Meant To Be Together

Nala began to sob. “AJ… isn’t there another way for you to stay? L-like… I just can’t bear to let you go. Please stay.”

She clutched his hands tightly, her tears soaking his palms. She couldn’t accept that the day she had dreaded—and hoped would never come—was finally here. And of all days, it had to fall on their first anniversary. A day that should have been filled with joy had turned into one of heartbreak.

Axel sighed and met her gaze. “Nal, I’m so sorry. I tried to convince my parents for us to stay, but it was no use.” His voice was calm, carefully hiding the ache behind his deep blue eyes.

'Nal.' Oh, how she loved it when he called her by her nickname instead of her full name. But why was life so unfair...for her, for him, for both of them?

Nala’s POV

I am Nala Hudson, Nal for short and the boy I am crying over is my boyfriend, Axel Jones, or AJ, as I call him. What’s happening? Frederick Jones, AJ’s father, had started a business abroad. He and his wife, Fiona, decided they needed to move immediately to manage it.

When I left for school this morning, I assumed AJ would be stuck packing and would skip school, so I thought I’d have the day to spend with him after classes. But no, he was leaving today. My carefully planned day together was ruined.

Thunder rumbled overhead, and dark clouds rolled across the sky. An uneasy feeling crept on me. Was it safe to travel in this weather? I glanced at AJ.

He shrugged, as if reading my mind, and pulled me into a hug. “Hey, Nal, it’s okay. Don’t worry. It’s just a little rain.” His voice carried that effortless charm that could calm even the stormiest of hearts.

I rested my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, but the comfort of his words clashed with the brewing storm outside.

Sighing, I pulled back and met his gaze. Those deep blue eyes could erase all fear. I told myself planes were safe—but even that reassurance felt untrustworthy.

He’s leaving, the boy I’ve loved since I was six, the one who has been by my side for eight years. The brightest star in my darkest days… soon gone.

I sniffed back my tears. “AJ… p-please don’t l-leave m-me.” The pain felt unbearable, like ten thousand needles piercing my chest at once.

Suddenly, a cold drop landed on my cheek. I looked up and realized the rain had started. Before I could suggest going inside, AJ tilted my chin gently, a playful smirk on his lips. “Let’s make this memory unforgettable.”

Then, he kissed me.

It was soft yet explosive. Time seemed to pause. The rain soaked us, but I didn’t care. This felt like a fairytale, a dream come true. When he pulled back, he whispered into my ear:

“Nala… thank you. Being with you made me proud. I love you, Nala Hudson, and I promise, when I come back as a grown man, I’ll make you mine officially. Wait for me.”

I was speechless. He loves me… I wanted to hear it again, but Ciara’s voice had to ruin the moment.

“AJ! You idiot! Do you want Nala to get sick?!”

Ciara rolled her eyes. “It’s raining cats and dogs! At least leave her in one piece. A fever isn’t how she should remember your last hour together.”

I laughed, shaking off my tears which I believed had blended with the rain drops. I then kissed AJ on the cheek. “I love you, Axel Jones. I’ll wait for you.”

He smiled, and I melted. We held each other until Mrs. Jones called us inside, scolding us for our soggy romance. AJ and I both laughed before running inside the house holding hands.

Inside, Mrs. Jones shook her head. “Gosh, you two. What am I going to do with y’all? Ax, you’re sixteen. Playing in the rain isn’t for your age. Nala, you too! Really, what were you two even doing out there?”

I blushed, remembering our special moment. AJ rolled his eyes but explained. “Um, m-mom… we were just… you know…”

“Just making out in the rain? I saw you!” Mrs. Jones exclaimed, laughing. “Come on, kids, don’t catch a cold. Axel, now you need to go and change. You can't enter the plane all soaked.”

Axel shock his head stubbornly and argued back, "Mom, I'll dry off on our way to the airport."

Mrs Jones sneered and muttered to herself, "How stubborn, I wonder if your dad will even allow you to enter the car."

Just as she said that, Ciara entered the kitchen, backpack slung over her shoulder. “I told them to get out of the rain!" She shouted, "Nala, I’ll miss you so much… I—” She trailed off as she saw me making AJ snicker.

I laughed at her dramatic flair. “You’ll miss ruining my dates, won’t you?”

She grinned. “Every single one. Totally worth it.”

Our laughter was cut short by a car honking outside. “Guys, time to go! The plane won’t wait for us!” Mr. Jones called.

Mrs. Jones and Ciara hugged me goodbye. I watched as they left. The kitchen was suddenly quiet, leaving AJ and me alone.

He wiped a tear and reached into his pocket, pulling out a bracelet covered in charms. Each charm represented a memory we shared—our first camping trip, our first kiss, little moments that had meant the world. Carved on it were our names: Axel + Nala = ♡.

“Nal, this is for you,” he said softly. “Each charm reminds me of the time we spent together. I love this one,” he said, pointing to a tent charm. “It was our first camping trip, the day I confessed my feelings, and the day we shared our first kiss.”

I hugged him tightly. “AJ… this is… I don’t even know what to say. It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

He cupped my cheek, leaning in to kiss me again, but Mr. Jones honked impatiently. I pulled back, blushing.

AJ rolled his eyes, grunted, and pecked my cheek. We headed outside, and Mr. Jones spoke to me before leaving.

“Hey kid, we’ll visit again. It’s not the end for you and AJ. My son really loves you, and he’ll come back, no matter how long it takes. Tell your dad that next time, I’m winning round three of arm wrestling!”

I giggled and waved as the car drove away. I blew AJ a kiss one last time and watched until he disappeared down the road. Alone, I sank to my knees in the rain, sobbing, calling his name over and over.

AJ’s POV

I leaned against Ciara on the way to the airport, trying to hold back tears. Even the weather unsettled me; I had never been afraid of flying before.

I gazed out the window, thinking of Nala, her golden-brown eyes, her curly hair, her soft cheeks. Everything about her was flawless. Just wait for me, Nal. I’ll be back soon.

Boarding the plane, I kept my thoughts on her as we took off. The turbulence made me shiver, but I didn’t care. All I could think about was her. Eventually, I dozed off, clutching the memory of her warmth.

Nala’s POV

When I arrived home, I heard my parents arguing in the kitchen.

“Oh, come on, Mike. It’s just puppy love. She’s fourteen, he’s sixteen. Boys that age don’t take things seriously,” my mom said.

Dad sighed. “How old was I when I approached you? Sixteen too. Was I not serious?”

Mom shook her head. “Times have changed. I love Nala, and I’m trying to protect her. What if she waits for Axel her whole life? She needs to focus on school and move on.”

My heart sank, but clutching the bracelet AJ had given me, I refused to believe he would hurt me. My AJ was different.

As I started to cry, my dad noticed me, and I immediately ran upstairs to my room and locked myself in there. I didn't want to talk to anyone, not even my own father.

As I sat on my bed and cried into the bracelet, I took my phone and sent AJ a text, to distract myself:

"Hey, how are you? The weather isn’t getting any better, but I hope you travel safely. Let me know when you arrive in California. XOXO."