Far And Away.

The sun was sweltering as it beat down on to the top of her cap covered head, but Flora could barely pay attention to how uncomfortable she felt. She was too busy trying to catch a glimpse of Andy over the heads of their classmates as they all sat in the middle of the football field and listened to their Principal speak. Soon it would be Flora's turn to get up, head to the stage and face her peers, but for now she was too worried about Andy.

She had never meant for him to find out about her choosing OSU over Berkley the way that he did, but it had happened and now she was paying the price for it. Andy hadn't spoken to her in days-he refused to answer his phone, text her back or come to the door when she knocked on it. Their last day of Bio had been painful-boring and Andy wasn't speaking to her so even he couldn't help Flora pass the time. Now here they all were-high school graduates and the couple couldn't even celebrate together the fact that they made it.


"Needless to say I am very proud of you all. Now our Valedictorian Florence Welsh is going to come up and say a few words." Flora felt her heart speed up as she stood, smoothing her gown down as her ballet flats carried her over the springy grass of the field.


Flora could feel thousands of eyes on her, but the only ones she cared about were the only ones that were not looking at her. Flora walked up the steps of the stage carefully, taking a hand that was being held out to her as she inhaled deeply and tried to stay calm. She had written and rewritten this speech over ten times and even now it didn't feel right. As she walked up to the podium and reached out to readjust the mic, Flora finally caught Andy's eye.

He was sitting in the second row with the other 'B' last names and Flora tried to give him a small smile. His blue eyes were icy cold and his growing black hair was hanging across his face. He hated her, she knew it and Flora felt her heart break in to two pieces as she stood there. She needed to speak, but found that her chest was so heavy with sadness that it seemed impossible to do anything other than cry.

But Flora suddenly felt her sadness turn in to anger-at Andy.


"I first want to thank all of the family and friends of myself and my fellow classmates for being here today-I know it's hot and this is taking forever, but I can say for everyone here today that we appreciate it. I also would like to thank the staff, both at this high school, the middle school and at the elementary school that we all attended because without you, your support and most of all your patience, none of us would be here today." Flora stopped as there was a small bit of applause and she smiled-this wasn't so bad after all.

"I know that being a teenager is tough-we've all gone through things, whether it was being bullied, not making a team we wanted or..." Flora stopped as Andy seemed to be staring her down through his long black bangs. There was a slight smirk on his lips and Flora felt all of the air leave her chest.

"Or having to say goodbye to people we've known and loved for so long. I think I can speak for most of my classmates when I say that high school has taught me a lot-not only education wise, but I've learned a lot about life and the way the world works. We are all going to be pushed down at some point-some of us already have, but we all know that we will make it through. I stand before you today a humbled person who has been through a lot, but today is about celebrating all of the hard work that we have all done. So job well done class of 2009 and I guess we'll see one another in ten years!" She finished and Flora smiled as she heard a massive whooping and hollering from near the back of the bleachers.


CC, Ashley, Jake and Jinxx were all sitting back there-in attendance to see her and Andy graduate, but they were also there with a large U-Haul that held all of their instruments and the few possessions that they had in between them. As soon as the ceremony was over, all five guys were going to pile in to the ancient SUV that CC's dad had given them and they were going to head out to California. Flora knew that she should be going with them, but she had other plans for herself...she had other dreams.

"Thank you Miss Welsh. And now for our graduates... Karen Acer..." Flora smiled to herself as she took her seat in the last row and watched as all 346 of her classmates walked up to the stage to receive their diplomas.

"Andrew Biersack..." Flora found herself clapping loudly, almost louder than anyone around her and she knew it was more from anger than it was from pride.


For days Flora had cried herself to sleep because she felt so guilty, but standing on that stage today and seeing everyone infront of her, Flora realized that she had nothing to be sorry for. She was moving on-just like everyone else and she was following her dreams...just like Andy. Sadly their dreams didn't match up, but that didn't mean Andy had to hate her for it. But he did and as Flora stood and readied herself to get up on the stage, she knew that Andy was being an asshole.

He should be happy for her-just like she was happy for him, but Flora knew that Andy's ego had been crushed when she had rejected his idea and his life. Somehow she felt free in that moment-Florence Welsh was free from Andrew Biersack and she could do as she pleased. Flora's feet seemed to be moving without her even realizing and soon enough she noticed that she was the next to be called up on to the stage.


"Our Valedictorian-Florence Welsh." She shook the hand being extended towards her and took the leather bound diploma in her free hand. The guys were all cheering for her and as Flora walked across the stage and down the steps on the other side, she noticed that Andy had disappeared.

"I give you our class of 2009!" Flora heard over her shoulder as she pushed through the crowd and tried to head towards the parking lot.


Flora was angry at Andy, but she knew that she would never forgive herself if she didn't get to say goodbye. Caps came raining down on her head like a torrential downpour, but Flora kept on walking until finally the grass turned in the cracked asphalt. She could hear her mother calling out to her, but Flora knew she had to keep moving.


Suddenly they came in to view-the five of them all surrounding a beat up looking SUV with a U-Haul attached to the back. Amy and Chris were also there, Chris was showing Jinxx how to rearrange the back of the trailer to fit more things, while Amy was going over a map with Jake near the front of the car. Andy was leaning up against the passenger side door, his gown off and laying on the ground at his feet. His black button up shirt was wrinkled and creased from where he had been sitting, but Flora still thought he looked good.

CC was the first to reach her, his lanky arms wrapping around her as he hugged Flora tightly. CC was always a comfort to Flora and as she hugged him the tears sprang to her eyes because she knew this was going to be the last time she would see him. Soon enough the small girl was being passed around for hugs, Jake, Jinxx and Ashley all hugging her and whispering how proud of her they were. Andy just stayed where he was, looking more annoyed than ever.

Finally everyone else seemed to melt away and the former couple were standing face to face.


"Hey." Andy said, the cigarette between his lips moving with his words. His hands were in his front pockets, his black hair shining in the sun and for a moment Flora forgot how angry at him she was.

"Hi." She replied and Andy chuckled as he took a drag off of his cigarette and then tossed it to the ground. He was moving towards her and for a second Flora thought Andy was going to attack her. He had seemed to angry, but soon enough she was wrapped in a very familiar embrace.

"I'm really proud of you Flor...I just wish you would change your mind." He whispered so lowly in her ear that even Flora had a hard time hearing it.

"Our paths are different Andy...I need to stay here." She said as she pulled away and all of the air left her chest. His blue eyes were filled with tears and suddenly Flora felt her own spring to life. She didn't think it was going to be this hard to say goodbye to someone, but looking at Andy she knew it was going to be impossible.

"I know..." He started, but stopped as Jake called out to him.

"We gotta hit the road man if we're going to beat traffic on the highway..." Andy sighed, his eyes closing as he pulled Flora to his chest once more and held her there tightly.


Flora was everything to him and now Andy was having to say goodbye to the one person who had always supported him. She had put a lot of time and sweat in to his dream of Black Veil Brides and it didn't feel right leaving her behind. She had worked their merch table, she had driven through the night to make sure they got to their next show on time and most of all she had been his muse. Andy held on to her tightly and smiled through his tears as he leaned in close and began to hum before the words escaped his mouth.


I will await dear, a patience of eternity, my crush.
A universe so still.
No rust.
No dust will ever grow on this frame,
One million years, and I will say your name.
I love you more than I can ever scream.

We booked our flight those years ago,
I said I loved you as I left you.
Regrets still haunt my hollow head,
But I promised you that I will see you again, again.


"I'll always be there for you Flora...I'm sorry I wasted out last few days being angry at you..." He said softly and for a moment Flora didn't know what to say. She wanted to reach up and press her lips to his own, but she knew that she would never let him go if they shared one last kiss.
Instead she just smiled, the comforting and supportive smile she always gave him right before he got on the stage every night.

"It's okay. I'll always love you Andy...maybe our paths will cross again someday." She said as she pressed her lips to his cheek and then pulled herself from his embrace.


Andy stared at the girl who was now walking away from him, his heart broken as CC came over to him and directed him towards the car. Taking his seat silently, Andy turned around just as the car started and began to pull away to see that Flora was on the ground, her knees digging in to the asphalt as she sobbed at his leaving. All he could do was raise his hand to the window, pressing his palm against the glass as he said a silent goodbye to the only person who ever truly understood him.

It was over, but somehow he knew it was all just beginning.

Notes

And that's it for Part 1 of Far and Away.

Please stay tuned as Part 2 will be up sometime next week.

Thank you to everyone who has subscribed and reviewed and stuck with us through this story.
It's not over and it's barely just begun...