Far And Away.

"What do you mean you're moving?" Flora found her voice quivering as she looked at the one person in her entire life, besides her mother, who she could count on.


Bret had texted her, telling her they needed to talk and could she meet him at the local park? Now they were sitting on the swingset, slowly swinging back and forth with their hands clasped as Bret bit down on his double pierced lip. He didn't know how to tell her this and with the leaves swirling around their ankles and their hands held tightly together, he just went for it. His parents were moving him out to Virginia-an entire day's drive away and now he didn't know where he and Flora stood. His parents wanted to get him out of Ohio and away from people who were a negative influence on him-JC. So his father took a promotion at his job and now the family was packing up and leaving-tonight.

What was he gonna do? Bret knew he had to tell Flora and he only had two hours to do it before they took off. He couldn't understand why his parents wanted them to leave right away, but his entire bedroom had been packed up in a matter of one day and now here he was-breaking things off with Flora. Bret hadn't wanted to break up with her and he had been pretty adamant with his mother that he and Flora were going to stay together. That didn't go over and now here he was-doing the hardest thing he would ever have to do in his life. Flora had tears in her eyes and Bret only sighed as he locked his green eyes with hers.


"My dad got a promotion and we have to move out to Virginia." Bret said softly as he let his thumb trail over the top of her hand. Flora wanted to cry-to scream but all she could do was stare.

"But that's okay! Bret! We can make this work! Mom's been talking about getting me car for graduation and I can see if she'll get it for me early-I can drive out on weekends!" She sounded so happy and she was smiling, her tears gone, but Bret knew that it couldn't work. His mother-the bitch-didn't like Flora and probably wouldn't be okay with her coming every weekend.

"No. No Flora...it's over." Bret said and suddenly he had pulled away from her. He had known that this was going to be hard, but knowing that Flora was interested in someone else made even more so.

"What? Why?" She sounded so crushed and Bret could see the tears coming back to the surface of her eyes. God he loved her eyes...he had such deep feelings for her, but it wasn't going to work.

"Because it just won't. Besides...I think you're feelings for me have some competition for your feelings towards someone else."Bret said, looking down at his boots. Flora had dropped his hand and he knew that she was full on crying now, covering her face with her palms.


Bret had sensed her distance over the past few weeks and while his feelings kept growing for her, he could tell that Flora wasn't feeling it. Any time they were together, she only wanted to talk about Andy-how pissed he made her, how stuck up he was and how much she hated him. She loved him-Bret could tell that his girlfriend loved another guy and there was nothing he could do about it. She would never love him and even if he wasn't being forced to move away, Bret knew that their relationship had an expiration date and that date was today. Bret stood up, shoving his hands in his pockets as he looked down at the girl before him. Her jeans were ripped at the bottom, her black and white chucks covered in writing and her AFI shirt was shrouded in a tight black hoodie. Flora looked so cute...

But it was over.


"What are you talking about?" Flora was now standing in front of him-nolonger sad as her gorgeous eyes were on fire with anger.

"Andy. " Bret said and Flora just stood there. This was crazy-absolutely insane.

"What about Andy?" She asked and Bret only shook his head-she couldn't even admit it to herself.

"You love him Flora...you care more about him than you do me." Bret said and Flora felt like screaming-so she did.

"What the?! Bret I do not love him!" She had her hands in the air and her fingers were tugging at her hair violently.

"Yeah...you do. Look Flora, I'll miss you and maybe someday we can reconnect, but I have to go." Bret said as he leaned in and placed a soft kiss to her cheek before walking down the sidewalk.


Flora just stood there, watching his black hair and black leather jacket clad back walk away from her and she desperately wanted to run after him. But instead Flora just stayed where she was, bit down on her lip and let her tears fall. What had happened to make him feel this way? Had she said something? Done something? Had JC told him about Flora and Andy's detention? As she walked home, her cheeks burning from being wet and the cold wind hitting them, Flora ran things over and over again in her mind. How had this happened? She was so willing to make things work with Bret, but he didn't seem interested. As Flora rounded the corner and saw Andy standing outside their building smoking a cigarette, Flora figured everything out.

This was all Andy's fault.


"Hey Flora...you okay?" Andy asked as she came up on him, but Flora didn't bother giving him an answer.

Her fist connecting with his right eye was answer enough-she hated him and he had completely ruined her life...again.

Notes