"You okay?" her voice makes me jolt in surprise.

"What? Oh, yeah, I'm great!" I lock my phone and slap it down on the bed next to me.

I look up and she is leaning in the doorway, her arms crossed and her sky-blue eyes trained on me. She knows something is wrong, her eyes drift down to my phone. I should have known I couldn't hide from her for long. She's always been attentive and able to read me like an open book. Even when I wish she wouldn't.

"What were you looking at?"

"Nothing," I say too quickly.

"Jade, I know you. You are a happy little chatterbox who constantly tells me all about her day. I know when you are quiet it means you are hiding something from me and that something is wrong. So just tell me." she walks over and sits next to me.

I have to look away from her. She places her hand on top of my own and I feel the band of the ring touch my skin. I swallow a lump in my throat.

"Nothing is wrong, really," I lie.

"Are you sure?" she gives me a devious smirk.

I eye her and she tackles me to the bed and begins her tickle assault.

"Ahh! Skylar! Stop it!" I laugh.

"Not till you tell me what's up," She giggles as she digs her fingers into my side.

The Countess comes to investigate. I can't pay her too much mind as Skylar continues to tickle me and I am in a fit of laughter. I end up kicking my phone off the bed and it clatters to the floor.

"Skylar! Okay, I give!" I laugh.

She pulls back and smiles at me. Looking down on me in a way that makes my heart skip and flutter. The way only she can. I smile up at her and push her long ginger locks out of her face, she leans into my touch. My engagement ring glints in the light, gleaming right in my eye and for a brief moment blinding me.

I slowly pull my hand away and she seems sad by its loss.

"Are you going to tell me what is wrong now?" she whispers.

"Nothing is wrong." I sit up and push her off of me.

Well, it is technically not a lie. Nothing is wrong, everything is perfect just the way it is, but like always I am about to mess it all up. I could pass up the role and stay here with her forever in our perfect slice of happiness. I think I could do it for her.

She leans into me, pressing her lips softly into mine. I close my eyes and let myself become one with her. Let our souls hook deeper into each other. Let the world fade away.

I really do love her.

She pulls back softly and I nearly whimper at the loss of her lips on mine.

"I know I've been pretty busy lately, but I'll make it up to you. Promise." She assures me.

Of course, she thinks that whatever is wrong with me is her fault. She is always taking the blame, always ready to jump in harm's way for me. I love that about her, but I also hate that about her. Sometimes she can be very oblivious.

If she only paid closer attention to me, she would know what this is all about.

Not that she doesn't pay attention to me, because she does. No one knows me better than her, but sometimes she gets lost in her own world and forgets to check on mine. I don't blame her, she's pretty busy with classes and track and all of that. Still, I wish she would have noticed that I was trying out for bigger roles and that I have been putting myself out there for the world to see. She's too naïve to think that I would ever leave her.

I hear the video on my phone begin to play and the hairs on my neck stand on end. I quickly leap for it and see that the Countess was playing with my phone, swatting it around on the floor. Somehow the dumb cat unlocked the phone. I swear she is out to get me.

I grab the phone and Skylar grabs it out of my hands before I can lock it again.

"Skylar don't," I try to reach for it.

She pulls away and watches it.

"What is this?" she turns to me in confusion.

With a sigh, I grab the phone from her. It's no use. She's going to find out regardless. I feel my eyes water and I avoid her gaze.

"I've done something."

"Done what?" She eyes me, making her cute confused face.

Maybe we could do this. Maybe long-distance wouldn't be so bad. I could still come and see her on my off days and between filming breaks. We could still call each other every day. Maybe we could make it work.

I've never tried a long-distance relationship before.

"I've done something both good and bad," I continue.

"Do I need a lawyer?" she smirks.

"Stop it, I'm being serious," I playfully push her.

She adjusts her seating position and gets more comfortable, ready for whatever I am about to tell her. With a reassuring smile, she grabs my hand in her own and interlocks our fingers.

I can feel the warmth of her engagement ring burning into my skin.

"I've auditioned for a role in some new series. It's a more serious role, no more kid show stuff." I say.

"Jade that's great! Did you get the role?"

"I did," I nod and push some of my hair behind my ear.

"Congrats! I'm so proud of you," she sneaks in a quick kiss.

"I said both good and bad," I remind her before she can celebrate too much.

Her smile fades and a sharp pain radiates somewhere inside of me. I think I've been stabbed again. I avert my gaze to her lips and think of how long I will have to wait until I can kiss them again. I feel my eyes water.

"Jade?" she says in concern.

She is too much sometimes. How could someone like me ever deserve someone like her? I wish I could take her with me. Maybe I'll stay after all. There will always be other roles, right?

"They are shooting the show in Canada." I finally get the words out.

For a moment it doesn't register to her what I've just said. She looks confused like she doesn't know why she should be sad; I see when it hits her. Her entire face changes. Pain and sadness flash in her eyes. She gets all red as she struggles to hold in her tears.

"If you cry, I'll cry," I remind her.

"No, you can't leave me," she whimpers.

"I don't want to," My voice shakes.

"Then don't. Stay."

But what if there is no other role just waiting for me? What if this is my chance and I let it slip right through my fingers? Then what? I worked so hard to get here, should I just give it all up?

Why don't they teach this?

Why don't they tell you that one day you will have to pick yourself over the one you love? That sometimes dreams come at a cost and that the things you wish you could take with you have to stay behind. Why don't they warn you about falling in love? Why didn't anyone ever tell me this could happen?

I wasn't ready for this. I don't think I'll ever be ready.

"Don't you want me to succeed?" I ask.

"More than anything, but... please don't leave me."

"Okay," I force a smile through my tears.

Now there is a new pain in me. A small feeling of despair. A doubt that has crept its way in and made itself at home. What if that was it? What if there is no other role? I'll never know now what could have been.

"No. Don't do that to me. Don't make me the bad guy." She moves closer to me.

"I'm not, it's my choice," I assure her.

"No! You'll blame me, you'll hate me. You have to stay for you, not me."

"Sky... I..."

"Do you want to go?" she asks.

I nod.

She looks like I've actually stabbed her, the physical pain is apparent on her face. It hurts me to see her like this. I move to comfort her but she jerks away.

"I don't want you to leave me." she clenches the bedsheets in her hand.

"Then I won't."

"No. Don't give up your dreams for me."

"Skylar I would do anything for you."

"Maybe we could do long distance..." she suggests.

"You think that could work?" I ask.

"It's going to have to."

I place a hand on her shoulder. She wipes her tears. Her engagement ring sparkles at me.

"When do you leave?" she asks.

"Filming starts next month."

She takes a shaky breath.

"We can do long distance. I'll call you every second I get. I'll face time you and come see you on my days off. Promise. When you are on summer break you can come and stay with me. We can make it work."

"Okay. I'll try, but I will have to move. No way I can afford this place on my own."

"No, you don't have to. I can still afford this place and whatever place I find in Canada to stay at. My paycheck is big enough for the two of us."

"Jade you don't have to."

"For better or for worse, through thick and through thin Sky. I'll be here for you. Even when I'm not here."

She engulfs me in a hug and holds me tightly.

"I'm scared," She whispers into my shoulder.

"Me too," I admit.

"We haven't even gotten married yet."

"We will, when I get back, we will. You'll just have to wait a little longer. Promise. We can make this work."

We have to.