Hey everyone!

Thank you all for reading this story and hopefully enjoying it! Special thanks to everyone who took the time to review, it meant a lot.

Now, I guess you realize what comes next… Yep, the epilogue.

Enjoy!


Epilogue – My friend

As the sun is rising slowly above the horizon, lighting the living room with golden shades, I shift my weight and sigh quietly. How long have I been standing here, lost in memories? I couldn't tell exactly. Hours, that's for sure. I still don't know what kept me awake through most of the night and what caused me to come down here and sink into the past in my mind.

It made the sleepless hour fly, though, so I don't complain. I pick up my cell phone from the coffee table to look at the hour, but stare at the device blindly as it brings another memory up and I close my eyes to welcome it…

***

"Hello?" Adam replied after a few rings.

"Hi," I said with some hesitation.

"Oh, hi Allie."

"How's it goin'?"

"Everything's great, sweetie. You?"

"I'm fine. What're you up to?"

"I'm dropping someone at home and then I have a couple of interviews on radio stations." He sounded somewhat strained. Or maybe it was just me. "Listen, I'm here –" I cut him off.

"Are you avoiding me or something?"

"What? Of course I'm not."

"Yes you are. It's because I asked you to kiss me, right?" I blurted.

"Allie –" Again, I didn't let him finish.

"I thought we were forgetting all about it." I suddenly felt frustrated. "You know it wasn't like that –" This time he cuts into my words.

"Allison!" I shut up for a moment and it was enough for him to say the next three words: "You're on speaker." He informed me and I froze, my face was lit up with burning blush, even though he couldn't see me. For the first time I acknowledged that there was someone else with him in the car. That's right, Adam had said he was dropping someone off and… of course I was on speaker, since he was clearly in his car, driving. I wanted the ground beneath me to crack open, let me fall into the very pit of Earth and hopefully close behind me. That was until the tense silence was broken.

"Hi, Allison." I heard Kyle's voice on the other end of the conversation. My heart dropped.

***

I open my eyes and smirk at the memory. I think it was the moment I first realized I had actual feelings towards Kyle. Ironic, isn't it? Although, that time my luck wasn't so bad as you'd expect. After a short "I'll call you back." Adam hung up, but he apparently explained everything to Kyle. The second found it amusing and adorable that I was terrified of dates and that he was the reason that I went through the whole trouble.

I walk up to the log self on the opposite wall and I smile at the framed photos that are standing on it, memories flooding my mind again. God, I was so childish back then. I like to think I've grown since then, but most of my friends and family claim that I'm just us stubborn and immature as I was fifteen years ago.

Yeah, that's right, it's been over fifteen years since that incident with Adam, Kyle and the kiss. Seems so long ago… But then again, I can still remember every detail, every word and smile. Ridiculous, I know, but I can't help it. It's not like I've been trying to keep everything in mind. I guess, it's just something that I'm bound not to forget. Although so many things has happened since then… So much has changed.

It's amazing how many tears I've spilled over Adam, and now I can only smile, bringing up all the moments in my mind. Both the happy and the sad ones…

***

"Thank you." I said suddenly.

"For what?" Adam raised his eyebrows with surprise.

"For Kyle. For not being mad at me. For being the best friend ever…"

"Aw, sweetie, I just told him the truth." He did. At least the truth he knew. And I absolutely refused to admit I actually wanted to kiss him for… Well, not for practice.

"Still, you cared enough to do it."

"Of course I care enough, Allie. You know I love you to death." I guess there was something in my eyes at that moment, that made him say what he did next. I have no idea what it was though. "But I think we need to change something. We can't go on like this."

"What do you mean?" I was confused; I thought everything was great.

"I mean we need some space from each other." I had a sinking feeling in my stomach, somehow resembling utter terror. He couldn't be saying what I thought he was saying. Right?

"W-Wha –" I didn't even know what I was trying to say. "Why?"

"I can see it's not easy for you and I think it would do good for both of us, if we kept some distance for a little while."

"Are you saying you want me to stay away from you?" I felt like I was suffocating, as if there was not enough oxygen in the air. Partly it was from anger and confusion, partly from sickening hurt.

"No, sweetie, of course not. I just think that we should take some time to be just friends on long distance… Look, I'll be travelling all around the world anyway and you have lots of stuff to do yourself… And you're going to try it with Kyle and… It's just better if we aren't as close for a little while. You know, just to get used to being busy and apart." I knew I was about to cry, but I was trying very hard to stop the tears from breaking through without a fight.

"But… But I don't want to be away from you. I don't want to have a distant friendship, I don't want to keep distance from my big brother." And that was the key word. He melted to a pool of Glambert around me, surrounding me with a warm hug.

***

Throughout the following weeks, months even, we both were busy doing 'our thing', which sort of suited Adam's suggestion to give each other space. Basically, we didn't really have time to socialize much. Though it wasn't working the way he had hoped it would. I mean, we were keeping constantly in touch – you know, twenty-first century, we have lots of technology – and meeting any time we had the chance to. I think we probably interacted more than we usually would. Which wasn't as bad as Adam feared. As in: I didn't have any other stupid suggestions and ideas for us.

The career thing seemed to be going well for both of us, even though it was demanding, tough to deal with and left no time. We both knew it was worth the sacrifices we sometimes had to make, because it was what we've dreamed of and it came true. No, scratch that. It was all beyond any expectations, hopes, or even dreams. And being in all of this together somehow helped us through the hardest times. We knew we could always count on each other and that we understood one another more than anyone else. Adam and I have always had something in common, although no one could ever name specifically. We simply shared some kind bond.

I pick up one of the frames and study the picture I've seen countless times before. If I close my eyes again, I know I will be able to describe every tiny and insignificant detail about it, as well as all the other pictures on the shelf.

The photograph captured Adam and me, on one of our group trips, on some mostly-empty beach. We were both facing the camera as Adam was carrying me on his back. My arms were wrapped around his neck, while his held my legs under the knees to hold me in place; I was resting my chin on his shoulder so the side of my face was almost touching his cheek. There we were: hair wild, flying with the salty breeze; wide smiles gracing our glowing faces and eyes shining with joy and happiness.

I can't hold a smile back. It seems like this day was yesterday, when in reality a good decade had passed since then. My hair is almost the same shade now. I've dyed it so many times over the years in every color from the spectrum. Still, I always came back to this deep red shade. I have no idea why.

I love this photo. It's beautiful and it always brings up the best memories. I put it back in place and slowly scan the other pictures with my gaze, as the memories of each and every one raise in front of my eyes. Parties, trips, important events… But mostly – important people.

***

"Adam!" I shouted, trying to be heard over the loud excitement of the people around me, as I pushed my way towards Adam through the crowd.

"Allie!" He finally spotted me with his eyes and smiled broadly. The next moment I crashed into him, squeezing the air out of his body in a slightly too enthusiastic hug.

"Congratulations!" I yelled, pulling away at last.

"Thanks, sweetie." He gave me one of his sincere, warm smiles. I loved to see him so happy and excited. It radiated from him like heat from fire and made me feel fantastically good.

"God, Adam, I'm so proud of you!" I squealed, not releasing his hands from mine.

"Aw, thanks sis. Next year the stage will be all yours!" Adam assured me, but I waved my hand dismissively; I didn't really care about myself at the moment.

"Your first Grammy!" I have to admit I spilled a couple of tears to the sound of his speech that night. Okay, maybe more than a few, but could anyone blame me?

"Yeah! I still can't believe it." Adam bit his bottom lip.

"Well, you better believe it, 'cause it's the first of many others!" He laughed in response and hugged me once again, before other people started attacking him with congratulations.

***

Adam Lambert was my first love.

Yes, love. It wasn't just a childish crush but real, deep feelings I've had for him. I know this now as well as I knew it all those years ago. Of course, I'd moved on and fallen in love again, more than once. I've had my fair share of heartbreaks and disappointments before I finally found the person I wanted to spend my life with. Before any thoughts are born in your heads: no, it's not Kyle. He had actually helped me a lot and I'm grateful for it, I'm not sure I would've been able to do it without him, but he was more like a very important stop on the way, a bridge I had to pass to get to the next significant part of my life. And before other kind of thoughts are considered: he also isn't anything like Adam. Neither in looks, nor in personality. Whichever way of resemblance you might imagine – they don't have it.

Oh, by 'he' I meant my husband. I have kids too, by the way. Yeah, yeah, the bubbly Allison Irahita, who has always been counted as the baby of the group, is a mother now. I've got two girls. Although I think I'm still the baby of the group somehow. Go figure.

Adam has a family of his own as well. Remember that guy Adam was talking about in his car? The one who was worth the effort to find time..? Yeah, that's him. Love that guy. And they're perfect for each other. I could tell that when I first met him, even though back then I still had those pangs of jealousy, which I was determined to ignore. They started dating just for fun, then called it 'just a casual thing', then it turned into a relationship and a couple of years later they moved in together. That was it. Adam's magnificent, mind-blowing career wasn't enough to break them apart. Neither were the endless rumors or the fans that were throwing themselves at Adam, nor the lack of time and tones of constant pressure… Nothing was enough to ruin the beautiful thing they have together. And I'm so unbelievably happy for them, as much as I know they are for me.

They've adopted a little boy just a couple of years before I had my first baby and they've practically grew together. We like to joke that they will end up getting married. Know what the funny thing is? They don't object. They are ten and eight years old. Weird kids, I'm telling you.

Our 'second round' went a little differently. I can still remember the dinner at my house when Adam announced they wanted to adopt another kid.

"Has to be a girl." Adam claimed firmly. And it was. Only this time they didn't take a baby, they decided to take care of a nine-year-old, whom they've met at the orphanage they were constantly involved with as a part of their charity work. The little girl had one of the saddest stories I've ever heard, but she was adorable and had a great personality. When I met her, I instantly knew why Adam and his partner were so fascinated by her. She was a real charmer. Now, it was even before she moved in with Adam. And we all know how charismatic this guy is…

Not to mention her looks! She has awesome genetics, for sure, but the stile… I mean, the girl is being raised by a rock star named Adam Lambert and a fashion designer, what did you expect? She's barely twelve now and I can already see her as the hottest girl in high school. The one every guy wants to date and all the girls want to hate. They'll have a rough time finding excuses to hate her, though. She's just too nice and sweet.

As soon as they adopted the girl, Adam started getting ideas in my husband's head, saying she would be a great babysitter soon… and that we needed a baby around. At first I was laughing and telling him to get his own, if he wanted, but soon enough my husband was helping Adam mess with my head and… And the next thing I knew was me agreeing to have another child. Not that I regret that decision, heaven forbid. Love my kids, love Adam's.

Well, you get the idea of our slightly dysfunctional family, right? Great, now add Kris and Katy and their 'coven' as Adam calls their large family jokingly, and Megan with Ryder, who's heading to collage next year (still can't believe he's already old enough!) and – surprise, surprise – Matt, yes, as in Matt Giraud; then a few other friends we've gotten close with along the years, and also all the siblings with their families and also the parents… And you can guess how a holiday looks for us. It's never boring around here.

As you've obviously figured already, my friendship with Adam survived after all. We consider each other real family now and I don't think twice about the decisions I've made so many years ago. I don't regret any. I'm also not sorry for all what we had to go through, because I know that it all brought us to what we are now.

And even though it hasn't been easy for me, even though it hurt a lot and for long, even though a little part of my heart will always be his in more than one way, as much as I don't want to admit it; I've never regretted staying his friend despite the difficulties and pain involved, because he is the best friend a person could wish for. I love Adam. He is my best friend. Have been since the moment we met and always will be.

The end.

.


Ah… I can't believe it's really over. The part, the version, the entire story… Finished. At last.

So this is a story about a really strong friendship that was stronger than anything else. Even romantic kind of love. I know most Adison shippers would rather the other way around, but we've had it in the other version of the story already. I wanted to show the other side of the coin too. Which is, I think, is the more realistic side.

Okay so I hope you enjoyed the chapter and the story as a whole. I'd really like you to tell me what exactly thought of the whole thing… Tell me all you have in mind, I would appreciate it a lot.

I also put out a poll about which version you liked better and I'll be thrilled if you take half a minute to vote. I'm just very curious.

Well, that's I guess. =D

Take care!

P.S. I'm working on a completely different project right now, which is an original story. I haven't posted it yet, but if someone's interested in reading it once it's out, I can send a message. So tell me. =D