FALLING AROUND YOU ➵ DANIEL SEAVEY ➵ SEQUEL

22 ➵ The News

I thanked their retired presence in my life. I knew I would see them again, one day, but it wouldn't be the same. We are all in different times in our lives. I'm not saying goodbye to them, but I'm saying goodbye to the close bond we once held.

I soon wondered if the boys continued to think of them. I wondered if Jonah ever reminisced about Kendra and their short term fling. I wondered if Zach ever thought about Ali, and their seemingly perfectly unperfected relationship. I wondered if Daniel ever thought of Kendra.

"Daniel?" I looked up at him.

We were standing near the kitchen island that the newly blonde was leaning on. His hands hugged my waist before pulling his attention on me. "Yeah?"

"Do you ever think of Kendra?" I whispered.

He looked a bit confused. "Kendra? As in girl I dated for like two days Kendra?" he chuckled. I nodded softly wanting to hear his answer.

"Not really, no." He shook his head before continuing, "I just think of how foolish I was to chase after her when it was you that I really wanted. I don't know what was going through my mind exactly when I pursued her. I think I was trying to make you jealous, maybe? Or trying to make distractions in order get out of my head? It seems so blurry now," he admitted.

"I would just thank her right now if she was here," he leaned his head on my shoulder.

"Really?" I felt how close our faces were.

"Yeah," he chuckled. "Without her, I wouldn't have realized how much I liked you. I wouldn't have realized that I was going after the wrong girl."

I smiled at him, looking towards the boys, "You think the guys think of them?"

Daniel mimicked my actions, looking at his close friends as well. "I think Jonah moved on completely. I mean, he has a girl now, so things are different. Zach has a girl too, but I think he still thinks of Ali once in a while. I think he still holds a soft spot of her. I mean, she was seemingly his first love, if that's what you wanted to call it. Their relationship was a bit stronger than the small thing between Jonah and Kendra. It was more raw, you know?"

"I know," my words simple. It felt so long ago. We were all chaotic teens during winter break. I just remembered the small glimpses of Ali and Zach. How strange how this could change so quickly, so easily.

When I looked at the people around me, I knew this was a bond that I never wanted to let go. It was bittersweet. I had a life back in London, but I knew that it would hurt too much in going. Still, I had to make up my mind quickly, being my flight was in three days. I didn't want to think about it, but it was a burden that I couldn't ignore.

"Where's Jack?" Daniel interrupted my thoughts in search for the fourth missing band member.

"He's out with Gabbie, Lavender, and Anna. He said they're coming back to the house, though." Corbyn answered his question.

"Lavender?"

Christina giggled, "Sienna! I forgot how much you've missed. Lavender is Jack and Gabbie's daughter. God, she's precious."

I nodded suddenly quite excited to see the little one. I also noticed how I've never met Gabbie either. Her name has been lingering in this house for quite some time, but I've never put a name to the face. I felt a bit more comfortable, being as I was getting more intimate in the lives of my old friends that have become retired strangers.