KAY
"So what have you been up to in California?" I asked Andy as we slid into a booth at Cicero's.
"Working, mostly. As I mentioned earlier, I'm working with a design company that does logos and album art and stuff like that. I've met some really awesome people through it. It's been great." He said with a grin.
"Have you done any albums I would have seen?"
"Well, this upcoming album is the first one I'm designing and in charge of, but the company has done Yellowcard's 'Southern Air' and Mayday Parade's 'A Lesson In Romantics'."
"Oh wow, both of those are really good. I'm excited to see what you come up with for this record." I grinned.
Just then, our pizza came, so conversation slowed for a while. After I finished my second piece, I remembered something.
"Hey! You said you had news earlier?!" I said to Andy.
"Yeah! I was going to tell you earlier but I got distracted." He set down the pizza he was eating and pulled an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to me. "Miss Katherine Nichole Meyers" was written across the back in a fancy, handwritten script. I gave him a questioning look, but he just nodded as if to say "just open the damn thing already." I carefully opened it and pulled out a piece of white and gray card stock. In the same script as the outside, it said "Andrew Franklin Witt and Marcus Joseph Barker formally invite you to attend their wedding on the fifth of November, 2013."
"Oh my God, you and Mark are getting married!?" I yelled. Him and Mark had been together for about two years now. They're the perfect couple. Andy is outgoing and energetic, while Marcus is more laid-back and down to earth. They bring out to best in each other.
"Yeah! I proposed a month ago!"
"I'm so happy for you guys! This is great!" I beamed.
"Congratulations, man." Jack said.
"Thanks guys. We're both beyond excited. Oh, Kay, there's something else I want to ask you."
"What's that?"
"Since you're my best friend and all, will you be my best woman?"
"I'd love to, Andy." I said with a laugh.

Our week in St. Louis flew by in a blur. Andy was staying in a hotel to give Jack and I privacy (which was greatly appreciated) but he came around during the day to help us pack. In no time, we had all of my important stuff boxed up to bring to my new home. Everything else was going into a storage unit. Finally, our last day in St. Louis came.
"Y'know, I'm actually going to miss this old place." I said with a sad smile. I was sitting on the window seat, looking around my now-empty apartment. "Lots of memories here."
"I get that." Jack sighed, turning so he faced me and was standing between my knees. "So I guess we'll just have to make some more in our home." He said as he leaned down, kissing my lips gently. His rough, guitar-player fingers brushed a wisp of hair that had loosened itself from my pony tail behind my ear. My heart fluttered at the endearing touch.
"I love you, Jack." I whispered when he pulled his lips away.
"I love you too, Kay. And I always will." He said, resting his forehead on mine. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, so I stood up and opened to to see Andy.
"You guys ready to go to the airport?"
"I think we are." I whispered sadly.
"Alright. I'll be waiting in the car."
"Okay. " I whispered, closing the door. I turned to face the room. The walls that were once covered in posters were now bare. The shelf that held all of my CDs was empty. All of my furniture was gone. But there was still evidence of me. A stain on the carpet by the window where I had accidentally spilled red wine. Various dents and nicks in the paint on the walls. Eraser and pencil shavings on the floor where my desk used to be. Jack was sitting on the window seat, looking at me expectantly.
"Jack, I-I just...this is hard. I've lived here for five years. This was the first place I could call my own."
"I understand." He said with a smile. Crossing the room, he wrapped his arms around my waist and held me from behind. "It's strange." He said.
"What is?"
"The first time I took you away, it felt so different."
"Yeah, It did." I half smiled. "This time it feels permanent."
"Yeah. You're right. Permanent." I could hear the smile in his voice.
"I think I'm ready, Jack. But I have to do something first." I picked up my tote bag and reached in, pulling out a small white box.
"What's that?" Jack asked.
"It's...it's my...box. Like, the one I kept my razors in."
"Oh." He whispered.
"I don't want to bring this with me." I said, barely audible. "I don't need them anymore. I haven't needed them since I met you, Jack. I haven't even opened it."
I wish I could have captured the look that washed over his face. It was a beautiful blend of pride, adoration, love, and joy. In that moment, I knew. I knew exactly why I loved Jack Barakat. Because he was the first man who was willing to look at me like that. So, I did what any already emotional girl would do. I fucking broke down. Tears spilled over and I could barely stand. I guess Jack noticed, because the next thing I knew, I was engulfed in a hug.
"I'm so fucking proud of you, Kay." He whispered into my hair.
"Thank you, Jack." I whispered into his chest.
"We should throw the box out the window."
"Okay, Jack." I grinned.
He released me from his embrace and took my hand instead. I was still crying as we walked to the window. We opened it together.
"Hey, remember when you stood down there and asked me to run away with you?" I chuckled.
"Like it was yesterday." Jack grinned.
I looked down at the box that trapped my old demons. I don't need you anymore. You can't control me anymore. Leaning out the window, (Jack looped his finger through the back belt loop of my jeans) I threw the box like a frisbee into the drainage ditch across the alleyway from my apartment. Honestly, that moment was the happiest I had been all of my life. I had the man I loved next to me, everything was going amazingly, and I had just thrown the tools I tortured myself with for years into the breeze. And I knew I was never going to look back.
"I'm ready to move on, Jack." I said, taking his hand and picking up my bags. I wiped the left over tears from my eyes and led him to the door. "It's time for me to go."
So this is what it's like to be free.

Notes

Just letting you guys know, we're getting closer to the end. I think 5 more chapters, at the most. It's been fun, guys.(: Love you all.
xoxo.
-Sammy.