Then in your heart

There will always be a part of me

Someday we'll all be gone

But lullabyes go on and on...

They never die

That's how you

And I

Will be

Lexus never did make it out to Italy that summer. Her mother’s surgery went easily, and Lexus passed the rest of her time off helping out around the house, and babysitting when she could, to save some money up.

On the first day of classes, Lexus still hadn’t seen George. His flight had been delayed, he had told her during a quick phone call, and he probably wouldn’t get until late at night.

When she walked into her first class, Critical Approaches to Literature, George was the last person she expected to see sitting in the back row.

“What are you doing here?” she asked as she sat beside him. Normally, she’d sit in one of the first few rows, but George always stayed towards the back.

“Apparently I’m short a writing intensive class,” he grumbled. “So my advisor stuck me in this one.”

“It could be worse,” she told him.

“Yeah, at least I have you in here. It’s the only class I’m going to get an A in, since knowing you, I won’t be allowed to slack off,” he joked.

Lexus grinned. “So, how was the flight home?”

“Long,” he groaned. “Layover in Amsterdam ended up being about five hours, instead of one.”

“Aww, I’m sorry. Did you at least get out of the airport? I’ve heard Amsterdam’s a pretty cool place.”

“Eh. You’d like it, I’m sure. Lots of shopping. When you come visit me, I’ll make sure we go there too.”

She smiled. “I’d like that.”

“Christmas time, maybe?”

“Yeah, maybe.”

“Good. And Ellie was thinking of coming out here for Thanksgiving this year, to stay with me for a week, if she can get the time off from school. Mom’s going to stay with Grandfather.”

“That would be nice. She can always stay with me for a couple days too.”

“One long girly sleepover? I’m sure she’ll love that idea,” George said with a laugh as he leaned back into his seat, propping his feet up on the chair in front of him.

Mindlessly, Lexus slapped his leg. “Feet down,” she told him as the professor walked in. “Her name is Aubrey Shake. I’ve had her for a couple other classes, and if there’s one thing she hates, it’s her students doing disrespectful things.”

George chuckled. “I missed you, you know that?” he told her, pulling her in for a quick hug. They separated just as the professor walked into the room.

When the class was over, George draped his arm across Lexus’ shoulders. “You have another class?” he asked.

“No,” she replied, shaking her head.

“Good. we’re going out for breakfast then.”

“Oh we are, are we?”

“Yes. We are.”

“And do I have a choice in this matter?”

George looked thoughtful for a minute, and then smirked. “Nope. I haven’t seen you all summer.”

“Where’s Kiera?”

George waved his hand around. “Somewhere, I’m sure. Crazy girl is taking five science classes.”

Lexus shuddered at that thought. “Yuck,” she said, and George laughed.

As he pulled her by the hand in the direction of one of the downtown cafés, Lexus’ heart was light. So far, it seemed the semester was off to a very good start, and she’d only had the one class so far.

--

As the next month passed, George began spending more time than ever with Lexus, and she mentioned it to Becky in passing one night.

She was shocked at what Becky had to say in reply.

“Becky, you’re crazy. George doesn’t love me. He loves Kiera!” she responded after she got over her surprise.

Becky looked at Lexus strangely, and she somehow knew what Becky was going to say even as the words left her mouth. “He broke up with her almost three weeks ago.”

She had never thought that would be the reason why he was suddenly spending so much more time with her. He couldn’t love her. He couldn’t. He was George. George di San TiSalgo. She was Lexus Marshalls. He was her best friend. They were so opposite it was beyond opposites attracting. He was Mr. Popularity, she was a nobody. If it wasn’t for Kiera, he would have been called a playboy. He was filthy rich, from a posh town on Long Island, not far from New York City, and before that, from a palace in Rome. She was from a small town, commonly referred to as NoWhere, Vermont. She was at a state university because it was all she could afford, and she had gotten a scholarship to this one in particular. She had no idea why he had chosen Bennett Falls University, in the north of Maine, over Harvard, Yale, Stanford, any of the other Ivy League schools that she knew he had been accepted to. He was Italian, and she was, as her father used to say, a ‘Euro Mutt.’ Her father had been Italian and French, her mother had been Irish, German, and English. A mutt inddeed—she was a ¼ Italian, ¼ French, ¼ Irish, 1/8 German, and 1/8 English.

“Lexus?”

She had nearly forgotten her friend was there. “He’s everything I’m not,” she whispered. “And I’m with Aiden now.” She turned her back on Becky, not sure what she was supposed to do now. She wondered how things would change. And she couldn’t understand why George hadn’t told her that things between him and Kiera were over. It seemed like a topic that should have come up, with all the time they spent together. And it wasn’t like she had never asked about Kiera—she had, and George had always had an answer.

She saw him the next day in class.

“Hey, George…?”

“Yeah, cara?”

“How come you never told me that you and Kiera broke up?”

He sighed. “I don’t know.”

“Why did you?”

He shrugged. “It was pretty mutual. Things just haven’t been the same since we got back to school. I still love her, and she’s a very dear friend, but I’m not in love with her anymore. We still talk though, and we’ve been having lunch a couple times a week.”

“I was shocked when Becky told me. I couldn’t understand how she would know before I did.”

“I just…I didn’t know how to tell you. I don’t see how it changes anything.”

“I would have liked to know…you’re my best friend. Besides, what if I had run into Kiera, and said something?”

“I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I should have told you. I know that. And I kept meaning to, but it just never seemed right.”

“What? What never seemed right?”

“The timing…” was all he said in reply to that, and Lexus frowned in confusion. While she was still pondering what he had said, George changed the subject, distracting her until the professor came in.

It was only a few days later when Lexus saw Kiera walk into the dining hall, and catch her eye.

Lexus stood up hesitantly as Kiera approached. They had always been friendly because of George, so she was confused as to how to act now.

Upon reaching the table, Kiera gave her a quick hug and a friendly smile.

“Hi, Lex. How’s everything?”

“Good. How have you been?”

“Not bad. Busy as heck with classes, but it’s sad to say, I love it. I take it George told you we broke up?”

Lexus nodded. “Just a couple days ago, actually. I don’t know why. He just said the timing wasn’t right.”

“I always suspected he felt something for you, towards the end there.”

“Wh-what?” Lexus stuttered, and Kiera laughed softly.

“George and I will still be friends. We both kind of realized that we were better off as friends. We love eachother, but we’re not meant to be in a relationship. You’re telling me he hasn’t said anything to you?”

Lex shook her head, still surprised. “Why is everyone saying this to me all of a sudden?”

“Oooh you, come here.” Taking her arm, Kiera all but dragged Lex out of the dining hall, through the dorms and into her room. “Sit,” she commanded, pointing to the futon.

“Okay, for starters,” Kiera said, pacing around the room. “You are the only—the only!—girl he talks to Italian. He’s never called me cara, or bella, or anything, not even when we’re—“ she cut herself off, made a waving motion with her hand, and then continued. Lexus knew what she had been about to say though, and she blushed at the thought. “I may not speak Italian, but even I know the basic words, and trust me, not once has he used them. That’s all you. Think about it, Lexus, has he ever walked away from you? Denied you anything? He looks at you all the time, he has more pictures of you in his room than he ever did of me, or even his own family. He’s the only guy allowed to touch you. And don’t deny it, you even flinch from Aiden.” Lexus shut her mouth, staring down at the floor. She couldn’t deny something that was true. She loved Aiden, but she couldn’t help but flinch when he first reached a hand out to her, even if it was just to take her hand in his. Kiera was silent for a minute, then shook her head. “I don’t know what goes through his head where you’re concerned, I just know what I see. Do me a favor, and think about it. I think you should give him a chance if it comes to that.”

“He kissed me once,” Lexus admitted. “Over the winter. He was drunk though, so I didn’t think anything of it. I don’t even think he remembered it.”

“He did?”

“I never mentioned it because I didn’t want to ruin things between the two of you. It was an accident. We were both drunk.”

“When was this?” Kiera asked. She sounded curious, rather than angry.

“While we at that fair, back in February.”

“Oh.”

“I’m sorry,” Lexus said softly.

“It’s not your fault. There were a couple times I thought he wanted to be with you. But he never really said anything, or did anything.”

“He wouldn’t have wanted to hurt you. No matter what.”

“He’s a good guy, Lex. I think the two of you would be awesome together.”

“Maybe,” Lexus whispered. “I don’t know.”

“Why not?”

“Just…don’t you think he would have said something already?”

“Maybe he’s waiting until he’s sure you’ll say yes.”

Lexus frowned, staring down at her hands. She didn’t understand. How could George think she would say anything but yes?

AN: I will openly admit that this chapter didn't come out how it was supposed to. But I'm at a point where as much as I like Lexus and George, their story just needs to be finished and ended. I will try my hardest to get the next few chapters out so that this story isn't hanging around in the incomplete list.

So, for the faithful few still with me, read and hopefully enjoy, at least a little bit.