Seeing her for the first time brought his curiosity out, the last time they met took his breath away.

Derek clenched his fists. He had always kept on eye on Samantha from a distance. He would have approached her and talked with her instead of stalking (it was out love, that makes it better...right?). Only it was too late, she had gotten a boyfriend halfway through college, leaving him behind with his memories of their years together.

She had moved on without him, it was a mistake.

Derek had gotten back to the group home he helped out at, walking in like normal. He hadn't expected to see a news segment about his childhood best friend's boyfriend. Derek had a bad feeling as the boyfriend talked with a reporter, a blonde holding his arm.

"Yeah, it was tragic. She was driving home to the office, and another car came speeding out of nowhere. She was taken to the best hospital for care, sadly, she ended up passing late last night. I will is her dearly." Was his comment to the reporter's question.

Derek moved forward, wondering what was going on. Ignoring the protests of having him block the TV, he studying every inch of the small screen.

"For those that don't know, late last night Mr. Morrison's girlfriend had died from complications from a surgery after getting into a car accident." The Female reporter turns back to the interview. "Now, it was rumored that you and your girlfriend of ten years had an argument, is that true?"

Derek couldn't breathe. He felt so sick in that moment.

"Uh, Mr. Derek, are you okay?" Asked a young voice. Derek shook his head, and took off to his car, not fully listening to the concerned shouting or the TV where his childhood best friend's boyfriend acted like it wasn't a big deal. Derek knew her well enough to know how much she was struggling with the relationship with her boyfriend.

He was just too late.

~

Being at the abandoned road where they had first met, Derek felt his heart break even more.

Getting out of his car, he walked over to the tree that was named their tree. It even had their initials in a heart on it.

Derek smiled at the thought of all the memories of the road with his best friend. Sitting back against the tree, Derek closed his eyes and just remembered. For a moment forgetting that it was a lie from the boyfriend, she killed herself...

~

The last time they had been together at their spot of the back road that no one really knows exists, they knew that things would change after graduating high school.

"Derek, I don't know what to do! I don't want to leave you, but...gah! The college of my dreams is tearing me away from you! I don't want to leave you." Her pale sky blue eyes filled up with tears. She had dragged him away after the graduation ceremony to rant her last minute anxiety.

Derek, who couldn't take her pacing anymore, stood up from his sitting position on the ground to pull her into a hug. She melted into his arms, her breathing calming, eyes closed in relaxation. "Thank you. For being here and taking care of me. What would I do without you?" She was slowly falling asleep, and they both knew she wasn't going to stay awake much longer.

Derek kissed her head, picked her up, and mumbled a response. "No, thank you for being here and taking care of me. And what would I do without you? Where would I be without you?" She smiled, eyes still closed.

Derek gently placed her onto the passenger seat, kissing her forehead. "If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it truly was meant to be. I will always wait for you. Always." He promised as she fell asleep.

~MsPenguingirl1234.

Published: July 22, 2017.