comment and vote <3
Soundtrack
Bubbly - Colby Caillat
It starts in my soul
And I lose all control
When you kiss my nose
The feeling shows
The Story - Brandie Carlile
But these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
It's true
I was made for you
***
The Winter Formal signified the end of the semester, and we were all thankful for the break the holidays offered us.
With the exception of Christmas, which I spend with my parents, I find myself at the barn every day of break. I spend my day's tending the horses, working with Alice, and spending time with Tilly and Tyler.
Tyler.
After the Winter Formal, things between he and I suddenly evolved. While the change wasn't something we immediately rushed to place a label on, it was obvious to everyone that we were no longer 'just friends,' as I'd been saying for so long.
The most damning evidence being the fact that I can't spend ten minutes in his presence without feeling compelled to kiss him.
If I were an addict, Tyler's kisses would be my drug of choice.
And I know that I should probably feel embarrassed. I almost do sometimes.
Until he kisses me again, and then suddenly I can't bear to feel anything but happy.
***
"Easy girl," I calm, pulling up on the reins. Alice slows to a walk, her nose dipping towards the grass that borders the trail.
"Hey!" I scold. "That's not for eating!"
I swear, the horse gives me a death glare.
I stick my tongue out mockingly when Tilly and Amethyst pull up beside me.
"Beat cha," I tease.
Tilly rolls her eyes. "You cheated."
"Did not."
"Did too."
"Did n- you know what, I'm not falling for this again," she chuckles.
I grin. "You're learning."
"Shut up."
I laugh, guiding Alice around the next bend in the path.
"What time is Jace getting back?" Tilly asks after a beat.
"His plane should be landing any minute now, but he won't be over here till tonight," I say fondly. "I think him and Trinity want a little time alone first."
She smirks. "And by that you mean they're going to maul each other's faces off for a good hour or two."
I roll my eyes. Jace has been visiting family in Seattle since the start of break, and both he and Trinity have been miserable without each other.
I would know, as they've both been talking my ear off all week about their pain and suffering.
"So," I start, changing the subject "Last day of the year. Any resolutions?"
She smiles. "To live life for me again."
Tilly's words are still swimming around my head when we get back to the barn. After we turn the mares out, I tell her I'm going to go home and freshen up before tonight.
But there's something I need to do before I leave.
It takes me a few minutes, but I eventually find him. He's in the round ring with Hercules, who seems thrilled to be prancing around the ring.
"Tyler," I call, beckoning to him once he turns his head. He calls for Hercules to stop, and I swear the high strung yearling pouts.
"What's-"
Tyler doesn't get the chance to finish his question, because I pull him into a kiss the second he's within arm's length, despite the fence between us.
I place my hands on each side of his face, allowing them to linger for a moment after I pull away.
"What was that for?" he asks, a teasing grin on his face.
"That was for me," I say simply.
***
By the time I've made it home, showered, and slipped into the white blouse and black sequined shorts I picked out for tonight, I have just over an hour before everyone's supposed to meet at Tyler's before we all drive down to the beach for midnight fireworks.
A rumble in my belly alerts me to my hunger, and I dial Tyler's number.
"Hello," he answers after a few rings.
"Hey, are we planning anything for dinner tonight? Or should I grab a few pizzas before heading over?'"
"Don't worry about it, dinner's covered," he chuckles. "Besides, I doubt anything's even open."
I scoff. "Pizza Hut is always open."
"If you say so," he laughs. "See you soon."
"See ya."
I grab my black blazer off the bed in case it gets chilly, and head back towards the barn.
When I pull into the driveway, I spot Jace's car in the driveway and happiness bubbles up inside me. It's been nearly two weeks since I've seen my best friend, and I've felt his absence despite all my distractions.
I park and head into the house, where everyone seems to have gathered around the kitchen island.
"Jace!" I squeal, briefly ignoring everyone else in the room and wrapping him into a hug.
"Good to see you, too," he chuckles once I pull away.
I glance around at the rest of the group, my gaze settling on Tyler. I make my way to his side and place a kiss on his cheek.
"How was Seattle?" I ask Jace, allowing Tyler to tuck me under his arm.
"Pretty great, actually. Went to the Space Needle, went to the fish market- which stunk like death, by the way-, and I even took a ferry boat ride. It would have been perfect if I didn't miss this one so much," he says warmly, placing a kiss on Trinity's temple.
"Ugh, all four of you are making me gag," Tilly whines.
We all jokingly mumble apologies, amused by her antics.
She throws a pointed glance at her brother. "Is dinner ready?"
"Probably."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asks with, my stomach loudly growling in support of her question.
"I'm sure it's ready, but it's not here. We have to go get it," Tyler says.
"Well, where is it?" I ask.
"Wait and see," he states, winking.
I cross my arms over my stomach when it growls again, earning me a chorus of chuckles.
***
We showed up at the beach to a candlelit table piled with picnic food – fried chicken, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and basically anything else you can think of.
Apparently, Tyler had hired someone to set it up for our group.
The food was amazing, and afterwards we all spent the evening laughing around a fire and waiting for the year to end.
A few minutes before midnight, I head down to the water's edge to dip my feet into the current. The winter breeze is sobering, and I pull my blazer tighter around my shoulders.
Last New Year's, Chey dragged me along to a party with some of Justin's college buddies. Things got a little out of hand, and I rang in the New Year holding her hair back while she puked her guts out in between drunken sobs. A fitting start to the worst year of my life.
A month later, she was dead.
"You okay?"
I turn and offer a wry smile to Jace as he approaches me.
"I'm fine. I just-"
He slings an arm over my shoulder, pulling me securely into his side.
"I know," he says softly. "It's been a hell of a year."
And it has.
I think I've had enough death and heartbreak and hospital visits for a lifetime shoved into these 365 days.
"The absolute worst year ever," I whisper.
"I know."
"But somehow-" I pause, glancing back at the fire. At the little group of friends that have, little by little, started to mend the pieces of my broken heart. "Somehow, it all turned out alright."
A/N
SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG!
I finished the chapter last Thursday, but then my laptop spazzed out because it's incredibly old and I had to take it to the shop to get it fixed, but I couldn't take it till after I got paid Friday- anyways, unimportant.
Point is, I feel awful that this update is so late, and because of that, I'm going to update twice!
Quote: Promise me you will not spend so much time treading water and trying to keep your head above the waves that you forget, truly forget, how much you have always loved to swim – Tyler Knott Gregson
Now go on, read the next update and try to forgive me for being so late!!!
Goodnight My Lovelies!