathed in and grabbed it.
"How can you think I would ever forget you?" she asked rhetorically, gazing at the red bracelet she was now wearing.
His arm tightened around her at her words. He hoped she would answer something like this. He wouldn't admit it, but he was scared, too. Perhaps she would forget about him. For all he knew, she could find someone else while he was away and if it happened, he couldn't really blame her, although it would be like ripping his heart right out of his chest without anesthesia.
They remained stuck to each other until the sun was set. The moon was now reigning in the sky surrounded by its devoted stars. Taylor moved inside and Livia followed him. They both unzipped their sleeping bags but he stopped her, grabbing it and zipping it back with hers.
"It's a cold night."
He was lying and she knew it, but the thought of feeling his skin on hers all night long made her heart jump inside her chest. She remained silent as they lay down. Taylor put the cover on the both and lay on his stomach, maintaining himself with his elbows. She did the same and they turned their heads to look at each other.
"It seems like my brothers don't really realize what we're leaving behind." he started. "All they see is that they're going to do what they've always wanted to."
"You're going to realize your dream, too."
"I know" he looked down than back in her eyes. "I'm just wondering if it's really worth it."
"I'm sure it is." the brunette said, getting closer to him. "Besides, if you don't like it, you can always come back."
Her cold leg met his, curling his lips for a second. His skin was warm and she immediately felt safe.
"I'm going to miss you." he confessed. "Who's going to bring me back to reality every time I need it?"
She laughed lightly and he gazed at her, looking intensely at every feature of her face, making sure he wouldn't forget anything of her. In a moment of insecurity, he reached for her hand and intertwined his fingers with hers. She stopped breathing, surprised by his behavior but squeezed his hand back.
"You'll call me everyday?" she whispered.
"I promise."
The silences between them were never heavy : it just felt right.
"We should sleep." Taylor proposed as his best friend nodded.
They moved on their sides, facing each other and the blond boy smiled.
"You'll still be there when I wake up, right?" Livia required.
Without replying, he got closer to her slowly and she felt his breath on her cheek. He moved his mouth up, grabbing one of her lips in-between his and kissed her gently. She closed her eyes to enjoy the moment she had imagined so many times in her head. It was even better than she expected. With his free hand, he fondled her cheek with care, his mouth still pressed against hers. If she had the guts to, she would tell him how much she loved him, but the three special words seemed to be stuck in her throat. He was leaving, after all, and she was not sure she could live with that confession.
When he backed away, they both lay their head down on their pillows and smiled to each other.
"I'll be there when you wake up." he assured. "Good night Livi-Love."
She smiled at her new nickname and glanced at their fingers still enlanced.
"Good night."
