"Sophie!" I scream as I run with my arms wide open. I've missed this girl so much. Even though Harry is also my best friend, I need my girl time. I don't know how I've managed being without her for this long.

"Aubrey Flynn!" She yells louder. "I can't believe this is actually happening, I've missed you so much and we a lot to talk about!" She let's go of me and links her arm with mine as we walk down the crowded sidewalk to the little cafe where we decided to go.

"Tell me about UCLA!" I grab my coffee from the counter and chose a table near the window and she sits before starting to talk.

"It's amazing. Like, it's perfect." She begins boasting about her amazing time at the college back home, and I nod along as she continues. We've talked several times over the phone and Skype, but I don't mind listening to her again.

"... I just love that I don't know anyone and they don't know me. It's like I can start fresh."

"You act like you had such a terrible life in high school." I laugh. Most people who say that are the ones who really need to start over. Sophie had the perfect life in high school, so i don't why she would want a new start.

"No I dont! I just feel like I can escape the high school rumors and drama.. I don't know. It's just nice to meet new people."

"I understand." I nod and sip on my coffee.

"So how's Harry? You're still living at his grandma's?" She shifts in her seat when a guy wearing a suit, rather attractive, walks by and winks at her. Oh Sophie, still boy crazy I see.

"Yeah, and things are good. We actually got into our first real fight before coming here," I laugh once trying to push that thought away quickly. "But we're really good."

"Well thats good. How's the school? Still worth leaving Stanford?" She had to ask, didn't she. I guess I should be thankful she didn't dwell on my comment on Harry and I's fight.

I sigh and stall by taking another drink of my now room-temperature coffee. She's the only one who I have really admitted my true feelings towards moving schools, but I wish I hadn't. I already make myself feel guilty enough about it.

"I hope. Don't get me wrong, it's a great school and I love being with Harry, but I can't help but think what I threw away moving there." Resting my elbow on the table and pressing my cheek to the palm of my hand for support, I exhale.

"Aubs, you thought about all this a lot before you made your decision though, you wouldn't have done it if it wasn't the best decision."

"I know that, but I'm starting to second guess it. I had a full scholarship to Stanford, and it's so close to home... I mean, God forbid Harry and I break up, but what would I do if we did? I will have no where to live, and I won't know anyone."

I hate thinking like this, but now that Sophie is here; I can vent. After Harry and I's fight, I know we are okay, and a break up isn't visible in the near future, but the thought of it hypothetically happening hasn't left my mind.

"Well you have friends there, and I'm sure you can get into a dorm..." She begins to explain. "Aubrey! Don't think of that stuff! You just said Harry and you were doing well, so don't worry." She comforts me, and it does help me relax... A little.

"All of my friends are his friends." I admit after I realize it for the first time. "I only hang out with his friends... I haven't made any of my own."

"Oh..." I know she doesn't know what to say, so I give her a minute to make up something and watch the people walking by on the sidewalk just outside the window.

"Okay, this is why I like having a fresh start. Aubs, you need to detach yourself from Harry's side and go make some friends. Sure, it's fine to be friends with his friends and hang out with them, but you need to be your own person too. You're not experiencing college if you just hang around the same people all the time."

"I get it, it's just, I moved there to be with Harry so that's what I'm doing." I try to justify myself, but I can tell Sophie isn't having it when she begins to shake her head.

"Okay, I would not have let you moved there if I knew you were just following him around the whole time. You can still be his girlfriend and have other friends, like you did back home."

"I know.. I just feel so out of place, out of my comfort zone. Like the whole time I feel like it's just temporary so I try not to get too comfortable." I explain, hoping it makes sense. Even though Sophie is scolding me right now, I'm thankful she's here to tell me the truth. I can always count on her for advice, even if her delivery isn't as sweet as she comes off to be.

"I could see that, but really, Aubs... If you're just there because you think you can't live without him, than move home. I know you love him, but there's a lot out there that you're missing." Her words cut through me like a sharp knife. I want her to be on my side and understand my reasoning, and it kills me that she thinks I should move back.

I know I sound skeptical, but I don't want to go back to Stanford, not after I've just had one of the best months of my life (despite the last week). "I can't do that."

"There is so much that you could be experiencing, but you don't know that because you're stuck in your own little world with Harry. Aubrey, you didn't even try to live away from Harry-you just moved with him, how do you know that he's worth it?"

I feel my mind begin to search for an answer to prove to Sophie that I know he's worth it, but anger clouds my judgment with her assumption that I don't know. "Why are you saying this now?" I snap. "You were the one who convinced me it was good to move with him to England!"

"Yeah, because you were a miserable wreck! It could just be a phase. Remember how you were head over heals for Ethan? Well you probably haven't thought about the guy in months! For all we know, you could find a new guy and Harry will just be a memory." Her words hurt more than she probably knows, but I know she's just trying to understand why I've gone to such extents to keep Harry and I together. I know she's only trying to help because her words are spoken with concern rather than bitchiness.

"He is nothing like Ethan." All I can manage to say, but it seems like enough. Harry will never hurt me like Ethan did, and I will never just forget about Harry.

"I know, I just worry that you're missing the best years of your life for a guy. I love you Aubs, and I want you to live your life before you grow up."

"I'm not Sophie, but I will try to make new friends at school." I try to tell her what she wants to hear so the spotlight can come off of me. This is not how I imagined our reunion to be like.

"Good. Now let's go get our nails done or do some retail therapy before I have to go back. I miss girl time with my best friend." Her smile is wide as she stands up and grabs he empty coffee cup to throw away.

We spend the day doing just as she mentioned, never stopping our conversation of everything an anything that had happened in our time apart. Even though I know Harry and I are okay, my conversation at the cafe with Sophie earlier has left my mind trying to justify my decision that I thought I had figured out months ago. I want to be in England with Harry, and I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything, but when Sophie objected, it only made my mind go against my heart. I hate that I am now second guessing everything I thought I had planned out perfectly.

---

After Sophie had to get on the train back to New Jersey, I walked back to my parents' condo to reunite with Harry, who is probably bored out of his mind sitting alone.

Just as I go into the doorway, I saw Harry's brown curly hair behind the couch facing the television. He didn't notice I had gotten home, so I decided to have a little fun. "Boo!" I grab his shoulders from behind.

"Fuck!"

I double over with laughter when he yells, holding my aching stomach.

"That's not funny!" His grin contradicts his words, and I can't stop laughing.

"You screamed like a little girl!"

"I did not, you just scared the shit out of me!" He laughs and his hand remains over his chest.

When my eyes squeeze shut as I laugh, I scream just as loud as he had when Harry's arms wrap around me and startle me.

"You're gonna pay for that." He smirks and picks me up, walks back the the couch and drops me on the soft leather cushions.

"I'm sorry," I giggle and pull him on top of me, I know he'll give in.

He supports his weight with his hands on either side of my face before ducking his head down to kiss me quickly, leaving me desperate for more. "Did you and Sophie have fun?" He asks with his face still centimeters away from mine.

"Yeah, I've missed that girl. I wish we had more time though." I tell him and tangle my hands in his hair before pulling his head back down to mine.

"You should probably start packing your stuff, we have to leave tonight." He says against my lips.

"I think I'm gonna stay." I admit, and his eyes widen.

"What?" His eyebrows pinch together and I can hear the panic rise in his throat.

"I don't think I'm ready to go back, I mean my mom just got released from the hospital... What if she gets sick again? I don't want to be half way around the world when she has to be rushed to the hospital again." My voice is quiet as Harry remains hovering over me with a worried expression on his handsome face. My hand moves from his hip to push the hair back from his forehead.

Even though I told him the main reason I want to stay, It's not only that... I should tell him, but I can't bring myself to burden him with something that I'm not even sure about. Everything Sophie said to me today, even though I denied it, still plays in my mind. I can't help but wonder if she was right, and if I really am missing out. I guess I just want to stay here for a few more days to figure that out, have some time to think.

"Are you ever going to come back?" He chokes, and I can't tell him fast enough what he needs to hear.

"Harry, I go to school there, I live there; of course I am."

His mint scented breath hits my face when he sighs in relief, and I pull him to my down to hug me, his sudden worry making me feel reassured myself that he still wants me there.

Even though he told me he didn't mean what he said when we fought the other day, his words still burn my in my thoughts. When he told me he didn't want me to move there with him, and he didn't care if I left were the ones that hurt the most.

He presses his lips against mine, letting them linger a bit before speaking. "I love you, Aubrey. You know that, right?"

"I know, I love you too." I nudge my nose against his and breath easier when he smiles a little.

"You promise you'll come back?" His words are filled with desperation when he squeezes my hand tighter and rests his forehead against mine.

"I promise, Harry." Iwrap my arms around his neck and reassure him in the only why I know how, with a passionate kiss.

Notes

Hey guys! I apologize for taking so long to update :( between school, sports and vacation, I've been super busy. I've missed 4 days of the last week of school, so I've been trying to catch up on homework haha

I hope you are still enjoying the story! However; there's only a few chapters left in Never Let Me Go! I'm not sure how many, but not a lot.

Please comment!!!!! and check out my other fanfic, Too Much :)