Morgan's POV

"Well Morgan, this is where we part ways again." Kaden said.

Today was the day she returned to Canada so we were at the airport dropping her off—and by we I meant Hayley who wanted to accompany me and Monique who Hayley dragged with us —somehow getting her to accept— and to say Kaden was surprised as well as enchanted when she saw the dark haired woman arrive to the airport, would be an understatement.

"Finally!" I exclaimed in a jokingly manner.

"You don't fool me Morgan I know you will miss me, I can even see you trying to fight off tears." Kaden punched my arm lightly, making me chuckle. I saw her turn her sight towards my... Hayley—we haven't really addressed what we are right now, she wanted to take some time to think and I respect it. It makes me lose sleep sometimes, but I'll wait for her forever if that's what it takes.

"I won't miss you Duvall," my best friend admitted... I couldn't exactly tell if she was joking on that or not, probably not, knowing their history.

"Feelings the same Stone." Hayley replied with a obviously forced smile.

Lastly Kaden looked at Monique, a rather arrogant smirk on my best friend's face, "The best for last, right? Are you going to miss me doll face?" The nickname earned her a roll of eyes from Monique.

"We met once, there's nothing to miss."

"Yet here you are."

"Against my will." Monique responded.

Kaden shrugged at that, "Doesn't seem like it for me."

"Then get your eyesight checked."

"Oh I'm seeing just perfectly darling, don't worry about that." Kaden could only stare at the other woman with a love struck face... maybe she did like her after all. I didn't really take Kaden that seriously given to the fact that they only just met... and Monique doesn't seem to have the same interest on her as my best friend apparently is.

Monique let out a short genuine laugh—the dark curls on her messy bum bounced as she did, "It was good to meet you Kaden."

"Well you are more than welcomed to come visit me in Canada."

Hayley and I glanced at each other in confusion while our two friends flirted... kind of flirted I guess? I'm sure we were both as confused. Hayley was throwing a look my way that basically said 'are we missing something' I could just shrug in response. But I'm pretty sure that we weren't.

"Have a safe trip." Monique responded with a brief but genuine half smile.

It was time for Kaden to aboard now—a bittersweet feeling to having to say goodbye again to my best friend, it was the same as the first time years ago when I had seen her car drive away. That then followed with us drifting us more and more apart as time went by.

Maybe this is our second chance, make things right this time around—same with Jason.

"See you when I see you then," she brought me in a hug once again—this time shorter but with much strength.

"Be safe." I mumbled against her shoulder before breaking the hug.

Kaden nodded with a smile adorning her face. "Bye Morgan."

"Bye Kade." I watched as she walked away towards the boarding door—not turning around once to glance at us.

After we weren't able to see her anymore we left the airport—I have picked up both Hayley and Monique so I was their ride back. I had proposed to go out for lunch, but Monique had some things to take care off apparently and Hayley did not respond anything to it... making me rather nervous.

Her lack of answer or of any speaking at all made me just decide to drive her back home instead. The ride was silent but not an uncomfortable... or comfortable for that matter. It was just quiet. I would steal glances at Hayley every now and then—trying to figure out what she was thinking or feeling, but she was blank.

Parking in front of her building I turned the car off and stayed inside of the car—same as she did. Still not saying a word I took it upon myself to be the one to break the silence.

"Did I... do something?" I asked, finally gaining her attention.

"What?" Hayley asked back in confusion.

"You haven't said a word ever since we left the airport, so I was wondering if I did something to upset you?"

Realization crossed her features as she started to shake her head, "No, god no. Morgan you didn't do anything—I'm sorry, I was just lost in my head thinking."

"What about?" I wondered while looking at her.

"You."

The confession made a smile form on my face, I cleared my throat signaled for us to get out of the car. We made our way up to Hayley's apartment—all while I could still notice her being lost in her thoughts, that small voice in the back of my head making me anxious now that I knew it was me that she was thinking about.

Entering her home, I followed her to the couch, where I sat on—a bit uncomfortable if I have to be honest.

However the awkwardness faded away when Hayley rested her head against my shoulder—her arm around my torso, she was practically now cuddled up against me. "When was the first time you realized you had feelings for me?" She asked out of the blue.

"The first time I realized my feelings for you?" I was a bit taken aback by the sudden question for a second.

"Yes."

"I think it was when you first kissed me that I realized." I remembered that moment back in Christmas, still made my heart accelerate just the mere thought of it. "But that just made me realize things—if I have to point to the time I started to fall for you it wouldn't... it would sound crazy."

"Why do you say that? When was it?" Hayley asked softly—looking up to me.

"The second Christmas break I came back home from college... I haven't heard from you in a long time— when I told you I searched for you I meant it and when I couldn't even get a clue of you, of if you where okay, safe or even... alive." I sighed and paused for a second to organize my words. "I heard about your dad and that you haven't even came back for that, it scared me. The thought of not knowing how you were haunted me for a very long time— and I know we weren't that close in high school, barely friends, but I couldn't help it."

"And then when I saw you that day on that classroom, it fell surreal... it felt like I had found a missing piece. I was shocked and happy to see you... but I— that was the moment—the last push for me to fall for you. Seeing you again, it was the last push, the kiss just opened my eyes. It made me see things in different lenses." I saw as a tear rolled down Hayley's cheek before I delicately brushed it off with my thumb.

Hayley slowly leaned in and closed the gap between our lips in a sweet but short kiss—her forehead resting against mine as more tears rolled down her closed eyes.

"I'm sorry," she breathed out.

"No, please, don't ever apologize for that. It wasn't your fault, you didn't know how I felt." I continued to brush the tears off her cheeks, until her eyes opened up again to look at me—now teary and a slight red accompanying the green.

"The first time I knew I felt something for you was when I finally read your letter for the first time. I haven't had the guts to read it until I was out of town... because I think I knew it would happen, but as always I was a coward. That's partially the reason because of why I acted the way I did when I saw you again for the first time. I was just angry at myself." Hayley explained her side.

I kissed her again—this time for a longer time than the last, but I couldn't let us get carried away— at least not right now.

"What's next for us?" I asked her.

"I love you Morgan. I know we have many things to solve still, but I do believe that we can make it work. I don't want to be with anyone that's not you, the past months have proved that to me."

I nodded with a small smile on my face—a tear of my own rolling down my face. "Yeah, I think the same. One step at a time?"

"One step at a time." She responded.

"Just so you know, I don't want anyone that's not you either, Hayley."

"Cross your heart?" She raised a brow playfully making me chuckle.

"Cross my heart."

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A/N - Yeah I know it's been almost two months since I updated, sorry about that I always have a block when I'm getting to the end of a story lol. Anyway one more chapter!