Another One Cindirection Story (L.P.)

Chapter 31 - Goodbye

Aubrey's POV

"Aubrey?"

I freeze in my steps. No, no, no. This can't be happening. I squeeze my eyes shut.

I feel a hand on my shoulder, gently shaking me.

"Aubrey, it's me. Owen."

I flip onto my stomach. He's dead. I'm just dreaming.

"Go away. You're not real." I mumble into the ground underneath me.

"I know." he says softly. I feel his body heat when he lies down next to me.

I finally gather up the courage to flip onto my side and look at him, but I close my eyes.

"Why are you closing your eyes?" Owen asks me.

"Because I'm afraid that if I do open my eyes, you won't be there." I reply, tears streaming down my closed eyes.

"But I am here." he insists. "For now, at least."

I open them. His green eyes look bright and alert, staring right back at me.

"Hey," he says.

I nod. "Hi."

"I told you I'm here," he says, giving me a wicked playful grin.

I don't smile back. "For the time being. Not forever, like you promised me." I say. It was so hard to look him right in the eyes.

Maybe I thought that if I looked too hard, he would disappear all together.

"I'm sorry, Aubrey," he whispers. He lies one of his hands on my lap, and I freeze all over again. He's really here.

I nod again. "Me too."

"Will you do me a favor?" he asks me softly.

He's my brother. I can do this. "Yeah. What is it?" I ask.

"Will you just be happy for once? With Liam? Or just be happy, for me?" he asks me.

I feel my heartbeat pound even faster.

"You know about Liam?" I ask in complete surprise.

He laughs and I try to make myself remember it. "I've got eyes."

"Owen, that's really creepy, you know?" I laugh just a little bit.

Owen stops laughing to talk, "Please, Aubrey, promise me,"

I think it over. I finally realize what Owen means. I think I can be happy with Liam. "Yes. Yes, I promise." I even smile a bit, just thinking about Liam and his song that he sang to me underneath that tree.

"I have to go now..." he trails off, avoiding my eyes.

"What? But you only just got here." my voice turns into a pleaing, urgent, and begging sound that scares me.

"I love you, Aubrey," he whispers.

I nod again and the tears stained on my face, fall quickly. "I love you, too."

"Aubrey?" I hear.

I turn around. This bed was so hard.

When I open my eyes, my hands immediately fly up to my eyes.

The sun was beating hard upon me. The sun...

I jump up.

"Aubrey!" Liam says.