All I could do was wave dumbly, not trusting my voice not to tremble with the heartbreak I was feeling seeing him standing next to her. Celestial was sizing me up with her eyes, but she held a polite smile on her face.

           "I haven't seen you in so long!" Jasen rushed over to me and pulled me into a tight hug.

            The moment his arms wrapped around mine, I almost went limp in his arms. I felt that same current rushing between us again. I breathed in his sweet aroma of vanilla and cinnamon.

          Jason, do you not feel what I feel at all?! Is what I wanted to scream at him.

            All he did was pull back and smile at me as if none the wiser, leaving me with crippling disappointment that my feelings really were one-sided after all.

           "I know," I forced out, with an awkward smile. "How's it going with you?"

           "Oh, Ari," Jasen teased. "Never one to keep up with the tabloids! I always liked that about you."

            So you remember something about me after all. . .

            Before I could speak, Jasen pulled me over to Celestial, who was patiently waiting in the same spot he had been standing with her in a few moments ago. I wanted to drag my feet. Was he actually bringing me over to someone so famously well-known?

           "Celestial," Jasen said her name with adoration. "This is my childhood best friend, Arianna! Ariana, this is my girlfriend, Celestial Lopez!"

            Celestial kept the same polite smile she had on her face the first time she saw me and shockingly wrapped me in an embrace. I was so stunned I almost forgot to at least hug back out of courtesy. Was Celestial Lopez globally known for her TV shows, movies, and singing really hugging me right now?

           "Ariana," She spoke warmly, which surprised me again. "I've heard so much about you from Chase and Rylan! I'm glad to finally meet you!"

            "Really?" I squeaked out embarrassingly.

             She just chucked and nodded her head.

            I glanced me behind for a moment and glared at the two culprits spoken about. They once again were looking anywhere but my eyes. So they both knew about Celestial and Jasen and still oh so happily invited me to come along with them on this trip with no warning!

            "It's nice to meet you as well." I finally gave in. So far, she really seemed to be a gracious young woman. Which, in turn, would make me a shitty person to have unwarranted negative feelings toward her for something not her fault.

            Jasen wrapped an arm around her and kissed her lips. That was too much for me right there. I quickly turned to Chase and Rylan.

          "Guys I really need to settle in," I said steadily as possible. "Where am I going to be sleeping?"

           "Oh!" Jasen was the one to actually answer. "You will staying on the bus with my sister across from this one!"

            This news warmed my heart. I hadn't seen Elizabeth in so long. I speed walked across to where I put my suitcases and was going to pick them up, but Chase rushed over and beat me to it.

           "Ari," Chase said sweetly. "Let me help you with these!"

            I glared at him in turn. "Yes," I answered back in a sing-song voice. "Please do."

            Suddenly Chase looked much less excited, but he still followed me outside. I waited until we were far enough away from Jasen's bus so none of them would here me confront him.

           "Chase what the heck?!" I hissed, throwing my arms in the air. "How could you not tell me he has a girlfriend now and still invite me here like it's okay?"

           Chase, normally fun loving, looked at me seriously.

          "Ariana, maybe we wanted you to see it's time to move on and let go."

           Tears filled me eyes. I know my face must have looked so heartbroken because Chase's face suddenly dropped to look as equally devastated. He quickly pulled into his arms. I tried to push him away, but in the end all I could do was sob violently into chest.

          Suddenly the door to the bus behind us flew open. Elizabeth came out looking concerned.   

        "What is all the—?" she stopped herself when she saw me.

          "Oh honey," she whispered looking so sad for me. "I take it you just found out."

           It was no secret to Eliza that I'd been in love with her brother since we were kids. She'd encouraged me to tell him many times, thinking us really good together. But I never listened. 

          "Here," Eliza, said directing her attention to Chase. "Let me take it from here."

            Eliza was ten years older than my twenty-three years old. She'd always been like a big sister to me since I was an only child. Just like she'd done when we were younger and I was feeling down about Jasen, she took me in her arms and let me cry against her. Thankfully, she led us inside the bus so no one else would bear witness to my meltdown. She lead us to a bedroom and sat down with me on the bed.

          "I-I'm s-sorry," I stammered out.

            Eliza only hugged me tighter. "Sweetheart there is nothing to be sorry about. The heart wants what it wants."

            Sadly, her words only made me cry harder. It was probably a good few hours she and I were sitting there before I actually calmed down. Even when the crying ceased, Eliza just sat there quietly while rubbing my back.

            "How did it happen?" I asked miserably.

             She pulled back and I could see her eyes were so sympathetic and understanding.

            "Well, honey, as you know it's been eight years since you've seen each other. Jasen has met a lot of new people now." She was stoking a piece of my hair. "Jasen met Celestial back when he was just starting out in the entertainment world and they too became best friends. He's the same age as you, as you know. But Celestial is three years older. But, as you know, a childhood star. So, I think he began to look up to her in a way. She wanted to be only friends, but he was very persistent in pursuing her."

           By the end of her story, there were tears streaming down my face again.

          "I missed you so much," I croaked out.

          "I know, honey so did I!"

          "I want to catch with you but—"

          "You would like to be left alone right now," she finished.

           I nodded my head sadly.

           Before leaving the room Elizabeth turned to face me one last time.

          "Darling," she said ever so gently. "You've been holding onto this for so long! You are an amazing girl! And deserve to find happiness with someone as well. Please try to work to heal your heart so it can once again blossom anew. But the final choice is, of course, yours."

            She closed the door softly behind her.

            Her words made me angry because deep down, I knew she was absolutely correct. I'd denied many possible alternatives throughout college because none of them called to my heart. I didn't feel that electricity like I did with Jasen with anyone else so far. I picked up the pillow next to me and screamed into it.

            Collapsing down into my pile of pillows, I spent basically the whole night crying until the point I tried to turn on some music to help soothe my soul, but everything somehow only reminded me of myself and Jasen. I did not sleep well at all that night.