(CLOSED)Goodbye.

[Mia Russo]

I dragged my bags over to the cab. I didn’t want to leave the only home I had ever know. The only home that had ever held any memory of momma. But, I had too. I had to be a big girl and leave even if I hated it. I tossed the bags in the trunk of the cab, sighing heavily. I turned to face my place, well, my old place, it had been sold by now and the new owners were moving in next week. Sure, the money to the place was left in a trust for me for when I turned eighteen, but it wasn’t my home anymore so the money meant nothing to me.

I turned to my Mio, my Mio, yes, you heard me correctly. Mine, he was mine, even if he got married to some other girl and she made him happy, he’d still be mine. He was my best friend and that would never change. “Mio,” I whispered, a tear rolling down my cheek. “Momma is really gone.” I wrapped my arms tightly around him. I hated that my momma was dead, I hated that I was moving, I hated that my best friend had to move because he wanted to stay with me and I hated the worst of all that I had to move in with a man my mother hated.

A man I didn’t even know, a man who I had heard was a jerk. A man I could care less about, just because his sperm made me doesn’t make him a father. I let go of Mio, turning my head away as I shamefully wiped the tears away. I had cried enough the last three weeks. I didn’t need to anymore. No, I needed to be strong and face this like a big, like Momma had taught me too. “Ready to go?” I smiled up at him, looking over at my place one last time, a place id never see again, a place I had grown in, a place that held all the memories of my beautiful mother, the place id never get to set foot in again.

Even though I knew it was time to go, I couldn't make my eyes look away or my feet move. I just wanted to stand here forever, basking in my mother's memories, in the memories of this house. "Mio," I whispered, my hard exterior slipping and my weakness shining through. Nobody but him and momma had ever seen me this weak, this damn near pathetic and nobody ever would. "I cant leave. Make me move." I whispered, brushing another loose tear away.

[francisco]

I directed the cab driver on how to pack up Mia’s things along side mine. She had more than I did, but then again, she was a girl. Girls usually have more stuff than we guys do. I also told him he could use part of the back seat. Mia and I didn’t mind if we had to sit close to each other. We were best friends and closer than most intimate couples, so sitting side by side wasn’t going to be horrendous for us. Besides, I knew she just needed me to hold her. Right now, it was all I wanted to do. She was my best friend and she was hurting. If I could take al of her pain away, I would.

Mia turned to me as she turned away from her home, the one she had all her best memories of her momma in, turning to me for comfort, needing my arms, arms that I was more than willing to give her. “Mio,” she whispered, dampered into my chest, “Momma is really gone.” I kissed the top of her head, holding her close to me as the cab driver slammed the trunk shut, muttering obscenities beneath is breath. I could never understand the use for them and never used them myself, so I didn’t understand why people, frustrated or not, had to use them.

“I know, Mia. I know.” I’d said I was sorry more times than I could possibly remember I the past few weeks, months really, when we knew that her momma was really dying. We’d all hoped and prayed she wouldn’t, but sometimes tears and prayers aren’t enough. She stepped back from me, looking up at me. “Ready to go?” she asked, looking up to her house once more. It wasn’t hers anymore, but I knew she’d always look at it as though.

"Mio," I heard her whisper as I opened the door to the car. Leaving the door open, I walked over to her, wrapping my arms around her from behind. "I cant leave. Make me move." I kissed the back of her head, holding her close to me. “Come on, dulce,” I said, reluctantly but determinedly to pull her from her pain, I turned her to the car, sliding inside with her practically on my lap. I knew she needed the comfort only I could provide her right now and I wasn’t about to keep it from her. Shutting the door, I nodded to the cabbie and he drove off.

[Mia Russo]

He kissed the back of my head and I closed my eyes, trapping the tears behind them. I didn’t want to cry anymore, I had done it enough. More in the last few months than I had in my whole entire life. “Come on, dulce,” I nodded, opening my eyes. I didn’t want to leave, but I had to and Francisco was helping me make the first step away from my past and into my future. We walked over, getting in the cab, I was so close to him, I was practically sitting in his lap. Not that I minded, we were always close, sometimes it bothered the people we were with, but it wasn’t as if we wanted to have sex or anything. No, he was my best friend.

That would NEVER happen. Neither of us wanted that. We loved each other purely, we didn’t let sex taint that. I had known him practically my entire life and I wouldn’t let my sexual drive taint that. He wasn’t like me. He respected, loved and took care of the people he was with. Where as I got with guys just like me. Sexually adventurous, crazy, loud and totally to caught up in being strong that I never allowed myself to be weak. Ok, I did, but it took a lot out of me and I hated it. He shut the car door, the cab started up and we drove away. I buried my head in his chest, not daring to look back, knowing if I did we’d never get away from here.

When I knew we were a safe distance away, I picked my head up, wiped away the tears and smiled. “Thank you, Mio.” I kissed his cheek, sliding away from him. Not much, just so I wasn’t sitting in his lap, and grabbed my purse. I pulled my compact out, flipping it open. “My oh my. I look like an awful mess!” I grabbed a tissue out of my purse, wiping my face off before patting it softly with the makeup brush. I fixed my make up, ran a brush through my hair and smiled. “Perfect. Now nobody will think im an alien from outer space.” I laughed, sliding my mirror away and turning to face him.

“You know, Mio.” I said softly. “You didn’t have to come. But I am so grateful. You have no idea. I wouldn’t be as strong as I am right now if it wasn’t for you. I love you. You're my best friend in all the world. Thank you.” I kissed his cheek again, pulling my phone out when it went off. It was a text from Damon, my ex boyfriend. There was a reason he was an ex, but he never got the clue, I started typing back to him, shaking my head. “Idiot.” I mumbled, shaking my head again. He’d never get that over MEANT over.

[francisco]

After a while, she lifted her head from my chest, wiping the tears from her face and smiling. “Thank you, Mio.” I smiled, rubbing her back as she kissed my cheek. “Always, dulce.”

[/b] She slid over slightly, pulling out her makeup mirror from her purse. I shook my head slightly, watching her fuss over her pretty face. “My oh my. I look like an awful mess!” I shook my head. I would tell her that she didn’t, but she’d never believe me. Even though I was her best friend and I’d never lie to her, girls never believed guys, no matter who they were to her, when they said that they looked good when they felt differently.

She applied a little bit of make up and brushed her hair before putting everything back in her purse. “Perfect. Now nobody will think I’m an alien from outer space.” I laughed with her as she turned toward me. She was the most beautiful girl in the world. I’d always thought she was and I never hesitated in telling her, when she wasn’t doubting herself already that was. Even though she’d still give herself the perfect approval, I knew she was still worried. It was how girls were and my best friend was no exception.

“You know, Mio. You didn’t have to come. But I am so grateful. You have no idea. I wouldn’t be as strong as I am right now if it wasn’t for you. I love you. You're my best friend in all the world. Thank you.” I smiled as she pressed her lips to my face again. I was about to tell her she didn’t have to thank me when her phone went off, indicating she had a text. She started texting back before cursing herself. “Idiot,” she mumbled, and I knew the only reason she would ever speak about herself that way was if it had just been Damon texting her.

“What did he want this time?”[/b] I asked her, rubbing her back, kissing the side of her head, letting her know that I was still here for her. I wasn’t going to go anywhere, especially after what she’s been through and especially after what she had gone through with that jerk. I hardly ever lost my temper, but with him it was all too easy. I beat him almost to a blood pulp once, all because he treated my girl like trash, and I NEVER let anyone get away with that. He was lucky I didn’t kill him. I was lucky I didn’t kill him. If I was ever going to be a politician like I’d planned, I had to keep my record spotless.[/blockquote]

[Mia Russo]

I sighed, sending the text to Damon. He surely wouldn’t let things go. He wanted me to be with him and I had taken enough heartbreak from him. He cheated on me any chance he got, he hurt me and he wanted me to come back to that? No way! Never, I deserved better then that. I deserved a man who‘d love me and only me. Nobody else. “What did he want this time?” I looked up from my phone at my Mio. He kissed the side of my head, rubbing at my back. I loved when he comforted me. Nobody was ever able to talk me down from the ledge so to speak like he was. 

I appreciated him more then anyone else in my life, especially since he always took care of me. Especially when it came to scummy guys like Damon. He had kicked his ass the last time we broke up and I couldn’t have been more thankful because I didn’t have the strength to do it myself. “The same old, same old. You know Damon. He’s never a surprise.” I rolled my eyes, putting my phone away. “I think his new girlfriend dumped him. It’s the only time he wanted me around.” I shook my head, sighing heavily.

“When did I become the backup girl, Mio?” I looked at him, laying my head on his shoulder. “You’re the only guy who’s ever stood behind me from day one. Thank you, best friend.” I smiled up at him. “I couldn’t be more thankful for you.” I closed my eyes, resting against him. He really was the best friend a girl could ask for but sometimes, when I let myself think about it, he’d be the best boyfriend a girl could ask for too. I knew he would, but we wouldn’t work, I was sure we were better as friends and I knew he felt the same way.

I knew we'd always be friends and thats all I needed. His friendship was enough for me. Because at the end of the day I was most important person to him and vice versa. Why ruin something that amazing with something so silly like sex? Sure, I bet he was amazing in bed, but I would never ruin Mio and I with a stupid one night stand or a short lived relationship. I loved him to much for that. I loved him more than anyone in the world and I would never hurt him the way I had other guys I was with in the past. Never.

[francisco]

“The same old, same old. You know Damon. He’s never a surprise.” I shook my head as she rolled her eyes and put the phone away. I hated the man. I truly hated the man and I didn’t hate anyone. I was a calm man and I never condoned contention, but this man irked the bejesus out of me. He could always get my blood boiling, but I knew why. I knew it was because he had treated Mia worse than anyone had ever treated Mia and there was no way I could just stand by. Mia was my best friend and I couldn’t have been expected to just lay back and enjoy the fight.

“I think his new girlfriend dumped him. It’s the only time he wanted me around.” We both shook our head and she asked me, laying her head on my shoulder, “When did I become the backup girl, Mio?” She wasn’t my backup girl. She knew she was my number one, and that would never change. Even when I got married, she would still be my number one and everyone would just have to deal with it. She was my everything and that was never going to change.

“You’re the only guy who’s ever stood behind me from day one. Thank you, best friend.” She smiled up at me and I couldn’t help but kiss her tiny nose. “I couldn’t be more thankful for you.” I held her close to me, loving holding her in my arms. I knew she felt safe with me and that was all that mattered. She needed to feel that comfort right now. She needed to feel the one thing that no one else could give her right now, and that was security.

“Prego, dulce.” I said, kissing the top of her head. “And you know you’re not my backup girl, right?” I smiled down at her. “You are and will always be my number one. Even when we’re with other people, you know you always come first right?”

[/b] It was true. There was no one more important to be in this world than my girl. “I love you, Mia, and I always will.”[/blockquote]

[Mia Russo]

He kissed the top of my head and I smiled, hugging him more. He was the best, he always knew just how to make me feel better. “And you know you’re not my backup girl, right?” I looked up at him, nodding. I knew that, better then anything. “You are and will always be my number one. Even when we’re with other people, you know you always come first right?” I smiled brightly, nodding. “I love you, Mia, and I always will.” I smiled, reaching to kiss him against the cheek when he turned his head.

My lips pressed against his, I didn’t mean to kiss his lips but it happened and I was shocked, so shocked I didn’t even pull away. I pulled back, placing my hand against my lips, turning my head away, swallowing roughly. I brushed the kiss away on the back of my hand, licking my lips. “Wow, I guess that’s a little awkward.” I laughed, it was uneasy, because in reality I wasn’t sorry for kissing him. I actually liked it. “Sorry.” I shook my head.

“I think I need to reconsider kissing your cheek when you aren’t looking at me.” I laughed, shaking my head, my purse fell over. The things inside, dumped out and fell on the floor. I reached down, cleaning up the things, making sure to slyly slide away from him. Being this close was a mistake to begin with. Sure, we were the best of friends, but I shouldn’t be that close.

He was a boy and I was a girl after all, friends or not. I set my things back in my purse, settling back against the cab seat, folding one leg over the other, licking my lips, looking out the window, my back slightly to him. I had no idea, but this was the furthest I ever felt from Mio and I knew it was because I messed up and accidentally kissed him.

[francisco]

I turned my head to face her when I felt her lips press against mine. My eyes were wide, but it wasn’t long before I relaxed against her, returning the kiss for a brief moment before she turned away from me, lifting her hand to her lips. She wiped the kiss of, licking her lips. I took a deep breath, shifting slightly as she spoke. “Wow, I guess that’s a little awkward.” She nervously laughed, but if I was going to be honest with her, as I usually was, it wasn’t awkward for me.” “Sorry, I think I need to reconsider kissing your cheek when you aren’t looking at me.”

She laughed, stopping when she knocked her purse off her lap and everything fell out onto the floor of the car. I would have reached down to help her put the stuff away, but it wasn’t so easy in the back of this tiny cab, but I suppose it was a nice diversion for her. She seemed flustered by what had just happened between us, but in all honesty, I wasn’t unnerved at all. I loved her, I knew that was true, why shouldn’t we kiss? Did I really love her more than the best friends we were? I nodded, knowing it was true. Taking a deep breath, I just had to figure out how I was going to approach it.

She crossed one leg over the other and I slid closer to her, wrapping my arm around her, turning her face back toward mine, smiling at her as I lifted my hand to her face, caressing it slightly. “You have no reason to say sorry.” I smiled more, running my fingers back through her hair. “We’re always honest with each other, aren’t we?”

[/b] I nodded in answer to my own question. “Well, I wouldn’t be honest with you or myself if I didn’t tell you I didn’t want you to reconsider kissing me anywhere.”[/b]

My hand moved down her neck softly, resting o her shoulder. “I want to kiss you again,” I said, leaning in toward her and pressing my lips to hers softly. I held her closely to me, deepening the kiss only slightly, moaning softly into her mouth as my tongue slipped through the barrier of his lips, seeking out her tongue, brushing against it. “I love you, Mia, more than anything or any one.”[/b] I pressed my lips back to hers, pulling her closer to me, rubbing her back softly.[/blockquote]

[Mia Russo]

He moved closer to me, turning me some to look at him. I smiled, raising an eyebrow, wondering what he was doing. He lifted his hand to my face, caressing it softly. “You have no reason to say sorry.” He moved his hand, letting his fingers run through my hair. I bit very gently at my lip, nodding. “We’re always honest with each other, aren’t we?” I nodded at the same time he did. There was thing about us that I loved most, even if it hurt we were always honest. No matter what.

“Well, I wouldn’t be honest with you or myself if I didn’t tell you I didn’t want you to reconsider kissing me anywhere.” My eyes opened wide and I took in a deep breath. His hand ran down my neck, settling against my shoulder. I didn’t know what to say, I was speechless. “I want to kiss you again,” He leaned closer to me, pressing his lips against mine. Catching me completely off guard, but it was ok, because after a second I relaxed and when his tongue pressed against my lips to get inside my mouth, I gladly opened and let it inside. 

He pulled back, both of us breathing heavier then normal. “I love you, Mia, more than anything or any one.” He pressed his lips against mine again and it would probably be easy to get lost inside his mouth but one of us had to think rationally, even for a second. “Mio,” I whispered, pulling back. “Are you sure?” I rubbed his cheek, looking dead in his eyes.

“Being this way will change everything. We wont be best friends anymore.” I ran my hand down his neck, settling against his shoulder. “We’ll be lovers.” I whispered, my voice heavy. “We cant change this moment. Are you sure? I’m the worst girlfriend to most. Id hate to be that way with you, Mio. You don’t deserve that.” I smiled slightly, running my thumb over his bottom lip. "This will change everything between us, forever."

[francisco]

“Mio,” she pulled back, whispering softly. “Are you sure?” Her hand rubbed my face softly and I sighed contently, loving the tender feeling of her gentle hand on my face. Her eyes were focused on mine, and I didn’t want to look anywhere but her gorgeous eyes. I could sit and stare at her eyes all day long and never get tired of it. She had the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen, almost hypnotizing, and I knew, if I did allow myself to look into them for long enough, I would be hypnotized, but I didn’t mind. I would get hypnotized by her any time.

“Being this way will change everything. We won’t be best friends anymore.” Her hand mimicked the motion my hand had made earlier, settling on my shoulder. “We’ll be lovers.” She whispered heavily. I could tell she wanted this as much as I wanted it. “We cant change this moment. Are you sure? I’m the worst girlfriend to most.” I shook my head, not ever have believed that. “I’d hate to be that way with you, Mio. You don’t deserve that.” She smiled at me, her thumb brushing over my bottom lip.

I knew there was no way she could ever be that way with me. We were perfect together. We were already everything a boyfriend and girlfriend were without the kissing and the sex, but I had never had sex before, and she never knew this, but I had always wanted her to be my first. I knew I wouldn’t’ be hers, but I knew I would be the first one she’s ever been with that has truly been in love with her. I’ve been in love with her for the longest and I knew I would never stop. I did want this with her.

"This will change everything between us, forever." I nodded. “Yes, this will change things between us,”

[/b] I agreed, but shaking my head at the same time. I lifted my hand again, running it through her gorgeous locks again, smiling softly at her. “But not everything. You and I will always be best friends. Nothing will ever change that between us.”[/b] I twirled a lock of her hair around my finger, not pulling my eyes from hers.

“And with you as my girlfriend, I know nothing could ever be better than that! Well, I can only think of one thing, but that will come in time.”[/b] I shook my head slightly. “I have never and I could never think you’re a horrible girlfriend. You’ve never been treated the way you need to be treated, and I know its what you deserve for me to treat you the way you do deserve to be treated. I love you, more than I have ever loved anyone, and I just want to be with you, more than I’ve ever wanted to be with anyone. You are my best friend, and that will make us only greater lovers, as long as remember to be open and honest and truthful with the everything as we always have been.”[/blockquote]

[Mia Russo]

“Yes, this will change things between us,” I nodded, sighing slightly. It would and I didn’t want to ruin things with the only person in the world who ever loved me. He slowly lifted his hand, running his fingers lightly through my hair. “But not everything. You and I will always be best friends. Nothing will ever change that between us.” I smiled, enjoying the way his fingers felt in my hair.

“And with you as my girlfriend, I know nothing could ever be better than that! Well, I can only think of one thing, but that will come in time.” I raised my eyebrow, wondering what he meant by that. “I have never and I could never think you’re a horrible girlfriend. You’ve never been treated the way you need to be treated, and I know its what you deserve for me to treat you the way you do deserve to be treated. I love you, more than I have ever loved anyone, and I just want to be with you, more than I’ve ever wanted to be with anyone. You are my best friend, and that will make us only greater lovers, as long as remember to be open and honest and truthful with the everything as we always have been.”

I smiled, nodding. “Always. Id never be anything but truthful and honest with you. Always.” I kissed his lips softly, smiling. “I'm going to need you now more then ever, Mio. I love you. I know you’ll be there for me and if I try and push you away like I do with everyone, don’t let me. You remind me of this moment. Of how much we both love each other and I will snap back and come back to you.”

[/b]

I closed my eyes, resting my head on his shoulder, wrapping my arms around his waist. “I don’t want to live with a man who doesn’t love me. Who doesn’t care about me or my dead mother. I just wanna go back home. That’s all I want. But, I cant have that, so, I will have you instead. Especially like this.” I kissed him softly, resting more. “I love you, Mio.” [/blockquote]

[francisco]

She smiled, nodding softly. “Always. I’d never be anything but truthful and honest with you. Always.” I knew she would be. That’s the type of relationship we had and no matter whatever happened between us, we’d always be best friends. She pressed her lips softly to mine and I cold feel her smile on those beautiful lis. “I'm going to need you now more then ever, Mio. I love you. I know you’ll be there for me and if I try and push you away like I do with everyone, don’t let me. You remind me of this moment. Of how much we both love each other and I will snap back and come back to you.”

I always knew how much she loved me, even when we weren’t together, I knew somewhere deep inside of me that she would always be mine. I knew someday, she would stand beside m, as my wife, and we would be happy, but until this moment, that was only a dream. Now, it’s feeling more and more like a reality. It was seeming more and more like something that was actually going to happen, and not jut my wishful thinking. Patience is a virtue, and although it’s been hard for me to wait for her, I know she’s definitely worth waiting for and I wouldn’t change anything we’ve been through. Everything we’ve done has led us here to this moment and I wasn’t about to wish for any of it to leave, because I knew we were together now and nothing was going to break us apart.

She rested her head on my shoulder, wrapping her arm arms around me, holding me close to her. “I don’t want to live with a man who doesn’t love me. Who doesn’t care about me or my dead mother. I just wanna go back home. That’s all I want. But, I cant have that, so, I will have you instead. Especially like this.” She looked up at me, pressing her lips against mine again. I loved the feel of her lips against mine. I knew I always would. Some how I knew it would be amazing. She had the most amazing lips and I knew that she would be amazing to kiss.

“I love you, Mio.” I smile, kissing the top of her head as I held her close to me. “I love you, Mia.”

[/b] I rubbed her back, enjoying her arms wrapped around me. I wanted to take her home with me. TO my new home, and never let her go see her father, but it was part of the court appointed stipulations. She wanted to tell her father personally that she was there and that he had to take care of her now, but there wasn’t anything I wanted more than to just take her home with me and take care of her like I have been doing, like I should be doing, especially now that I’m he only one she has left.

“I’d like you to stay with me tonight,”[/b] I whispered against her ear, holding her close to me. “We can take you to see Arturo Salvatore in the morning. He doesn’t know you’re coming, and an extra day isn’t going to hurt anyone. I just think you need a moment to catch your breath and be with some one you know and love especially your first night in a new city. And who better to be that person than your best friend and your new boyfriend?” I loved the sound of that. I loved that she was my girlfriend now. I loved her more than anything and I wanted her to be with me always, but until she was of legal age, or until her father gave the ok, or she divorced herself from him, if that’s the road she chose to take, I had to be patient and do as the court system ruled.[/blockquote]

[Mia Russo]

He kissed the top of my head, I closed my eyes, smiling. I always loved him kissing my head, but this time, it had different meaning and I loved it. “I love you, Mia.” He ran his hand over my back. “I’d like you to stay with me tonight,” He whispered, sending tingles up and down my spine. I closed my eyes, swallowing slightly.

“We can take you to see Arturo Salvatore in the morning. He doesn’t know you’re coming, and an extra day isn’t going to hurt anyone. I just think you need a moment to catch your breath and be with some one you know and love especially your first night in a new city. And who better to be that person than your best friend and your new boyfriend?” I smiled, loving the sound of him being my boyfriend.

He was always my best friend, he’d always be, but the sound of him being my boyfriend sent butterflies all over my stomach, making them dance wildly around. I nodded, looking up at him. “Id love to spend my first night with you. Yes, we can wait till tomorrow. One more day wont hurt anyone. Actually,” I laughed slightly seeing the airport come into view.

“It will help me.” I smiled up at him, giving him a quick kiss. We pulled up, parking and I got out, we both got our things and headed inside. Sure, I hated that I had to leave my hometown, I hated that I had to move away. But when one door closes, another opens, right?