Recap:
"So, I can be with the boys if I want to?" I ask
"Yes. If you... want to" he says
--
I literally jump on him as he says this.
"I love you" I say three times over and over again
"I know you do honey."
Then I think for a second and something comes to me "I have an idea how you can get mom back..."
Lily walks out of the door then "Maybe I can help too" she says
"You were listening?" I ask
"Of course" she says
We converse about things and then dad leaves.
The day feels strange as I anticipate what happens when I see the boys and what will happen when my dad declares his love for my mom.
The house is soon alive with chatter as Kayla and I get ready for the party.
"Well, let's hope this year starts with a bang" she says "I mean, I guess it will because of the fireworks, but you know what I mean... I know my mom and dad are divorcing now and he has a new family to look after down here, but Alex and I are together again and he told me he loves me. I'm very happy right now. Nothing could possibly ruin that"
"Don't speak too soon" I say "you've probably just jinxed it now"
"Shit, touch wood" she says and taps on the bed post
We finally finish getting ready and head toward the spiral staircase.
Kayla heads down first and Alex is at the bottom, waiting for her.
I take a deep breath and I make my way down the stairs.
I reach the bottom and a hand comes out either side of me and I look up from my left to my right and back again to see Julian on my left and Christian on my right.
I take both their hands and take the last step.
"Tori" they both say at the same time
"Mom told us what's happening" Julian says "they're actually going to let us be together"
They lead me into the crowd and Christian goes to get us drinks.
"So, I'm glad we get to actually be together" Julian says and he picks me up, spinning me around and then putting me down, frowning "but I know eventually you'll have to choose one of us. Because you can't be in love with more than one person. It's also okay if you choose Chris. I don't mind if you do. But if you choose me, that would be great for me I guess."
"I-" I am interrupted when mom comes over to us
"Hey honey, come and dance with me. We need to talk" she says
I nod and follow her, giving Julian an apologetic look, but he gives me a reassuring smile.
Mom pulls me away and we stand on the dancefloor.
"Honey, what's your father up to?" she asks "he seems pretty antsy tonight. He isn't going to embarrass me is he?"
I shake my head "I'm sure he's just pretty down because he and Maddie are breaking up because they want us to be happy"
"Oh... he's no longer going to be with her?"
"No. He isn't"
Mary-Anne's POV –
I can't believe it. He's actually going to divorce her for Victoria's happiness? He definitely has changed.
I dance with my daughter for a while longer and then the music is stopped and George walks onto the stage, coming to the mic.
"Hey guys" what's he doing now? "Well, this is a great party right?"
Everyone watches him and he continues
"I hope you're having a good time. But I just want to say something to an old friend of mine... I guess my daughter gave me this idea. It's more for an old flame of mine that I'm feeling something for again. Someone I should have treated a lot better than I did when we were together. So here goes I guess" he says
He sits at the piano and pulls out some sheets from his pocket, spreading them out on the stand on the piano and then he starts playing and then he starts singing into the mic that is there.
"Same bed but it feels just a little bit bigger now
Our song on the radio but it don't sound the same
When our friends talk about you, all it does is just tear me down
'Cause my heart breaks a little when I hear your name
It all just sounds like ooooooh...
Mm, too young, too dumb to realize
That I should've bought you flowers
And held your hand
Should've gave you all my hours
When I had the chance
Take you to every party
'Cause all you wanted to do was dance
Now my baby's dancing
But she's dancing with another man"
"My pride, my ego, my needs, and my selfish ways
Caused a good strong woman like you to walk out my life
Now I never, never get to clean up the mess I made, ohh...
And it haunts me every time I close my eyes
It all just sounds like ooooooh...
Mm, too young, too dumb to realize
That I should've bought you flowers
And held your hand
Should've gave you all my hours
When I had the chance
Take you to every party
'Cause all you wanted to do was dance
Now my baby's dancing
But she's dancing with another man"
"Although it hurts
I'll be the first to say that I was wrong
Oh, I know I'm probably much too late
To try and apologize for my mistakes
But I just want you to know
I hope he buys you flowers
I hope he holds your hand
Give you all his hours
When he has the chance
Take you to every party
Because I remember how much you loved to dance
Do all the things I should have done
When I was your man
Do all the things I should have done
When I was your man"
Everyone applauds him and he stands, bowing.
I look at Tori and she gives me a sheepish smile.
I walk over to George as he stands by the stage.
"What was that?" I ask as the music picks up again and everyone continues to party.
"Mary-Anne... It's true. I still love you and I only just realised that I missed this and Vic gave me the idea to sing that song. It sums up perfectly what I wanted to say to you. But obviously you don't love me anymore. Otherwise you wouldn't have cheated on me with him back then. I guess I'm sorry for embarrassing you in front of the husband to be and the fake friends. I guess I'm finally expressing my feelings, something which you always scolded me for not doing. You were my first love... my one true love and I guess I'll never love anyone the same ever again."
I stand there, flabbergasted by his words.
Tori's POV –
"That was your idea?" Christian asks from behind me
I turn to meet his eyes "yeah, I knew my dad still had some feelings for mom. I guess they'll talk about it now"
"So that means we can be together?" Julian asks
Christian sighs as Julian says this
I look at him confused and concerned "is everything okay?"
"It's just that... I guess I thought things would work out alright if you could just be in love with the both of us. But I know that a person can only be in love with one person at a time. I know that you'll have to choose one of us eventually... and I guess it's okay if you choose Jules over me. Besides, I know I'm not into this as much as Jules clearly is" he explains
"Chris" Julian says and places a hand on his brother's shoulder "you don't have to do this"
"But I want you to be happy brother. And you won't be truly happy if I'm in the way of this. I know that she's more into you than me also" Christian says
I think for a moment... is it Julian who I'm more into?
Well, he has been on my mind more and we do seem to end up doing stuff more than with Chris.
"She clearly cares more for you because you're there when she needs you more and I mean, I tried... I was so into this in the beginning but now that I see how you are with her, it makes me not want to do this anymore. So you can have her brother" Christian says to Julian
I clear my throat at them and they look at me "um... I am here you know... I know I do love both of you, but I have to agree with Chris"
"Really?" they both say at the same time
"You'd really choose me?" Julian asks
I give it a little more thought and then speak "yes"
"I thought so much" Christian says "It was inevitable from the start"
"I'm sorry" I say
"It's okay" he says "you two be happy. I guess I can go back to my player ways"
He then looks around and he spots someone. She looks like one of Lily's friends. He then walks off toward her.
I turn to Julian who smiles down at me and our eyes meet "So, you chose me huh?"
I nod "I guess I did"
He then pulls me to him and presses his lips to mine in a kiss
"So you got the girl huh?" this stops us and we look over to see Adrian standing behind us "mom told me what's going on and I guess I just caught Chris and he explained things to me briefly... I'm happy for you two... One of my little brothers finally found his girl. Now we just have to wait for Chris to find his girl... which could take a while"
I feel a tugging on my dress and look down to see Elisa standing there.
"Tori?" she says
"Hey kiddo" Julian says and picks her up, but she wiggles around and extends her arms to me for me to pick her up.
I take her off of him and he feigns hurt.
"What's wrong little one?"
"Granma told me what's happening... you're not gonna be my aunty anymore?" she pouts
"Oh... well, you'll still see me a lot. Maybe you're too young to understand what's going on here" I say
"Hey! I'm five... I can understand lots. What's gonna happen now?"
"Well, did gran tell you why this is happening?"
She nods "she says she wants uncle Jules and Chris to be happy..." then she gasps "... you're gonna be my aunty for reals?"
"Well, yes..."
"With Uncle Jules?"
"Yes"
"What about Uncle Chris?"
"Uncle Chris has chosen a different path"
"Okay..." she rubs her eyes and Hayley is there to take her from me.
"We should go home now" she says
"Bye, bye" Elisa says
The night goes by pretty quickly and we finally head outside for the fireworks at midnight and Julian wraps his arms around me.
We count down and as everyone shouts 1, Julian turns me around and presses his lips to mine as the fireworks go off behind us.
Then we part and look up at the fireworks in awe as they look so pretty.
So this is it... I'm with Julian, my parents may (or may not) get back together and my friends seem pretty happy.
I look beside me as Kayla walks over, placing a hand in my shoulder and I smile.
Alex wraps his arms around her, kissing her cheek as they watch the fireworks with us and this is the happiest I'd felt... ever!
THE END
---
So this is the end!
Hope you liked it.
Thanks for reading.
So, she chose Julian, will Chris find love of his own?
Will Lily talk to her best friend? Do George and Mary-Anne rekindle their relationship?
Maybe we will find out, but then maybe we won't.
Thanks a lot for sticking with me with this story.
Now I will be focusing on 'In love with my stepbrothers'
Go on... read it... I know you want to
See you over there!