It was almost four-thirty when they got to the airport. They raced inside, dodging motorized carts and piles of luggage. They stopped short when they saw the winding security lines.

Oliver cursed and threw his head back. "Thwarted again. See? I told you. Now I won't even get to see her."

"Hardly," Lilly said determinedly. She pulled her mother's credit card out of her pocket and ran up to the ticket counter. "Two, please."

"It's not a movie theatre," Oliver snipped. She shushed him.

"Where to?" the ticket attendant asked.

"Your cheapest tickets out of here." She winked. "We're on a surprise senior trip. We graduated yesterday. The surprise is that we never know where we'll end up."

The attendant smiled and handed Lilly two tickets after scanning the Visa card. "Enjoy your trip."

"Back in business!" Lilly cheered.

"Vegas?" Olive demanded incredulously, waving the tickets at her. "We don't want to go to Vegas."

"We just need to get past security and then we can get into the terminal and find Miley."

They lined up, went through the security sensors and then located Miley's flight on the Departures list. "A30, let's book it."

They raced down the terminal hallway, skidding to a halt at the gate. "Miley!" Lilly hollered.

The brunette turned in surprise and a smile broke across her face. She dropped her bags and ran towards them. "I didn't think you'd come!" She caught them both in a hug.

"Wouldn't miss it," Lilly said, hugging her again.

"Thanks for coming," Miley said, hugging Oliver. "I'll miss you so much."

"Oliver has something to tell you."

Miley looked expectantly at him. "What is it?"

Lilly took a few steps back to give them some privacy.

He floundered for a moment; then he found her eyes, found that he could not look away, and then the truth spilled out.

"Remember at Prom, when you told me you were moving, and I told you I loved you?" She nodded. "I really meant it. But not—not just—" He glanced at Lilly. She nodded encouragingly. "It's not just that I love you. Miley, I'm in love with you. I'm so in love with you, and it kills me that you're going. Please don't; please stay here. Don't go to Tennessee. I'll do anything. Just—don't leave me."

She stared at him in open-mouthed shock. "What? You—love—?"

"I know, I know, I should have told you earlier; but I was afraid, I didn't think you loved me back. And—that doesn't even matter anymore; I just don't want you to leave me. Don't go, Miley, please."

"Oliver, I—"

'Final boarding call, Flight 897, non-stop to Nashville. Final boarding call."

"I have to go." She turned to get her bags. He grabbed her hands.

"Please don't." His eyes were shiny and he was pressing his lips together. "I'll do anything. Anything. Don't leave me."

'Please, God, please, please, let her stay,' he prayed fervently.

"I'm sorry, I have to go. I'm sorry." She turned and got her bag and was gone.

The terminal suddenly grew very silent. Oliver stood perfectly still, staring at the locked gray door, and watching the large white plane outside the window that would take his beloved away.

Lilly walked up to him. "Oliver?" she said quietly.

A single tear dropped from his eye. "I thought—" his voice cracked. "I thought she'd stay."

"I know," she said, putting her arms around him. "I really did, too."