The room wasn't really messy but it wasn't totally tidy either. Darren was packing, he had an open suitcase on the bed with a pile of neatly folded clothes beside it.
Sophie sat cross-legged on the floor, supposedly helping. In reality, she had folded exactly three shirts in ten minutes.
"I still think Boston is too far."
Darren glanced at her. "You've said that six times."
"Because it's true."
He laughed quietly and zipped open a side compartment of his suitcase.
Sophie sighed dramatically. "Whoever invented long-distance relationships clearly hated people."
"We survived before."
"That's because I knew you'd be back."
"Did I say anything about not coming back?."He asked as he picked up a shirt.
"But when?."
There was second of silence.
"You see what I'm talking about, you don't even know"
Darren walked towards her and crouched down. "Soon, my love, soon" He said and kissed her forehead.
Sophie smiled weakly.
The holidays had gone by too quickly.
One minute Darren had arrived in Manhattan The next minute Christmas had come and gone.
And now he was leaving again.
Darren looked at her. "And we already talked about this."
"I know."
"And we're planning California."
That finally made her smile.
"California does sound nice."
"It does."
"You better not cancel on me."
"I won't."
"You promise?"
"I promise."
"You love me so much" He teased.
"Says the guy who flew halfway across the world to see me" That made both of them laugh as he slightly swatted her arm.
He then pulled her closer and kissed her. Her hands digging into his hair as they kissed.
Then her phone suddenly rang on the table. She ignored it as they kept kissing.
It rang again and she groaned.
"Are you gonna answer that?" Darren asked in between kisses.
"No" She replied still kissing him back.
"I think you should babe, it might be important" Darren said as he slowly drew back and walked back to his suitcase.
Sophie groaned as she crawled to the table. It was Amy.
"Amy!" She grabbed the phone immediately and answered.
The screen filled with Amy's smiling face.
Behind her, Sophie could make out airport seats and large windows.
"Oh my God," Sophie practically squealed. "Where are you?"
"The airport." Amy laughed. "We're about to board."
Sophie immediately sat up straighter.
"where's Jace?"
"He's checking us in"
"Oh my gosh, I can't wait for you to come back, I've missed you so much"
"Me too" Amy smiled brightly. "How's Darren, has he left already?"
"No, he's still packing, his flight's in seven hours" Sophie replied.
"Where is he?" Amy asked as she slid her hair behind her ear.
"He's here" Sophie said as she held her phone up enough for Amy to catch a view of him.
"Happy new year Amy" Darren said walking close to Sophie and crouching beside her. "I heard the good news, congratulations" He added.
"Thank you very much, Sophie said you'd be leaving soon, I wish we there" Amy said genuinely.
"That'd have been nice but work calls" He said.
"I understand, Jace would have loved to say hi but he is busy at the moment."
"That's okay, I'll leave you girls to chat while I get back to packing" Darren said.
"He wants to leave so so bad" Sophie whined and Amy laughed.
"He says he has work, you have to understand" Amy added.
They kept talking and laughing, eventually an announcement echoed through the airport speakers.
Amy glanced toward the boarding gate. "I should go,that's us."
Sophie nodded. "Call me when you land."
"I will." Amy smiled warmly. "Bye Soph."
"Love you." Sophie said.
"Love you too."
The call ended.
For a moment Sophie stared at the blank screen before setting her phone down. A smile still on her face.
Darren looked up from his suitcase.
"I really wanted to see them before I left."
Sophie nodded. "I know"
He shrugged. "I haven't seen them since the last time."
A grin immediately spread across her face. "You should."
Darren looked at her."You think?"
"Absolutely." She replied.
"The timing's really bad, I wish i could"
Sophie rolled her eyes. "But you should still do it."
Darren stared at his suitcase for a second.
Then reached for his phone as Sophie watched curiously.
He tapped for a while and then he nodded to himself.
"What are you doing?"
Without looking up, he answered casually.
"Changing my flight."
Sophie's eyes widened.
"You are?"
"To..... tomorrow evening"
A smile slowly spread across her face. "That's it?, that was all it took to keep you from going?"
Darren laughed. "I think so."
"Just for Amy and Jace?."
"I know right?."
Sophie shook her head "You realize you could've stayed another month."
"No."He said.
"Two weeks?" she tried bargaining as she made her way towards him.
"No." He smiled as he held her by the waist.
"One week?"
"No."
"What about....."
"Sophie."
She grinned.
Darren pointed a finger at her. "This is the last extension."
"Uh-huh." She said as she kissed him trying to do something that looked like seducing him.
"I mean it." He smiled.
"Sure." She continued.
"I'm serious."
She laughed.
Darren shook his head trying to resist as he smiled.
"Tomorrow." He said.
"Tomorrow."
"We'll survive."
"That's debatable." She replied.
He gently pulled her toward him. Sophie immediately settled against his shoulder.
"You know there's nothing more I want than being with you, but we just have to make do with what we have" He said and she mumbled something that sounded like yes.
For a moment neither of them spoke. Tomorrow he would go back to Boston.
But not today. Today there was still one more celebration waiting for them.
And Darren wasn't about to miss congratulating two people he genuinely cared about.