I couldn't do it.

I didn't have it in me to lie to my family. I mastered lying a long time ago, but I could never lie to the ones I loved. They knew who I was. They'd been through everything with me from day one. How could I betray them like this?

Who knew? Maybe I would never see them again.

The only way I could lie to protect them...was by not feeling anything at all. That reminded me of River. He didn't seem like he cared for anybody, except his father and his organization. At times like these, I wished I could be that way also.

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes. All of the memories I had of them replayed in my mind. I reminded myself that this was what I had to do to preserve those memories.

When I opened my eyes, I immediately climbed out of River's car and knocked at my family's door. My sister answered, pulling me into a hug the second she sees me.

"Hey, Blair. How was your sleepover at Selene's?"

"Good, Em, " I responded as I walked into the house, searching for my parents.

"Blair!" Erik exclaimed.

"Erik, hi, " I mumbled while he embraced me tightly.

"You know what I was thinking? We haven't had a day to ourselves in a long time. Like a brother and sister thing. We used to do those all the time, remember?"

My false act almost faltered. "Yeah. Um, where's mom and dad?"

"Oh, they're in the kitchen, but—"

"Thanks, Erik. We'll talk about this later, okay?" I gave him a small smile and he nodded. We made our way into the kitchen where both of my parents were making dinner.

I gulped. I was going to miss this more than anything. "Hey, mom and dad. Could I talk to you? All of you, actually?"

They followed me to the table and stared at me, waiting patiently. I took a deep breath to try to recollect my thoughts. I had repeated the words a million times on the way with River, but it was so difficult now.

"Lately, my grades have been exceptional. I'm in more advanced classes and if I continue at this rate, I might just take a college course soon, " I began and they grinned proudly.

"Some of my teachers even think I'm a prodigy, " I paused as I recited the words in my head. "It turns out, they're right."

"I don't understand, " my mom commented; my dad nodded in agreement.

I continued. "I've been requested to go to a prestigious high school and college. It's a two and one. It's also very far away, but very worth it. Only a few people are chosen to enroll and I happen to be one of the lucky individuals. The request came in a month ago. I didn't want to show it to you yet because I honestly didn't want to get my hopes up. But, I've researched a lot and have finally came to a conclusion."

"And what's that, honey?" my mom asked.

"I'm going, " I finished and their eyes widened.

"Where is it?" my dad quirked an eyebrow at me.

"On the other side of the country, " I said; my mom gasped.

"But, that's...so far away! We'll barely be able to see you."

"Yeah, well, I'll be working so hard that I won't have time to talk or visit. Plus, only students are allowed in the building. There are dorms where I'll live and work. Everything is paid for with my scholarship. You'll have much less to worry about and I'll be getting the education I've worked hard for, " I explained to them.

My dad looked very convinced and pleased as he skimmed through the letter from the school, which River had typed up earlier today. "I think it's a good idea."

"You think it's a good idea to send our daughter across the country where we'll basically never be able to see her?" my mom gaped at him and he sighed.

"For good reasons. She'll be successful with her life. It's guaranteed. And she wants to go."

"No, it's too far. If she was chosen to enroll in a school like that, then she'll be accepted in other school nearby."

"Honey, you have to think about our daughter here. All the benefits. I don't want for her to be so far away from us because I love her just as much as you do, " he held her hand comfortingly. "But keeping her here, away from the greatest chance of a happy future, is selfish. As parents, we only want what's best for her. And this is it."

She wiped away a stray tear, nodding. "You're right."

—

After some more convincing, my parents finally decided to let me go. My siblings were hesitant at first, but once they heard the advantages, they were happy for me. Although they were a bit more disappointed when I told them I had to leave today to land on time. Looking at all their proud faces, the guilt weighed over me more than a skyscraper could.

"You deserve this, Blair, " Emily reassured me as she helped me pack my things.

"Thanks, " I murmured solemnly, making her chuckle.

"I feel like I'm more excited than you are."

"I've had my time to celebrate. Now, I have to focus on being the best I can be."

She smiled. "I've always loved that about you. How you can be so serious about your education, but chill about it too. It's one of the reasons I look up to you."

"Yeah, " I gulped. If she knew where I was truly going, she'd feel completely different.

Emily handed me the last piece of clothing before I closed the suitcase, pulling it out of my room. Before I reached the stairs, Emily stopped me.

"Hey, um, Blair? I just wanted to let you know that I love you. I don't say it much, but hopefully, you know how much I really do. Try to call when you're not too busy?" Emily smiled softly and my face softened.

"I love you too, Em. I'll try my best."

She nodded and helped me bring my luggage down. They all started to congratulate me, but I tuned them out. It hurt less if I didn't listen.

"Wait, are you still coming to my football game?" Erik questioned.

My stomach dropped. I had forgotten about that. I've never missed a game of his before. "I...I don't think I'll be able to make it."

"Oh. I understand. Education first, right?" he forced a smile; my heart felt like it would shatter at any given moment.

"You ready?" my dad grunted, pulling all of my luggage with him. I looked around the house and closed my eyes. This was where I grew up. I wasn't ready to leave just yet.

But for them, I had to.

"Yeah, I'm ready, " I breathed.

We all walked out to the porch while my dad put my suitcases and bags in the back of River's van. I realized this was one of the uses for the tinted glass.

"Good luck, honey. Work hard, but have fun, alright? Make the best out of your situation like you always do. I love you, " my mom kissed my forehead and I nodded.

"I will, mom."

"Say hi to the cute guys for me?" Emily smirked.

"Definitely, little sis, " I hugged her before smiling at my dad.

"Make me more proud than I already am. I love you, sweetheart, " he said, smiling sadly.

"I love you too, dad."

Erik stepped forward and we stared at each other. The rest of my family walked inside to give us some privacy. They knew my brother and I had a special bond from the very first second I was born. Parting would hurt us both in unimaginable ways.

He sniffled and my eyes widened when I noticed tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Oh, Erik, " I quickly put my arms around him tightly and he held me as if he depended on me to live.

"When I saw your little face at the hospital, I knew I was going to love you forever. No matter what. I was only three, but I knew it, Blair. I just knew it, " Erik whispered as he stuffed his face in the crook of my neck. "And when I held you for the first time, I was so happy. Happier than when I won my first football game."

I laughed through my tears. He continued, his voice hoarse. "But that wasn't the happiest day of my life. The happiest day of my life was on a Thursday night and I was babysitting you all alone. You were seven and I was ten."

Erik pulled away slightly to look at me. "You were doing your math homework and you were getting all riled up. I still remember your cute, frustrated baby face. When I asked you what was wrong, you said 'this is the hardest math problem in the whole, wide, world!' So, I looked over it and told you the answer right away."

"The answer was one, " I smiled, nodding. "I got so mad."

"That's an understatement. You broke your pencil and glared up at me, " Erik grinned. "And then you said 'I hate you, Erik'."

"How is that the happiest day your life?" I chuckled.

"Because when you said that, you said it with a lot of difficulty. And when you finally spat it out, a tear slipped from your eye. You had hurt myself more than you had hurt me. From there on, you never said those words to me again and always said 'I love you' whenever I helped you."

Once he was finished, my face was pink and I felt a deep pain in my chest.

"I love you so much, Erik."

"I love you too, Blair. I always will. No matter what you do, " Erik kissed my nose and I smiled softly. "Be happy, okay? Cherish and remember our memories, but make new ones. Always remind yourself how I love you and that even though we're millions of miles apart, know that I'll always be right there beside you. Will you do that for me, Blair?"

"Yes. I promise, Erik, " I said, my voice cracking, and he hugged me one last time.

"Then, I'll promise you the same, " he smiled. I pecked his cheek and ran to the van before I could change my mind. Erik waved at me as River drove away.

My emotionless act shattered and tears escaped from my eyes. As they freely rolled down my cheek, I gazed at the picture of Erik and I on my phone. I hoped I could keep my promise to him.