I move hangars from right to left, sifting through different outfit ideas. "Hmm, what to wear... what to wear...."

I'll be at the airport today for hours. I'd rather be comfortable... but this is also the last time Eli is gonna see me for three months, so I do want to look good. His family will be there, too, which means: not too much cleavage. Maybe some tight pants?

I brush my fingers over the few leggings hanging up next to the jeans. "No... not these."

Eli has reminded me so many times not to wear leggings around his mom. She's very much against them and says they're inappropriate wear for any occasion. Being a proud Mexican woman, her cultural beliefs and standards have leaked into her children's lives.

I pull a few different blouses and toss them onto the bed.

I wish I knew her better. But in the three years Eli and I have been dating, I've only met her twice. Eli is always saying, "let's hang out at your place," and I know it's a huge red flag that I've also never even met his siblings, it's just... it's easier to brush it off. The whole thing makes me uneasy sometimes, but he's relatively good to me and I do love him.

Bzz, bzz. My phone's vibrating. I walk to my bedside table and grab it.

Hey, Brooke! Ready for the big day?! What time will you be here again?

My fingers twitch before I respond. I was so focused on trying to find an outfit that it totally slipped my mind I'm supposed to pick Sara up on the way to the airport... Eli's childhood friend who... doesn't quite sit right with me. She has a friendly personality, I guess, but she's always teetering between acting like Eli's sister and flirting like a schoolgirl.

Eli has already told me the story multiple times; I have it memorized. Whenever things got bad at home for him, Sara's family would take him in with open arms, giving him a place to stay and making sure he was fed. I don't know the details of his home dynamic, but he's very thankful to Sara and her family. He considers them more of a family than his own most of the time.

I text Sara back.

I'll be there by 8am! Is Gabe joining us?

Nah, he's cramming for last min applications for college, so he told me to just put in a good word with Eli

Sara's boyfriend, who's also become a close friend of Eli's, won't take a couple of hours to see him off? His priorities are a little... skewed.

Okay, sounds good, looks like a girls trip, then!

I toss my phone over to my bed and swivel back to stare at my closet again. I guess I'll just go with a pair of hip-hugging jeans and a T-shirt with the community college's logo on it. The outfit is a bit plain, but given who will be there, I'd rather play it safe.

***

My car screeches in Sara's driveway at 8:00 AM sharp. She's already waiting outside, which gives me almost no time to mentally prepare. I went out of my way to buy us a pair of Starbucks lattes hoping it would ease the tension this morning... Let's see if it works.

Sara waves and jogs to the passenger side — and my blood boils.

She's wearing a V-neck shirt... and leggings.

Sara has an athletic build, so this outfit only accentuates all the hard work she clearly puts into track and field. There's no doubt about it: I'm going to be practically invisible standing next to her. Awesome. It must be nice to not have a dress code for this event.

I need to calm down, though, so I take a deep breath just as Sara hops into the car.

My mind is racing and my anxiety is through the roof, but this is all for Eli, the love of my life.

"Mornin', Brooke!" Her smile looks cheerful enough.

"Morning, I bought you a latte for the ride." My smile doesn't reach my eyes, but I don't care. I'm trying my best.

Before I can change my mind, I start driving to the airport.

Sara grabs her latte from the center cupholder. "So, did Eli give you the agenda for today?"

"Very little actually." An awkward chuckle escapes me as I keep my eyes on the road. "Leave it to Eli to be vague, am I right?" At least we'll both be thrown into this situation blind, so... silver lining?

Sara turns her head to me and puts a palm atop her chest. "Oh my God, he didn't tell you?!" She takes a sip of her latte. "Well, he told me in detail what gate we need to go to, to park in Lot A since it's reserved for this event and we won't have to pay... Oh! And that this whole thing is gonna take like eight hours total, so to make sure and bring stuff to keep us busy." She raised an eyebrow as she looks at me again. "He really didn't tell you? Wow."

Why does my relationship suddenly feel jeopardized over something so trivial? She's like a sister to Eli; they've been in each other's lives longer than he and I have been dating. Of course there will be things she knows that I don't... Right?

"Oh, yeah, he told me about the parking arrangements and the gate number," I lie. "I was hoping to kill time at the bookstore in there... I've been looking for something new to read."

Sara nods and sips her drink again. "Phew! I'm relieved. Glad he spoke to you, too. It'd be sooo weird if he told me more than his own girlfriend!" Her high-pitched laugh echoes in the car.

Why does she feel the need to say that? Does she have some sick infatuation with Eli? And what about her own boyfriend?

OH. That should do the trick. "So, Sara... how are you and Gabe doing?"

She perks up in her seat and bounces a little. Thankfully, that question is enough for her. For the next forty-five minutes, she drones on and on about her relationship with Gabe, but all I can focus on is how the hell I'm gonna keep myself from crying at the airport.

***

Hours pass like years as we sit in the terminal waiting to say our goodbyes. Ever since we've arrived, all we've done is wait. And wait. And wait some more. I've never waited for anything this long in my life.

The marines are nowhere in sight yet, and it isn't until I point it out that Sara very graciously advises me what Eli had told her: Since the Marines have to keep the flight's details under wraps due to security reasons, they're only allowed to give us an eight-hour window of when it COULD happen.

Why the hell does he not tell me something so important? Why her and not me? I know she's practically family, but what am I, then?

My hands are shaking. I need to walk off this anxiety. Against my better judgment, I turn to Sara and ask, "Wanna tag along to the book store?" Please say no.

She shakes her head. "That's okay, you go ahead. I wouldn't dare wanna miss Eli if he happens to come out soon." She provides a crooked smile as she gets comfortable in the hard seat.

I need to pretend I didn't hear that. If I don't take a walk to calm down, I might not be able to make it the rest of the day.

The little bookstore is just down the hall of the terminal, so I still have a good view of the gate in case they show up. I go to the romance section and read the titles, hoping one of them sticks out so I can find a distraction.

My phone vibrates in my pocket.

Hey honey how's it going seeing Eli?

I sigh. Mom's probably just wanting the latest scoop.

Hi mom, no not yet, stretching my legs at the book store

Oh nice... Sara with you?

Not at the moment, she wanted to wait at the gate

Nice... that girl's something huh? Well I'm glad she's there to keep you company call me once you drop her off, can't wait to hear how it went xoxo

I shove my phone into my pocket without responding. If only she wasn't digging for gossip and actually cared how I'm feeling right now... All she cares about is what the hell Sara is up to whenever Eli is involved, even though I've told her they're like siblings.

Wait a minute... how the hell did I not notice?

I peek back at the gate and see Sara still sitting next to a random family.

Where is Eli's? Are Sara and I seriously the only people here to see him off? I know his mom works third shift, but she couldn't even take the day off to see her baby boy leave for training?

My hair brushes my face as I shake my head in disappointment and... pity?

A book title finally catches my eye and I grab it to read the blurb on the back:

Follow Annabeth as she finds herself stuck in a love triangle between the possessive boy next door and the bad boy jock.

I can't help but laugh. The irony isn't lost on me. I have to buy it.

Just as I'm shuffling out of the small book store with the novel I'm hoping will give me tips, I feel the atmosphere has changed. Hushed whispers and heavy footsteps travel down the corridor, and I hustle back to Sara who's almost out of sight in between the crowd forming around the gate.

The boys are finally here!

I scan the group of new Marines for my Eli as they line up against the large bay windows overlooking the planes. The men in the group are nearly identical to one another, so it takes me some time before Eli and I finally make eye contact. Everyone else disappears.

Eli exhales, almost like he's relieved to see me here.

"Eliii!" Sara shouts beside me, waving her arms above her head like a child. "Heyyy, over here!"

I can't stop myself from groaning, and I see her glare at me from the corner of my eye.

Ha! Something I knew about this situation that she didn't? Calling out to recruits was a huge no-no, and until their superior released them, we weren't allowed to approach them or engage in conversation.

Eli shoots her a quick glance filled with panicked amusement. He probably expects this out of her, but I'm sure he doesn't want to get reprimanded.

Another hour passes without my eyes meeting Eli's. He's so focused on his current duties.

"Flight 283. Now boarding," echoes around us.

That's their flight. Almost on cue, their superior motions to them, releasing them from formation and instructing them to gather their belongings.

Eli snatches his bag from the pile in the corner and beelines to me. Admittedly, I was starting to get worried he wouldn't seek me out first. Today has already been long and exhausting.

"Hey, sorry, I don't have long. About five minutes total," he whispers into my ear, nuzzling my neck and holding me close against his body.

Tears are flooding my vision already. It's all starting to feel so real. "I know... I know... I...." I know I shouldn't say this, but— "I don't want you to go, Eli."

"I'll be back before you know it. You're my everything and the thing that'll keep me going and survive these next twelve weeks. I love you, Brooke."

"I love you. Please stay safe.... I'll think about you every day." Don't cry.

Eli strokes my cheek with his thumb and glances over at Sara. "I think someone's about to throw a fit if I don't say goodbye to her, too."

He chuckles, apparently finding her pouty face funny. I don't. She's acting like a fucking child. He's my boyfriend.

Our last minutes together are up just like that.

He releases me and it feels like my entire body goes numb. I don't want to let go. But I know I have to.

I watch him walk toward Sara, who runs to meet him halfway, and I'm already crying. I can't hold the tears back any longer. We've been inseparable for three years now, and I won't be able to hear his voice for twelve weeks? Whether I want to admit it or not, I feel like I've been conditioned to call, text, and just communicate with him every single day, multiple times a day... I felt like I'll get in trouble if I donn't....

My phone vibrates in my pocket. Trish is the one texting me now.

Bitcchhh dying to hear how it went! Come over soon as you're done, I asked your mom already. And I got some vodka crans for us in case they're needed, no one's home ;)

I'm underage, but I won't pretend I haven't tried alcohol. It probably wouldn't be the best idea to take part in this suggestion of hers....

I watch Sara hug Eli and linger for a bit too long. They fistbump and make a few crude jokes before she embraces him again.

I soak in the last remaining images of Eli walking through the gate. The next time I'll see him again will be in twelve weeks... Would I even recognize him?

I glance at him and see him still having a grand 'ol time with Sara.

I have to be in the car with her again for almost an hour... To hell with it.

I text Trish back before heading to Sara:

We're drinking.