Jay's POV

"When are you supposed to leave?" Aqueela softly asked me. Never Bubblegum Klutz, I will never leave. However, life hates me and I signed the deal; so, I breathed out, "in three hours from now."

What I've learned from sudden loneliness and people leaving me, my biological parents and then Aqueela 5 years ago, is that I must act on the outside and feel on the inside. No one can know how I truly feel about leaving, not even Grey who's more than a brother to me. Or he was until I found out he liked Aqueela. I trust him though and if that's how fate will take me than I'll return in 10 years to find them married. However, I can only dream that it won't happen.

Done. I think the worst part of traveling is the bag packing and the best part is the unpacking. What I'd do to sleep a little longer with Aqueela on the last morning I have with her. But then again, I'm a trained early riser from before I can even remember. In my life I've only slept in once and it's the day she ruined my jacket. The day my plans fell out of wack and the day I found a reason to smile again. So, I guess sleeping in can be beneficial, but look at what happened the day I did; just look at it.

"I'm going with you to the airport you looney tune," Aqueela huffed while rolling out of bed like a sushi roll. Like her clumsy self she rolled out unintentionally, but I guess the craze has affected her because she landed on her feet, something I'd never imagine her doing. She's more of the rolls to the ground type of person, but that's what makes her so unique and special. That's what made her my bubblegum klutz. It's not just because she loves bubblegum ice cream and is a grade A klutz, especially by spilling that ice cream over me. It's because in the end she stays stuck to me. Like bubblegum stuck in jackets, she's sweet, funny, clumsy, and stuck on my mind-so much that no other girl can compare, even when I try to forcefully forget her, she comes back.

"Be a good boy for Aqueela you hear me Slobber?" I tell Slobber as Aqueela steps into the bathroom to take her morning shower. "Take care of her, make sure she's happy when I'm gone and make sure she doesn't mope around okay?" "Ruff ruff!" I hear in response, which I chuckle to because it means he most likely understood and will comply to my request.

"Ok boy, come on let's go make breakfast." Only the world knows Aqueela is only learning how to cook and will probably burn down Emma and Xavier's house if left to cooking alone.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Jay, where's Emma and Xavier?" Aqueela asks skipping into the kitchen with a cute shirt saying I'm awesome and I know it as well as jean shorts and my leather jacket.

"Emma's water broke and she started having contractions so Xavier rushed them to the hospital," I reply while cleaning the pan I used to make scrambled eggs and sausages. "Really?! Oh my gosh that's amazing! And this food smells amazing, Jay, you should have cooked more often while you were here!"

To be honest, I should have done a lot more things for you while I had the chance to, and instead of playing hard to get, I should've opened my arms a bit wider. I silently replied.

"Do you not want to be there with them right now?" She asked while inhaling the food like she's never eaten in her life.

"Of course I do Aqueela, but I need to start missing out on stuff because I will be for the next 10 years." I close my eyes and envision myself without my friends who I call family and their life zooming ahead without me on the side. Aqueela would mature too much to pair with a guy who doesn't deserve her and the triplets growing up with only stories about me. They wouldn't know or see the real thing. They'll know the stories that Max will probably alter and Troy will destroy by over exaggeration. I just can't live without my lifeline.

If anyone were to know how dangerous the word 'hope' is, it would be me. In reality I wanted Aqueela to be the one to go with me to the airport, so I could cling to her silliness aroma and embrace my moments with her before I fall off the face of the earth. It's laughable how much she wants to drive my Gallardo. If someone told me 5 years ago that I would let her drive my Gallardo, I'd laugh and say they're crazy. Look at me today. "Sure. Why not?"

"Seriously?!" Aqueela exclaimed, with shock and her one-of-a-kind smile creeping onto her face. 

"Seriously." I nod, ready to ride with her for the last time.

"Hey, remember the day I almost killed us?" Aqueela asks while hopping into the driver's seat.

"Of course I remember. I remember all 10 times so which one are you referring to?" I tease her while lying back into my seat.

"Hey!" She shouts while glaring at me. Too bad her face is too cute and doesn't even look remotely murderous. The glare looked just like baby Rhys whenever Troy got ahold of him. Now I think I know where Rhys got the look from.

"I mean, there's the driving and then the escapades and then the whole band ordeal and-"

"Ok ok I get it!" Aqueela huffed out while pulling out of the driveway. "So I may have killed some cells once or twice, but don't worry I'll love this baby just like if it was my own."

"That's what I'm worried about," I muttered while closing my eyes and drinking these final moments. "Aqueela stop! The light is turning red, don't run it!" I shout while gaping at her in horror as she slammed the breaks getting to the light perfectly without killing me.

"Psh, don't worry Jay I got this! I can drive now remember?"

"How could I ever forget," I groan out as she started up my Gallardo again. "Aqueela, I think I drive safer than you, and that says a lot because I love the race."

"Eh, I learned from the best so..." Aqueela said while shrugging her shoulders not caring if I were to fly out the window.

"Who's the best that taught you?" I ask, a smirk most definitely tugging at my lips.

"Hmm, well his name starts with an S and ends with an R. Can you guess him??" Aqueela teases- or so I hope she does because none of our friends start with a S and end with R.

"Umm.... someone you met during the 5 years you were gone?" I ask her genuinely unsure. Oh but you wish she said it was you, Jay.

"Slobber!" She shouted then laughed.

"Our dog?" I ask very lost.

"You're such a looney tune mister! Of course it was you, such an influence, dear Jay." Aqueela said while turning into the airport.

Oh. I think to myself, what would I do without this girl next to me to keep me sane. I understand her reasons to not want to go with me and to be quite honest I don't give a fire truck about losing fans. All I care about is her and my dream job is taking away my dream girl.

"I gotta go," I tell Aqueela as she reminds me more and more of what I'm losing by taking on my career. I don't want to sound harsh, but if I don't than I'll lose my own sanity. "My planes waiting."

"One last hug?" She asks me before throwing herself onto me like a koala, not caring what others think about the scene. However, I don't hug her back. A douche move, I know. However, if I do hug her back I'll be unable to hold back my tears, something I've been clinging behind my eyes since she parked the car.

"Go. I know. Go," Aqueela tells me before letting me walk to my gate and past all the security. All of a sudden I remember the first time I laid my eyes on her. The blue ice cream dripping with her bright eyes looking shocked then angry. The first time we jumped off the cliff together, her joining in the craze of love I was high on. Our first date under the night sky where things went haywire, but it's the only thing I'd expect from my girl.

I get past security and wait for them to call my flight number. "I want a puppy," she asks me out of the blue. She had already moved in, overstaying what she asked for, but deep down I liked it better this way. I got to see her whenever I wanted in my house, and gave her the first smile I had smiled in years.

What are we? She asks me while snug under a blanket. "I love you," she tells me and becomes the first person to mean it and say it to my face. I'll be back soon, I have to meet my father and see who he is. I won't leave you forever. Years passed, she didn't return until now. Coincidentally, she returned when I did too, like it's fate pushing us and now I'm the one breaking us apart.

I look around my surroundings. Kids with their parents playing with toys while waiting for their flight number. A guy standing in a corner with flowers jumping from his shadow to surprise the women whom I think is the love of his life.

"What's your name mister?" A little kid asks while pulling on my leather jacket. His eyes are big, warm, and green. For some reason my mind trails back to Aqueela and the thoughts of family before he tugs on me again.

"I'm Jay, what about you buddy?" I ask him noticing a lady, who looks exhausted running close to me.

"I'm Jordan, but my friends call me J too!" Jordan smiles while pulling me in for a secret. "My mommy and I are going to surprise my daddy. My mommy says he's stuck traveling business overseas and his birthday is tomorrow."

"Jordon don't bother the gentlemen over there, come back so we can get your toys and go see daddy." The lady telling Jordan to leave me alone looks like his mother, but also a very tired lady.

"He wasn't a bother Ma'am," I let his mom know. 

"I'm so sorry, he's been so restless these past few days, I hope he didn't disturb you!"

I smile at the kind woman. "Not at all, actually, I think he has helped me."

I give Jordan a hug and leave the waiting area. I run back to the security when I hear my flight being called. However, the flight doesn't matter and everything I brought is still with me. Aqueela baby, I'm coming home.

"Jay! Over here man!" Greg yelled across the airport. "How'd you know?" I ask as we both run to his car where Kyle and Leban were waiting in the car parked at a no parking zone in front of the doors. Those guys never seem to learn. "Had a feeling you'd back down, the look you give Aqueela is something I've never seen you give anyone else."

"You guys knew too?" I ask Kyle and Leban while sliding into the back seat. "Dude, I may not like the girl because of everything she did to you; but, I know she's someone you wouldn't leave." Leban choked before continuing, "How could she be the girl you never shut up about?! I swear she got messed up along the way."

"Shut up," I said glaring at Leban. "She's a klutz, but she's a perfect one."

"Hey Greg," I said as he made it through the traffic and out of the airport. "Yeah?" "Can you take me to where the party is? I need to find Aqueela and do something I should have done 5 years ago." I should've told her that I love her.

"You got it man," Greg said before speeding onto the highway.

I'm finally going to make this right.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Great, I'm finally going crazy," I heard Aqueela speak aloud to the sky. A smile crept onto my face as I realized how much she apparently missed me. This is a much more pleasant sight to come back to than Troy standing on the roof calling me back and then me having to get him down.

"You've always been crazy, you looney tune," I say stepping closer to her. I give her a hug that I should have returned at the airport, which instantly softens her tense shoulders and relieves mine as well.

"You know, I never got on the plane," I said pulling away from her and hiding the box within my sleeve. "I couldn't get on, and I've realised that you're my world, and I choose you."

I pull out the box while pouring out my heart. Finally, I'm able to return the words that have been stuck in my throat for the past 5 years and even a little before then. Quickly, I pull out the bubblegum ice cream I bought from the exact same ice cream place she threw a riot about, but obviously not from the new owner, and stuck the ring on while she drew in a breath.

"Aqueela, Bubblegum Klutz, Looney Tune. From the day you spilled this ice cream on me, till the end of our life and a day later, I will always love you. The thrill, adventure, and spark is something I can only have when I'm with you. When I was 18 I found this and knew it was for you. When you left I was a coward and couldn't tell you, but now I can and I will. Aqueela Lawson, will you marry me?"

She has strength, I think to myself letting my cheek take the sting. "With everything you've done?! Including the fact that you let me think you were dead for more than an hour?!....Yes."

Thank god, I think to myself as I envelop her in my arms forever.