Flag 10

- Amber Hills -

I'm leaving soon. I'm moving to a city uptown this summer. We won't be able to see each other as often anymore.

(This feelings have to stop.)

I feel my eyelids getting heavier each second and the flickering lights from the stars stuck to the ceiling turn to phosphenes, spots of light fading as I slowly drift to sleep.

- Elizabeth Andrews -

I sit myself up as I wake up to sunlight piercing through the curtains of my bedroom. I turn my head and I see a beautiful pale face, natural long eyelashes so peacefully asleep. I move towards the bathroom to fix myself up. Sliding the curtains to the sides as well as the windows to let the light in to the room, I take in the cold early morning winds.

I step closer to the sleeping beauty, tugging the blankets off of her.

"Wake up, dork!" I let out a chuckle.

She groans and opens her eyes slowly.

"Ugh, bright."

"I'll be downstairs preparing breakfast," I say wearing a grin that seems nearly impossible to take off.

- Amber Hills -

I step into the bathroom. Facing the mirror, I tie my hair up to a loose ponytail to rid myself off of my ridiculous bed-hair look. I gently splash water all over my face. I wipe it dry and proceed downstairs.

I see Lizzie humming to herself while mixing pancake batter. I stealthily walk behind her. I slip my finger into the sides of the bowl where small amounts of batter leak out. I tap her shoulder and as her head turns, I poke her right cheek and pancake batter meets natural rosy cheeks.

"What the--?" She says and I can't help but giggle.

"Hi, Lizzie."

"Hi," she smiles as she puts the bowl down. She moves in, closing the distance between us with her blue eyes completely locked on mine. Her face, blank but grinning with a different intention.

"W--wa--wait, Liz--zie," I stutter as my back leans on one of the kitchen counters, I'm gripping the edges to steady myself. She lays her left hand atop my right, trapping me to this counter, while still maintaining eye contact. She motions her right index finger to her "batter-ed" cheek and slowly wipes the mix off her face.

(WTF is happening?) I think to myself.

She meets my gaze yet again with a smug grin as she sticks her forehead to mine. Our faces, only a few inches apart, her eyes shoot to my mouth, slightly opened in shock and in anticipation of whatever's bound to happen at the moment. She bites her lip, almost sensually. I lose my breath for a short moment.

Eyes back on mine and she wipes the batter off her finger and lays it on my nose.

"Gotcha," she says softly with a teasing smirk.

(Okay, that's not fair.)

She lets out a cute giggle, "You're cute when your face's all flustered."

Who knew Lizzie could be such a dangerous flirt?

She turns back to the stove, happily humming to herself.

I stay still for a few minutes until I finally pull it together and bring myself to step away from the counter, wiping the batter off my face. I help her out by setting up plates for us to use. She finishes up and we move to the table, eating our pancakes.

After eating and putting all used plates and utensils into the dishwasher, we spend most of our time chatting.

"So what's your plan for the holidays?" She asks.

"Honestly, I don't really know," I reply and direct the question back to her.

"I'll probably spend time with my cousins again, spend time with family, basically."

Family.

Silence fills the air for a short moment as my heart drops knowing that I'll never truly know what it feels like to be so emotionally connected with your family. I guess, it's possible to feel such a thin string of attachment with the people who are supposed to be your "#1 supporters." It's possible to feel such a thin string of attachment that wouldn't make such a huge difference if it were to be cut off.

...but family was family no matter how messed up things seem to be.

"Hey, you ok?" she asks.

I blink rapidly, redeeming myself before I turn vulnerable.

"I'm fine," I softly reply, forcing a smile.

"Wanna eat out for lunch?" I ask changing the topic.

She laughs, "You're just all about eating, aren't you? How on earth do you not get fat?"

I shrug it off, "So you down?"

"Of course, and oh, I'll pay for it," she says.

"Oh, but I c--."

"No but's, you can call it a date!" She winks playfully.

"A date, huh?" I roll my eyes at her, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Of course! I bet you'll have more fun with me than Hayden," she laughs.

I stick my tongue out as a reply.

She lets out a giggle.

"You should get ready then," she says.

"Right!"

I head upstairs and simply throw on an oversized yellow hoodie, pull up cuffed dark denim jeans and put on my black boots. I face her bedroom mirror, letting my hair loose. I grab my keys and head back downstairs.

She's wearing a long-sleeved black turtleneck, black skin-tight jeans underneath a pastel pink poncho, a pink tom pom beanie and black boots.

She turns her head to my direction and gives me a soft smile.

"My favorite color on my favorite girl," she says leaving me slightly flustered again but I smile back at her.

"You look cute!"

"I could say the same about you, Liz."

She lets out a short chuckle, taking me by the hand as she effortlessly entwines her fingers between mine, leading me outside. She locks the door of her home.

The winds of an early December definitely feels a little warmer with her.

We hop into my car and drive away from her home. She turns the radio on and it plays Robbers by The 1975. She slides her hand into mine without a doubt this time as she fiddles with my thumb ring.

"I like this," she utters in a tone, soft and sweet.

I look at her with eyebrows raised, "We're happy," she continues.

I sigh and give her a smile, a smile, weak and worried, as the thoughts of moving this summer floods through my brain but she fails to look through it.

She sings softly along with the music.

I'm moving, thinking to myself as I turn to face the road again.

Am I really ready to put so much distance between us?