"All passengers from flight CA9967 please begin boarding at Gate 7." A female voice comes over the speakers that surrounds the area we're waiting in and I sigh, my head lifting from where it's resting on Reece's shoulder. I turn my head to look up at him and he stares back at me with a frown.

"It'll be okay," I murmur, forcing a small, fake smile onto my face, "We did it once, we can do it again."

"That doesn't mean I want to." He grumbles, resting his forehead on my shoulder. I sigh, moving my hand up to run it through his hair. I've already said my goodbyes to Anna, Liam, Amanda, Max, and Mark. I only sat back down with Reece not even a minute ago and now their flight is being called. I want to stay with Reece until the very last second. I know it will be a very long time before I get to see him again. Longer than last time. So I want to spend as much time with him as physically possible.

Especially considering my newfound feelings for him.

"I don't want to either, Reecey," I murmur, tracing the tattoos on the back of his neck. Over his shoulder, I see Anna, Max, Amanda, Liam, and Mark all standing up, getting ready to leave. I know I should probably be spreading the last of my time with them all equally, but I can't help it. And I think they understand that. There's something deeper between Reece and I that I don't have with anyone else. Even Amanda, my best friend.

I know that I'm falling in love with him. But I also know that there's no way the feelings are reciprocated.

"Do you have your hoodie?" I ask, referring to the navy blue hoodie that he gave me before I left for New York. Last night, Reece made me wear it to bed just so that it would smell like me for as long as possible. I think I'm starting to understand just how much my presence actually calms him. I'm glad I can do that for him.

And I most certainly made him wear the grey hoodie I stole from him as well.

"It's in my suitcase," Reece mutters, lightly kicking the small carry-on suitcase that's resting at his feet. He slowly pulls his head away from my shoulder and I can see the tears forming in his eyes. No. If he cries, I'm going to break down.

"One last hug?" I ask, standing up and holding my arms out to him. He immediately stands up and steps forward, his foot landing right between mine so that our bodies collide. Strong arms wrap firmly around my waist to steady us. He stands up to his full height, lifting my feet off the ground as my arms hook around his neck.

"Don't say last. Please, Sunshine. It makes it sound too permanent. This isn't permanent. I'm saving up to come see you again the second I get home." He whispers, his words strong and his voice strained. He's trying not to cry.

I sniffle, wiping a stray tear from my cheek as I tried to hold the rest back from falling. "I'm coming to visit you next. I'll be visiting my dad and Mack soon anyway, hopefully. So I'll see you then, okay?"

Reece huffs, arms tightening around my waist even further as he buries his head into the crook of my neck. "I'll be counting down the days, Sunshine."

I sigh quietly in content as he presses a soft kiss beneath my ear. "So will I."

~

I step into the empty apartment after my mother and Bella, feeling a hollowness in my chest. I look around and feel my heart clench. The apartment feels so deserted without Liam's excited chatter and Anna's laughter. All the shoes that had once been lined up just inside the front door are now gone. I walk through to the living room, half-expecting to see Amanda and Mark sitting in the armchair together. But of course that doesn't happen.

In the short time that everyone has been here, they made this apartment home. I never really understood the saying 'home isn't a place, it's a feeling' until right now. Because I have never felt so alone sitting in my house.

I felt more at home in Reece's arms back at the airport than I do right now. No place has ever made me feel so accepted and safe than his arms.

Fúck. I'm really gone for him, aren't I?

Walking back into my room, I stop dead in my tracks halfway to my bed. There, folded neatly on the corner of my bed sits a pile of clothing. A pile of clothing that I definitely didn't leave there. Furrowing my brows, I walk closer before stopping when I recognise the item of clothing on top. It's another one of Reece's hoodies. A black Nike one with grey drawstrings. My eyes well up as I step closer, looking at what else is there. Under the Nike hoodie is another hoodie. This one is also black but the fabric inside is grey. Lastly, there's a plain black t-shirt, clearly a men's and definitely in Reece's size.

I slowly sit down on the floor, letting the tears fall as I clutch the pieces of clothing to my chest. I breathe in deeply and am instantly surrounded by the smell of his cologne and a hint of washing powder. The combination shouldn't work so well together, but it does and it has my heart stuttering at its overwhelming familiarity.

He's gone. They're all gone. And I won't be seeing them for a long, long time.

~

I jump at the sound of my phone ringing, pausing the movie playing on my laptop and quickly answering the call without checking to see who it is. I'm too excited at the prospect of talking to Reece.

"Hello?" I question almost breathlessly into the phone.

"Hey, Layla, it's been a while," The deep voice replies and I frown slightly. I pull the phone away from my ear for a brief moment and my eyes widen when I see the caller ID.

"Jace?" My tone is clearly surprised and I get a deep chuckle in response.

"Yeah. Sorry for the sudden call, but I've been meaning to catch up with you. I heard you moved away?"

"Uh, yeah. Bella, my mom and I moved to New York a couple months ago."

"I heard. How are you coping?"

"Um... It's definitely a change, that's for sure. I've missed everyone back home a lot. But all my friends flew here for Christmas and New Year's, which was nice. They just left earlier today, actually."

He chuckles, "That would be why Reece hasn't shown up at the gym for a while."

I laugh as well, ignoring the sudden ache in my chest at the mention of Reece. "That's right."

Jace clears his throat and his next words are a little awkward, "Look, I know this call is kind of random, but after our date we haven't exactly spoken much and I don't want to just leave it like that. I really enjoyed hanging out with you, even if things didn't work out between us and I'd really like for us to stay friends."

I smile, "I'd like that, Jace. I'm sorry nothing went further than the first date."

He chuckles, "Don't sweat it, sweetheart. Actually... I have a girlfriend now."

I gasp softly, "Really! Jace, that's amazing! What's her name?"

"Her name's Dani. We've been together for about a month now."

"I'm so happy for you! I want to hear all about her!" I tell him before pausing when I hear a beeping cut through the conversation, signalling that I have another call. Pulling my phone away from my ear, my eyes instantly widen when I see who's calling. I quickly put the phone back up to my ear, "I'm sorry, I have to go right now, Jace. But I want to hear everything about your new girl!"

Jace chuckles, "I'll hold you to that."

When the call ends, I immediately switch to the other call and let out a breathless, "Reece."

The deep rumble of his replying chuckle sends shivers down my spine and I let myself rest back against the headboard fully, just letting the sound wash over me. "Hi, Sunshine." His words are rough and sleepy-sounding telling me he must have only just got off the plane.

"How was your flight?" I ask, closing my eyes to try and imagine he's sitting in front of me having this conversation instead of thousands of miles away.

"It was alright. I didn't get any sleep though." Reece murmurs.

"Why are you talking to me then? You need to get some sleep!"

"You wanted me to let you know when I'd landed."

I chuckle, "A text would have been fine, Reecey."

He sighs softly, "Is it bad that I just wanted to hear your voice?"

I immediately soften, "Of course not. I miss you already."

"I miss you too, Sunshine." He replies before yawning loudly.

Giggling, I tell him, "Get some rest please, Reece."

Huffing, he finally relents, "Fine. We're having a call at lunch tomorrow, though."

"Of course. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

~

"How are you doing today, babe?" Ethan asks, his voice soft and his face sympathetic as he leans against the locker next to mine.

I shrug half-heartedly as I pull some of my books from my locker. My face has been set into a small frown all day. "I'm fine."

He only rolls his eyes, "I know well enough to never believe a girl when she says she's fine. How are you really, babe?"

I sigh softly, shutting my locker and turning to face him properly, "I miss him."

He raises an eyebrow teasingly, "Just him?"

It's my turn to roll my eyes as I fight off a blush, "I miss all of them. I haven't seen my dad in months either. And then they came and reminded me of how things used to be and..." I trail off, looking up at him uncertainly, "I realised something over Christmas. I haven't told you yet."

Clearly very interested, Ethan leans closer to me, "What is it?"

"I-" Pausing, I gather my thoughts before continuing, "I think I might really like him just a little bit."

Ethan laughs, "That statement is very contradicting. Do you really like him or just a little?"

I huff before whispering, "I think I might be falling for him."

His eyes widen, "You mean- like, falling in love?"

The words cause a flurry of butterflies to take off in my stomach and I know it's true. "I am."

"Woah," He mutters, "Are you gonna tell him?"

My eyes widen, "Are you crazy? No way! He will never feel the same way and I can live with that. As long as I'm always his friend, I'll be fine."

"And what about when he gets a girlfriend?"

My heart sinks. "I don't want to think about that."

"Well, you're going to have to, babe. Love isn't something you can just push down and forget about. What about in ten years when Reece settles down and gets married? Your feelings aren't just going to disappear. That shít is gonna hurt. You need to tell him." Ethan reasons.

I shake my head, "I can't. Not right now. Besides... maybe it's just a harmless little crush."

But even as the words leave my lips, I know they aren't true. This is much more than just a crush. I'm definitely falling in love with Reece Carter.