Still
the
One
Chapter Four
“What?!”
Maggie and I shouted, running to the bathroom where Lauren was.
Niall met us there, obviously upset.
“I got the job,” Lauren said, “the three of us
are moving to Cheshire.”
“Cheshire!?” Niall, Maggie, and I yelled and she
nodded.
“I’m sorry guys,” she said. “I really
need this job.”
I looked at Niall who sighed and nodded. “When are you guys
leaving?” he asked.
“Tomorrow morning at eight,” she said.
“There’s a small house there for us that the job
supplied. I’m sorry guys. I know you’ve been best
friends since the second grade, I was there when it happened, but
I don’t teach anymore and I need this job.”
I looked at Niall, then at Maggie, and back at Lauren.
“So this is it?” I asked and Maggie and Niall
nodded.
“I guess so,” Niall said. “I mean you and
Maggie still have each other and I’ve got other
friends.”
I nodded and looked back at Lauren. The next morning Niall and
Maura, Niall’s mom, came to the empty house as we prepared
to finally leave.
“Do you have to leave?” Niall asked and I nodded.
“Lauren needs to job,” I said. “We need the
money.”
Niall nodded and I sighed.
“Andrew,” Lauren said, “say goodbye we need to
leave.”
I looked up at Niall who was holding back tears, you could see
it.
“Niall,” I said hugging him.
“This wasn’t how it was supposed to end,” he
whispered and I let go of him.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I was supposed to admit that I love you,” he said.
“I was supposed to finally ask you out and we’d go
out and it’d be perfect. I was supposed to always be there
for you. You were supposed to fall asleep in the car with your
head on my shoulder. We were supposed to kiss in the rain. You
were supposed to fall asleep in my arms. I was supposed to get on
one knee and slip a ring on your finger. I was supposed to watch
you walk down the aisle, towards me. I was supposed to let you
name our first boy Michael, after your dad, like you want to. We
were supposed to go to the same retirement home and race each
other down the hallway in wheelchairs. We were supposed to get
buried next to each other. Now you’re leaving.”
I looked at my best friend, speechless.
“N-Niall?” I asked and he put his head down.
“Just go,” he said, keeping his head lowered almost
in shame.
I put my hand under his chin and forced it up.
“Niall,” I said again, trying to meet his gaze that
kept wandering over my shoulder. “Niall, look at
me.”
He sighed and did as I asked. I smiled but his face stayed
serious.
“You’re leaving,” he said. “Why do you
want to talk about this now?”
I crashed my lips to his quickly and then pulled away. I then
looked at him, a goofy grin on his face.
“If only it was raining,” he said and I laughed.
“I’ll go get the hose,” I said jokingly and he
smiled.
“You need to go,” he said and I tilted my head
slightly in confusion.
“But-“ I started.
“I can live the rest of my life knowing you at least like
me,” he said and I smiled. “Now go, Lauren and Maggie
will leave without you.”
I smiled at him and ran out to the car. I hope I get to see him
again, even by accident.
