(((November 10, 2015)))
If two people are meant to be together, they will find their way back to each other's arms, no matter what.
Parker's POV
We arrived at the beach, and she was smiling as she looked at me. I smiled and got out of the truck. She was grabbing her phone as I opened her door.
"What do you need your phone for?" I asked her. "Waiting for your boyfriend to text you?" I teased.
She gave me a look and set her phone back in the cup holder. "No. You ain't bringing your phone?"
"Nope. Seems like I get a hundred notifications a day. It aggravates me. I just want to sit on the rocks with you."
"Okay. Let's go." She got out of the truck, and we started walking.
We walked until we finally found a place to sit on the rocks. There was nobody there except for me and her. We sat down, and she sighed as she looked at the ocean. I tried looking at the ocean, but I found myself looking at her.
"This is awesome. It's like this is what I missed. The beaches back in North Carolina aren't like this." She said.
"I've missed having you here. Every time I came here with my friends or my girlfriend at the time, I thought of the times that we came here."
"We practically lived here. Every time we got the chance, we would get somebody to drive us here."
"And then we would ditch them and walk down the beach by ourselves." I smirked.
We laughed. "Yeah, we would. I've missed you too. But you could've came and saw me, you know." She nudged me.
"I know, but I never had the time, it seemed like. I mean, when I would travel, I usually went with someone else. I'm sorry that I didn't go see you. I'm glad you're here now."
"Me too."
"You missed out on high school here. We had some good times. You should've been here."
"Yeah, I went to high school at a Christian school. There was no dances, and there was stupid rules, and we couldn't wear pants. We had to wear uniforms." She said as she rolled her eyes.
"So you never got to go to a dance or prom?"
"Nope. But I remember that you were going to take me to your eighth grade prom." She smiled.
"Yeah, I was. I asked you and everything, even though it was like four months away. You almost went to my prom with me."
"Yeah, then I moved. I moved right after my birthday and Christmas."
"Yeah, you didn't even stay for New Year's."
"I wish I could've stayed here."
"You could've stayed with me. Mama would've let you stay at our house."
"Yeah, my dad would definitely go for that." She said sarcastically.
"Your dad loved me, what you talking bout?"
"He did love you; you were like his son. But he didn't like the fact that me and you were alone together so much. Mama and me had to convince him that there wasn't anything going on between me and you."
"We were little kids. What did he think was going on?" I laughed.
"I don't know. That's my dad for you."
"You were my first kiss, though."
"We were like five, Parker."
"It still counts."
"Oh, it does?"
"Yup." We laughed. "I have a confession to make."
"What?"
"I was going to ask you to be my girlfriend at prom. I had a little crush on you for a while before you left."
"Aw, little Parker liked me. We weren't even teenagers yet. Well, you were."
"I guess some things never change."
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, nothing." I shook my head and laughed.
"Parker, tell me."
"No."
"Tell me or I'm going to sit in the truck until you decide to leave or tell me."
"I still like you. I guess I've never stopped. And today when I saw you, I knew for sure that I had feelings for you still. After all these years and all of the girls that I've met, I want to be with you and only you." I held her hand. "You're the one that makes me happy."
Nicole's POV
He just said that he likes me and wants to be with me. Wow. I'm really speechless right now. He's holding my hand and looking into my eyes with his big brown eyes. He's smiling. He's giving me butterflies.
"I like you too, Parker. You make me happy. I'm so happy right now." I giggled.
"Nicole, will you be my girlfriend? It would make me the happiest guy around."
"Yes, I'll be your girlfriend."
We were both smiling the biggest smiles ever. He let my hands go and wrapped his arms around my waist. I put my arms around his neck. He hugged me. We sat on the rocks while he had his arm around me, and I had my head on his chest.
"You know, I really wasn't planning on asking you today." Parker said after a while. "I was going to plan it for the right moment."
"This was perfect. We're here at our favorite place in the world, and you told me that you've always wanted me to be yours. How could it have gotten any better?"
"You really think it was special enough?"
"It couldn't have gotten better. You made me so happy today. I'm so glad I'm your girlfriend."
"I'm so glad I'm your boyfriend. You're my favorite girl."
"Aw."
"Mama sure is going to be happy." Parker chuckled. "She wants us to be together."
"Yeah, I know. She told me too." I smiled.
We sat on the rocks and talked while we watched the ocean, and the wind blew salt and sand in our hair. We stayed there for a while. Then he asked me if I wanted to go walk down the beach. I said sure, and we starting walking. He held my hand as we walked. There was never a dull moment the whole time. Parker is just the kind of person that you can talk to and have fun with all the time. We were at the beach when the sun set around 4:00, I guess. The sun sets fairly early in the Alaskan winter months. The sunset was so pretty. It was the first time in years that I had gotten to see an Alaskan sunset on the ocean. I was happy that I had gotten to spend it with him.
We decided that since it was getting dark, we would go back to his house.
***
He held my hand as we walked into his house. His mom, dad and Payson were sitting in the living room watching television. His mom smiled at me when we walked in.
"Everyone, I have an announcement to make." Parker said as we stood in the living room. Everyone looked at us and Parker said, "I would like you all to meet my girlfriend, Nicole." I giggled.
"Well, it's about time, Parker." Payson said.
"Oh, I'm so happy for you two!" Ms. Nancy said as she got up and gave us both a hug. "Isn't this great, Roger?"
"Yeah, but I think we all knew that it was going to happen eventually, though." Mr. Roger chuckled.
"I know right, Dad? They're acting like it's a big surprise. It's been obvious for years." Payson said.
"Oh, you two. I think it's great." Ms. Nancy said.
"Thanks, Mom." Parker said.
"Thanks, Ms. Nancy." I said.
We all sit in the living room and talked while we watched a show. Most of the time, we were all in different conversations, but Parker never let go of my hand, or he would wrap his arm around my shoulder. We laughed and joked around. I knew that this family was meant to be mine.
***
We ate dinner and made our way back in the living room again after dinner. We talked until it was about 8:30. Then I told them it was probably time for me to be getting home.
"Is your bed set up?" Parker asked.
"Well, no. I slept on the couch last night." I answered.
"How about I go set your bed up?" Parker offered.
"No, I'm fine. You're coming to help me tomorrow. I'm fine for tonight." I tried to convince him.
"I'll help you go set her bed up tonight, bro." Payson jumped in.
"Okay, thanks man. Come on, we'll take my truck." Parker said as they both got up and started going out the door.
"But guys--" They were already outside getting in his truck before I could say no. "Well, I guess they're leaving me, and I'm the one with a key." I laughed.
"They're like that. It's 'go go go' for them." Ms. Nancy smiled.
"Well, I guess I'd better go before they get there and break in the door." I joked.
"Come back tomorrow, okay, honey?" Ms. Nancy said as she gave me a hug.
"Okay, I will."
I gave Mr. Roger a hug bye and he said, "Bye, lil' bit. Keep them boys in line, especially that one of yours."
I laughed, "I will. Bye, y'all." I waved as I walked out the door, shutting it behind me.