Cassie stared out the classroom window with a sigh. Her fingers picked at the golden charm bracelet on her wrist. Today was the day it all happened so long ago. It was the anniversary of what could have been.copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kTBNi8oQK

“Cas,” she could remember him calling her name. “Wait up!”copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7yCT40RK7

She kept on walking. He’d blown her off again for someone else.copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡp39VM0EuLv

“Cas,” he wined. “Don’t be like this.”copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTQruEJC2z

Cassie rolled her eyes, turning around on her heel to face him. He was so hot on her tail that he almost ran into her when she stopped. Cassie frowned and pointed out a finger to his chest. “I swear, Alec, I’m this close to hitting you.”copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkHUXAZXsK

“You’d hit me?”copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SNeNAes40

“I’d love to.”copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBTP2ouM0w

Alec smiled. “Tough girl, are we? Oh, you’re toast.”copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnR3iPEhM7

 Cassie narrowed her green eyes. “So, that’s what you see in Erica?” she said and began to walk toward her locker.copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SZP6Nplfu

“Erica’s just a friend,” he said, following her. “She’s not my girl.”copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡme5g38FxUF

“‘Your girl?’ What kind of delinquent talk is that?”copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4g3WklLYDy

Alec threw his head back in laughter. “So that’s what you think of me.”copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Eq6uwTUS9

“I think a lot of things,” she turned to open her locker. “You don’t know the half of it.”copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡofntwqBbYw

“I’d like to.” He said a little too quickly.copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2MUZ6gK5T

Cassie shoved her books into her locker. “Yeah, well, you apparently want to know what every other girl in this school is thinking too,” she said, slamming her locker shut. “I gotta go.”copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡicyIi2fbW8

Cassie remembered not looking back to see the expression that was on his face. She couldn’t bare it.copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡkknIOT8q57

The final bell rang and Cassie gathered her books to head home. Her house was a short distance from school in their small now, so walking was her favorite way to get to and from school. She liked the breeze that carried the scent of cherry blossoms in the spring. She liked he freedom of letting her mind wonder as she walked through the same park every day to get home. One time she even let Alec come to the park with her, she let him enter her safe place.copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWaJQ9Q6TV

“This feels good.” He whispered to her as they laid under the trees.copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0b7yUqA9Bx

Cassie took a deep breath. “I know.”copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWSFEHzN7E

They had brought a blanket to sit on while they watched the clouds that afternoon. Cassie remembered feeling how near he was. Their heads were side by side, arms touching, feet tangled together. Her safe place was nothing compared to how he made her feel as she laid next to him. She could feel his warmth in the fall chills and she could smell his hair in the dry air.copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4B5NseDz7

“Why did you bring me here?” he asked.copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzjH7e7InJ

Cassie shrugged. “I thought it would be nice.”copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFG8llPU8W

“It is.” She could hear the smile in his words.copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡz31b8PDnsc

They picked out animals and shapes the clouds. They found unicorns and hearts, Alec even managed to find a dragon. But, for the longest time that day all they did was lay there together. They didn’t speak, didn’t move, they just enjoyed each other’s company on that small piece of temporary paradise.copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2MPKT3SCr

Thinking back on the good times made Cassie’s chest hurt. She and Alec were never perfect, they just were. He seemed to help her live in the moment, which was hard for her. He had always helped her get out of her shell, he made her feel safe when she did.copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡBR7iZsDOnL

“Here,” he had said. “It’ll keep us close.”copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXPN8YCMl5

Cassie looked down at the bracelet that he had just put on her wrist. It was golden and had golden charms dangling from it. Some of the charms were a book, a sun, a rose, a moon, and her favorite seemed to be the little golden heart with her name engraved onto it.copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQ7LGREJJh

Cassie held back tears. “Keep us close,” she looked down. “So, it’s decided, you’re moving four thousand miles away from me.”copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡal8hD8KgX7

He grabbed her face, making her look at him. “Only until I turn eighteen, then I’m coming back for you. In two years, I promise.”copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2J5SwdQ8Zc

Cassie grabbed his hands, taking them off of her. “No, I don’t want you to feel obligated to come back for me. You’ll make a new life across the ocean and forget about me. You’ll meet somebody else and get into trouble with her instead of staying safe with me.”copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡdY3lJJdosW

Alec grabbed her arm. “Cassie, no. I want you. I… I love you.”copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDiOVVXFcV

She gasped. She squeezed her eyes shut so she couldn’t look at him when she said it. “You don’t! It’s over!” she yelled and took off running. She ran and ran all the way home. It was for the best. She didn’t want him to live the next two years worrying about her. She wanted him to live and have fun where he was going. She didn’t want to burden him.copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeES7b6Xj6

The next two years had been a lifetime to Cassie. Most days she forgot to think of him. She wondered if he forgot to think of her too. Cassie spent so much time thinking about Alec on her way home from school, she didn’t even realize the duffle bag in the middle of her sidewalk that lead up to her house. The next thing she knew she was falling face first toward the cement. Before she hit the pavement she felt someone catch her waist.copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡax4dSOX5dq

“Watch what you’re doing there, Cas.”copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2T4kIZgGFs

Cassie didn’t even have to turn around to know that he was finally home.copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsHglPrrNK

“I love you too.” She whispered and hugged him so tightly that she promised herself she’d never, ever let him go.copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXiCbar8fF

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