FALLING AROUND YOU ➵ DANIEL SEAVEY ➵ SEQUEL

27 ➵ The Moment I Knew

"I think one of my happiest moments was when I was able to let go of you, when I got the courage to stop living with you gone and just start living. Our memories are still earthquakes and tornadoes when I sleep at night, but the don't damage me anymore. I'm able to let go of what I couldn't change."
_

To my surprise, Anna and Keri weren't very shocked at the disposition of our wet clothing. Jeff was already fast asleep in their bedroom while the girls were watching an early two thousands romanic comedy, most likely Anna's choice. I gave them each a bit of an embarrassed grin, not regretting the spontaneous beach trip. In just a few moments, it gave me a sense of closure that I have been needing for weeks.

"There's some pasta in the fridge, if you two are hungry." I heard Keri's voice from the living room, but I was already following Daniel to the kitchen.

"Thank you!" I said without a second thought. A harmony of the duo's voices lingered in the home with a response, but I couldn't quite hear it, as Daniel was putting the cold pasta in the microwave.

"I'm going to change real quick," I muttered the boy. I was already out of the kitchen before he could respond, and I knew that he would do the same.

When walking into my temporary bedroom, my reflection greeted myself, causing me to jump a bit in the dim light. After turning on the light, I noticed my hair was already fairly dry, only the ends still soaked with water. However, my clothes were still evidence of tonight's trip, dripping on their wooden tiles. I grabbed a new set of clothing along with a sweatshirt Daniel let me wear on one of our trips to an amusement park. Disneyland or Universal Studios – I wasn't sure which.

I was met with an empty kitchen soon after my change and found Daniel outside, with two bowls of heated pasta, resigning on the patio sofa that Anna and I were earlier in the day. The Seavey's were impeccable in their home decor, fairy lights streaming off the railing and tan furniture set to compliment the small space. I sat next to him, grabbing the bowl off the coffee table.

He was staring at the scenic view. We were able to see the ocean from here, cars rattled in the heart of the city. The white noise was the perfect ending; no disturbances, no distractions. We both stared at the chaotic harmony that Los Angeles had to offer.

"Why?" I finally spoke. The newly blonde Seavey boy looked over at me, a bit confused. "Why did you drag me into the water?" I elaborated.

Daniel looked back at the view, a smile and small blush forming on his cheeks, but he tried hiding it. "I wanted to remind you how I fell in love with you."

"By dragging me into cold water?" I chuckled, and he did the same.

"No," he looked at me. "It starts off with a gust of adrenaline, then some choppy waters, and finally a sense of serenity. That's the exact story of how I fell in love with you, how I realized my feelings."

His stares were impossible to ignore, and I already knew that he saw the growing scarlet glow on my face. "Yeah, yeah. It was like that for me too," my voice a bit weak, embarrassed.

He saw the hidden grin on my face, putting his hand on top of mine, squeezing a bit. "I just don't want things to get in the way anymore. I'm just so sick of having you, and then not having you, and then having you again. I just need stability. I'm just sick of never having the person I want most."

My head landed on his shoulder, arms linked together now, and the pasta slowly forgotten on top of the coffee table. "What happens now?"

"What do you mean?"

"My management, Mr. Gray, won't mind much if we're together. I mean, he has a completely other set of stressors and heartbreaks to deal with," my breath hitched, thinking of his son, but I looked up to Daniel. "You're management still hates me, still hates the concept of us. Then, what happens to Marie? She's great, perfect even!" I could feel myself becoming more uncomfortable, self conscious just saying her name.