Summer 2005

Georgie

"I can't believe you're leaving tomorrow," I told Dylan, a lump already forming in my throat. I had known this day was coming for months, but it was hard to believe that it had actually arrived.

"I know," he said softly. Neither of us had said much the whole walk.

"Where are we going anyways?"

"The docks."

"Why?"

"You'll see when we get there."

"Fine." I pretended to pout, to see if that would get him to change his mind. Instead, he kissed me.

"You know you're cute when you pout."

I smiled. I loved it whenever he noticed something about me like that. It made me warm inside, like I was a flower that was blooming. Dylan made me alive, and I was afraid that when he left, I was going to stop blooming, and shrivel up.

"Wow," I said when we arrived at our destination. He had set up a picnic on the docks, away from the main area, but near the trees and on a hill that I knew was the best spot in the whole city to watch the stars.

At seven, the sun was just setting, and the breeze from the docks surrounded us like a warm blanket. I sat down on the top of the hill, and Dylan sat behind me. I leaned against his chest and took in the smells and the sights and the noises, committing them to memory forever.

"Okay, now for dinner, I went out on a limb and guessed what you'd like best from the menu at Kelly's. We have chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cheesecake, triple chocolate shakes, which admittedly have melted a bit, and Oreo fudge cake."

I grinned. Dylan knew me better than anyone ever had. I had no idea what I was going to do once he was gone. I couldn't imagine life without him. That was the funny thing about love. You don't know that you're missing it until you find it, and once you find it, you can't live without it.

I was really going to miss him.

After dinner, well, dessert for dinner, Dylan and I lied down on the sleeping bag that he had brought. The sky was now a navy blue, with brilliant diamonds stars. Lying in his arms, I was sure that nothing in life could ever be better.

"See that star?" he asked, pointing to the middle star in Orion's Belt.

"Yeah."

"I'm going to look at that star every night and think of you."

"Don't be stupid, Dylan. I know that you're going to be going to movie premieres and hanging out with the stars."

"I don't care how many stars there are around me, I'm going to remember it every single night, and wish on it that we'll be together again."

"For how long?"

"Forever if I have to. I love you, Georgie. I'm not going to let you get away."

"I love you too."

He kissed the top of my head, then the tip of my nose, and finally my lips. "You know, this place is practically deserted, and we've got the whole night ahead of us."

"You're crazy," I told him. "We're in public. We could get caught!"

"Would it be worth it though?"

I grinned. "Yes."

That night, Dylan and I made love under the stars.

Dylan

"Are you sure you have to leave?" Georgie asked me as we stood on the train platform. I was ready to turn around, go to PCU and stay with her forever. It would be worth it. Why make a film if I didn't have Georgie to celebrate it with?

"I'll be home in a month. I promise." I kissed her gently, and held her tightly. Both of us were in the same clothes from the night before, as we had fallen asleep under the stars and barely made it to the train station in time to meet my mom.

Georgie had cried. I had rocked her and pretended to be strong, but there was no fooling the truth- I was hurting as badly as she was.

"I promise I'll call you as soon as I get in."

"I'll be waiting. Promise you won't forget me?"

"Promise. Forever and ever."

"I love you Dylan," she whispered.

"I love you too," I whispered, a lump in my throat.

"Are you coming, son?" The baggage guy asked me. "The train's about to leave.

Georgie nodded. "He's coming." She wiped her eyes and let go of me. "Remember me when you're up there accepting your Oscar."

I grinned. "I will." We kissed, then I slowly made my way to the train. Once I got on, I got a window seat and saw Georgie crying. As the train rolled away, I saw her blowing kisses until she became to small to see her anymore.

And once she was away, I finally allowed myself to cry.

Georgie

"Where have you been!" Mac asked as soon as I got in. He had dark circles under his eyes and was wearing the same clothes he had been in when he had left for work the day before.

"I dropped Dylan off at the train station. I told you about it last week!" I wasn't in any mood to get lectured by him.

"I did expect that you would have been home last night! Where were you?"

"We fell asleep while watching a movie," I lied.

"Are you sure about that? Because it would be really bad for you to lie right now."

"I'm not lying! We watched a movie."

"Where?"

"At the Quartermaine's."

"Wrong answer."

"What!"

"I called them last night. They said that Dylan and his car were gone all night."

I swallowed hard. I was going to get it now.

"Don't you get how dangerous it is for you to be out all night! I thought you knew better than this! You've seen what happened when Maxie got involved with a boy-."

"Dad, how long is it going to take for you to realize that I'm not Maxie!" I didn't wait for a response. I just stormed up the stairs.

"Go away," I yelled when someone knocked at my door later on.

"No such luck," Maxie said, coming into my room. I was lying facedown on my bed, and trying not to cry too much. Maxie sat down beside me and rubbed my back.

"Are you okay?" she asked me.

"No. Dylan's gone." I blew my nose.

"He'll be back."

"It won't be the same. He's going to be famous and forget all about me."

"Georgie, Dylan loves you. He's not going to forget about you."

I nodded, and we sat in silence. "All I want to know is how am I supposed to live with my heart all the way in California?"

She didn't answer. We sat in silence for a long time, before she left the room and softly closed my door.

She didn't answer for one good reason. No one can live with their heart all the way in Calfornia.