Prologue

July 5, 2003

The air always feels different when I know my life is about to change. I felt it when I started high school, and I felt it when I started college. Normally I love to sit outside and enjoy the South Carolinian air, whether it be humid or freezing. The air tonight feels suffocating, and I wonder if my decision to leave home to pursue my graduate degree is the right thing to do. I had been able to complete my undergraduate degree at a university within driving distance from my family farm. I no longer have the opportunity to commute because Clemson University is at least six hours away from home. This degree has been what I wanted for years, but now that it is finally happening I can't help feeling like I may be making a mistake. I'm forced to leave everything behind: my home, my parents, my brother, and Nick.

Nick. He has been a major part of my life for as long as I can remember. Our relationship has always been complicated, but I can't let it continue to be. As much as I wish I could pursue my ever growing fondness of him, he is my brother's best friend. My brother has always been overprotective, and we would just be putting ourselves in a predicament that would ultimately end terribly.

I look over my shoulder to see Nick sliding the glass door of my new apartment closed. Through the glass I can see my family and his family intently watching the news on the television my dad just installed. None of them seem too phased that I'm moving away. After all, today is my twenty-second birthday, and I have to grow up sometime. Nick, however, does look phased. He stands with his shoulders slumped and a heartbreaking smile on his face. It's enough to make me want to denounce my attendance at the university and go home with him tonight. But no matter how much I want to, I know that I can't.

He joins me on the floor of my tiny balcony. "Not enjoying your twenty-second, huh?"

I thought I would be excited to move into my own apartment and start the next part of my college journey. I couldn't have been more wrong. "Kinda hard to when I'm leaving everybody behind."

"Ah, don't worry about us. You'll have a great time here," he says. I can tell that he is being sincere, but I can also discern the sorrow in his voice.

We sit in silence for a few minutes, just enjoying each other's company. He finally speaks up, "Do you remember when we first met?"

"How could I forget?" I joke with him, which I'm happy to see puts a true smile on his face. I lean back on my hands and think back to the memory, and I can tell he does the same.

I remember meeting Nick as clear as day even though I was so young. My family's farm is far into the countryside, and in the beginning of my life we never had any neighbors. The only thing for miles was the farmhouse located directly across the street, but no one lived there for awhile. My brother and parents were outside working with the animals, and I had been told to stay inside. Of course I wandered off like I always did, except this time there was something new. There was a moving van and a new group of people at the house across the street. I approached them and introduced myself. They seemed excited to see me except for the little boy, who was silent. When my family realized I was gone they freaked out, but ultimately met up with me at Nick's house. They explained to Nick's mom and uncle that I wander off a lot; they begged them to keep an eye out for me. Nick's mom somehow convinced him to come play with my brother and I, despite Nick refusing to talk to us. During our game, Nick mistakingly tripped. The tears flowed down his face like waterfalls, and he angrily told me to leave him be. Instead of listening, I brought him a bandaid and put it on his injury. After that moment, the three of us became inseperable.

Nick speaks up about the memory, "You know you were the first person around my age to ever be nice to me?"

"I was just doing the right thing," I tell him honestly. "Do you remember your first kiss?"

Nick scoffs. "Are you kidding me? Of course I do. Did your brother seriously never find out about that?"

Nick and I both had our first kiss on the same day. I had just started sixth grade, while Nick was in seventh grade. This boy I was dating, Pauly Barnett, kissed me in the lunch room at school. Nick had been right next to me and saw the whole thing. When I saw the crestfallen look on my best friend's face, I instantly broke up with Pauly. After school it took me an hour to get Nick to come out of his room. He said he was simply embarrassed because he had never been kissed, but I didn't truly believe that. Regardless, I pulled him down to my height and gave him a kiss. His face was bright red for hours.

"Thank God he never found out about that one," I say. "And thank God he never found out about the kiss after prom either."

Even years later, Nick's face flushes. "Bea, I thought we weren't supposed to talk about that one?"

"A good memory is a good memory." I give Nick a sly wink.

My sophomore year of high school I convinced my brother to let Nick take me to prom. My excuse was that no one else had asked me, although I was indeed asked by three seniors. Prom night with Nick was a dream come true. He was a true gentleman the whole night. When it came time for an afterparty, I stuck with Nick the whole time. It was my brother's senior prom so he was drinking, as was everyone else. I was certain to keep Nick away from any alcohol because of his drinking struggles that started at a young age. Eventually we drug my intoxicated brother home. I walked Nick out, and to my surprise he kissed me. This kiss was nothing like the kiss we shared previously. It was full of intent and passion. Our hands roamed all over each other, and I ended up pushed against the wall. If my mom hadn't come outside when she did, who knows how it could've ended up. Nick and I agreed to leave the memory in the past, due to my brother's overprotectiveness. However, I can't help bringing it up on occasion.

"That night was something else... Too bad you ended up dating that douchebag soon after," Nick muttered, a slight tinge of bitterness in his tone.

"Nick, please," I beg, "you know there was more to that story than meets the eye."

"Whatever." Nick jerks himself away from me so that I can no longer view his face. His temper often does show itself.

Shortly after prom my parents hired an extra farm hand for the summer. He was a few years older than me, but he showed interest in me nonetheless. I knew I could never be with Nick so I involved myself with Steven. I knew it hurt Nick, but I thought it was the only way for the both of us to move on. I was positive Nick would start dating one of the girls at school that was interested in him, yet he never did. Steven was an asshole, time and time again. He often made threats toward Nick and the rest of my family, which was the only reason why I stayed with him. A few months ago Nick and Steven got into a huge fight. Nick let out all of his pent up anger and ended up pummeling him. That day I finally ended things, and I'm glad I did.

Nick turns to face me again. He can never stay mad at me too long. "We've had a lot of good memories, Bea."

My eyes stay fixated on the moon. I can't look at him, because if I do I will pack my things and leave with him. I have an idea. It's a stupid one, but I voice it, "What if you moved in with me?"

Nick moves in front of me so that I'm forced to look at him. His bright blue eyes-which will forever be my favorite color-have a hint of tears in them. "Bea, we both know that would never be able to happen."

We stare at each other for a few painstaking moments before Nick pulls me into his embrace. Minutes pass by, but I remain glued to his body. No words are exchanged; there is nothing left to say. I pull away to take one last look at him. I try to memorize every detail of his face: his bright blue eyes, his stubble that tickles my face when I hug him, his dark hair, and the hat he always uses to cover up his hair. No amount of money in the world could replace this memory.

"You have an eyelash under your eye," Nick breaks the silence.

I give him a sad, but genuine smile. "My blue eye or my brown eye?"

"The brown one. Would you like me to get it for you?"

I nod and he places his hand on the side of my face. After tenderly wiping underneath my left eye, he leaves his hand on my cheek.

The glass door slides open, causing Nick to put at least three feet of distance between us. The person to ruin the moment is of course my brother, Luke. He has a disapproving look on his face. "What are you guys doing out here?"

Nick's mood changes in an instant. I know that he is embarrassed that we got caught so intimately, so he turns his embarrassment into anger. "Sorry, we didn't want to watch the news with you guys. Especially not with your dad and my uncle betting on next week's weather."

"Well, you assholes made me sit in there and endure it all by myself," Luke jokes. I'm thankful that he doesn't bring up anything about Nick and I.

From the change in Nick's tone I can tell that he is also glad that Luke didn't bring up anything about the previous close proximity we shared. "Sorry man, I just couldn't handle another minute."

"Bea, I don't mean to cut things short, but it's almost ten o'clock. We better get going or we'll want to sleep all day tomorrow," Luke says.

I knew this was coming. As much as I don't want this night to end, I know it's time. Nick, Luke, and I head inside without another word. Everyone else is standing by the front door, ready for farewells.

Nick's Uncle Pete approaches me first. Pete has always been hard on Nick. Although I feel that he's too hard on Nick, I'm incredibly grateful that Pete has always been there for Nick when Nick's father wasn't.

"Well..." he says, "We sure are going to miss having you around, but I know you'll excel here." We share a quick hug before he takes off to go pull the cars around.

Nick's mom comes up to me next. She's a sweet lady with the occasional flare of anger, just like her son. She gives me a hug with a tight squeeze. During the hug she bends down to my height and whispers in my ear, "I don't know what he'll do without you, but don't worry. I'll make sure he's okay."

With wide eyes, I pull away. She gives me a smile, tells me goodbye, and follows Pete as if she didn't say anything out of the ordinary.

I have no time to recover from what Martha said to me because my father proceeds toward me. "Hey kiddo, now don't you think for a minute that just because you're in graduate school you're exempt from farm-work when you come home to visit."

I roll my eyes and give him a big hug. I wouldn't expect anything less than jokes from my dad. "Of course, dad."

My dad steps aside and my mother replaces him. "Oh, honey, I'm gonna miss you so much. I'm so proud of you!"

When she pulls away from our hug, I spot a single tear in her eye. She wipes it away quickly. My mom and dad both give me a quick kiss on the forehead before hurrying out. I assume they don't want me to see their sorrow.

It's Luke's turn to talk to me and he starts in about safety. My whole family used to be super protective of me, and while my parents no longer are, Luke never grew out of that characteristic. "So as soon as we leave you gotta' lock the door, and you always gotta' keep it locked. If you ever hear or see anything weird just call one of us and we'll be down here in no time."

By 'no time' he really means six hours. The thought terrifies me, but I simply agree with him for the sake of time. He gives me his famous sibling side hug.

Slowly but surely, my dog hobbles up to me. He's so old now, but he keeps trucking on everyday. I bend down to his level to talk to him. "Hey, Blinker. I think I might miss you the most."

"You sure you don't want him to come live with you?" Luke asks. "I mean he is your dog."

I pet Blinker's chocolate brown fur while he paws at my leg. "He deserves to live on the farm, not some tiny apartment."

Luke nods in agreement. "Well I better get going. It'll take awhile to get him down the stairs."

Nick and I watch Luke trudge down the stairs with Blinker. He turns to me for one last hug.

"So you're sure you wanna' stay here?" He asks me. "School doesn't start for over a month."

I don't want to stay here, but I think it's smart to adjust to living here long before school starts. "Yeah, I should stay. Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah."

"You're going to continue working on the farm and working on your business with Luke, right?"

Nick scoffs. "Yeah, our business that we're losing money from."

My brother had convinced Nick to join him on an entrepreneurial escapade several months ago. It hadn't gone anywhere, in fact they were losing money like Nick said. I try my best to be positive about the whole situation because I can tell they both really enjoy it.

I take his hand in mine, becoming serious. "Nick... promise me, whatever happens, you'll stay strong against your drinking urges."

"I promise."

"You'd better get going before my brother comes up here," I tell him.

He makes his way to the door, his movements slow. I get one last look of him before he's out the door and I am left alone.

Author's Note!

If you've taken the time to read this thank you! I have very exciting plans for this story.

I know most people won't have any interest in reading a TWDG fic centered around season 2 characters right now, but I've had the idea for this story in my head for years. If I even get one person to like this story I'll be thrilled.

Please favorite and follow if you're interested, and please leave reviews!