Two days had already passed. It was the time for Danica to go back and Troy hadn��t talked about that matter ever since he told her to do whatever she wanted to. Troy acted normal and made videos with her, flirted with her like he used to.
Was he just pretending to stay unaffected? Or did he want to spend the last few moments with no barrier? Danica had no idea about it.
She completed her packing and checked whether Aziel packed up everything or not.
��Aziel, did take your favorite shirt? I gave it in the laundry yesterday,�� Danica told Aziel, who was reading an adventurous storybook, lying on the bed. Danica placed her hands on her hips. ��I am asking something.��
Aziel glanced at his sister. ��I did, but Dani, can we please not go? I want to stay here with everyone.��
Sighing, Danica sat next to him after folding one last trouser of Aziel and putting it in the luggage. She ran her hand through his hair and said, ��Look, we could��ve stayed but I have to attend my senior year. Otherwise, I will lose my scholarship. I cannot afford to leave my studies midway, especially when I have a year left.��
��So can we come back to California after one year?�� he questioned.
She nodded her head in agreement. ��Indeed, we can and we will.��
��Will that be forever then?�� Aziel asked Danica, who gave a small smile.
She replied, ��Yes. We will stay in California forever.�� Getting up from the bed, she said, ��I shall check whether anything else is left or not.��
After completing her packing, it was finally the time for Danica and Aziel to leave. Gabrielle and Trevor had returned yesterday, along with Aziel and Tatiana. Sarah and Stephen Kingston decided to stay till Danica��s departure.
Danica went to Troy��s room, but he was not in there. She wanted to say bye to him for the last time but Troy disappeared last night, saying he had an important task to complete. He just kissed Danica��s forehead and went out of the house. He didn��t return since then, and when she tried calling him, it was unreachable.
��He doesn��t want to see you go away,�� Gabrielle spoke up from behind, making Danica jump slightly. ��It��s okay, Dani. I will handle him for one more year since you said you will return after that.��
��Knowing Troy,�� Tatiana walked towards Danica and Gabrielle, standing in front of Troy��s bedroom door, saying, ��I am sure he will make a wise choice.��
��But he said that he wouldn��t do a long-distance relationship,�� Danica pointed out.
Tatiana smirked. ��He gave his opinion, not his decision.��
��As much as I would like to hear your gossip, ladies, Aziel is waiting downstairs and I have placed the luggage in the car,�� Trevor said from one corner of the hallway, putting his hands in his pocket.
The girls nodded and continued to walk downstairs with Trevor.
��Why the car? I told you, a cab would do,�� Danica informed Trevor.
��And I told you, we have plenty of cars, so let one of the cars drop you to the airport instead of a cab. At least, we would be less stressed since you wouldn��t allow any of us to accompany you to the airport,�� he answered.
She rolled her eyes.
Soon they reached downstairs.
Danica hugged Gabrielle and Tatiana together, saying, ��Thank you for being with me all the time, helping me against all odds, and making me comfortable. You guys are the best as ever.�� She controlled her tears, but Gabrielle and Tatiana couldn��t.
��We will meet soon. Come here every time you get a vacation,�� Gabrielle said to Danica, who hummed in response.
��Oh, scratch that,�� Tatiana said with a quivering voice, ��Send me your apartment��s address of New Jersey. I will come there every time I want.��
��That shall do,�� Danica uttered with a small smile.
After their hug, Danica hugged Trevor. ��You were the one who pushed Tronica��s love story. You played the cupid and I am grateful for that. Thanks, brother.��
Trevor patted her back. ��You cannot thank me and call me a brother at the same time. It was my duty to bring your happiness back, so I did what I should for you and Troy.��
As much as Danica wanted to see Troy and pull him into a big hug, she was sad because he wasn't there. But she was grateful for getting such awesome friends. Who knew friendship from middle school would last forever?
She freed herself from the hug with Trevor, not wanting to let her tears out of her eyes.
��Thank you for everything,�� Danica mumbled and pulled Sarah into a hug, then Stephen.
��Take care, love,�� Sarah said with a smile.
��You have a surprise waiting for you,�� Stephen announced, while Danica furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
Before she could ask what surprise, a sudden familiar voice hollered, ��How can you even think of going without meeting me, Hazel?��
Danica��s head snapped in the direction of the voice, only to find Hernan Matias, with a clean haircut, looking at her with a grin. She smiled widely and ran to engulf him into a hug.
��Blond, you are back!�� she spoke up in excitement. ��Where were you all these times? Why did you disappear?��
They broke apart from the hug.
��I was on a vacation, just like you,�� he responded and slapped the back of her head. ��You are a fool. Have you ever considered texting me to check whether I was alive or not?��
��But Troy said you were okay so���� she was interrupted by Hernan.
��Oh, I forgot. You are in a real relationship now. You cannot possibly have time for friends now that you have a boyfriend.��
��Shut up,�� Danica mumbled.
��Hernan,�� Aziel called out and ran to him.
��Well, I guess we should go now,�� Danica announced.
She saw Gabrielle, Tatiana, and Sarah crying slowly. Her heart clenched at that sight, wishing her senior year would end as soon as possible so that she could return to them.
��Come,�� Trevor said to Danica and walked out of the mansion.
��We will talk over the phone then,�� Hernan told Danica and kissed her cheek. ��Have a safe journey, Hazel. I hope you enjoy your surprise.�� With that, he made his way to his room.
She was confused about what surprise Stephen and Hernan were talking about. She wished to question Trevor but she knew that he was the last person to reveal a secret if he made a promise. So, she decided to not ask anything and made her way to the car along with Aziel.
She couldn��t believe that she was leaving the Rose mansion. Everything changed within one summer. She was thankful for having such amazing friends because, without them, she would never understand Troy��s feelings for her. Friendship was meant for lasting forever, come what may. Danica understood the real meaning of friendship after living in the Rose mansion with everyone.
After she got into the car along with Aziel, the car started.
Danica looked at the Rose mansion through the window and a tear slid through her hazel eyes. She went to the downtown memory lane, remembering every single moment, happy to sad, she got while living in the Rose mansion. She was grateful for such an amazing life. She didn��t have to worry about her or Aziel��s lives as well because her aunt and uncle were behind the bars. They were safe now. Everything was resolved and she regretted running away three years ago instead of solving them. But now that everything was going smoothly, she made Troy upset. Did she make the right decision?
Troy didn��t even contact her since last night. Could she wait for another year to see Troy and stay with him forever?
��Dani,�� Aziel called out and she looked at him, waiting for her to continue. ��Thank you for making my summer the best of all. You fulfilled my wish.��
She said with a smile, ��Anything for you.��
___
Danica reached her apartment along with Aziel during the evening. She unlocked the door with the key and got inside, heaving a sigh in relief.
��Finally,�� she murmured under her breath. She reached New Jersey after a tiring journey. ��Aziel, go and inform Richard that we are back,�� she ordered Aziel who ran to inform Richard.
Richard Allias was living next door.
Danica placed her handbag on the couch of the living room, while the luggage was kept in the bedroom. She sat on the couch, taking deep breaths, being tired but she was still missing Troy immensely as she did in the entire journey.
All of a sudden, a voice from behind spoke, ��Welcome home.��
