Chapter One: Kiss and Make Up.
"Are we breaking up?"
His words sent a sharp bitterness darting across her stomach, it was inevitable, that much had become clear but it still knocked the breath from her, it still made tears threaten to fall; it still hurt.
They stood looking at each other, taking each other in as if they were memorising each other, all the parts that until then had been only theirs; their secret world.
"We're breaking up" she managed to whisper as she dropped her head, it was more a statement, a painful realisation than an answer to his question.
She felt his warm, strong arms encircle her as she stood there motionless, his touch sent shivers through her, similar to the way it had in the elevator on the day she returned to work, except this time his touch was more than laced with sadness and regret, this time it was heavy with a sombre tone that they both felt. She let herself give into the mercy of his body and felt the familiar curve of his neck and she laid her head on his shoulder. She closed her eyes tightly and begged the world to stop turning just for a second so she could imagine they were somewhere else. The blackness in front of her eyes accentuated his every movement, his every breath, in that moment she felt as if she was a part of him, as if loneliness had never known her and his strong support would always been there.
Sam breathed deeply; taking her in for what he knew would be the last time. He clenched his jaw as he enjoyed the warmth of her uneven breath on his neck, a feeling that had so often soothed him to sleep in the past few months. He ran his hand down her back and let it rest on her waist, he felt a tight ball form in his chest as the horrible familiarity of wanting her spread through him. Before they were together he'd spent hours imagining moments with her; never this one.
"I'm sorry" Sam's voice was deep and sincere "I'm sorry I couldn't give you an answer"
"No, I'm sorry Sam, I'm sorry I couldn't wait" her voice was small and already seemed far away as she tightened her grip on him for a second before pulling away, she changed her mind at the last second and took his hand, not yet ready to relinquish all contact between them. To onlookers they could easily be mistaken for a couple enjoying a romantic moment under the setting LA sun but on closer inspection the tears running down Addison's face told a very different story.
"Finally" Amelia's voice was bright and still full of youthful enthusiasm "I was beginning to think you two were never going to kiss and make up" she smiled as she put her bag down on Addison's patio table and began to walk towards her friends.
"I should go," Sam said quickly, not wanting to share his raw emotion with anyone "bye Addison"
In a second he was gone, back to his own house, back to being her neighbour.
"Addie?" Ameila's voice was full of confusion as she watched Sam disappear behind the wall. Her confusion began to fade as she saw Addison's red eyes and her tear stained cheeks. Her friend didn't need to say anything, her face said it all "Oh Addie" Amelia sighed as she pulled her friend into a tight hug.