July 1st, 2017

- Present Day -

Zach stares steadily into Gray's fidgety eyes, and his grip tightens on the younger's shoulders. "Gray," he begins firmly, "What are you talking about? I didn't see Dakota anywhere."

"Zach! I know what my best friend looks like, and that was her! I swear!" Gray proclaims, sweat starting to bead up on his forehead. "She was over there! By the saws and drills with her brother, Alex!"

Zach sighs faintly and rises to his feet, his hand resting on Gray's back. He glances down at his little brother once more before dragging the 13-year-old back to his cart. "Look, if it really was Dakota, I mean, I guess- What's the big deal, Gray? Talk to her. You've known her for seven years, and you're gonna let this tear you two apart?"

Gray's eyebrows furrow crossly as he folds his arms over his chest, watching Zach grab the last two paint cans and place them in the basket of the cart next to the others. "I'm not letting it tear us apart; I jus- I'm-"

"Letting it tear you apart," Zach replies flatly, shaking the guy's hand. "Thank you for all your work." He smiles as the guy nods and quickly turns around to begin on another paint order. He latches onto Gray's arm and begins to pull him in the direction of the check out areas. He cocks his head back once more to make sure that he's grabbed everything and barely has time to shout at his younger brother, "Gray! Watch out!"

Gray gasps as he violently slams into a person approximately the same height as him—if not slightly taller. He quickly backs away from the figure and glances up at Zach, a disapproving, yet sympathetic, expression on his older brother's face. "I am so sorry! I didn't see y-" he slowly trails off once the person gazes up at him, and his lips involuntarily begin to tremble. "Dakota?"

"Gray? Oh, Gray! I'm so sorry! I wish I didn't have to move! I was going to tell you why, but then you hung up on me! And I felt so bad! I know you've gone through so much crap already, and now I'm leaving. I just wish things could be different," Dakota exclaims, sweat beading up on the surface of her tanned forehead as she continues to anxiously ramble. "Listen to me, Gray! I'm leaving because my mom got a job transfer. And it just so happens to be, like, 25 hours away from here! I wish I could stay! I wish I could stay here with you, but I just c-"

"It's okay, Dakota," Gray mumbles softly, wrapping his lanky arms around her skinny figure. "I understand. I'm just… I just want you to stay here." He buries his tear-stained face in the depths of her gleaming copper-toned hair; most people are forced to use dye to even get remotely close to the color, but, for her, it comes naturally. "I love you, Dakota. I don't care if I love you as my girlfriend or just my best friend. I love you."

Dakota slowly pulls away from Gray and watches as the dense tears stream down his face, leaving wet streaks on his cheeks. A small smile tugs at the corners of her lips when she latches tightly onto each of his hands, gently squeezing each one—a reassurance to the child. "I love you, too, Gray. I'll miss you so so much."

Zach's heart flutters warmly as he stands next to Alex—Dakota's older brother—witnessing the touchy scene. A tiny grin forms on his face when Dakota leans forward and lightly pecks her lips against Gray's; it's cute to see his little brother experience something that he had always moaned and complained about being disgusting. And it's now that he realizes his baby brother really is growing up.

Dakota slowly pulls away, a broad grin evident on her face. She glances over at Alex and Zach, chuckling softly when Gray begins to anxiously stutter over his own words; Zach silently facepalms, a look of disappointment etched into his expression, but a visible smile of amusement hidden beneath his hand.

"Uh- Well, ha- Not that it was funny or anything! I mean, it was nice. But not in a creepy way! Um, yeah, so I think you're very cu- cool! I was gonna say cool. Yeah, cool." Gray anxiously gnaws on his bottom lip—it fades to a raging red shade—as he stares into Dakota's sparkling blue eyes—even more vibrant than his own. "No. Y'know what? I'm done screwing around. Dakota Lerone Maine, will you go out on a date with me? Please? It would make me feel happy as our last chance to hang out before you leave."

Dakota nods and tugs him into another snug embrace, resting her head lightly on his shoulder. She's really going to miss this—these moments. Gray has always been there for her, through the good times and bad, through her weaknesses and strengths, through the toughest climbs in both her life and his. He's always been there. And he always will be.

"Alright, alright. I'm supposed to be the protective older brother here, and since you're a dude, I'm gonna have to tell you one thing," Alex pauses momentarily as Gray pulls back from Dakota, eyes widening at the older teen. "You break my sister's heart? I break your face."

Gray's baby blue eyes instantly dart to Zach, expecting him to come to his much-needed rescue. But, instead of lunging at Alex, the 18-year-old simply shrugs at his younger brother, a smug grin growing on his face. Gray's brows furrow crossly, and his gaze meets Alex's fierce, yet ornery, one. "I would never in a million years break this girl's heart. She's done everything imaginable for me, even if it was hard for her, and I couldn't disrespect that. Dakota is an amazing person, and I will never, I repeat never, hurt her in any way, shape, or form."

Alex nods as he amusingly elbows Zach in the ribs—Zach chuckles softly at his younger brother—and moves forward, placing his hand gently on Gray's shoulder. "Well, then, in that case, I allow you to date my sister. Just remember what I said: I will break your face."

Gray attempts to subtly wriggle free from Alex's intense grip as a small—anxious—grimace forms on his face, and he slowly scoots toward Zach, who backs away from him.

"Your girlfriend, your problem. Don't drag me into this, dude," Zach quickly throws his hands up in mock surrender, and Dakota darts in between the 13-year-old and her brother.

"Alex," she begins firmly, a stern expression melting through her pearly white-toothed smile, "Gray wouldn't hurt me. Ever. You know that. So leave him alone. Unless…you want me to blab to Mom about why we really went out today. Y'know, since she thinks we're getting groceries, and we somehow miraculously ended up at the hardware store where your girlfriend happens to work. How oddly convenient." Dakota stares intently at her older brother, arms crossed over her chest as Gray and Zach manage to stifle a laugh behind them.

Alex's lips part to speak, but he quickly presses them into a firm line; he bites his tongue to keep from lashing out at the girl. "Alright, alright. Fine. I won't hurt him. But," he leans closer to Gray, index finger raised accusingly, "don't forget a single word I said. I was kidding in the beginning—y'know, just to get a rise out of you. Yeah, fun's over, kid. I'm dead serious. Tread lightly."

Gray gapes silently at the older brunette as Alex grips tightly onto Dakota's arm and starts to pull her towards the exit doors. He slowly glances up at Zach, an inquiring expression on his face when Dakota whips around and mouths the words text me to him. She finally disappears behind the brick wall, and Gray can no longer see her. "What was that?"

Zach shrugs lightly, a small grin tugging at the corners of his lips. He gently pushes on Gray's back—motioning for him to begin moving forward—and ruffles his younger brother's sandy curls. "I don't know, little bro. You tell me." He pauses in front of cash register number three at the self checkout area and begins to hand the supplies to Gray, who quickly swipes them across the barcode scanner and places them down in a flimsy plastic bag. However, he struggles to lift the paint cans out of the basket of the cart, and Zach hastily tugs him away from it.

"Gray, Gray, stop. I got them," he states as he swiftly picks them up, slides them across the scanner to make sure that they are accounted for, and refuses to even bother with a bag; he sets the cans down in the bottom of the cart. He confirms the questions the machine is asking him and rips his receipt from the slot when it prints, nodding in the direction of the doors. "C'mon, G. Let's get outta here."

Welllll Dakota and Gray are kinda cute (or gross depending on how old you are *shrug*). Lmk if you'd like to see more of their relationship development in the future and after she moves. Also if you'd like to see more flashbacks with her in them! I hope you guys are enjoying the story :)