Chapter 7: With or Without You

Craig point of view. Will Ashley change her mind before it's too late?

fyi: I'm not great with the airport lingo/process so just go with it.

Song credit: With or Without You by U2

So here I am. All packed and sitting in the airport lobby and ready to go. Ash didn't come to see me off. Maybe she did mean what she said in the garage. Well, at least I said my peace. I didn't believe a word she was saying. But if she convinced herself than I guess it really isn't meant to be for us. Not this time around anyway. Still, part of me hopes that she might show.

see the stone set in your eyes
see the thorn twist in your side.
I wait for you.

Every girl I spot with brown hair makes me jump just a little, thinking that it might be her. But every single one of them isn't her. Why did she have to be so difficult? I love her. And I know she loves me. Isn't that enough?

sleight of hand
and twist of fate
on a bed of nails she makes me wait
and I wait without you
with or without you

"First call for flight 410 to Vancouver, now boarding." Great. Okay, then. I'll give it five more minutes, then I'll go get in line to board. Come on, Ash, I know you're coming, just move faster.

through the storm we reach the shore
you gave it all but I want more
and I'm waiting for you
with or without you
I can't live with or without you

I look at my watch. Crap. Five minutes are up. Alright then, it's time to go. She just better not call me when I'm there asking me to come back. Cause, damn it, I probably would go. I make my way to the gate and stand in the line that has formed. I think about looking around still but resign myself not to. Instead I need to start convincing myself that this is for the best and figure out how to get over her. Again. Did I really accomplish that the first time though? I think I hear my name but realize that I'm just starting to become delirious to block the pain. I did take my meds right? Yeah of course, I never miss them. Crap I swear I hear it again, so this time I look up. I see a flash of a girl behind a ton of people moving through the airport running full speed my way. No way. Did she really come?

and you give yourself away
and you give, and you give
and you give yourself away

Amazingly, as if I'm in a movie the crowd manages to part all at once and there she is. I'm not crazy after all. She did come. Now I'm so happy I don't know whether to scream or cry and I hope she's not here just to tell me that she wanted to "say goodbye".

my hands are tied, my body bruised
she got me with nothing to win
and nothing left to lose

When she finally reaches me, she throws her arms around me and nearly knocks me over in the process. But I don't mind. This isn't a goodbye hug. This is a "I never want to leave you again" hug. I know the feeling. Then she grabs my face and kisses me like my oxygen is the only thing that will keep her living. People are watching us, I can feel their eyes. But neither of us care. They can have their show. I've got my girl back.

and you give yourself away
and you give yourself away
and you give, and you give
and you give yourself away

Ashley won't stop kissing me all over my face until I take her shoulders and gently push her away so I can get a good look at her. Her face is stained with tears but she has a smile on her face. "God my lungs are burning." This makes me smile even wider. "Out of shape there, Kerwin." "Hey, yours would be too if you ran halfway from the parking lot because the cab driver was too slow and all the way through this huge place. I thought I was going to be too late." I'm so glad she wasn't. "Well, no offense, but I'm glad your lungs burn." She throws her head back and laughs, I love seeing her this way. "Me too. Makes me feel alive, or maybe that's just being here with you. I love you." "I know. I love you too." Suddenly, we're interrupted by the lady on the intercom, "Last call for flight 410 to Vancouver. Now boarding." Okay, she's here but I have no idea what she wants to do. "So, where do we go from here." Ashley looks at me like I just said the stupidest thing in the world. "You heard the lady, Vancouver." And my heart swells with joy and pride at that, she's coming with me. "So, you're coming then?" "Yep, I'm coming. You're stuck with me now." "I wouldn't have it any other way." For some reason, now I'm the one that is struck with the serious thoughts, "But what about your mom, school, your ticket, your clothes." She arches an eyebrow. "Since when are you worried about me not having clothes?" "Ash, I'm being serious." "I know, mom has given up the fight with me to stop me from doing what I have to do to be happy. She knows you make me happy and I'm an adult now so she really can't object. I bought a ticket online. She's going to come out next week to bring me my stuff and make sure we get situated. As for school, I'll enroll in one out there. See, I can plan stuff and still take a chance." Ah, she always has to have the last word and prove me wrong. It's okay, it's part of what I love about her. I take her hand and lace my fingers in hers. "So, you ready then? It's time to start our new life. This is it." "I'm ready." And ignoring the annoyed looks of the impatient airport workers, we finally walk through the gates and make our way onto the plane.

with or without you
I can't live with or without you