When Heather heard her phone buzz, she immediately flipped over to look at her phone. She held her breath as she read the message from Naya.
Heather, I didn't come to your house to tell you goodbye. I came to your house because I wanted to keep you from moving. But when I got to your house, and I saw that you were engaged, I couldn't bring myself to tell you. I didn't want to tell you, because I don't want to be responsible for your unhappiness anymore. Truth is, as much as I don't want you to move, and I don't want you to marry Taylor, I'm glad you're happy. I'm glad that you're doing what makes you happy, and I'm not going to stop you. I love you Heather. I always have. I always will. Please drive safe tomorrow, and don't be a stranger. I know things are weird between us, but I don't want you to move away and never hear from you again. As much as it hurts, I understand why you're doing this, and I don't blame you for it at all. - Naya
She typed messages over and over for the next hour. But she never sent a single one. Everything that she needed to say, she couldn't. Everything she wanted to say came out wrong. Everything she didn't want to say ended up working its way into every message she typed out.
Ugh, Heather, she's probably not even awake. Just go to sleep. You're going to Arizona tomorrow.
Obeying her sub-conscious, Heather tried her best for the next few hours to get as much sleep as she could manage. After tossing and turning, and what felt like fifteen minutes of sleep, Heather heard the 6 am alarm sound.
Heather quickly showered and got things ready for the movers. Like clockwork, they were there at 6:30 on the nose. Taylor was in the shower, so Heather instructed the movers what needed to be taken with them. The rest of it they'd try to cram into Taylor's truck. Heather's car would be towed with the movers.
By 8:30 the movers had everything loaded. It helped that Heather and Taylor had all of their stuff packed in boxes. By 10 they were finished cleaning the place. So, with one last look, she and Taylor handed the keys over to their complex, bid Simon farewell, and headed out on the road.
Luckily for Heather, she kept her mind pretty busy all morning, so she didn't really have time to think about Naya or the text that Naya sent her last night. But once they got into Taylor's truck, it was the only thing she could think about. Why did you send that Naya? Why last night? You've had a year to tell me how you really felt.
Like most of her questions that came from within her mind, those questions remained unanswered. She wanted to know, but she didn't know what it would mean if she did.
They'd barely been on the road two hours before the couple decided to stop and grab a bite to eat. Heather had been virtually silent the entire two hours that they had been on the road. Taylor took note and decided he was going to try to cheer her up with a little wedding planning.
"So where were you thinking for the wedding?"
Heather grimaced at the thought. Little did he know that was the last thing Heather wanted to talk about.
"I don't know yet, Taylor. We just got engaged yesterday," Heather bit in response.
"Okay. How about your bridal party? Surely you've been thinking about that? Who's going to be your made of honor? April or Cryss?"
Heather was getting annoyed. "I don't know Taylor. I have to talk to them about it."
Taylor could sense Heather's annoyance and started to get defensive.
"You've been acting weird since we got home last night. If you didn't want to say yes, why did you?"
Heather was caught off guard. "Who says I didn't want to say yes?"
"Look, I'm sorry, I just wanted to talk. You haven't said but five words since we got into the car." Taylor said feeling a little guilty.
"It's true..." Heather blurted out.
"What's true?"
"I don't want to marry you..." Heather's tone changed from rash to cautious in 2 seconds. She knew where this conversation was going. She didn't know if she was ready. She didn't know if Taylor could handle it.
"What? I don't understand."
"It's just, everything happened so fast. We were getting ready to move. I was overwhelmed with goodbyes. You surprised me in front of everyone. I couldn't say no... I just..."
"Heather, you don't know what you're saying right now."
"I do, Taylor. We're moving. I'm not sure I'm ready for marriage yet."
"Then when? We already live together. You're moving to Arizona for me. It's the logical next step."
"I'm not moving to Arizona for you."
"Heather, then why?"
"Taylor, I don't want to have this conversation right now."
"Oh my God... It's... It's because of her isn't it?"
Taylor knew Heather and Naya were close. He wasn't really sure how close, though. It wasn't that Heather lied about it, but Taylor preferred not knowing. He chalked it up to nothing more than "a phase" in her life. She didn't explain to him that she was in love with Naya. She felt it wouldn't do either of them any good. I guess when you have to keep things from your fiance, it might be a red flag, eh, Morris?
"Taylor, there's more to it than that."
"No.. she came over last night, and THAT'S why you got weird. It's all making so much sense now."
"No Taylor, it's not like that. There's more to it."
"Oh really? Well then enlighten me. I'm not stupid Heather."
"Taylor, let's talk about this later."
"NO! You just told me you didn't want to marry me. Let's get it all on the table now before I take you away from your precious Naya," Taylor spit. For the first time in their relationship, Heather was scared. A little scared of Taylor. A lot scared of what this conversation meant. And scared that she could have walked out on the greatest thing that had ever happened to her, and she didn't know if there was any turning back.
"Taylor, I'm sorry... I love you, I really do. But, no... I'm not ready to get married. And no I'm not moving to Arizona for you. I'm moving to Arizona to start fresh... WITH you. But... if we're being honest. Yeah, there is more to it. I love you, but I also love Naya. She wasn't just a phase, Taylor. I was in love with her. So yeah, part of it had to do with moving on with my life, so that I can take that next step in our relationship."
"So why'd she come over last night?"
Heather didn't know whether to tell him the truth or to lie. If she told him the truth, this would probably be the end of their relationship. If she lied, she'd be starting off their move on a foundation of lies.
"...To say goodbye..."
"That's it?"
"...Sort of..."
"Heather, enough of the games. What'd she come over for?"
"She came over to tell me that she didn't want me to move. But she al-"
"Well this is just too much for me to deal with right now. I can't. I've got to get out of here."
And with that, Taylor stood up, walked out of the restaurant and to the car. Heather sat there stunned for a minute. He didn't let her explain that Naya had also told her that she wanted her to be happy and she understood why she was leaving. But is Taylor the one that's going to make you happy? If you're going to start listening to Naya now, do you really think Arizona is the way to go?
No.
Heather answered her own question. She didn't want to move to Arizona. She just didn't feel like she had another option. Now that Naya told her how she really felt, maybe it wasn't too late. Maybe they still had a chance. Maybe Heather didn't have to move to Arizona on a quest to find happiness that she knew wouldn't be there anyway.
She looked out the window... Taylor's truck was gone. Taylor's truck, carrying the remnants of their life together had vanished from the parking lot. She looked flabbergasted. I can't believe he just left me here.
Heather was only two hours from home. Her real home. If Taylor was gone, maybe she'd go too. Maybe she'd go back home and try to work things out with Naya. She wasn't sure of anything right now. The blonde had no house, no apartment, no ride, no belongings... just her phone, her purse, and a big hole in her heart.
She called for the check, paid the bill Taylor had stuck her with and asked the waitress if she knew the best way to get back to LA.
A nice elder couple overheard. She and Taylor were just outside of Coachella. The couple informed her that Indio was a short ten minute drive, and they had a Greyhound location. They even offered to drive her there themselves.
Ten minutes and $31 later, Heather was one bus ride away from home.
She booked herself on the 1:15 bus, which would get her to LA around 4:00. She'd go straight to Naya's. She didn't know what she'd say, she didn't know what she'd do. But she knew that's where she was going.
While she was waiting, she received a text from Taylor. He had come back to the restaurant but she had already gone. Heather realized the moment she booked her trip home that her heart was never with Taylor. She told him that she wasn't going to move to Arizona. He told her that he was. And that was that. He continued the trip by himself, and she'd make arrangements to have her car towed back to LA and have her boxes moved sent back. She was literally going back to LA with nothing.
When she got home to LA, she immediately got off of the bus and into a cab. She told him where to go, and within ten minutes, she was standing outside Naya's door. Her heart was pounding. She was sweating. Heather literally had no idea what she was going to say.
With her adrenaline pumping through her veins, she pounded on the door in front of her. Blood boiling, nerves sending shivers up and down her entire body... She pounded again. Open the door Naya. Come on, open the door.
A minute later, Heather heard the sound of the door unlocking. As soon as it opened she saw Naya's face. She looked exhausted. Her face was a little swollen from what looked like a lot of crying. The shorter girl's mouth gaped wide open, and before she even had a chance to say anything, Heather barged in, grabbed Naya on either side of her face, and pulled the girl's lips toward hers. It wasn't harsh and it wasn't rushed, but it was needy and desperate.
Naya was taken aback, but within a few seconds, Heather felt Naya kissing her back - just as needy and just as desperate. Once she felt Naya's lips dancing with hers, tears started falling from Heather's eyes. She broke the kiss, pressed her forehead against Naya's and just cried. Naya wrapped her arms around Heather and cooed in her ear, but Heather couldn't make out what she was saying.
It had been so long since she had kissed Naya with unrivaled vigor. She was always fighting her true feelings for the girl, and she had wanted to surrender for far too long.
Naya held Heather for another minute longer when Heather pulled back to look into brown orbs staring back at her.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"I need you."
"I need you more."
"Naya, I'm so sorry. I never should have left without talking to you."
"I never should have made you feel like I didn't love you. It's always been you, Heather."
"I broke up with Taylor."
"I broke up with Matt."
"Now what? I don't have a place to live. I don't have any clothes. I don't have any car. I don't have anything."
Heather continued to cry against Naya. Naya just hugged the girl in front of her, vowing silently to never to let her go again.
When Naya pulled back, Heather meekly lifted her head to look back into Naya's eyes, completely surrendering herself to the girl in front of her.
"Heather, you're wrong. Live with me. Wear my clothes. Take my car... You have me. And I have you. And that's all I know I need. You're home now, everything else is just a minor detail."
With that Heather pressed her lips up against Naya's. Softly, this time - with less energy, but just as much passion.
"I love you Naya. I never should have let you go."
A/N: Thanks for all of your feedback guys! Keep reviewing. I'm thinking this story only has one more chapter left... just because I am not sure if I want to take it too much further. I feel like it's in a good place to start wrapping up. It's got to end on a Naya P.O.V., so if I figure out what I want to do with it, there's a possibility it could have 3 more chapters left... we'll see. I 3 REVIEWS! :) :)