by Jae
I glance up at Liam and see he’s watching me carefully.
“Before, I was all for this – I was ready to take on this new adventure. But now that it’s actually here, I don’t know if I can do it. I don’t know if I can live on my own thousands of miles away from all of you.”
“Daisy,” Liam sighs, moving to kneel in front of me and then taking my hands in his. “I get that you’re scared. Moving anywhere new is a scary thing, especially when it’s on your own. Hell, I was terrified when I left home after graduation to live here.”
“Really?” I ask, my lips forming into a small smile as I picture a ‘freshly graduated from high school’ Liam driving the streets of southern California looking for a place to live.
“Absolutely.” Liam nods his head, a silly grin on his face. “I mean, I wasn’t going to a different country by any means, but it was a new city and it was my first time ever living on my own. I had to learn all of these new responsibilities that my Mom always took care of. At first I had no idea what the hell I was doing and I almost gave up my place to move back home. But I loved USC and the basketball team too much to just give up like that. So I sucked it up, figured it all out, and I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
“I’m glad you sucked it up and figured it out too.” I agree, giving him a peck on the lips.
“So, just remember that even though it’s a little hard at first, you’re going to figure it out and everything will be okay.” Liam smiles while tucking my hair behind my ear. “Paris is going to be amazing, Daisy, so don’t worry about that. You’re going to love it. I promise.”
“What do you think we’ll be like in two years?” Jack asks. “Do you think we’ll be any different?”
I look up from the mini bonfire in my backyard and take in the seven people around me. Three of these people – Ella, Zoie, and Taylor – have been my best friends for a long time. The other three – Tony, Connor, and Jack – have become their boyfriends and the greatest ‘big brother’ type of friends to me. And the last one – Liam – has become more than just a friend and a boyfriend to me, he’s the love of my life. While I look at these people, cuddled together under fleece blankets with happily content expressions on their faces, I can’t help but think that I will never be able to imagine my life without any of them.
“I don’t think we’ll be any different.” I answer, snuggling closer to Liam when he tightens his arm around me. “I think we’ll just be older and maybe a little wiser.”
Everyone nods their heads while my response mulls around in their minds.
“And maybe Daisy will have an accent.” Connor jokes, making all of us laugh.
“This has been a summer to remember, that’s for sure.” Ella comments after a few moments of silence.
“The best summer of my life.” Liam says, looking down at me.
“I couldn’t agree more.” I smile, leaning up and placing a kiss on his lips.
It’s nearly two in the morning when everyone leaves, promising to be at the airport on time. After Liam finishes putting out the bonfire and I’ve cleaned up the backyard, we go inside and immediately collapse on my bed. We stay up for another hour, kissing and talking about nothing and everything all at the same time.
“Daisy.” Liam says softly, brushing a few stray hairs away from my face.
“Hmm?” I respond, my eyes fluttering open at the sound of his voice.
“I have something for you.” He says before leaning over the side of my bed and digging around in his jeans.
My eyes widen slightly at the sight of the diamond ring he tried giving me once before. Gently picking up my left hand, he slides the beautiful piece of jewelry on my ring finger. To my surprise it’s a perfect fit.
“I still want you to have this.” Liam tells me when I look at him. “One day, I’m going to marry you Daisy Lynn Fields. When that day comes, and every day before and after it, I promise to do everything in my power to make you as happy as can be and to always let you know how much I love you.”
My eyes fill to the brim with tears from how sweet his words are. How did I possibly get lucky enough to find a guy like Liam? I press my lips to his, deepening the kiss more and more by the second.
“I love you too.”
It’s just after five in the morning when I wake up, meaning I’d only been asleep for a of couple hours. Oddly enough though, I feel well rested and wide awake. As quietly as possible, I slip out from Liam’s grasp around my body and pull his t-shirt on over my head before walking into the bathroom. Once I’ve finished my business and brushed my teeth, I dig around one of my suitcases for some running gear. After getting dressed in a sea green colored sports bra, dark gray workout leggings, and a pair of gray and black running shoes, I grab my iPod and then go into my parent’s room.
“Dad.” I whisper, softly shaking his shoulder. “Dad, wake up.”
“What’s wrong, Daisy?” He asks softly, rubbing his eyes.
“Nothing’s wrong. I can’t sleep anymore, so I’m going to go for a run and was wondering if you wanted to come with?”
He stares at me for a few seconds and I’m almost positive I see tears in his eyes before he nods his head. I tell him I’ll meet him in the driveway before exiting his room.
I go to the kitchen and eat a banana and take a few gulps of water before I go out the front door and sit in the driveway. I’m nearly done with my stretches when Dad comes outside in a pair of black basketball shorts and matching black running shoes. After he’s finished his stretches, we strap our iPods to our arms and walk down the driveway. Once we hit the street, I put in my head phones and easily fall into place jogging next to the greatest Dad in the word. We jog our normal route to the school, but instead of turning around and going home like we normally would, we decide to keep going for another couple miles. Though we aren’t talking, just being together like this is enough for us. As ironic as it may sound, I think some of the best conversations we’ve ever had is when we don’t talk at all.
“What do you say I go inside and grab my car keys and wallet and then we go pick up some breakfast for us, your Mom, and Liam?”
“That sounds great!” I smile, moving over to stand next to his car while I wait for him to come back.
“I figured I should grab my phone when I was in there.” Dad says when he walks out of the house. “Just in case your Mom wakes up before we get back and panics because we’re not there.”
“I take it her and Liam weren’t awake yet then?”
Dad shakes his head no and the rest of the car ride is filled with us trying to decide what we want for breakfast. Eventually we decide on ordering four Breakfast Samplers for takeout from IHOP and then getting a dozen glazed donuts from Krispy Kreme. While we go into the store to get a jug of orange juice, Mom calls asking where we are.
“Daisy, before we go inside,” Dad says after he turns off the car when we get home. “I just want to tell you that I am so very proud of the woman you are becoming and that I support your decision to go to Paris one hundred percent. Watching you grow up has been the biggest pleasure of my life and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for you.”
“Thank you, Dad.” I respond, tears spilling down my cheeks as I lean over and give him a hug. “That means the world to me.”
“And also,” He says after we pull apart. “Liam is a really great guy and I couldn’t be happier that you two plan on spending your lives together.”
I smile and look at the ring on my finger when he motions to it. I completely forgot it was there, thinking it had to of been a dream when Liam gave it to me last night. Due to its size and weight, I can’t believe I didn’t notice it earlier. When we finally go inside, we find Mom in the kitchen drinking coffee.
“Oh my God, Daisy!” She exclaims after I set the food on the table.
“What?” I ask, my head shooting up to look at her.
“You… The… You two are… Oh my God!” She stutters, pointing at my
hand and all at once I realize she’s talking about the ring.
“Yes, Mom!” I laugh, wrapping my arms around her when she pulls me into a hug.
“Oh my God!” She exclaims again after we pull apart. “This is actually going to happen?”
“It’s actually going to happen.” I confirm.
“Liam!” She exclaims when he comes walking into the kitchen a second later in a pair of white basketball shorts, the waistband of his red Calvin Klein boxer briefs showing.
“Good morning?” He questions, clearly confused as he looks at me and Dad when Mom pulls him into a hug.
I hold up my hand and point to the ring on my finger, causing Liam to nod his head in understanding.
“I can’t believe this is going to happen!” Mom says after she releases Liam.
“It’s still going to be a few years, Mom!” I laugh while we all sit at the table.
“I know.” She responds, a big smile still on her face. “But I’m still excited and can’t wait to start planning! Oh, I bet we could find our dresses in Paris!”
“Maybe.” I grin, glancing over at Liam when he squeezes my thigh. “Hi.”
“Hey.” He smiles, pressing a kiss to my forehead while Mom and Dad pass out the to-go boxes.
When we’re done eating, we’re all surprised to see that we’ve devoured all of the food, including the donuts, and even drank the whole jug of orange juice. I guess we were all a lot hungrier than we realized. Once the table is cleared off, Liam and I go up to my room to get ready for the airport. We brush our teeth again before taking a shower. When we get out, Liam gets dressed in a black swoop neck t-shirt, black jeans, a pair of white Chuck Taylor All Star Converse shoes, and his curly hair is swept messily across his forehead.
While I’m finishing up getting ready, Liam tells me him and Dad are going to start bringing my suitcases down to the car. I get dressed in a white swoop neck t-shirt with Liam’s red/gray/white plaid button up shirt with the sleeves messily rolled up to my elbows over it, black leggings, and black high-top Chuck Taylor All Star Converse shoes. I put my hair into a messy braid and apply a minimal amount of waterproof makeup because I know I’m going to end up crying at some point today. I triple check to make sure everything I need to carry on the plane with me is in my purse and then walk downstairs.
“You ready to go, Daisy?” Mom asks when I get to the bottom of the stairs. “All of your stuff is loaded up.”
I nod my head and follow her outside where Dad and Liam are waiting for us.
“Alright,” Dad says, clapping his hands together while we all move to get in the car. “Let’s do this.”
I sit in the middle seat, curled up in Liam’s side while we drive to the airport. I pull out his necklace and fiddle with the pendants while Liam runs his fingers up and down my back and my parents talk about something that has to do with work. The closer we get to the airport, the more nervous I become and almost feel like I’m going to throw up.
“Everything is going to be okay.” Liam whispers while pressing a kiss to my head.
When we arrive, a guy who works at the airport helps Dad and Liam pile my bags onto a cart and then leads us to where I need to check them in. After everything is squared away, we go find somewhere to sit since I still have an hour before my plane leaves. We’re sitting for no more than five minutes when Liam and I’s friends show up. They tell us about how while they were driving here a guy came out of nowhere on his bicycle and that they would’ve hit him if they hadn’t swerved out of the way just in time. We talk about what an idiot the guy is and the girls freak out over my ring. When I only have a half hour until my plane leaves, Dad says I should probably start heading to the security checking area. Once we get there, I feel a huge knot form in the pit of my stomach.
“We girls got you a little something.” Ella says as she hands me a multi-colored hand-woven bracelet.
“It’s a friendship bracelet.” Taylor adds and Zoie helps me tie it on. “All of us have them.”
I smile as the three girls hold up their wrists to show that they’re in-fact wearing bracelets that match mine.
“We’ll all be best friends forever.” Zoie says with a sad smile on her face.
I nod my head in agreement as I pull them in for a mini group hug.
“I love you girls so much.” I say, tears filling my eyes. “Thank you for always being there for me and for everything we did this summer. All of it more than you could imagine.”
Zoie and Taylor eventually break away from the hug but Ella doesn’t let me go.
“I’m trying really hard not to cry.” Ella whispers and we automatically tighten our hold on each other.
“Me too.” I respond as tears spill down my cheeks. “Ella, you have been the best friend and fill-in sister anyone could ever ask for and I can’t thank you enough for that. You and I have been through everything together and I really hate that you’re not coming with me.”
“Ditto.” Ella responds, making both of us chuckle. “I love you, Daisy. You are about to be doing big things and I can’t even begin to express how proud I am of you. You have overcome so much to get to this point. You have the biggest heart of anyone I know and that’s one thing upon many that I admire about you.”
“Thank you, Ella. I love you too.”
“Don’t forget to call and text us every day.” Ella says when we pull apart. “No matter what time it is.”
“I will.” I promise as we try to wipe the tears off our faces.
“Boys,” I say, but before I can finish, they pull me into a group hug very similar to the girls.
“We’re really happy we met you, Daisy.” Connor says and the other boys agree.
“I am too.” I agree before dropping my voice into a whisper that only they’ll hear. “I need you guys to do something for me, okay?”
Once they all nod their heads, I continue.
“Please watch after Liam while I’m gone.” I tell them. “Make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid and please keep him from fighting as much as possible. Can you do that for me?”
The boys nod their heads again, quietly promising me they’ll do as I wish.
“Thank you.”
After we pull away, I look at my parent’s and nearly loose it all together. Mom wraps her arms firmly around me, tears flowing down her face, and Dad wraps his arms around us.
“I am so proud of you, Daisy.” Mom says, pulling back a little so she can see my face. “You are the best daughter any parent could ask for.”
“Thank you, Mom.” I respond, trying my best to keep control of my tears.
“I am so sad to see you leave, but I know we’ll see you again soon and I can’t wait to hear all the stories you’ll have for us. And don’t forget to call and text us as much as possible.”
I nod my head.
“We love you, Daisy.” Dad says after I hug and kiss them both.
“I love you, too.”
After wiping my tears away again, I slide my hand in Liam’s and walk away from our family and friends, stopping a good thirty feet before the short line of people going through security.
“I don’t think I can do this.” I say, feeling the huge knot in my stomach growing impossibly bigger.
“Hey,” Liam says softly, turning me so I’m facing him. “You can do this. I know you can.”
“No, this is a bad idea.” I shake my head. “I don’t want to leave you.”
“I know.” Liam sighs, pulling me into his arms.
I tightly wrap my arms around his waist, fisting the back of his shirt in my hands and bury my head into his chest while he wraps one arm around my shoulders and his other hand holds the back of my head.
“I know you’re scared, Daisy,” Liam whispers to me. “But you don’t need to be because everything is going to be okay. I promise it will be. You’re going to go to Paris and meet so many new people and experience all of these new things. You’re going to have so much fun at school and at your internship and these next
two years are going to fly right by.”
“I’m going to miss you so much.” I say, tears falling down my cheeks.
“I know you are, baby, and I’m going to miss you too. But we’ll see each other over the holidays and next summer I’ll come out to Paris for a few weeks and then we can fly back together and spend the rest of the summer here. It’ll all work out. We just have to take it one day at a time, okay?”
I nod my head.
“Daisy,” Liam sighs after a few silent moments of holding each other. “You have to go.”
“No.” I shake my head again as Liam pulls back from me. “No. No, wait. I can’t. I can’t go.”
“Daisy, what about everything I just said?”
“I know.” I sigh, looking up at Liam. “But, I can’t… I don’t know how I’m supposed to just leave you here.”
Liam slides his hands to either side of my jaw and presses his lips to mine. I can taste the salt of my tears while we kiss, but I don’t care. All I care about is Liam in this moment and how even though I’m absolutely terrified of leaving him, I know with this kiss he’ll be right here waiting for me when I get back. I wish I had my camera on me so I can capture this moment.
“Now,” Liam begins when we pull apart. “You need to go get on that plane, fly to Paris, and call me as soon as you land. Okay?”
I nod my head, pressing my hand against Liam’s chest where my daisy tattoo is.
“I love you so much.” Liam whispers before pressing a kiss to my forehead.
“I love you.” I respond, lacing Liam’s hand in mine and squeezing it as tightly as possible.
I don’t let go of his hand until we’re too far apart that I can’t reach him anymore. The man at the first checkpoint gives me a sad smile while he looks over my ticket and then tells me I’m okay to move forward. Turning around for a moment, I see Liam has now joined my family and friends and they’re all huddled together at the end of the long corridor watching me. I raise my hand for one final wave and smile when they all wave back. I keep moving through the security checkpoints and once I’m done, I pick up the pace to get to my terminal. I let out a breath of relieve when I see they’ve just started boarding. I show the woman my ticket and passport when it’s my turn and then walk down the mini hallway that leads to the plane.