Back at the hotel, Taylor and I lay in eachother's arms on the bed. "Alex, you know that I'm going to have to leave soon," Taylor whispered.
"I know," I said, "but I wish you didn't have to."
"I'm sorry, I'm going to miss you so much it hurts. But I have to go, I'm obligated to. It's going to be just as hard for Jen and Ike, and possibly even Zac and Allison, as it is for us," he said.
I decided to ask the question that had been torturing me since I met Taylor. "When do you leave?" I asked, my eyes brimming with tears.
"Tomorrow morning," he choked out the words.
"Tomorrow morning?!" I screamed, "well when were you planning to tell me? The minute before your plane leaves?!"
Suddenly I saw the pain in Taylor's eyes, and immediately apologized. "Oh Taylor, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to yell like that, it's just...it's just...I can't believe you're leaving so soon." I buried my face on his shoulder crying. "We have barely any time left together, and I want to make every minute remaining special," I said, "it's because I love you, and it's going to be so hard being apart."
Taylor just looked at me, and I spotted a tear in his eye too. He quickly brushed it away, leaning in to kiss me softly, silencing my tears.
******************************************
"Ike, what's wrong?" I asked, noticing the distraught look on his face.
"Well," he said, as he led me into the bigger connecting hotel room where his parents and the rest of the Hanson family were staying, but it was now empty, since they were out. We sat on the floor between the two beds. Ike sat up against the bed, and I stretched out on the floor, with my head in his lap. He stroked my hair.
"Ike, what's wrong?" I repeated. Ike took a deep breath, then spoke.
"We're leaving tomorrow morning, and I don't know how I can possibly think about anything but you when I'm not with you. It makes me ache to think about how much I'm going to miss you," he said, his voice breaking.
I was silent for a moment, then without sitting up, I wrapped my arms around his waist.
"Ike," I said, choking back the sobs, "I don't know how I can handle being away from you. But I need you to be strong. To be strong for me, because chances are I'm going to break down...oh now," I said, not being able to hold it back anymore. I slightly sat up, sobbing onto his chest. He rubbed my back, soothing me.
"It's all right," he whispered, "remember the ring. Remember how much I love you, and remember me."
"I could never forget you," I whispered back, suddenly stopping my tears. I sat up, still in his arms. "I'll be strong too," I said, "we'll be strong for eachother."
"Now that's a good idea," Ike said, smiling weakly. We remained there in eachother's arms, never wanting to let go.
~*The next morning*~
I awoke in Ike's arms. I smiled at his sleeping face. Alex and I had received permission from our parents to stay overnight at the hotel, and to go to the airport with them. This was it, I thought, Ike's leaving today, and I won't see him again for so long. How will I remain a sane person? I'll miss him too much!
******************************************
I opened my eyes to find myself in Taylor's arms, staring straight into his eyes. "What were you doing?" I asked, laughing a little.
He smiled and kissed me. "I like watching you sleep," he said. I smiled in return. Taylor released me from his arms. We glanced over at the other bed to find Jen and Ike kissing.
They caught us looking and got up too. The four of us changed, and got their suitcases.
Jen and I rode with the Hanson family to the airport. All of the Hansons except for Ike and Tay boarded the plane. Taylor held me in his arms one last time before he had to leave.
"I'll call you every chance I get, and write, and tell you when we'll be on TV so you can watch us. I miss you already," he said.
"I'll miss you too, and don't forget, I love you," I said.
"It would be impossible to forget," he said,"because I love you too." Then he kissed me deeply and sweetly, and we both eventually let go of eachother, and very reluctantly said goodbye once more. I cried silently as I watched Taylor board the plane, and saw Jen doing the same, as Ike stepped on, looking back one last time to wave and mouth, 'I love you,' to Jen.
Then he boarded the plane too, and that was that. But I began to think how hard it was going to be when evertime I visited Taylor, we'd always have to say goodbye, because he'd always have to go. And how hard it would be to see him everywhere I looked, on TV, on magazines, shirts, and posters, and whenever I saw his face or heard his music, I'd remember how much I missed him.
All The Way To Albertane
You Are My Hope
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