Hello. Goodbye - Chapter Nine

Just because she was his mother, it didn't mean she didn't have a sense of humor.

Jamie was kicked out of his bedroom and forced to share Michael's bunk. Jamie's mother forgot about Gabby's sleepover with her soccer-mates.

The guestroom bed would be occupied just for the one evening, she was told. After that, Lily would be free to take over that room.

"Sorry," Lily apologized to Jamie as he sat at the edge of his bed while she unpacked a few essentials.
"Don't worry about it, Lil."
"I could go ba-"
"No."
"But, I'm jus-"
"No," he repeated with a firm voice.
She walked over to him, stared into his eyes and held his face in her hands.
"Don't be mad," she pleaded, "I'm not going anywhere, yet."
"You sure?"

As she walked back to her bag that lay on his desk chair, she said, "You are the sweetest, you know that?"
"I'm really not all that sugar, spice and everything nice that people liked to label me at the office."
"What makes you think people labeled you?"
"I'm not deaf to whispering people."
"Let me guess... Martina?"
With a half-smile on his face he teased, "I'm not telling. And don't think I never heard you squeal out loud each time we said 'Hi'."

Not only did Lily's jaw drop, the bag she had been rummaging through, had fallen over. Turning to face Jamie, she flashed him a scowl and threw a balled up pair of socks at him.

"What?" He asked innocently.

She made a sudden dash to tackle him. But instead of moving out of the way, he opened his arms wide as they both fell back on the bed, laughing.

Jamie leaned on one of his elbows to hover over her. Looking into her eyes, he whispered, "I wish you could stay here."
"But I am here," she said unable to look away.

Her pulse thumped quicker than she thought possible. And this time, she didn't care if he could hear.

Shaking his head and lay back on the bed, "not long enough."

Lily snuggled against the crook of his neck, played with the collar of his shirt and he rested his chin on the top of her head.

"I'll need to go back. Maybe we should start getting used to that idea."

He fell silent.

Could he say goodbye? Could he forget about her? They only really got to know each other these past few days. Would these past few days be worth investing in any kind of relationship?
Where was this going?

Suddenly, their moment of silence was interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Yes?" Jamie called out and the door opened.
His mother peeped in to see Lily had fallen asleep.
"Oh, sorry, honey. Just wanted to see if Lily needed anything."
"It's OK, ma. I think she has everything. Thank you," he whispered to his mom trying not to disturb the sleepyhead on his shoulder.
"Goodnight baby," his mom said from the door.

Holding Lily in his arms felt so right. It also forced him to come down from cloud nine and really think about what he wanted out of life.

Reluctantly, he sneaked out from under the beautiful sleeping Lily and left the room.

He knew his heart wanted her. What he didn't know was whether or not it would work considering they lived so far apart and would see nothing of each other for days, possibly weeks.

Sure, she could quit her job and move here. But he wasn't worth that, he knew it. He barely had his life together. So there he had it.

Jamie knew where they should stand. They were on opposite sides of the train tracks.

Going down the stairs, he found his mother at the kitchen table taking her late cup of team.

"What's wrong, baby?"
"Ma, if I let go of her now, how will I know she'll still want me, later?"
"Nothing's ever certain, especially in love."
"You think I'd be crazy if I thought I actually did love this girl?"
"When it comes to that, honey I'm the least practical. I get that from my parents."
"I think I fell for her the night I heard her sing grama and grampa's song."
"She sang it?"
"Yeah, at the wedding. Beautiful voice, ma."
"Think it's a sign?" His mother asked excited.
"You believe in 'signs' mom?!"
"Well, honey, I know one thing... This girl is special."
"What makes you say?"

"She's the first one you ever brought home. Oh, and you always have this look on your face when you're not in the same room with her."
"What look?" He asked, slightly irritated that his mother picked up too much from just his facial expression.
"You had it this morning when you rushed off to see her. Like you're in pain or something."
"Ugh, stop it, ma..."
She smiled at her oldest son.
"I'd be surprised if she wasn't already in love with you, by now."
He blushed. Yes, he did.

"I don't want to make a decision."
"You'll only delay the impossible. Ask her what she thinks."
"What if-"
"Honey, there will be a lot of 'what ifs-' no matter what you two decide. There are no guarantees when it comes to this, baby."
"Thanks ma," he said before saying, "Good night".

This was going to be one hell of a long night.