WILLIAM'S POV

I had never been big on holidays since we never really celebrated them at home. My parents were gone a lot when I was younger so I spent my holidays at Louis' or Harry's house. When my mom stopped being an air hostess to be an etiquette teacher, she tried to start the holiday tradition but it sucked that it was just the both of us so after one trial we never did it again.

I loved my parents and they loved me back so I held no resentment towards them for being such workaholics but sometimes I wished we could just be a normal family. That wish floated in my mind every year especially during the holidays but for the first time I was glad we weren't normal.

After my break up with my Angel all I had wanted to be was to be left alone to wallow in my own pain. That was difficult especially in college so I'd powered through until the end of the semester. When I was finally back home, alone and away from the distraction that was university I'd broken down.

Everyone knew I had been dating Malaika even my parents but only my two friends and Harry's girlfriend Natalia knew why we broke up. It was all a misunderstanding that cost me the love of my life. I had tried to win her back but she hadn't been online since the day we broke up and no matter how much I wanted to fly out and see her so I could explain myself but I knew she didn't want to see me. Honestly the cheating part was bad but the weeks prior to our break had been terrible. I'd been going through a phase and even though I'd tried not to, I still found myself putting Malaika in the back seat. I had been a terrible boyfriend to her and she deserved better. The cheating, even though I didn't do it had been the final straw and she had cammed called it quits.

I wish she had let me explain but even that would have been asking too much from her. I missed her, still loved her and even though she could never be mine, I hoped that she was happy. I thought about her all the time wondering what she was doing, if she was okay, if she'd gotten even more beautiful or if she'd met someone. That last scenario was unlikely considering she lived under her aunt's tyrant rule but it was still painful to think about.

I had never fallen so hard and effortlessly for someone. I knew that it would be hard but my heart would heal with time and I would move on but Malaika would always be my first and only true love. No one could hold a candle to her.

When we'd first started talking, it had been just for fun. It was thrilling talking to someone from another country. Sure I had fans from all over the world but very few in Africa and none were genuine. Malaika had been a breath of fresh air and even though our relationship had been off to a rocky start we'd found our footing and I'd found myself caring for her and ended up falling in love. Seeing her for the first time had blown me away and it had been even more powerful seeing her in person. When my parents had asked me what I wanted for a graduation present she had immediately come to mind and I knew that I had to see her. We'd spent one amazing week together and it had been the cement that I needed to realize that Malaika had been it for me. I was ready to wait for her or go to any lengths even moving to Kenya after university just to be with her. Too bad I had to fuck up and loose her. My friends loved her and my parents would have loved her too. Speaking of parents.

"Thinking about that Angel of yours again are we?"My mom teased and I looked up at her from my phone.

I was scrolling through the pictures of her on my phone and even though it had been more than two months since we broke up, I didn't have it in me to delete any of them. God I missed her.

"I can't help it."I admitted laying my phone upside down on the counter top.

My mom was baking cookies and she had insisted that I be in the kitchen with her saying I had been couped up in my room a lot.

"I understand and you take all the time you need to heal. I remember my first heartbreak, it was brutal. You're actually doing better than I did then."She admitted getting a far away look in her eyes for a minute.

"Was it from dad?"I asked not really interested but I needed to get out to my head for a while and if my mom was willing to provide the distraction, who was I to stop her.

"No I met your dad after college and my first heartbreak was in junior year of high school."She admitted and I propped my head on my palms as I listened to my mom narrating her first heartbreak.

I zoned out a few times but it was a good story and my mom didn't break down while telling it so it gave me hope for the future. Maybe one day I'd think about Angel without my heart clenching in pain and tears filling my eyes. Not looking forward to that day though because the pain reminded me that I cared about her. If I stopped feeling pain when I thought about her then it meant I no longer had feelings for her and I never wanted to get there. I wanted to love her for as long as I could because our love had been pure and true and I didn't know if I'd ever find that again.

My mom had moved on to another story about one of her students when our conversation was cut short by the ringing of my phone. I flipped my phone over and it was a new number.

"Aren't you going to pick it up?"My mom asked as I stared at the phone.

I wasn't really in a mood to talk to anyone, besides my mom that is.

"It's a new number."I replied.

"So? Just pick it up."She directed turning away to get her cookies from the oven.

I wanted to let it go to voicemail but my mom was giving me a side glare so I picked it up.

Hello.

The other person didn't reply and it just pissed me off more. Why call if you weren't going to talk?

Hellloooo.

Who is this?

I don't have time for this, I'm going to hang up now.

William wait.

Her voice got me for a second there before before I realized it was Louis messing with me again.

Louis really, another stupid Malaika prank. Enough already. I thought you were done with this. It messes with my head when you pretend to be her so please stop or I swear to all that is holy when I see you next week I will kill you and throw your body in the lake.

My mom gave me a disapproving look for talking like that but I didn't care. I already missed Malaika enough without Louis using a stupid voice app to toy with me. It sparked hope in me everytime he called and I thought it was her until he yelled "gotcha" and my heart broke all over again.

I'm sorry about what Louis did but I can assure you I'm not him.

My heart stopped when her voice registered in my ears. Voice apps were fairly good but not that accurate. It sounded exactly like her, I should know. I'd spent hours listening to her voice on the phone.

Angel?

I needed to be sure that it was her before I got my hopes up too high.

Hi William.

When she said my name I became sure that without a doubt it was my Angel on the phone. Her accent always made my name sound different no voice app could fake that.

Oh God, Angel it's really you. It's been so long, I've missed you.

I've missed you too William.

Can we talk please? I want to explain myself.

Yeah but this phone is borrowed and I'm not sure how patient the owner is.

Where's your phone?

I have it but the simcard won't work where I am.

What do you mean?

She didn't reply and I looked at the screen to make sure she hadn't hang up. She was still on but one thing caught my attention. The number she she was calling on was the same area code as mine which meant only one thing. My heart started pounding at the possibility but I decided to ask before I jumped into conclusions.

Angel where are you?

At the airport.

Which aiport?

Billings Logan International Airport.

My heart literally stopped the second she she said that. Once it registered that she was less than an hour away I jumped up from the stool I was perched on and ran up the stairs to my room leaving my very confused mom behind.

Don't move, I'll be there in less than an hour.

Okay and William..

Yes baby.

Hurry, it's cold.

I'll bring you a hoodie.

Okay.

She hang up and even though I wanted to stay on the phone with her she said that the phone was borrowed and I needed to drive safely. I'd already taken a shower so I just brushed my teeth and got dressed fast before leaving the comfort of my room. I had my car keys in hand and my biggest comfiest hoodie for her. I flew down the stairs taking two at a time.

"Where are you going?"My mom asked when I got to the kitchen.

I was too excited to say complete sentences so I just murmured words hoping they were enough to explain.

"Airport. Angel. Pick up."

My mom didn't ask me any more questions just grinned at me, kissed my cheek wishing me good luck before ushering me out of the house. I got into my car and took a few minutes to compose myself. I couldn't believe that my Angel was waiting for me at the airport. I had no idea how she had managed to fly all the way to see me but if I played my cards right I'd never loose her again ever. She was mine to keep forever and I'd fight to keep it that way.

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I love cookies, they just taste so good.