"Please don't leave."

Pairing: NozoEli

She could count the days left, and every cross on the calendar in the morning brought her into the state of mild panic as they inched closer to the circled date.

The bed was warm, the only other occupant was at the moment, asleep.

Golden hair was messy, eyelids covering the blue that she came to love so much. Eli was blissfully unaware of her current state of mind.

She had taken to sleeping late and waking up early, dragging Eli along with her, because every moment spent unconscious was a moment wasted.

And she was so very tired, of counting down, of waiting for the inevitable.

She wondered if she could ever brace herself enough, even though she was used to it.

Eli had stirred awake and she was broken from her thoughts.

"Good morning Nozomi…"

It was cute when the normally stoic Student Council President yawned, groaning from the lack of sleep.

"I'll go get a drink…"

There was a sudden loss of warmth, when Eli's side of covers was lifted. Her heart had clenched, for some reason, aching for her warmth.

And she couldn't bring herself to say those words that was on her lips.

Please don't leave.

There was a last empty box on the calendar, which she reluctantly crossed out.

Eli's side of the wardrobe was almost cleared, packed inside the suitcase and everything was almost too neat.

There was no scarves hanging on the chair, no shirts thrown across the floor.

The air tickets on the table screamed its importance, the bright blue color was too painful for her eyes.

She had thought about feigning sickness, but that wouldn't be fair, because Eli missed her grandmother so much.

The room was empty at this moment, Eli having went back to college to grab some things and she could hear the echoes of Russian, of when Eli was excitedly speaking on the phone.

She wondered if she was important to Eli, because she certainly almost couldn't live without her.

Please, don't leave.

The circled box was crossed out that morning, and she could practically feel Eli radiating happiness, blue eyes shining just like when they first kissed.

She had picked out one of her favorite outfits, because if she was to send Eli off, she needed to do it with a smile.

The sound of the wheels rolling on the floor seemed to make her heart pound faster, and she was just this close to telling Eli to stay.

She grabbed on Eli's sweater, feeling the wool on her skin, wondering when will they meet again.

And even at this last moment, she couldn't bring herself to say those words.

Please don't leave.

She willed herself to smile, "Safe trip home, Elichi!"

She had hoped she wasn't making a weird face.

Eli had raised her arm then, her hand so very warm on her cheeks, and that's when she realized she had cried.

And her cheeks was wet all of a sudden.

"Do you think I never noticed?"

"Elichi…"

"You're coming with me to Russia," Eli had said in all seriousness and she couldn't breathe.

The pair of air tickets waving in front of her face, the bright blue warm and inviting.

"Grandmother would like to see my girlfriend," and the kiss had stopped her from replying, but it's alright because Eli already knew her answer.

And half way through the flight, she had wondered what she should do with her clothes, for she had packed nothing.

"Why do you think my suitcase is this heavy? Now go back to sleep…"

Eli's arm pulled her close to her shoulder, and she almost fell asleep again, when Eli whispered.

"Don't worry, I will never leave you."