But in the end, they all drift away. // Even the ones who promised to stay.

You woke up the next morning, feeling as empty as you felt the day after Tom told you to leave him alone. The feeling of his arms around you, the feeling of him pressing his lips on top of your hair and the feeling of Tom being close to you made your heart ache, because you knew that it had been a one time thing - a mistake. A mistake - something you already regretted.

Unlocking your phone you saw that there were two messages from Jack, asking if you could meet up and that he was sorry for how he had behaved the night before. To your surprise there was another message, it was Harrison asking if Tom brought you home safe. Closing your eyes, the realization hit you. Of course he didn't drive you home because he wanted to, he had asked you to drive you home because Harrison asked him to and of course he did what his best friend told him to do. Stupid you actually thought he still cared about you.

That day you swore to yourself to forget Tom, to never cry another tear for him and to never think back to what the two of you could have had and to only look forward. To look forward to a new beginning, a life without Tom and with Jack.

You texted Jack that you were going to pick him up, so the two of you could get his car and then grab some dinner. He told you how incredibly sorry he was about was he said and especially about starting to drink.

You didn't mention that Tom drove you home, you wanted to, but something inside of you wanted to keep the memories of the night hidden away in the darkest corner of your heart. You couldn't tell Jack that you spent the night crying in Tom's arms. The boy knew about your friendship with Tom, but you never told him any details about why the two of you had stopped talking - mostly because you couldn't handle talking about it.

Almost three weeks passed without seeing or hearing anything from Tom, confirming what you already knew - that night had never happened for him and he wanted you out of his life again. You might have sworn to yourself to stop thinking about him, but it was harder than you thought it would be. You were fine when you were out with friends or when you were with Jack, but as soon as the door to your room closed, Tom's face appeared in your thoughts.

Not being able to keep him out of your head drove you crazy, which was probably the reason you were lying in bed on a friday night, watching Love, Rosie. A movie you had grown to love when everything fell apart, wondering if this was how it was going to be for Tom and you. Always missing each other, never admitting your feelings and watching each other get married to the wrong person.

But your life wasn't a movie, you didn't have a child and Tom and you weren't even friends anymore.

Jack was out at a party again, something James Bond themed or whatever. He had asked you to tag along but remembering the events from your last night out you decided to stay home. You had offered to pick up him whenever he wanted to go home since you would probably be staying up until late in the night watching movies and thinking about life.

"Do you think everything that happens to us is destiny?" Tom asked as you were sitting on the grass on top of the little hill that was hidden away in the forest area close to your neighborhood.

The two of you had discovered the place when you were 10 and it had been your special place ever since. Not even Harrison or Tom's brothers knew about the place and how special it was to you. You still regretted that this wasn't the place the two of you had shared your first kiss four years ago.

The two of you came here to catch up on each other's lives and talk about everything that bothered you in your life, but mostly you just came here to lie on the ground and look at the sky. Even at 18, Tom was still obsessed with looking at clouds and telling you about which shape they reminded him of. You on the other hand always loved looking at stars and star constellations, which is why the two of you sneaked out at night way too often.

"Kind of..."

"How?"

"I don't know, I just think sometimes it's not too bad to let the universe work its way. I feel like there is something helping us get what we deserve." You shrugged, turning your head to face Tom who was already looking at you.

"Hm..."

"What? You don't believe in destiny?" You asked, smiling at the boy next to you who looked like he was deep in thoughts.

"I don't know, I'm a strong believer of 'if you want something to happen to you, you have to do it yourself' but on the other hand, I think it isn't coincidence we're here. You and me, you know. I feel like this is how it is supposed to be." He smiled at you, making your heart flutter.

"This is destiny for me, but I don't think everything that happens is destiny, no. Some things just seem to fit so naturally that you might think 'Yes, this is fate.', but I think that if you want something really bad, you have to work for it and not only let the universe work its way."

Tom thought about the last part, he thought about how much of a hypocrite he was for not telling you about his feelings and for waiting for the universe to decide if the two of you would end up together.

This was the last night you spent as friends because Tom was a strong believer of working for something he really wanted - bullshit.

Your phone screen lit up, ripping you out of your thoughts. Thinking about that night, you never realized how ridiculous that conversation was.

"You and me, that's how it's supposed to be." You repeated his words, silently laughing to yourself. Unlocking your phone you saw that Jack had sent you a message, asking you to come and get him. You hopped out of your bed, tied your hair into a messy bun and threw on a pair of your ripped skinny jeans, thinking you would only pick up your boyfriend without even entering the house.

As you arrived at the guy's house, you saw that the party was still going, wondering why Jack had texted you to come and get him. He was usually one of the few people to stay as long as the music was still playing.

After not getting a response from your boyfriend and not seeing him come outside, you parked your car and walked inside the house where you heard your name being shouted from all sides. You quickly waved at some of your friends before making your way through the house, looking for Jack.

"Ayy, (Y/N), my giiirl." You felt yourself stiffen as someone wrapped their arms around you from behind. Your brain took a split second to connect the voice to a face. Freeing yourself from the pair of arms, you saw Harrison grinning at you.

"You scared the shit out of me. How are you?" You laughed before pulling him into a hug.

"All good! Beer pong?" He was clearly beyond the point where you could say he was tipsy.

"I'm driving, actually I'm only here to pick up my boyfriend, do you know where he is?"

"I haven't seen Tom... no wait... shit... not Tom - Jack! Yes, Jack ... yeah no idea." The boy's blue eyes widened as he realized his mistake. For him, Tom was the one for you. He hadn't seen Jack, he didn't give a shit about Jack and he for sure as hell didn't like Jack after what he did to you a few weeks ago.

"It's fine, drunk." You laughed at the blonde boy before ruffling his hair like you had always done when the three of you were hanging out. Somehow you were obsessed with his soft curls and you loved to mess them up and annoy him.

"I still don't like that." He pouted.

"Yeah, I figured." You laughed.

"So you never answered my text." You knew which text he meant. And you knew that you had never texted him back, but what could you say? Yeah he brought me home safely? All good, I spent 3 hours with him crying over how much he hurt me?

"I know, I'm sorry, I just-"

"It's fine, I got my answer from Tom." Your heart sped up, thinking about Tom telling Harrison everything that had happened that night.

"W-What did he say?"

"Well, that you got home safely. Why? Did something else happen? Are you guys hiding something from me? You are aren't you?" Harrison saw the look in your eyes, he knew Tom hadn't told him everything that had happened. When he talked to Tom about it, it was just an assumption, but seeing your reaction he knew that he was only told half of the story.

"No. No, nothing happened." Your smile faltered when you saw Tom approaching the two of you.

"Hey Sunshine." He smiled at you, before handing Harrison another beer. The blonde boy just stood there, mouth and eyes wide open.

"Close your mouth, mate." Tom laughed.

"I - This - What - Huh?" Harrison was speechless, he felt like his brain was malfunctioning. He was completely overwhelmed by the fact that Tom had just said something to you. And out of all words he could've said, he called you by your old nickname.

You, on the other hand, were frozen in your place next to Harrison. Never in a million years you would've thought that Tom would greet you. You accepted the fact that the two of you were going back to not existing in each other's lives. Apparently Tom had a different opinion about that.

"Uh, hi, Tom." You managed to smile at the brunette boy you once called your best friend. Taking in his features, you saw what made you once fall in love with him. He looked good in his suit, better than he should have looked - for your own sake.

"Want a drink?" He grinned at you, holding out his beer for you to take a sip. So it was the alcohol that made him act like this - of course it was. There was no way a sober Tom would have approached you.

"I'm driving." You smiled as Tom shrugged and brought the bottle back to his lips.

"This is the best day of my life, can somebody please pinch me?" Harrison managed to put together a sentence, but immediately regretted his question when Tom hit the boy on the back of his head.

"I said pinch, not punch, you ass." The boy rubbed the back of his head as his eyes were still looking back and forth between Tom and you. He honestly thought he was drunk out of his mind and this whole thing in front of him was his brain playing tricks on him.

"Babyyyy!" You heard Jack's voice from behind you. Turning around you saw your boyfriend walk, or more like tumble, towards the three of you.

"Hey, where have you been? I texted and called you." You asked after he placed a kiss on your lips.

"Outside, but can we stay a liiiittle longer? I don't wanna go yet. Or like could you maybe pick me up in like an hour or two?" He asked, looking at you with his green puppy eyes. You saw Tom raise his eyebrow, thinking the same you were thinking.

"Why did you text me in the first place?"

"I don't know, it wasn't that good but now the reaaaal party starts, so I can't go home yet."

"Dude, she came here to pick you up? How about you're going to be a good boyfriend and leave with her for once." Tom chuckled, rolling his eyes. Harrison's eyes widened. This was the Tom that would get in a fight for you and this was the Tom that was still looking out for you.

"Uhm, and you are?" Jack asked, straightening his posture. Not that he had to, he was still a lot buffer and taller than Tom, but something about Tom seemed to intimidate him.

"I'm Tom."

"Haz." You looked at Harrison, hoping for a bit of backup. He thankfully got the signal and pulled Tom away.

"Was that the Tom?" Jack asked as he looked at you.

"Uh yeah." You shrugged, looking into the direction the two boys had disappeared "So, do you want to go or not?"

"Not."

"JACK! Come on! We're starting another round, move your damn ass over here, your girl will still be here tomorrow!" You heard one of Jack's friends shout.

"Can I call you again later?" He smiled at you, placing a hand on your cheek to pull you in for a kiss.

"Take a fucking guess, Jack." You pulled his hand away from your cheek, before making your way towards the front door.

"Is that a yes?" You heard him call behind you, almost making you want to throw something at him. How stupid was this boy? Why was he the absolute sweetest boy when the two of you were alone but an absolute asshole as soon as he had something to drink and as soon as he was around his friends.

Harrison had pulled Tom away for his and your own sake. He knew Tom and he knew the boy would've provoked Jack until a fight was inevitable. Tom was angry and the blonde boy knew that the least you wanted was for Tom and Jack to get into a fight. The two of them watched you from the distance, not wanting to leave you alone with your boyfriend.

"(Y/N)!" You heard Harrison shout behind you as you were already outside, on your way to your car. Turning around you saw that it wasn't only Harrison but also Tom that had followed you outside. Well, to be fair, Harrison pushed Tom forwards in front of him. You assumed that he didn't want to leave Tom alone in the same room with Jack, so he had to bring him with him.

"Soooo, still got two seats open on your drive back? For his stupid ass and mine?" Harrison smiled at you. The two of them didn't want to let you leave alone, so they figured it would be worth a try to ask you if you would take them with you.

"Hop in. I swear, if one of you throws up in my car, I'll murder both of you." You laughed as you felt the tears that had started to pool in your eyes fade away.

"I'll always protect you - you'll never be alone."

Maybe ... it was the truth.