Chapter Eighteen – Young Love

Sydney's POV

I turned to face him, my arms reaching all the way up to his neck. He was practically lifting me as we embraced, not saying a word. He smelled just like I remembered and it was bliss. He pulled away to look at my face, his soft hand running across my cheek.

"You get more and more beautiful every day," he whispered into my ear.

I blushed at the compliment that I managed to piece together. My brain was still fuzzy and I suddenly wished I was sober enough to savor this moment.

I heard someone clear their throat behind me as I stared into his big, green eyes. I felt like I could fall into them, right then and there. Turning around, I saw all of the boys staring at us.

Liam finally plucked up the courage to say something, "Sydney, would you mind introducing us?" His hand ran through his tousled hair.

"Liam, Zayn, Harry, Louis, Niall, this is Leo. Leo, this is Liam, Zayn, Harry, Louis, and Niall." I said, still clinging to him.

Leo stretched out his hand to shake all of theirs.

"How do you know Sydney?" Harry asked, stepping forward.

"We're in loooovveeeeee!" I explained, giggling.

"Yes, well actually," Leo began. "I went to Sydney's school last year as a foreign exchange student and we were in a show together, The Wedding Singer. We just really hit it off, you know. But I had to go back to Germany and she had to stay in America and so everything had to end. I never thought I would see her again." His mouth turned to a small, sad smile as he looked at me, still giggling for no reason.

"So you got to see her in that outfit many times then, mate?" Harry asked, smirking.

"Yes, yes I did. She was very beautiful, no matter what she was wearing." His eyes turned to meet mine again.

Harry scoffed as he said this, knowing that calling a girl beautiful was much more effective then saying any of the crude things he said to me about that outfit.

"Leeeeooooo, let's go somewhere to catch up," I suggested, reaching for my purse.

He nodded and started leading me out. His shoulder was quickly caught by Louis. He gave Leo the address of the hotel and mumbled something about taking care of me.

I pulled on Leo's arm to try and get him to leave, becoming impatient. We were soon outside and flashing cameras made walking even more difficult. I climbed onto the back of Leo's motorcycle and we were off. My hair blew in the wind as I wrapped myself tightly around his abdomen.

As we parked in front of his apartment building I felt a large chill go over my body. It must be getting close to one in the morning and the fall weather was beginning to set in. We quickly ran upstairs, me stumbling the entire way. He fumbled with his keys as I stared at him again, he had become a man. His muscles had developed and were emphasized in his tight, grey tee shirt.

When he opened the door I quickly stumbled in, kicking my heels off in the process. My feet were throbbing and I made my way to a near by sofa.

Leo plopped down next to me, "So Sydney, why exactly are you in Berlin?"

"Well, those boys you met today, they're in a boy band. Well, they are the boy band. And Theresa and I won this contest thing where they're like, making us famous and shit. So now we're on tour with them. Its pretty rad. Theresa and I are called 'Vaalea' and our album comes out sometime. You should buy it and tell me how much you love it and how beautiful my voice is," I rambled, my voice resembling that of a four year old.

"Wow! That's really fucking cool." He said, leaning back.

"Leo, I've missed you, a lot." I said, my fingers tracing circles on his chest.

"Oh Syd, I've.." my lips pressed against his, interrupting him.

We were kissing, my hands made their way under his shirt and my legs wrapped around his body. His hands were placed on my hips respectfully. I grabbed them and moved them to my chest. I could tell he was a bit uncomfortable at first, but that wasn't going to stop me. I had a goal in mind, and he could tell what it was. He stood up, my legs were still wrapped around him and our kiss didn't break until he laid me down onto the bed. I lay there; biting my lip as he slowly lowered himself down on top of me.

I slid his shirt over his head and was in awe of his bare chest. His muscles were incredible, and my fingers traced their way around each and every one of them.

Soon my shirt was taken off as well, my skirt already lying on the sofa from when I straddled him. He kissed my neck roughly and our breathing began to intensify. I had been waiting for a moment like this for the past two years, and it had all begun so suddenly.

I wanted to be closer to him, though his body was lying atop my own. I paused for a moment and looked into my eyes. I nodded slightly and closed my eyes. Him and I. We were unstoppable.

I awoke the next morning to Leo's eyes, staring into my own. He smiled and sat up, "Good morning, beautiful."

I sat up next to him, and mumbled an incoherent greeting. I pulled the sheet up around my chest and realized that my head was pounding.

"What time is – oh my goodness, I have to go! Call me!" I quickly threw on some of my clothes and ran out of the apartment. I was halfway down the stairs when I realized I forgot my shoes next to the door. I sprinted back up the stairs, my head pounding the entire way.

When I got to the door Leo was standing there, my shoes in hand.

I went to grab them from him, but he held them above his head.

"Leo! Give them back, I have to go!" I shouted, jumping for them.

"First, I need to ask you something." He replied, crossing his arms across his chest. He was still standing there shirtless and it made me not want to turn away. I thought for a minute about forgetting about the shoes and leaving, but I really liked them.

"Okay," I sighed. "But make it quick."

"When can I see you again?" He asked, looking straight into my eyes.

"Leo, baby. Last night, it was great. I mean, I assume it was great, I don't remember very much of it. But, I'm not exactly in a position to be doing this. I'm not healthy, I'm really busy, and I'm traveling all over the world. Plus, I spent two years trying to get over you when you moved on two weeks after you left. Do you know how much that hurt me? I've tried to forgive you, to realize that you were an ocean away and that you weren't mine. I had no right to be jealous or upset. I can't go through that again. I'm sorry, Leo. I love you. I'll text you sometime, but I really have to go, the boys and Theresa are probably worried and I have an interview in an hour. So please, let me be the one to go this time."

He silently handed me my shoes as I saw tears start to form in his eyes. It hurt to much to watch, but I had one more thing I had to tell him.

"I wrote a song about you, and it's on the new album. I'm not supposed to give anyone this, but," I grabbed a small flash drive out of my bag and handed it to him. "This is the album. Listen to it. You'll know which one's about you."

Our hands dropped and I turned, not daring to look back.

I stepped outside and called a cab. Once I got in I told the driver the address of the studio and text Theresa that I would meet them there.

I put my phone back in my bag and slumped back into my seat. Tears started to flow out of my eyes as I realized my lies. I never got over Leo, and I never would. The only reason I didn't want to continue anything with him was because I didn't deserve him. I didn't deserve to be happy.

Leo's POV

Sydney handed me the flash drive as she turned to walk away. I watched her with tears in my eyes as she rapidly descended down the metal staircase. She was as beautiful as the day I saw her. She was as beautiful as the day I left. She was as beautiful as I imagined her every day since.

I slumped into my apartment and went over to my computer, still smelling the scent of her perfume in the air.

Music started flooding the empty room. I skipped songs until I got to track six. That was how many weeks we were together, how many weeks it took me to tell her I loved her, how many weeks it took me to break her.

The sound of a delicate piano filled the room and I was entranced by the sound of her voice.

"Someone mentioned you the other day. My mouth went dry, didn't know what to say. The image of you was in my mind. We had the right love at the wrong time. I can't believe I could never see the chemistry between you and me. The electric shock when we touched, never thought it would hurt this much. We both knew, but we continued. I miss your hand in mine. I miss the endless time. I miss your voice in my ear. I miss you wiping my tears. I miss you, it's true. And I hope you miss me too. An ocean can't keep me from you."

The rest of the song continued to make me cry even more. The memories, the pain, it all flooded my mind at once.

I made her the way she is. It was true, I knew she was on tour with that band, I had listened to her single countless times, I knew she was going to be in Berlin, I even knew she was going to the club that night.

I saw her. That was worth it. She was worth it.