May

1992

"It really happened Eric. They got divorced." I whispered down the phone.

"Really? Where are you staying?" he replied

"With mom, just until school ends." He didn't say anything. "How'd the swim meet go?"

"Great, they offered me a place Cal. Miami Uni."

"Oh my God Eric that's fantastic." I smiled for him even though he couldn't see me.

"I know Cal, I can't believe it." I swallowed the lump in my throat and told him what I knew I had to.

"Eric, I can't talk for long my mother has banned me from the phone, she wont let me see you anymore. She's barely letting me leave to house. She just won't let me see you anymore." My emotions were starting to show in my voice.

"Cal…" he started.

"No Eric don't. It's probably for the best that we do it now anyway. I mean in a month we're finished school. You'll be going off to Miami Uni and I'm going to Tulane…"

"Tulane? You got it!?" he said.

"Yes a full scholarship. Letter arrived yesterday."

"You're getting out of here Cal." He said.

"I don't want to leave you…"

"Maybe it just wasn't meant to be Calleigh." He said.

"Eric…" I bit back tears.

"I'll see you at school Cal…" he hung up. Tears streamed down my face again. I had cried a lot over the last month.

June

1992

"You're really not into this are you Calleigh." Tess said turning on the spot. She was wearing a long blue halter neck dress. "You ok?"

"Yeah sorry hun. That ones lovely but I honestly preferred the silver." I said.

"Yeah me to… You still haven't seen him?" she looked down at me.

"No… my mother hasn't even given me the chance."

"Why are you listening to her?" she said.

"I don't want to upset her. The divorce has really upset her." I sighed. She sat down next to me.

"Calleigh it's your life! You can't just model your life around what will make her happy."

"Tess…"

"Don't! you know I'm right." She stood back up. "But I know you're not going to listen so let's just concentrate on finding you a drop dead gorgeous dress…" she took my hand and pulled me up.

June

1992

"Ready for this?" Tess smiled across at me. Tess, Jamie (her date), Amy, Adam and I were sharing a limo. My ex-boyfriend and my ex-best friend were together now. I was going dateless despite Tess' best efforts. It wouldn't have felt right.

Patting my hair once more I got out of the car. Mom hadn't don't the whole photo thing. She had been in bed when we'd left. Dad had rang to tell me to have a good night. We all walked in together and every head in the room turned to look at us. I briefly wondered when I'd become that girl, the one who everyone wanted to be but who hated her own life.

"Come on. Let's make to most of tonight. It's our night. We've worked hard for this. Let's reap our rewards. We're finished high school!" Tess grinned and took my arm. "You look amazing."

"So do you!" I smiled.

The place was chaotic. We danced, drank and laughed. I kept an eye out for him all night but I didn't see him. before I knew it, it was midnight.

"Alright Boys and girls!" ms Manning said taking the microphone. "It's time to announce the king and queen!" the room went silent. "King is Chase Matthews." The crowd cheered. Chase was the football captain, he was very nice, a lovely guy. Not the smartest but friendly. I saw Adams face drop. I smiled wider.

"And Queen… Calleigh Duquesne!" she called out my name and my mind stopped. I nearly fell down. I mean I was captain that was the way it usually went, but after the 'mutiny' last year I fully expected Amy to get it.

"Go on Calleigh!" Tess cheered. "Get us there!" I walked up onto the stage stunned. Ms Manning put the crown on my head. Chase took my hand and kissed my cheek. I looked out at the crowd as he said I few words but I couldn't hear anything. My eyes were locked on two dark brown ones at the other side of the room. Eric smiled at me. I blinked back tears. Chase and I walked down to the dance floor for the King and Queen's dance. He put an arm around my waist. That was when I lost eye contact.

"You look lovely tonight Calleigh." Chase smiled.

"Thanks Chase." The song drew to a close and he pulled me closer.

"Eric just slipped out the door." I looked at him. "He's a good guy. Great swimmer. Strong throwing arm." He grinned.

"thank you Chase…" I smiled and slipped away. I walked out the door. "Eric…" he stopped and turned around. "… leaving?"

"Thinking about it…" he smiled. "…You see there's this girl that I'm crazy about inside and she's dancing with this other guy. She looks amazing and I want her so bad but her mother hates me…." He said.

"I heard her say you look great in a tux…" I replied. He stepped back towards me.

"I don't want to lose you Cal. But I know I have to let you go. So I'm just going to leave."

"Please don't Eric…"

"Cal I don't know how long I can do the right thing…" that shocked me, I didn't know what to say.

"Dance with me" I don't know where it came from.

"We're in the car park Cal." He smiled.

"So we don't need music." I put out a hand and he took it. Pulling me close he swayed from side to side.

"You really do look gorgeous tonight." He whispered.

"Thank you…" I looked up at him, his eyes were darker then I'd ever seen them before.

"Let's get out of here." He said. I bit my lip. Did I want that, I knew that if I had this one night with Eric it would make things even harder to leave him. I stopped thinking about that, about the future. I wanted this.

"Ok…" I nodded, slipping my hand into his.

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"So when are you leaving for Tulane?" he said running his hand up and down my arm.

"Monday Morning." I sighed, my head resting on his chest.

"That's in two days." He said.

"I know…. It's happening so fast. My life's going to change Eric. I'm getting a fresh start. I cant wait to leave this all behind." His hand froze. I felt his fist tighten. "That's not what I meant you know that. I was talking about the fighting, my parents. Not you! I don't want to leave you." his face softened. "Eric I lo…" I started but was cut off by a loud crash downstairs. It was four in the morning, what was my mother doing. Eric went to sit up but I put my hands on his chest, holding him down. "No don't go! Please stay." I pleaded.

"But your mother."

"She wont come in here it's too late." I said staring deep into his eyes. Our first night together and our last, as I thought that I could feel the tears building up in my eyes. Right then in that moment everything was perfect. While I was in his arms I felt right.

"Ok Cal… I'll stay…" he said and kissed the top of my head.

July

1992

"Please make sure you write Calleigh, I'll miss you." Tess said taking my hand. She, Chase and Jamie had all come to the airport to see me off. They all hugged me one by one.

"Have a ball Calleigh." Chase grinned.

"Y'all better not have too much fun with out me." I smiled and took up my bag. Tess handed me a smaller pink bag.

"It's not from us, but it's for you I looked at her then walked back towards the gate.

Eric hadn't come, I'd asked him not to. We'd spent that night in my bed talking about it and this seemed like the best idea. But I still kept an eye out for him at the gate anyway. Just in case… right then I knew for definite my heart had broken.

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Sitting down in my seat I opened the pink bag. A book fell out. 'Smith and Wesson a history' I smiled and opened the cover. Two words were written inside.

Always,

Eric.

I sighed and mentally tried to prepare myself for the rest of my life.