CHAPTER FIFTEEN-THE PROMISE

The boys headed back to Orlando in February 2007 and spent weeks upon weeks writing and recording. Their album "The Moment" was amazing. The first single, "Hear Me Now" got a lot of exposure on the radio. Nixon and I weren't spending as much time together which, after three years of being together almost non stop, was very hard. The boys shot a video for "Hear Me Now" and it made the Fuse countdown a few times. The summer passed by and the release date of the record neared, and I started getting anxious...what was I going to do when Nixon went on tour? How would I function for months at a time without him? Would we last? I surely hoped so; we had been together for so long, four years now, and we had been friends even longer. The old fear of losing him was returning--- something I hadn't felt in a very long time.

We were laying on the couch one night when I finally decided to talk to him about it.

"Nix..." I said, sitting up.

"Yeah?"
"Can I talk to you?"
"You know you can. What's up?"
I took his hands into mine, playing with his fingers.

"It's just...I'm afraid."
"Of what?"
"You leaving...and going on tour."
"Why?"
"It's just like Hollywood...the boy forgets the girl...and she sits at home and waits...I need you to promise me you won't. You've never lied, Nixon, so please don't..."
Tears streaked my face and I wiped them away.

"Despite the miles between us, my heart will never change...you're all that it beats for..."
"I'm not sayin' that I don't believe. I'm exactly where I want to be... don't you take that from me. Promise me nothing will change..."

"You know I still get lost in your eyes?" he said.

I looked up, and my teary eyes met his.
"I promise you, Lyndsey. Nothing will change..."
Nixon pulled me close to him, kissing the top of my head. I held onto him tightly, wishing the moment would never end.
"Come on." he said a few minutes later, standing up and extending his hand.

"What?" I asked, placing a hand in his.

"Just come on...come with me..."

Nix tightened his grip on my hand and pulled me up off the couch. He wrapped my arms around his neck and placed his on my waist.
"Bring back memories?" he asked.

I smiled, nodding. It did indeed bring back memories, some very old memories that sometimes I wondered if he even remembered. I was so glad that he did.
"And I don't want the world to see me..." he sang softly.

I laid my head on his chest as we slow danced while he sang my favorite song. I felt like almost childlike, and I knew then that there was no way I would be losing Nixon...I knew he loved me; there was no doubt about that. The next night was the CD release party at 12th & Porter in downtown Nashville. The place was sold out, packed wall to wall, with friends, family, classmates, and complete strangers. It was such a proud moment for five guys who never thought they'd make it out of our little town, yet this was their last night in our little town for a few months. The tour began tomorrow, and though Nixon had made a promise to me, I still wished he could stay, or that I could go.

The boys' show went amazingly well, and they stayed afterward and signed copies of the album, posed for pictures, and hung out with a few fans and friends before we all headed out for a late night meal before they took off in Luke's parents' RV for Michigan. I tearfully said goodbye to four of my best friends in a Waffle House parking lot. They all boarded the RV, Luke taking the wheel, and left Nixon and I alone together for one last time.

"I love you." Nixon said, taking my hands into his.

"I love you too." I said, my voice cracking.
"Shh, don't cry."
"You just remember the promise that you made..." I told him.

"I will...I'll call all the time, and I'll see you next month, okay?"
"I'll be here waiting, wishing you could stay...but I'll just remember the promise that you made."