by Glina Fastiv
"You won't. It's just- this isn't my thing." Leah says and stands behind me.
"Oh, no? Leah, these are your photos. You should be there." I say to her.
"I- I don't even see why you're going." She rolls her eyes and goes and sits on my bed. I finish my make up and then walk over to her.
"I'm going because it looks good on my part..." I whisper and bite my lip. "I would really love for you to be there. If you go I'll give you anythingyou want tonight." I say to her and stroke her thigh.
"You seriously mean anything?" Her brows creep up her face and a smirk forms.
"Just say the words." I say and grin.
"Fine, move so I can get ready." She says and jumps up.
About an hour later we walk into the venue where the party is being hosted at.
It's a bunch of people from my boss' company and I would rather not be here, but I have to be.
Along with company people there are some new 'investors' here to check things out. Leah's photos for the new ads are being shown too. Walking in and seeing her photos on large posters is really cool.
She smiles a little and we walk over to one of them and she points to the spot where her name is printed. "Look."
"I know! I'm proud of you." I say and grab her hand and kiss her shoulder.
We're interrupted when my boss comes over. Mind you that Leah hasn't seen or spoken to him since... that.
"Jennifer, I'm glad you made it." He says and hugs me.
Thankfully, he hasn't tried anything since I told him what was going on, he even seems a little apologetic for it.
"I wouldn't miss it!" I smile brightly and he shifts his eyes to Leah.
"Leah, good to see you again. How have you been?" He asks, being cordial.
Leah just looks at him for a moment and then... she does it. "I'd be better if you hadn't slept with my girlfriend... but I'm fine." She says, being a smart ass.
I'm so shocked and blindsided by her initial smartass comment that I miss the 'girlfriend' part.
"I- I sincerely apologize for that. I wasn't aware that you two were seeing each other and I really do feel terrible for any trouble it caused." Aaron says, being super nice about it.
"Pull anything like that again and I will make you wish you we-"
"Leah, that's enough." I say and touch her arm.
She looks at me and rolls her eyes and we walk away from my boss.1
"Seriously?!" I gripe at her.
"What? You actually thought I wouldn't say anything?!" She laughs and crosses her arms over her chest.
"I- whatever. I don't care. Please be nice..." I say and she nods her head. "So I'm your girlfriend?" I ask after a pause and I bite my cheek.
She looks at me and grins, "I'm sorry- I didn't know what else to call you."
"No, no... I'm okay with that. That's a title I could get used to I guess." I say and she smiles and kisses my lips one time.
"Then my girlfriend you shall be." She smirks.1
I smile and we make our way around the venue, looking at all of the photos Leah took for the campaign.
The night moves along pretty smoothly after this. That's kinda how I hoped all of this would happen.
35
I am minutes away from walking into the conference room with Aaron for the biggest meeting of the year.
Usually people can't even get into these meetings and hear what's being discussed unless you're Aaron or his equivalent, but apparently I'm thatimportant to him.
He asked me to tag along with him and I couldn't refuse. It's a great opportunity for me to grow I guess.
The meeting isn't being held at our office, it's being held at one of the largest buildings in the city because of the size of the conference room.
Usually Aaron has me set up his meetings, I'm just happy I didn't have to take part in something this huge. One screw up and everything is going down, and that's a lot of stress that I wouldn't want to have on my plate.
There are some very rich men and women about to arrive here and I'm anxious about it. I mean, Aaron is technically one of those very rich and important people, but he's just Aaron to me.
We step out of the SUV that brought us to the building and he helps me out of the car. We go inside and there is a small "carpet" set up in the lobby. There is a photographer and lots of men in suits. We quickly get pulled into a photo and I'm very caught off guard. I'm not one of these... people. This isn't me.
We make it to the elevator and a security guard takes us up to the top floor where the conference is being held. We walk into the giant room and Aaron is approached almost right away by a few people. I guess the first impression really is everything.
I stay back and follow behind my boss, not saying much to anyone.
As I walk I notice a new message on my phone. I open it and I nearly drop my phone when I start to watch the video Leah just sent me.
"Oh my god." I mumble to myself and lock my phone and look straight ahead.
"What is it?" Aaron laughs, noticing how nervous I got.
I shake my head, "it's nothing." I lie and smile.
It was most definitely not nothing.
It was me... going down on Leah in a video.1
I didn't even know that she took that! She literally couldn't have picked a worse time to send this to me.
Leah, I'm gonna kill you. I just opened this at one of the biggest conferences of the year.
I send the message and she responds with laughing emojis. I can't even deal with her right now. I need to focus on this meeting.1
* * *
I walk into my apartment and I'm shocked to see Leah sitting on my bed when I enter my room, "what are you doing here?" I ask her and put my things down.
"I wanted to see you." She says and I walk over to her and kiss her lips softly. "How was work?" She asks me.
"It was good, how was your day?" I ask her.
"Busy. Spent most of the day editing the photos from that wedding..." she says and sighs.
"Oh, you forgot the part where you sent me the video of-" Leah starts giggling before I finish my sentence.
"Did you watch it?!" She asks me.
I roll my eyes and shake my head, "no, I didn't watch it! I was busy and in the room with a million other people! I can't believe you even havethat... delete it please!" I plead.
She sighs and bites her lip. "Alright, alright... just- watch it first, then I'll fete it." She promises.
I shake my head and she grabs my wrist and pulls me onto the bed. She grabs her phone and plays the video for me and I bite my lip and watch quietly.
"I've watched it over and over again." She whispers and kisses my neck.1
"Yeah?" I mutter and she nods her head and reaches around my body and grabs both my boobs.
"I've missed you a lot today." She says.
I bite my cheek and turn to face her. "You gonna stay for a while?" I ask her.
She nods and I kiss her harshly. We start making out, things get super intense and then we get interrupted.
"Yikes. Ever close the door?" My sister asks from the doorway.4
I sigh and lay on my back, "what do you need?" I ask her.
"Nothing, I just wanted to talk to Leah about... something." She says.
I look at Leah, obviously confused. "Since when do you two talk?" I ask her and she sighs and shrugs her shoulders.
"It's nothing." She tells me and plays with my hair. I look back at the door and my sister is gone. Leah tries kissing me again but now I am thinking...
"No- Leah, what's going on?" I ask her, worried. I hate being left out of the loop.
Leah sighs and shakes her head, "I was gonna wait and talk to you about this after" She says.
"No, tell me now." I demand, unable to get my mind off of it.
"Alright... You remember how I said that after I got back from my trip I would have about a month to decide and give them my decision?" She asks and grabs my hand.
I nod slowly and she takes a deep breath, "I think... I think I should
take it. I've thought about it in every way possible, but I keep coming to the same conclusion each time. Jennifer, it's an amazing opportunity. This is my life... it's my passion and it's what I love. I can't let it slip through my fingers." Leah says.
I won't lie, my heart breaks. I thought she'd choose me over London simply because she loves me... I guess I was wrong.
It's quiet for a few minutes and then I look up at her, "so... you're leaving me?"
She shakes her head and starts to smile wider and wider.2
"What?" I ask, still sad about what I just heard.
"You really think I can leave you?" She asks.
"I'm taking the job... only if you move to London with me, Jennifer." She says and smiles.
"What?" I ask her, very confused by the offer.
"You heard me. You and me... in London."
"Leah I-"
"Before you say anything- I have it all taken care of. We would have a nice apartment and you can work with me. The company that's hiring me has a few openings. I talked it over with them and they don't want you as a photographer, but as an editor! They could provide training. I think you would be amazing." Leah says. This came out of no where. What?
"Leah... this is- are you serious? I'm not trying to be negative or anything, but we haven't been together for that long..." I remind my eager girlfriend.5
"I know that. It's crazy when you say it out loud, but I know I love you. I can see myself with you in the future and I hope you can too." She says.
"London...?"
"London, babe." She grins.
"Can I- I wanna think about this." I say, unsure.
Leah nods her head, "absolutely, it's a big decision. Take some time." She says.
I nod my head and my head starts spinning. This is... huge.
36
After a lot of thinking and overthinking... I've decided that I'm gonna give Leah an answer today about London. I've been watching her go over some stuff with her photography and every time she so much as touches that camera... it's pure joy and happiness in her eyes. That's all I'll ever want for her.1
I walk over to Leah who is sitting on my bed, hovering over the laptop and I put my arms around her shoulders and kiss her cheek. "Hey, babe?"
She smiles, "yes?"
"I thought about moving to London, and I think I made a choice." I say and bite my lip.
She looks at me with hope in her eyes and I sigh, "I'll go. But... you need to meet my parents first. Just a dinner, nothing big. My sister invited them over tomorrow night and I thought you could join us for dinner. I haven't told them I'm going yet either." I say.
"You're going?! Oh my god, I've never been so happy to hear something from you in my life." She laughs and hugs me tightly, totally disregarding the dinner with my parents.
I smile and squeeze her back, I love her.
* * *
Leah leaves for London tomorrow. She has all of her stuff packed and I told her I have arranged to fly out next week and meet her due to some crazy work scheduling.
She's excited and I can see it in her eyes. "You aren't nervous?" I ask and climb into my bed with Leah for the last time.
"About what?"
"Flying that far..."
"Jennifer, I do this for a living. I love flying." She laughs and puts her computer on the table beside my bed.
"I forget things!" I laugh and kiss her.
She kisses me once and then pulls away and turns her light off and lays down to go to sleep. I sigh and remain sitting up.
"What are you doing?" She asks me and looks over her shoulder.
"I just- I thought we could-I wanted- nevermind. Goodnight." I say and lay down.
It's dark and quiet and I'm slightly disappointed. I wanted her tonight... After a few more seconds I feel her hand come around my body.
"You wanted what?"
"I wanted to... you know." I say and she laughs and kisses me.
"Come here then!" Leah giggles.
We start kissing very heavily and then I stop and drag my fingertip over her lips.
"Give me someone to think about until I see you again." I whisper and she kisses me passionately.
To say the least, I'll definitely be left with something to think about. That was amazing...3
Leah and I lay in my bed, both naked, and I just keep looking at her. I want to tell her everything that keeps going through my head, but I literally can't tell her any of it because it'll mess everything up.
I put my hand on her cheek and whisper, "I love you so much." She smiles softly and grabs my hand, kissing it gently.
"I love you too. I can't wait to take on new things with you." She says and I smile and turn over and turn the light off. We both go to sleep and wait patiently for the morning to come.
I hear Leah moving around the room at 5:00am. Her flight leaves at 9:00am, so she has to be at the airport early and all that... I can tell she's trying to be quiet but she's doing a horrible job.
"Can you be any louder?" I tease her.
She looks up at me quickly and giggles, "I'm sorry! I was trying to be quiet." She whispers.
I smile and grab the blanket and pull it over my body and watch her put her final items into her last suitcase.
"You have everything?" I ask her.
She nods her head and stands up, making her way to me. She crawls onto the bed and lays on top of me and kisses me slowly, "I wish you were leaving today..." she says.
I cup her face and kiss her again. "Have a safe flight and call me when you land. I love you, Leah." I say and she laughs quietly and kisses my cheek.
"You act like you won't see me for months..."1
"I just- whatever. Go! You're gonna miss your ride." I tease her.
She smiles and kisses my forehead one more time before she goes. I watch her leave my room and close the door behind her.
Leah doesn't know it yet, but this is killing me. It breaks me heart into so many pieces to watch her walk out that door and to kiss her goodbye. It hurts so bad because I'm not going to London with her... I can't. And I can't let her know it yet. I don't want to hold her back from being everything she's ever dreamed of being.55
* * *
It's been several hours since Leah's flight left and I haven't heard from her. I know it's a long flight... but I'm anxious. I want to know she's alright and that she made it safely.
Finally, after what feels like days, she texts me. I ask if we can FaceTime and she happily agrees, but she won't be so happy ending this call. I have to tell her...
"Hi, baby. You happy to be there?!" I laugh.
She smiles widely, "yes! It's amazing. I can't explain the feeling I have in my stomach. I just- I wish that you were here with me... that's all I need. I need next week to hurry!" She says cheerfully.
I smile at her but it quickly fades away and I sigh and bite my cheek. "I need to talk to you about something serious, are you busy?"
"What? No... can it wait until next week?" She asks.
"No, it has to be now." I insist. I take a deep breath and stare into the camera on my computer, trying to find the words. "I'm not coming next week." I say.
She laughs it off at first, truly thinking I'm joking. "Right, right."
"No, Leah. I'm not going." I assure her.
"Okay... then when are you?" She asks, forcing a nervous smile.
"That's the thing, babe. I- I am never going. I was never going to go with you in the first place but I knew you'd never leave without me. I couldn't let you throw away your dream for me. This is an amazing opportunity and you'd be crazy to skip out on it! I just want to see you happy and doing what you're passionate about. I'm sorry I lied and hid this from you, but I did it because I love you. Leah, it killed me to watch you leave like you did, not knowing that you wouldn't see me again, it was my only choice. I hope you can understand this, but it's not up for debate. Okay?" I pause and she just stares at me, blank and broken. "You're there, I'm here. This is how things are going to be and... I t
hink we need to end us. A long distance relationship is a lot on both of us and I don't want anything distracting you from building your career over there. I can't be the one thing that holds you back, babe. I love you and I always will have love for you, but maybe it's better this way." I say.
By the time I reach these words, tears are coming from her eyes.2
"You're really not coming?" She mutters.1
"I'm not." I respond. I can see how broken she is and it hurts me deeply, but I promised myself I would be strong for this. I know in my heart that it's the right thing to do. "I'm gonna go, it's late and I know you're tired. Get some sleep." I say.
She just continues to stare at me as I end the call.
That's it... broken up and oceans apart. Maybe not every love story has a happy ending?
4
To be continued....