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Walking towards the train station together, you and Caleb decide to stop at the entrance. You both turn towards each other to say your goodbyes before he leaves for the Aerospace Academy.
This time it was harder for you to say goodbye.
Years of bottled up feelings for him want to pour out. You don’t want him to forget about you or for someone else to grab his attention, In a way you realize you’re being selfish, but he’s your Caleb.
For a while now you have loved him deeply and your heart has been acting up around him, but to not make it awkward you didn’t say anything due to your current situation.
He looks at you and notices you lost in thought, he bends down to ruffle your hair and lets out a small laugh.
“Whatcha thinkin about pips?” As he flicks your forehead lightly. You put your hands on it and say “Ow” with a pout, “I’ll miss you…” you mumble to him.
“Huh what was that?” He puts a hand to his ear to pick on you knowing exactly what you said.
You shove him slightly in hopes that he stops teasing you. There’s a moment of silence, and you both hear an announcement that boarding starts soon. You look at each other again and realize it’s time for him to go.
He pulls you in for a hug, noticing the sadness in your eyes and it breaks his heart having to leave you.
“Alright, pips, we’re going to turn around at the count of three. Don't look back, you hear me?”
Confused by his sudden words, you nod.
“We’ll see each other again soon, I promise.” He says as reassurance. Just like he said, you both turn on each other at the count of three and you hear his footsteps mingle with everyone else. You can only bring yourself to take a few steps forward.
Your heart aches not being able to see him and the tears ache to come out. This isn’t easy, especially with all the love you feel for him.
What you don’t know is that he feels the same way. Both of you are too scared to say anything to each other about it.
Emotions take over you and you hope Caleb can forgive you for turning back and breaking into a run to find him. Heading inside, looking left and right to see where he went, hoping he isn’t already inside a train. Managing to find him in a small crowd of people, you run towards him in hopes he sees you.
When he looks up he notices you and, with wide eyes he drops his bag, meets you halfway, and catches you in his arms.
“Hey what’s wrong? Are you okay?” He grabs your face and looks you over thinking something happened in that short amount of time.
“No, Caleb, I’m not. It hurts so bad, the thought of you leaving.” Out of breath and your mind racing, everything spills out at that moment.
You take a step back.
“I- I can’t take it… I have to tell you now or else I’ll lose my confidence. Caleb, I love you and I always have! I know with how the situation is that I am taking a huge risk here, and this could ruin everything. I'm sorry I always kept this one thing from you, I’m so sorry, but I love you so much it hurts.”
Breaking into sobs, your words come out a mess as you keep going. You don’t even care that a few people are watching, the tears won’t stop.
You don’t notice that Caleb is standing stunned, tears are flowing down his face at your words. You don’t see him step closer.
Suddenly you feel hands on your face and you’re looking up at him. His purple eyes filled with tears.
With no time to process anything else, he puts his lips to yours for a kiss. You stand stiff for a few seconds before moving in with him. It’s a messy and desperate first kiss for the both of you, but with a lot of emotion behind it as tears fall down towards each other's lips.
Both pulling away panting and foreheads touching, Caleb looks up into your eyes and whispers for only your ears to hear.
“I love you too. Always have, Always will.” You gasp in shock at this realizing he felt the same way.
You let out an airy laugh, your heart feeling a little lighter knowing Caleb feels the same and nothing is ruined. But soon the moment is broken as they call for last minute passengers to board. Realization hits that he still has to leave.
Both of you make your way back side by side toward where he has to board. Picking up his bags, he walks up towards the steps of the train but turns around this time.
In this moment you selfishly wish time would slow and that he would not have to leave you.
“I’ll see you soon, I promise. You’ll always be with me.” He smiles and lifts up the necklace you gave him earlier that day and gives it a kiss.
You smile at him and try to hold back the tears. You don’t want him to see you cry again.
He takes a window seat and looks back out at you. You give him a wave and he waves back at you.
The train starts moving and you start at a light jog trying to keep up, tears start to fall down your face again. You hope he can’t see them. Moving faster, you try to keep up and wave to him until the platform cuts you off. Up until that moment, you saw a smile on his face. You stand staring at the train leaving into the distance.
Once you were out of view his hands went straight to his face. Tears started flowing, his heart beating so fast from the confession and kiss. The one thing he’s always wanted came true and he had to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.
This motivates him more, knowing that he has someone so special waiting for him back home. His love for you can get him through anything and everything.