Song by Taylor Swift
Last Kiss
December 31, 2010
Betty looked out of the window of her living room, watching the rain drench the streets of London even as people hurriedly passed by on their way to parties. Her phone buzzed. Hurriedly she wiped the tears from her eyes as she reached for it. Seeing her sister's number on the screen, she sent it to voice mail and went back to watching the rain, remembering the events that led her to being alone on this night.
December 1, 2010
"I don't understand," Betty said, looking to Daniel for an explanation.
Daniel looked contrite but decisive. "I'm sorry, Betty, I really am. I never meant to hurt you."
"You were the one who followed me here," she said, her voice laced with anger, confusion and pain. "You pursued me, even when I wasn't sure, and now you're leaving?"
I still remember the look on your face
Lit through the darkness at 1:58
The words that you whispered for just us to know
You told me you loved me so why did you go... away, away
April 2010
They had a nice dinner that first night, and Daniel walked her to her apartment. She invited him in for a quick cup of tea that led to hours of conversation. She realized she missed home. She realized she had missed him, and the way he was looking at her seemed hypnotic. When he reluctantly got up to leave, she gave him a hug. He held her close and whispered, "Thanks for letting me say goodbye, and hello again. I want to do things differently with you this time, Betty." She closed her eyes as she felt heart leap into her throat.
I do recall now the smell of the rain,
Fresh on the pavement,
I ran off the plane,
That July 9th, the beat of your heart,
It jumps through your shirt I can still feel your arms.
July 9, 2010
Betty had an interview in Northern Ireland that would run in the first issue of the magazine. Lindsey arranged for her and one of their photographers to take a private plane for the trip. It was a thrilling experience, but she missed Daniel. They'd been inseparable since he had arrived in London three months before, and she couldn't wait to get home to him.
The plan the day of her return was for Betty to go to her apartment and rest until he got off of work, so she was shocked to see Daniel at the private hangar holding a poster that read "Suarez." Smiling, Betty rushed off the plane as fast as she could and into his arms. Laughing, he dropped the poster and spun her around.
I do remember the swing of your step
The life of the party you're showing off again
And I roll my eyes and then you pulled me in.
I'm not much for dancing,
But for you I did because
I loved your handshake meeting my father
I love how you walk with your hands in your pockets
How you'd kiss me when I was in the middle of saying something.
There's not a day I don't miss those rude interruptions
September 2010
Daniel really wasn't enjoying the publishing job he'd found in London, but he was enjoying partying with his new friends. Betty would join him when she wasn't working late, and was surprised to see how popular he'd become in such a short time. She wondered if this was what he was like in college, even if he did drink less now.
Betty could tell how enchanted everyone was with him. It intimidated her a little, but it also made her feel proud that she was the woman Daniel wanted to be with.
She was trying to explain her feelings to him the morning after one of these parties when he leaned over and kissed her mid-sentence.
"You interrupted me!" she squealed.
"Sorry, but I couldn't help myself," Daniel said then added sarcastically, "I promise it won't happen again."
Betty watched him dramatically put the newspaper back up, covering his face as he snapped the pages. Smirking, she slapped the paper down and climbed on top of him. "You're so rude," she said playfully before kissing him.
I'll go sit on the floor wearing your clothes,
All that I know is I don't know, how to be something you miss.
Never thought we'd have a last kiss
Never imagined we'd end like this
Your name forever the name on my lips
December 31, 2010
When the rain stopped, Betty decided she needed to go to bed. Pulling herself off the couch, she walked into the bedroom, flipped on the light and froze. Images of Daniel in her bed flooded her mind: sleeping, reading the paper, watching TV, making love.
Unable to deal with those memories, she crawled into the corner between the wall and her nightstand, pulling Daniel's Harvard sweatshirt over her legs. There would be no sleep tonight.