The next week was filled with dates. Every night. We double with Evanna and Denny on Monday. We saw a movie and went out into this indoor ice rink. Evanna and Denny were the smooth couple while Joe and I were the clumsy one. We were grasping the walls in pure terror as six year olds passed us. But we held each others hands the entire time.
Tuesday was Starkid day. We played board games and charades and karaoke. Meredith dragged me up and begged me to sing as a group. I quietly did so. The last thing I wanted to do was embarrass myself with my impression of a dying cow in which was my singing voice.
Wednesday we became tourists and sucked in all the sights of LA.
Thursday we went to the beach. Everyone. All day beach party.
Friday we stayed in and had a make out fort party which consisted of all my favorite movies.
Saturday and Sunday we had a Harry Potter marathon consisting foods like Chocolate Frogs and Butterbeer.
And come Monday we spent all day packing. I really only needed the one bag for the plane while everything else went into boxes. Everyone helped. Never left my side. I was grateful for that, especially when I needed a huge group of people to keep me from crying. That took all day and even though it was a sad event all day everyone kept me laughing. That was the thing I was going to miss the most here. Laughing. After we were done Joe told me that tomorrow we were going somewhere special and to wear sneakers. I didn't know what but I was excited. It was hard for me to fall asleep that night. I haven't slept in this empty of a room since I moved in fresh out of college. That was forever ago. The heaviness of my era wore me down and eventually fell asleep.
The next day I woke depressed. It was my last day in LA. Forever. I had an incredible last week though. I woke up rubbed my eyes and had some breakfast. Evanna came out no too long later and ate breakfast with me. She was holding the newspaper.
"Can you believe this!" She exclaimed angrily. Then proceeded to tell me something about politics that I didn't even know she was talking about. I just nodded and listened.
"Simply outrageous!" I bursted when she finished. We laughed long and happy. The rest of the day we hung out just the two of us. We watched movies, baked a cake, you know good stuff. While we ate the cake she took a deep breath.
"I hrve sormething to tell you." She said with her mouth full.
"Spill." I answered.
She swallowed hard.
"Denny asked me to move in with him." She spoke quickly with her eyes shut. I squealed and hugged her tightly.
"That means this is the end for the flat for the both of us." She added.
I absorbed that news. That's right. Everything was changing wasn't it?
"Well we still got a couple more hours let's reminisce." We walked around the apartment chatting on all the good times. We did until Joe came and picked me up for our date. I hugged her goodnight and left.
"Where are we going?" I asked with a smile on my face.
"You'll see." He answered mysteriously. He always did that. I actually paid attention to the signs as we drove but it didn't really help much. Not until it came into sight.
"A carnival?" I said in almost whisper.
"Our very first date." He confirmed. "I like to bring things around in full circle."
My eyes almost bursted into tears. I ironically haven't been doing a lot of crying I was too busy. But this...
"Well come on." He beamed grasping my wrist. It was just like the first time only with a lot more kissing. We rode the Farris Wheel and shared a funnel cake. Rode rollarcoasters where I could hold onto his bicep. I laughed more there than any day this whole week combined. It was perfect. We got a little giddy on Cotten candy and I rode on his back for a little bit. I thought it was impossible to love him more than I did. But I did. We went back to his place when the Carnival closed. Surprisingly no one was home from what I could see. Just in case though we chilled out in his bedroom. We both sat on the edge of his bed with the TV playing softly in the background.
"I can't believe it's your last night." He spoke softly as if he was admitting it to himself more. And here came the sadness. After a full week of pushing it back they were coming. It was the fact that I couldn't be with Joe when I left. Not really. I was moving possibly forever. This was the last time I would be alone with him. He deserved better. The tears. There were no stopping them now. I sat on the end of Joe's bed for a long time in silence, tears rolled down my cheeks soundlessly. I didn't want to go. Not when my life was right here. Joe stared at me for a long time. As if he was debating with himself. I sniffled trying my hardest not to break out into a sob. Suddenly Joe crashed his lips onto mine. It was passionate and needed. He grasped my cheek while he deepened the kiss. We broke and his lips dove for my neck as if desperate. I ran my fingers through his hair. He leaned me against the bedpost returning back to my lips. I loved it. But I knew I shouldn't do this. His hand made its way up my shirt. I grasped his T-shirt tightly debating with myself. I wanted to do this. His hand moved around the curves of my waist, his thumb gliding across my stomach and up my spine. Making their way up to my bra. I can't do it.
I stopped abruptly. Tears formed in my eyes.
"I can't. I'm sorry." Tears flowed freely now as I darted out the door and never looked back
Joe's POV (Whaaaa?)
"Anna wait!" I called as she ran out of the room. "I'm sorry!" I tried again. I ran after her. She was too quick. By the time I turned the hallway she was out the door leaving it wide open. I raced to the door.
"Wait!" I could make it. The elevator was at the end of the hall. I could make it to her. She was slowing down her run now a fast walk. I followed her. I started jogging. I could make it.
"I'm sorry please stop!" I pleaded. She didn't slow her pace. She was stubborn. I finally caught up to her.
"I'm so sorry, it'll never happen again. I love you." I said sincerely. I meant every word. Tears streamed down her cheeks her eyes got redder. It was all my fault.
"I didn't run out because you did it. It's because I couldn't. I'm leaving tomorrow probably forever. I can't do that to you. I won't do that to me. I want you too badly."
The elevator dinged and she walked inside. I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe.
"I'm sorry." She whispered before the doors closed. I breathed in and out. My legs were jellyfied. I slowly sank down the wall until my head rested on my knees.
"Come back." I croaked. I took another deep breath.
"Please come back."
I didn't know what to do. For the first time in a long time. I was completely stumped. I just stared at the elevator in hopes that she would come back on the other side. I saw a figure walk slowly down the hallway.
"Joe?" It was Jaime's voice. I looked up.
"Joe what happened? I heard a burst and you've been repeating 'come back' since I walked down the hallway. "
I looked up. Jaime had a concerning look in her eyes. When I didn't answer she sat with me.
"She left." I managed to choke out. Then as if it was the trigger word I spilled everything that had just happened. Jaime just sat there and listened. It's what I loved about Jaime. She could just listen.
"Joe, I know you're crazy for her. And what you gotta do is chase her. She's leaving tomorrow, you're leaving tomorrow, what's the worst that could happen? You just have to go for it. Go get her."
And with that and a pat on the back she was gone. It took me a minute to process but without me even realizing it I was in the elevator going down. I took a cab down to her place. I knocked desperately. Evanna answered.
"Where's Anna?" I asked. Evanna looked a little confused but she flustered an answer.
"Went down to the beach."
I should've known. I quickly hugged her.
"Thank you." And with that I was out the door, basically sprinting to the beach. She was there all right she hadn't moved far. She was right in front, sitting in the sand, the same position I was in not long ago. The waves never hit past her toes. I ran to her. When she saw me she was mostly confused. Actually all confused.
"Joe?" She managed. I nodded. Again I didn't know what to do. She slowly stood up. The wind blew her hair all around her face. Her eyes were still red but I could still see her brown green eyes clear as day. On pure instinct I hugged her. Tightly. I could hear her loose her breath but I didn't care. I just stood there with my arms wrapped around her. It seemed right. I heard her sob into my chest. After a while she looked up at me. A few tears had escaped. Immediately I kissed her desperately. When we broke she still looked uneasy.
"But I'm leaving to-" I cut her off.
"I don't care." I said before I kissed her again. I hugged her tightly. When I looked at her she still looked glum.
"Come on lemme see a smile."
She smiled sheepishly.
"Come on. " I taunted, poking at her sides. She let out a bell like giggle. It made me chuckle.
"Let's go." I said and she nodded. We were both leaving tomorrow and we didn't care. At least today. She looked up at me with a giant smile on her face. Her eyes glistened through the sunlight and the redness around her eyes was almost gone. He batted her eyelashes twice and grasped my hand even tighter. She parted her lips to speak.
"I'm hungry."
MY POV AGAIN.
The next morning was a dreary one. I did not want to get up. At all. Could I give myself a coma? I didn't want to really try. I literally rolled out of my bed. It was a bit of a fall but I guess it didn't really hurt. I threw on my airport outfit: T-shirt, sneakers ,shorts and Joe's sweatshirt he gave me so long ago, yet it still smelled like him. Simple and comfy. It was early. I hated early. I grasped the handle of my suitcase and shuffled out of my bedroom. Evanna and Denny were already there. They probably didn't need a lot to get ready then again neither did I. I sighed and I guess that was the signal. We walked out of the flat for the last time. The others decided to meet at the airport cause there wouldn't be enough room for everyone. I sat in silence in the car. We all did. The only noise was the tires running across the pavement road. When we got there we saw that we were second. I sighed again and stepped out of the car fumbling with the suitcase. When I finally released it from the metal beast I stepped out from the road and into the sidewalk. I turned to face one of my very best friends, roommates and could comfortably call me sister.
Bye." I whispered to Evanna.
"I'm gonna miss you." Her voice broke. I brought her into a hug.
"I'll be back." I could feel myself tearing up. I said that I would be back but even I didn't know if it was true. I cried on her shirt for a bit. I said my last goodbye to her before going into the airport with the others. We went through security in silence. Then it came the time where we had to separate. Meredith and Lauren had tears in their eyes. Jaime and Julia sniffled as they held hands. Joey couldn't look a me in the eyes an neither could Brian. Dylan and Jim put one hand on each of my shoulders and brought me into a group hug. Again all in silence. I really started to sob.
"Bye...uh Anna." Brian mumbled. It was weird hearing him say my real name.
"Brian," I started, "don't ever call me Anna I'll always be Waitress." Brian smiled a little. The hug eventually broke and the walked slowly to their gate leaving just me and Joe.
"Please don't go." He pleaded weakly.
"I have to." I whispered back tears rolling down my cheeks. It wasn't up to me after all.
"I need you." He whispered as a single tear dripped down his face. I crushed him into a hug.
"You don't need me. You were fine before me." I whispered back.
For the last time I felt the material of his shirt. The muscles that formed his back. The arms that could carry me so easily. The face that I was so use to kissing. I blinked away more tears. We stared at each other for what felt like forever. Joe cupped my face and wiped away the tears with his thumbs. In the same moment he kissed me one last time. It was fierce, passionate, and full of love. I kissed him back the same way. I never wanted to break from him. I ran my fingers through his hair for the last time. When we broke for air, I rested my head on his shoulder crying. He wrapped his arms around my waist.
"I love you." I sobbed.
"And Anna Davis I-"