October.

"I can't believe you're leaving so soon," My mother wept, refusing to let me go. "You just got here."

Yeah, and I expected things to be a little different, I thought inwardly to myself, but instead just smiled wholeheartedly at her and held her tighter.

Although they were the main reason why I had been missing for the past four years, it didn't mean that I didn't love them, anymore.

"I'm going to miss you, mom," I whispered into her hair, trying my hardest not to cry, not wanting to bawl completely in front of them both, so instead I let a tear slip out from the corner of my eye.

She then turned to Michael, giving him an understanding nod before pulling him in for a hug as well, whispering something in his ear that he nodded to. Since when did Michael get all buddy-buddy with my parents?

He and I still weren't on the best terms as of now, in fact, everything was a bit awkward. I wasn't one to be the 'bigger person', so I'd just have to wait until everything started to simmer down a bit. But I feel like we really hit something deep in our conversation two days ago, and it still wasn't healing itself.

"Bye, daddy," I sniffled, hanging onto my father's thin, short-sleeved paid shirt from the back, burying my face in the pit of his neck. "I love you both. I'll see you, ah, sometime."

He stroked my back comfortably yet awkwardly, before letting go and holding on to my mother's hand. I smiled, before reaching for my luggage, when Michael beat me to it.

"'Ere, I- uh, I got it, Tobes." He mumbled, taking both of the suitcases and stepping outside into the white covered road, stepping down the steps and handing them over to the taxi driver.

I watched his back, grinning, before turning back to my parents and giving them both kisses on their cheeks, before bidding them goodbye with one final wave.

Luke.

I think it was sad to say that I have spent the past few days when October wasn't around, in her apartment, rather than mine.

I only ever visited my place once, and that was to bring a duffel bag filled with an extra pair of clothes along with my toothbrush and other necessities. Other than that, I used her pillow and mattress and her sweater to hug at night, the scent of her coconut shampoo still lingering on the fabric, and I had the slight fear that if I kept sniffing it before I go to bed, it'll wear off.

I felt like a creep. But I guess that's what love does to you.

I was almost finished with the wall (managing to get a bunch of purple paint on her floor and the doorknob) but now, I was stressing tremendously.

But despite all of the difficult situations - one being that the paint was dark and permanent - she was coming home. And I couldn't be any more joyful than I am now; I could finally have that soft, warm skin in my reach, her forehead against my own and her sweet lips on mine.

Considering the fact that I had used her birthday present - paintbrushes - to help fix the wall of my emotions, I started to get anxious, because a) the present was for her to use, and b) I used it, minus the artistic talent and plus the sappiness and sentimental value and probably barf that will add to the Edelstein Mandarin. But hey, I'm up for new creations and experiences.

The only problem was that I was completely trapped out of my apartment (thanks to Calum who had taken my spare keys for himself) and I didn't have time to grab my phone charger, and now my phone was dead and I wasn't able to reply to any of October's messages.

Stupid, I know, but October was my only main priority right now, or all the time, for that matter.

I didn't even know what time she had to be picked up from the airport, nor what airport she had to be picked up from.

Damn, I was a dumb-fuck of a boyfriend.

I started to pace around the small room, grabbing my phone from my pocket to call Ashton for help.

Oh, wait. Dumbass.

Groaning and slapping myself on the forehead, I throw the phone against her white mattress as I lean against the wall.

"Shit," I cuss, my eyes widening as I swivel around to find parts of the wet paint faded, most of it already on the fabric on my back as well as my forearms.

And now, it was all over my hands and parts of my neck. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to try and wipe it off.

"Luke, get yourself together." I encouraged myself, letting out a fake, exasperated sob as I looked around the room in haste, starting to panic at the amount of dilemmas I was running into.

I picked up an amount of paintbrushes at the same time, dipping it in the Pearl Noir and filling in the letters that I had dabbed with my shirt. Wise move, Luke. Very wise.

I dropped the paintbrush on the floor, taking a step back until the back of my knees hit the edge of the bed, admiring my work.

'i love you' was painted along the surface of the colorless walls, with small drawings from our history drawn around the words itself. The lighter, an elephant necklace, a lot of flowers, and a key - showing the unlocked door incident we were talking about a few days ago.

The only thing she didn't know was that I actually was jacking off, but it would've been a little less embarrassing if I did not tell her that.

God.

I noticed it - the sudden confidence that I've gained over the past few months. And I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared of what was to come next in the future.

But nevertheless, she made me happy. And I didn't know whether or not she'd be around for the rest of my days, but I sure as hell will jump to the idea if that's what she wanted.

She's all I ever needed.

I stepped forward, not noticing the small paint bucket in front of me as I watched it topple over.

"God, fucking damn it!" I yelled, running a hand through my hair as I watched Violette Pensée spread out across October's wooden floor.

"Shit, shit, shit," I shook my hands around in panic, as I tiptoed around the glob of paint and rushed out her bedroom door.

I was busy rapidly grasping a roll of paper towels, when a knock on the front door startled me.

Please don't be October, please don't be October, I pleaded to myself, speed walking towards the entrance and swinging the door open.

"Hey ma- dude, are you okay?" Calum laughed, walking in nonchalantly and I absentmindedly slapped him on the back.

"No time. Help me. Now." I shoved a paper towel roll at his chest and ran towards her room, gesturing for him to follow me.

Calum followed after skeptically, throwing a bunch of useless questions at me which only agitated my terror. His voice caught in his throat when he caught the mess already touching the newspaper I spread across the floor.

So much for being neat.

"Luke! What the hell did you do?!" Calum scolded, unrolling the paper towel in his hands and hopelessly dropping it on the paint itself, thinking it would soak it up.

"I tripped on it by accident and- and I don't know how to clean it up! Calum, I don't think paper towels can soak up paint, what're you doing?!" I grabbed the messy towel out of the puddle of paint, the dye staining my hands.

"Just- just scoop it back into the bucket," Calum ordered, kneeling down with me and spooning the lavender pigment back into its tin.

"This is such a dumb idea." I stated out of breath, but kept going as my knees started to get tired. "It's not even working!"

"Shut up. This is all your fault. But if you have any other ideas, I'll accept now." Calum stopped his actions, looking at me expectantly and I roll my eyes, staying quiet. "No? Good."

"You sound just like Michael."

"No I don't."

"Yes, you do. And by the way, my phone died. So would you do me a lovely favor and text October, asking her where exactly she needs to be picked up and when?" I stuck my bottom lip out, glancing at him with the best puppy dog expression I could act out.

"JFK International Airport. Her plane departs in two hours and she arrives around six p.m., our time." Calum shrugged, looking around him to find a place where he could wipe his hands off, while I stared at him blankly.

"What?"

I didn't say anything, as he squirmed under my gaze of astonishment and admiration. "How the hell could you know that, and I didn't?"

"Michael told me."

I chucked, letting a breath out through my nose and feeling my anxiousness die down in my stomach. "Knew it."

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