Charlie's POV
I walked to Adam's dorm, but no one was there. I rushed to the window next to Luis' bed. Adam was lying out on the lawn, asleep.
Taking a deep breath and rearranging my thoughts, I walked outside.
I made my way over to Adam, slowly, so not to draw attention.
I sat down next to him, my eyes falling to his soft features. He looked like an angel when he slept.
I reached out to stroke his cheek, brushing a few loose strands of hair from his forehead.
Loosing myself, tears threatened at me eyes. How could I have been such a jerk? He was leaving…I might never see him again.
If I could turn back time…
Adam's POV
I felt a sudden warmth against my cheek, and my eyes fluttered open.
Charlie's face was inches from mine, and he was staring at me intently.
I was calm for a moment, then all the memories of the events of the past week came flooding back, and I sat up quickly, staring at him, and scooting backwards (away).
"Adam…" His eyes were sad as they met mine.
"You…" He bit his lip, and I shook my head.
"I'm sorry, Adam." I snorted, glaring at him.
"You know, that's exactly how my father said it." He swallowed, blinking and sniffing. His eyes were beginning to grow red and bloodshot. I knew I had inflicted pain…It was an open wound, and I had stuck my finger in it.
"I know you have no reason to forgive me…again." I opened my mouth to speak, but he cut me off. "Please…just hear me out."
I nodded at looked away, and the ground. I began counting blades of grass.
"I'm going to get help, Adam. Before, I was afraid of being another statistic. All my life I've been a statistic…but I can get over that…I will get over it…Just for you." I looked back at him, our gazes meeting and locking together.
When I looked into his eyes, I could read him like a book. It was both a curse and a blessing. Blessing this time, as I could easily see how solemn he was, and that he was telling the truth.
"You're serious?" I needn't have asked. He nodded, swallowing back his tears.
"I wouldn't lie about that." He closed his eyes, bowing his head. I crawled forward, towards him. I ignored the curious bystanders, and reached out to touch his cheek.
"I forgive you…" He looked up at me, the first real smile I had seen from him in months appearing on his face.
I tried to smile back at him, but I couldn't. The hot sting of tears pricked against the back of my eyes. Charlie saw my distress immediately, and pulled me towards him, cradling my shoulders in his strong, safe arms. I rested my head on his chest, and I could feel his heart beating.
In that moment…I felt a part of him. I felt like we were meant to be together…that we could overcome all obstacles, no matter how cruel. It was fate that I was transferred to the Ducks' team all those years ago…fate.
"I don't want to go, Charlie…I don't want to go." I choked out, salty liquid flowing down my cheeks. He wiped them away with his thumb.
"Shh…It's going to be okay… We'll get through this… We always do." He didn't look as confident as he sounded, though.
"Charlie…I can't… I won't!" He shook his head.
"I'll call you every day. I'll email you…I'll mail you." He kissed my forehead, trying to reassure me.
"It's not the same, Charlie…" The people who had been staring now decided to mind their own business, not that we'd paid any attention to them in the first place.
"Shh…" He kept telling me, "It's going to be okay." But I kept crying…I couldn't stop.
"If I'm gone when you wake up…" I choked, through my tears. It caught Charlie off guard, and the tears rimmed his eyes, like a stifled waterfall.
"Please don't cry…" He mumbled, trying to blink back his tears.
"And if I'm gone when you wake up…" We were both sobbing uncontrollably.
"It's not goodbye."
"Don't look back at this time as a time of heartbreak and distress."
"Remember me…" Charlie buried his face in my hair.
"Remember me." I filled in.
"'Cause I'll be with you in your dreams." He whispered, and I buried my head in his chest.
"I love you so much." I whispered, my mind racing through everything we'd been through. I didn't want to have to let go of him.
"Adam…" He took a deep breath, tilting my head to face him. "I'll be right here waiting for you."
My lower lip trembled, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, resting my head on his shoulder.
He kept whispering, "I love you, Adam. Don't ever forget that."
How could I forget?
I would give up breathing just to stay with him until the end of time.
If only it were that easy.
