Chapter Text
New York, June, 1895
It was a warm day, not unusual for New York in the summertime. The birds were chirping, the sky was a bright blue, and as you lay on the grass in a nearby park, you couldn’t be bothered by anything or anyone.
“(y/n)! Come check this out!”
Except, apparently, for your best friend, who was currently hunched over some rocks a little ways away from you. You sighed, getting up from your comfortable position, and sat up. Glaring at the thirteen year old who was currently ushering you to hurry up, you rolled your eyes and joined him. You realised that he had turned over one of the rocks, revealing insects nestling underneath.
“Bugs?” you said, “Really, Davey? You called me over to look at bugs ?”
“No, (y/n), not just bugs. This type of beetle is only found in places like the forest and other woodland places. It’s amazing that they’d be here in the middle of New York!”
“In . . . a park? Full of trees and other woodland stuff?” Davey gave you a look, and you couldn’t help but laugh. He was always so mature for his age, opting out of playing rowdy games with the other boys and choosing to enjoy the solitude of a good book. Occasionally, he’d lay his head in your lap and you’d play with his hair as he read you the paper. Most kids found him a little odd, but you knew he just preferred the peace and quiet of his own company (and yours, of course). You had been friends since you were practically babies, growing up on the same street as him. At first, you were annoyed by how little he talked, but as you two grew up, you came to appreciate his demeanor. It was a nice change from the hustle and bustle of always busy New York.
Davey was also one of the only people who knew about your hidden passion: photography. All your life, you had wanted to photograph the world in all it’s raw and power. It was something you wanted to make a career out of. And you didn’t mean taking photographs of people’s old wares for ads in newspapers. You wanted to photograph important things, changes in the world, events that mattered to people.
But who would hire you? It was crazy to think about- a female working with the same level of authority and respect as any male. You knew there was no chance of it happening, but you still couldn’t help but dream. And soon enough, you’d get a chance to make that dream come true.
“Davey,” you said, taking a breath and bracing yourself, “There’s something I need to tell you”.
Davey immediately shifted his attention from the little bugs in the earth to the young girl sitting next to him. Even though you tried hiding it, he knew there was something bothering you. “What is it, (y/n)?”
You didn’t know how to tell him, so you just decided to come right out and say it.
“My Dad’s company decided to move him to California. They offered him a promotion, and he just couldn’t say no.”
Davey looked confused. “Wait, your Dad’s moving to California?”
You sighed, looking at the ground. “No, Davey. Not my Dad. My whole family is moving to California.”
It took Davey a moment to register what you had said. “Wait, does that mean you’re moving to-
“To California. San Francisco, actually."
Davey didn’t say anything, and when you looked up at him, his eyes were focused on a tree behind you. You knew that he was just trying to process the information, but it wasn’t a good sign when he didn’t respond for another few moments.
“One of my Dad’s old friends lives there, in San Francisco, and he’s a photographer. He’s offered to help train me.” It was a reach, but when you said it, Davey’s attention was back on you. He knew how much you wanted to be a photographer. He mentally berated himself for being so unsupportive, thinking only of himself and how much he was going to miss you. This was an amazing opportunity, and you both knew it.
Davey smiled. “That’s amazing, (y/n).”
You were surprised. “Wait, you’re not upset?”
“On the contrary, I’m really upset, but I know how much that would mean to you.” You felt your heart swell. Davey was happy for you. Even if it meant letting you go, he knew you were getting your first opening to the world you’ve always wanted to be in.
“When do you leave?” You looked straight at him, not wanting to hurt him again, but knowing he had the right to know. Might as well tell him.
“The end of summer. Around August, I think.” Though his smile never faltered, you knew he was disappointed. And he was. He thought he would have had more time with you. But he still had a few months to spend with you, and he was going to cherish every second like it was the last one (because even though you two were only thirteen, he knew it might be your last few months together).
“Then I guess we’ll just have to make these next few months last.” He said, his smile growing wide.
You smiled softly back at him. “I guess so."
New York, August, 1895
The days were coming to end, and before you knew it, the time had finally come for you to move. Since you told him the news, you had spent every single day that you possibly could with Davey. From running around the park to sitting on the pier to babysitting his little brother Les, you had made sure to have him around as often as you could.
But it still felt like not enough time. As you stood on the platform, clutching your suitcase, you glanced at the big clock in the middle of the Brooklyn train station. 11:45 AM, it read. Your train was going to leave at exactly 12:00, and even though Davey had promised you he would see you off, he was nowhere to be found. Maybe he had forgotten , you thought sadly. Or maybe he decided that it was going to be too hard to say goodbye.
“(y/n!)” Your head snapped up at the familiar voice calling your name. There, in all his awkward lanky, prepubescent glory, was Davey Jacobs. Behind him was his father and mother, and his sister Sarah, who was holding onto little Les.
“Davey!” You yelled, hugging him as he practically ran to you. “I didn’t think you were going to make it!”
“We didn’t either,” His mother told your parents, rolling her eyes and smiling. “Because someone wanted to get (y/n) a present before you left.”
You turned to Davey, who was as red as a tomato. “Is that true?”
“Well, um, you see-” Davey stuttered, grabbing something from his vest pocket. “I’ve been thinking about it and I thought it would look pretty on you and I thought you’d want something to remember me by so you wouldn’t forget-”
You didn’t hear much else of his rambling as you admired the item he had placed in your hand.
It was a small necklace, a pendant on a silver chain. The pendant itself was in the shape of a five-petal flower, and in the metal, a small blue gem. It was simple, but it took your breath away.
“Davey . . . I can’t keep this. This must have cost you a fortune-”
“On the contrary, it was given to me by an aunt, and since I had never used it, Davey thought it would be perfect for you.” His mother explained, a smile on her face.
“And he was right.”
Davey helped you get the necklace on, and you had to admit, it was perfect for you. It complimented your skin quite nicely, and blue was your favourite colour. It was so beautiful. It was just a shame that you had nothing for him. Thinking quickly, you pulled off a ring from your hand, holding it out to him.
Davey’s eyes widened. “(y/n), I can’t take that-”
“Davey please,” You looked at him with sad eyes. “It’s the least I can do for you.”
Davey looked down at the ring, carefully turning it in his hands. It was silver, like your necklace, and it had a small blue pendant in the middle. It was a perfect match for the necklace, with the only difference being the necklace’s gem was light blue and the ring’s gem was a dark blue. He hesitantly slipped the ring onto his finger, and you smiled.
Suddenly a piercing whistle ran through the air. 11:50 time to board. Your parents said their goodbyes to Davey’s parents, and you did as well. Saving Davey for last, you hugged him tight, desperate to remember what it felt like to hold him, not wanting to forget a single part of him.
Unbeknownst to you, Davey was doing the exact same thing, trying to memorise his best friend of so many years.
You reluctantly let go of him as your parents gently guided you to the train. As you stepped on, you turned back one last time, sharing a smile with the boy with beautiful brown eyes and a new blue ring, before entering the car and leaving New York behind.
Or so you thought.