Celena laid in bed that night, crying. She heard Ailani come in downstairs, but didn't get up. Then she heard a soft knock on the door.
"Cel?" Ailani said gently from behind the door.
"Come in," Celena said. The door opened and Ailani walked in.
"Are you okay?" Ailani asked, sitting down on the edge of Celena's bed. Celena nodded. "Want to talk?"
"Not about John," Celena said bitterly.
"Then tell me about Taylor," Ailani said. "I think he cares a great deal about you. He ran like wildfire when he heard you screaming. I don't understand why you don't date him instead of John."
"You wouldn't understand," Celena said. "I've been in love with John Kempton for almost two years. Two years. And he's finally noticed me. And now we're a couple. I don't want to risk the possibility that he might be Mr. Right for something that may not last."
"Are you sure he's Mr. Right?" Ailani asked. "Because I noticed the way you looked at him and the way you looked at Taylor. And there was a really big difference. You light up whenever you talk about Taylor or you see him. I know I just stepped in on the whole situation, but it's really obvious to anyone who bothers to look that you're in love with Taylor."
"I know I am . . . but I love John, too," Celena said.
"Love or are you infatuated?" Ailani asked. "It seems to me that John is nothing more than a crush that got way out of hand."
"Maybe so . . . but he may be Mr. Right . . . I don't know," Celena said.
"I think Taylor is your Mr. Right, and you're just too stubborn to see it. And if I were you, I would hurry up and grab ahold of it before it's too late," Ailani said. "Because they leave tomorrow."
"What?" Celena said, sitting upright.
"They're leaving tomorrow. Or more correctly, today, since today is tomorrow. For Paris," Ailani repeated.
"He told me they were leaving in a couple of weeks," Celena said.
"Zac said that Taylor was going to tell you that so you wouldn't freak out on him, and so he could just leave without having to say goodbye. That it would be easier on him," Ailani said. "Their plane leaves in two hours." Celena looked over at her clock. It was almost two a.m.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Celena said. She grabbed her car keys and her purse, they ran out to her car. They sped over to Taylor's house, finding no one there. It would take them at least an hour to get to the airport, so they got back in the car and drove as quickly as possible to get there.
Celena's car squealed into the parking lot. She pulled into a parking space and put the car in park. Celena and Ailani got out of the car and ran into the airport. Celena handed the guard her keys and ran through the metal detectors. He handed her the keys back. Ailani went through the detector, then they ran over to the counter.
"What is the gate number for the four a.m. flight to Paris?" Celena asked the stewardess. The stewardess typed on her computer.
"Gate 25 A. You'd better hurry, they're fixing to start boarding!" the woman yelled as Celena and Ailani ran off. Gate 22 A . . . Gate 23 A . . . Gate 24 A . . . Gate 25 A! Taylor and his family sat waiting area outside the gate, which wasn't open yet.
"Taylor!" Celena yelled. He was sitting slumped over in his chair, with his headphones on. He didn't hear her. Zac saw her and reached over, hitting his brother on the shoulder. Taylor took off his headphones.
"What Zac?" Taylor asked grouchily. Zac pointed to Celena and Ailani, who were standing in the doorway to the waiting area. Taylor looked over at her. He stood up, with a look of shock on his face. He walked over to her, while Ailani walked over to talk to Zac, purposely leaving Taylor and Celena alone. "How did you know we were leaving tonight?"
"Your little brother's got a big mouth. He told Ailani, and she told me . . . but that doesn't really matter," Celena said, out of breath. "I did some thinking . . . and I realized that I want to be with you."
"What?" Taylor said.
"I want to be with you, not John!" she said. "Please say you'll give me a chance. I already beeped John on the way over here and left a voice mail saying it was over. So, if you say no, then I will have picked the wrong guy again." She took a deep breath. "I know I was wrong, and that you were the right guy all along. I was just too stubborn to admit it. Please don't do the same thing to me and leave me on a lurch. I know you're probably furious with me, and you have every right to be. But I don't know what I'll do if you say no."
"I might be a little angry with you, but I'm not stupid," Taylor said, smiling. "I told you I would wait for you, and I meant it. I just didn't expect it to be that long of a wait. I knew you would come around." He took her hands in his. "So, yes, I will give you a chance. I'd be an idiot not to." He hugged her. "You don't mind waiting for me to come home? It'll be about a month or so. But I'll write you every day. And when we come back home for the concert here, we'll pick you and Ailani up, and you can come with us on the rest of the tour. We'll even pay for it."
"I don't mind, just as long as we're together," Celena said. She kissed him gently on the lips. "I love you, Taylor."
"I love you, too," he said. They kissed again. "I'll call you the minute we get there, no matter what time it might be, okay?" Celena nodded. They called for his flight to board. He kissed her again. "We will be together. I love you." They hugged, he picked up his stuff, heading for the gate.
"I love you, Taylor!" He waved at her, and she waved back. She kept waving until the plane took off. Then she and Ailani sat down in the waiting area.
"I'm so proud of you," Ailani said. "Smart decision."
"Since when did little sisters get to be smarter than their older siblings?" Celena said, giving her sister a hug. They both laughed and left the airport a few minutes later.
