In the Air (The City Book 1) - By Crystal Serowka Page 0,8

girlfriend, Aubrey, grew up down the road from me. We were inseparable. Our mothers had us around the same time and declared from day one that we would someday fall in love. We, of course, thought that was gross when we were nine, but once we became teenagers, their wishes came true.

"We're not even two hours away from each other, Aubrey. Look, I know the distance will be hard on our relationship, but if we want to be together, it has to be this way."

"I didn't know you made the rules for our relationship. What about what I want, Samson?" As Aubrey continued her tirade, I recalled the girl I fell in love with, the girl that wanted to be a photographer and travel the world. I missed that girl. It seemed the longer I stayed with this new version, the tighter the rope around my neck would become, until one day, I wouldn't be able to breathe at all.

As I rounded the corner, my gym bag hooked onto a shelf, spilling everything. "Fuck!" I exploded. "Damn it, Aubrey! You need to stop bitching at me every single time we have a conversation. I can't take it anymore!"

I bent down to pick up my belongings, trying to compose myself. Over the last year, our relationship had taken a turn for the worse. Before, we were best friends and got along easily. Now, we constantly argued over the smallest things. I debated ending it many times, but I couldn't stomach the thought of losing something we'd worked on most of our lives.

"First of all, Samson, you're an asshole," Aubrey seethed. "Second of all, you brought this on yourself. You're the one that left home to become a ballerina."

Breathe in. Breathe out.

"Really? A ballerina? If you're going to talk to me like that, there's no use in continuing this conversation." As I stepped into the daylight, I looked at my new surroundings. My home. I refused to let Aubrey, or anyone else for that matter, ruin this for me.

"I keep hoping you'll realize how much it's killing me that you chose to go to New York, but I don't think you ever will. Your family misses you. I miss you!"

I held the phone away from my ear and turned the volume down. I knew she was full of shit. My mother may have missed me, but my father was happy I was out of the house. This way, he wouldn't have to see the son who was such a disappointment to him.

Before I left for New York, my father sat me down in his study and asked if I was sure this was the path I wanted to take.

"Dad," I told him, "my life isn't something you can control. This is what I want to do and there's no way you can change my mind."

My father studied my face, almost as if he were waiting for me to crack a smile and admit I was joking. When I didn't say anything, he continued on his rant.

"Sammy, I just can't stomach the idea of my son going off to spend his days dancing. You know it makes me sick, seeing you prance around in spandex. It's an embarrassment to the Callahans."

Since I refused to follow in his footsteps and go to medical school, he considered me a waste of space. I drove the memory of that conversation from my mind. I was beginning to wonder if Aubrey was oblivious to what was happening right before her eyes. If she was convinced that my dad missed me, what other nonsense did she believe?

"I do miss you, Aubrey. The girl I used to know, I really miss her." I felt my throat clench and became irritated that these conversations were happening every day. I was tired of arguing. More than anything, I wanted to be happy again.

"Whatever, Samson. I'm the same girl I've always been, but now I have grown-up goals. Not that you know anything about that. Goodbye."

In the past, Aubrey had been supportive of my dancing. She came to all of my performances, taking pictures of every dance. When our junior year arrived, though, the pressure of getting accepted into Yale became more important than anything else. Aubrey threw her camera away, along with her carefree attitude. I understood why I was put on the back burner, I just didn't think I'd stay there. Everything changed the moment she received her acceptance letter. When it was clear that the girl I loved all