#*caleb*

“I don’t regret having him with me - I never could. But with everything going on here… I just - I hate thinking I might have put him in more danger when I wanted to avoid that by coming here.”

She hadn’t expected to find herself standing in LAX again so soon. In fact Gaia couldn’t even say she’d planned on ever setting in the airport within the year, not if she’d been serious about putting any sort of meaningful distance between her and Caleb. Except she’d failed miserably in her attempt at being selfless and cutting him loose, even if he didn’t recognise it was better for him, safer, without her in his life. But all it had taken was a lapse in concentration and giving in to old habits and what was now ingrained in her. They’d been together so long he was always the first one she reached out to about anything, it was second nature now. And there had been no denying her sense of joy and relief when he’d told her he was coming to her, the same emotions running through her now when he gaze met his. Heading over to meet him, trying not to pay attention to how quick her pace was, Gaia had to catch herself before throwing herself into his arm, instead stopping short rather awkwardly. Hands that usually would have reach out for him falling to her side.

“Hi.” It seemed so cold compared to their usual greetings, not even the slightest contact between them. Just space that never usual existed between them. As always when she found herself at a loss for what to do, she spoke. “Thank you for coming, it means a lot.” And it did. She’d never once doubted the depth of Caleb’s feelings for her, one look at what he dedicated his time to would make that clear enough, but if anything this just confirmed what she already knew. Then there’s an overwhelming sense of guilt at having dragged him out there when she’d been the one to leave. Calling it off without any explanation as to why. “I shouldn’t have asked, not when-” Trailing off she can’t bring herself to finish the sentence, it would make the whole thing sound to final so instead she settled for another truth. “You didn’t have to.”