When I woke up on Monday, my door was ajar and I could hear pots clanging in the distance as my Dad bustled in the kitchen making me breakfast. I inhaled the peaceful and exhaled deeply before convincing myself to get off bed.
After washing up, I took extra care in getting dressed that morning, fetching out a top I had never worn before and pairing them with my favorite dark jeans and matching sandals. I tied a small bandana that belonged to my mother into a bow on my head, wishing she was here with me.
When I walked out of my closet, Parker had placed himself on my window ledge and was grinning broadly at me.
"Hey, birthday girl," he cooed, coming over to me and hugging me tightly.
I couldn't say much or even breath as he crushed me in his hug, but right there, everything was right in the world. I had my best friend and my father was home. Everyone I loved was here and it was peaceful.
"Happy birthday, little one," he told me, using an old nickname his voice muffled by my hair.
Exactly Ten Years Ago
Parker climbed in through my window as I sat on my bed, reading.
"Happy birthday, little one!" he told me, throwing himself on to me and hugging me.
"Little one?" I demanded, after he pulled away.
"Yeah, Alex. You're a lot littler than me," he told me, giving me a smile, which showed me his missing teeth.
I crossed my arms over my chest and huffed as Parker sniggered at me.
"What do you want for your birthday?" he asked.
I uncrossed my arms and thought, tapping my chin with my index finger.
"I don't know, Parker, I just want to keep everyone I love together," I told him, firmly, "And a snow globe."
"Well, I don't know how to do the first one," Parker replied, thoughtfully, "Shall I just put them all in a box, then?"
I laughed at his suggestion. "I don't know. I guess you'll have to figure that out."
Parker got up, in thought. "Oh, I will."
He pulled away and I when I looked at him, there was a look on his face like he was so happy he could cry.
"I got you something," he said, with a tiny sniff and handed me decorative bag with coloured tissue paper stuck inside so that I couldn't see what was inside.
I smiled at him, "Thank you."
I looked at the bag fondly and pulled all the tissue out and reached in. I took out the thing inside and looked at it.
It was a beautiful snow globe, with a gold bottom, on it the words "Je t'aime", my favorite phrase. Inside the snow globe, was my favorite picture of me, my Dad and my Mom. We had been on vacation with Parker's family and Parker's Dad had taken the shot. It was beautiful, and one of the last pictures we had of Mom before she fell sick and I had always loved it.
It was everyone I loved together, even Parker, because he was the only one who knew about the phrase. I wiped a tear.
"Parker, it's beautiful, it's amazing. I love it," I told him, pulling him into a hug.
"I love you, Alex," he told me, "You're my saving grace. You stuck with me through thick and thin and I would have never been here without you, Alex. Everything that happened, especially last week, you helped me go through all of that. When you started showing up and taking care of me despite me being an absolute jerk to you, I knew I needed to fix all of this for you, Alex, but I guess you fixed me."
"I've always loved you, Parker," I told him, "And this gift means the world to me."
His green eyes shone, seeing me happy. "Yeah, I thought you might like it. I know it's like ten years late, but better late than never, right?"
We laughed, softly. He pulled me in by the waist and kissed me, softly.
"Alex, honey?" my Dad called from downstairs.
"Yeah?" I replied.
"Come down for breakfast."
"I'm coming, Dad," I said, placing the snow globe on my night stand.
"You can bring Parker with you."
*
That morning, going to school didn't seem terrible at all. I felt like I didn't even remember a time that Parker and I had gone to school together. The past week had been so hectic and Parker must have missed so much school, but that day, driving to school in Parker's car, things had never been better.
Parker pulled into the parking lot and looked at me. "Ready?" he asked.
I took his hand. "Parker, with you, I'm ready for anything."
He leaned over and kissed my cheek, smiling broadly. "Come on."
We both got out of his jeep and that seemed to be everyone's business. Parker had commanded the respect of all his peers, which meant that no one walked up and asked him questions about why he was suddenly associating me, and why as we walked towards school, Parker had his arm around my waist.
People stopped what they were doing and stared, all the same, like a huge thing had happened and no one gave them the memo.
Parker, however, didn't seem to be in the least bothered by what anyone thought. He just pulled me close and walked me towards my locker.
"Hey, Hanna," I said, as I approached her and Jackson.
Hanna turned around with a glorious smile on her face, ready to shout birthday wishes to me, but when she saw Parker with me, she stopped. She looked up at Parker's face and then at me. She went back and forth a few times before sighing deeply.
"If you hurt her, Wesley, I know where you live," Hanna cautioned, making Parker laugh and look at me.
"I've done enough of that to last lifetimes. Nice to see you, too, Hanna," he replied.
Hanna gave him a dubious looked and then pulled me towards her, smiling. "Happy birthday, my wonderful dork," she screamed in my ear.
"Thanks, Han," I said, laughing.
"Please tell me we can hang out today," she pleaded.
"Not today, Han, but tomorrow is all for you, okay?" I promised.
"It's a date," she said, closing her locker. "Okay, I have to go do the announcements, so I'll catch you in homeroom, okay?"
I nodded.
"You watch yourself, Parker," she warned, walking off.
Parker chuckled at turned to me. "She hates me, doesn't she?"
"I used to hate you, too," I reminded him.
He brought his hand to his heart. "I deserved it," he confessed.
He waited till I opened my locker and got the books I needed. When I was done, he walked with me towards our class.
"Hey, Parker?" I asked.
"Yeah?"
"You have two tattoos, right?"
He nodded.
"I know the one on your side says "Tomorrow never comes". I remember you telling me that it's your favourite phrase. What's the other one?" I asked.
He pulled me into a quiet, silent corner, making sure no one was watching and unbuttoned the top few buttons of his shirt, revealing his left pectoral.
Over his heart, there was one small line tattooed.
"Je t'aime."
*Hello, you wonderful readers.*
*Thank you for sticking with the story. Our adventures are over today, but Alex and Parker have a lifetime of love ahead of them.*
*I'll see you very soon.*
*Hopefully, a new story is on the horizon.*