72 - hold on, I still want you

                                    

                                          
come back, I still need you
let me take your hand, I'll make it right
I swear to love you all my life
hold on, I still need you
~ Hold On by Chord Overstreet. 
guys, this song is actually incredible. if you ever do anything in your life, please please please listen to this song. I've put a link to it on the side, so all you have to do is press play, and listen to it as you read. go on, you won't regret it.
                          
// last chapter! listen to the happiest songs you can while reading this one!
for example: Goner by tøp, Berlin by RY X, I Need My Girl by The National, To The Wonder by Aqualung, and Saturn by Sleeping At Last //
                          
I stared out the window on our way to the airport. I felt a warm hand in mine and it brought tears to my eyes because... because I knew that I wouldn't feel this warmth for another year. They were leaving me.
                          
I knew I had to stay strong, but it was so hard. They were leaving me. They were leaving me.
                          
I was so happy that their dream was coming true. This was all I wanted for them. Happiness was all I wanted for them.
                          
But how could I not cry when the fact that they were leaving meant that I had to wait for my own happiness?
                          
It would all be fine. I could wait.
                          
I looked around me at Luke, Ashton and Calum. Michael and Cassidy were making their own way to the airport. We hadn't seen either of them since yesterday at lunch. They wanted to spend their last 24 hours alone together.
                          
"Hm..." Cal muttered, staring out the window at the world flying by us.
                          
"What are you thinking about?" I asked, knowing he was lost in his thoughts.
                          
He chuckled and turned his eyes to me. "Actually, I know it's kind of out of context, but I was thinking about Michael and Cassy. They're kind of like an inverted Romeo and Juliet, don't you think?"
                          
I furrowed my eyebrows, trying to wrap that sentiment around my head. "How so?"
                          
He smiled. "Well, instead of being unable to be together, they're unable to be apart," he explained.
                          
I laughed and just shook my head.
                          
Ashton was driving us to the airport, Luke was in the passenger seat next to him, and Cal and I were in the back seat. The radio was on in the background, a news reporter speaking faintly in a break between some music. She was reporting on a house fire, a riot, some political gossip, all the usual stuff.
                          
Then we heard some familiar chords and Ash, Luke and Cal all looked at each other in surprise. "Oh my god..." Luke muttered as his voice floated through the speakers. He turned the radio up and we all screamed, although Ash was a bit less enthusiastic since he had to focus on the road.
                          
It was their music... on an actual radio station.
                          
Tears sprung to my eyes for the millionth time that morning, but for an entirely different reason. I hugged Calum tightly and started sobbing, but with a big smile on my face. "I'm so proud of you guys," I managed to choke out, and Cal started crying too. He gripped me so tightly that I thought I just might disappear.
                          
We fell silent, listening to the music with different thoughts flowing through our heads.
                          
"I'm not sure what we're going to do without you, Tave," Luke muttered. I just smiled at him. I remembered his emotional goodbyes that he had to say last night to Shay and Di. Those girls had changed him so much. Shay had given him so much more confidence, and Di had helped him find a new version of himself. They were so good for him, and now he had to leave them behind him.