(A/N: any flashbacks will be in italics.)

**Instagram post**

MsMargauritesDance: Very last session with this remarkably talented pair of young dancers.  Best wishes in Los Angeles to @PghShann and @hjclarington Spread your wings my dears, make us proud.

**end Instagram post**

"Rach, I'm glad you wanted to do this with me. I feel like we never get to hang out anymore. And it'll be so much worse when we're on opposite sides of the country."

Rachel sniffles unhappily as we wander through the Lima Mall.  "Please don't remind me.  I've always wanted to go to New York but you're leaving me there with all those boys.  I love Kurt and everything, but I'm not sure I can deal with rooming together.  Are you sure you HAVE TO go to UCLA??"

I've been thinking this same exact thing since I made my final decision on college. Can I really leave everything and everyone behind, Sebastian included just to run off to California. To Hunter. And honestly I'm still conflicted about it.

Heaving a small sigh I slide into a seat at a table in the food court, placing my Peach Perfection Jamba Juice Smoothie on the table in front of me. She folds into the seat opposite me. "Rach, it's so difficult. Am I crazy to leave? To head to LA. Essentially I'm leaving Sebastian to be with Hunter for an undetermined period of time. I'm insane aren't I?"

She leans her elbows on the table and rests her head in her hands as she thinks.  "Shann, I don't think that you're insane. Honestly the offer from UCLA sounds amazing. And well Hunter....  He IS kinda hot.  Not that I'll ever admit to anyone but you that I said that."

I giggle at her, taking a sip of my smoothie.  Drawing a small X across my chest to signify that I will keep her secret.  "No worries Rach.  I won't tell anyone.  Least of all him, since he isn't even in Ohio anymore."

She taps her nails on the table, narrowing her eyes at me.  "Does that mean you guys ended it?  I know you're supposed to be living with him in Los Angeles and everything.  But Sebastian...  And you're going to be away from him until late summer and all."

I sigh, "It's not as simple as that."  And I begin to recall for her what happened the last time I saw him.  Leaving out, you know, the sexy times we had.  Because that stuff is private.

"This was goodbye, wasn't it Handsome?"

Hunter shakes his head and presses the sweetest kiss to my cheek, causing me to shiver from the contact and the contrast of the dirty things he was doing previously with his mouth.

"No Gorgeous, never a goodbye. We'll be together again before you even know it."

I sigh softly, sitting on his bed, nervously twisting my engagement ring around my finger.  Refusing to look him in the eyes.  I feel the bed dip down and his warm hand on my knee causes me to look up at him.

Green eyes.  Moss green eyes, so full of love, of hope.  But also something deeper, longing and fear.

"Angel, the last thing I want to do is leave you. And I'll only be doing it momentarily. I need to get my things together from the parents house. Plus Grandma and Grandpa wanted me to spend some time at their ranch back in Colorado for a bit. I wish you could meet them Shann. They would absolutely adore you."

The idea does sound intriguing but I highly doubt any of the adults in our lives would adore me if they knew the truth about everything.

"Oh Hunt, ever the optimist. I don't think your grandparents or your parents will like me very much when they realize that I'm engaged to someone else while I'm with you. I don't even like me very much in this situation."

His hand moves to cup my face. Fingers rubbing gently across my cheekbone.  "Well I love you, despite all of this.  You're my person Shannon.  Mine, for better or worse.  And I got you something to remember me by while I am gone."

He rises from the bed and goes to his dresser.  Rifling through a drawer before producing a small box.

"Well Shannon, don't keep me hanging here?!"

By this time Rachel and I are browsing the music store, trying to pick out the perfect gift for Nick.  Our trip wasn't just for pleasure, we both needed to find something for his birthday party in a few days.

"So you wanted to know what was in the box??"

"Well duh!!"

I laugh as she goes back to flipping through the cds.  Digging into my purse I pull out my car keys and hold them out for her to see.  "Here."

Rachel looks up confused.  "Um, those are your car keys.  I know he didn't give you those."  Shaking my head I point to the new key ring.  The half heart.

(A/N:  As if it wasn't obvious, Hunter has the one with the A and Shannon has the one with the C)

She fingers the keychain, paying special attention to the words I know are engraved on it.

'We keep this love in a photograph.'

"Is it a??"

I nod before she even finishes her thought.  Flicking it open for her, so that she can see the picture of him inside of it. "Yes.  It's a locket.  So that no matter what, no matter where, he is with me.  And he has one with my picture in it as well."

Rachel hands my keys back to me with a soft wow.

My life, my love, my future has just gotten so complicated that I can't keep anything straight anymore.