Beyond The Sky

43

The two of us arrive at my porch steps just moments later. "Well, here's my stop." I look over at Lance. "Will you make it home all right?"

He smiles. "I live the same distance in the other direction. I'll be fine, Serena."

Before parting ways, he embraces me tightly. "See you soon." Afterwards, he walks off towards his own house. After watching him leave, I enter my own house. I open my front door and it squeaks slightly. "Hi," I say as I enter, "I made it home... Sorry I'm home a bit later than expected."

Spencer looks up from the couch up at me. "Good to see you made it home alive," he jokes, "I was starting to worry about you."

I roll my eyes at him, playfully. "Of course you were. You knew where I was."
He laughs. "Yeah, yeah, I knew where you were." His voice trails a moment, and then comes back. "I'm joking."

I sigh. "I know. And I'm playing along."

He smiles at me as I head upstairs to clean up a bit right before dinner is served.

I spent the rest of my night with the family, talking to them about what I did with Lance.

I'm so glad I can be open and honest with them.

I have to return to school the following Monday, and I can't stop thinking about my night with Lance.

I'm cheesy, I know. I'm truly so happy the world gave me another chance for a soulmate. Lance is just about all I would've wanted. Arlo was sweet, too, but I didn't get to know him as well as Lance did. He did seem like a great guy, though. I would've been happy either way, honestly.

This week I really need to finally tell the whole clique--not just Evynne--about the truth with Arlo. I'm comfortable enough with the situation now, that honestly, I'm ready to tell them all. Of course Evynne knows, but as long as she kept her mouth shut, everything should go as I planned it to in my head.

I woke up, very suddenly, to a ding! coming from my phone pretty early the next morning. It's from my sister, Savanna, in our full-family group chat. Because doesn't almost every family have one of those?

I skim over the text and immediately look at the photo she sent. It, at first, didn't make any sense to me.

Then I remembered she had news for us about two months ago.

The photo was of an about eight-week-old silver Afghan Hound puppy, staring into the camera with the well-known puppy dog eyes.

The text underneath it read: 'Meet Harpy! Yes, like the harpy eagle. Not short for Harper.'

Another text came through. 'Harpy is a nine-week-old Afghan Hound, who we had to wait so long for. We announced it to you (very subtly and suspiciously, might we add) as soon as I knew his mom was having him and his littermates, and now he's finally home!'

I smile. For as long as I can remember, Savanna has always wanted one of those dogs. She's admired them from afar for so long, and now she finally has one in her possession.

I quickly shoot a text back. 'He's adorable! Can't wait to be able to visit him.'

I'm wishful thinking, but I want to be able to visit him, Savanna, and Declan some time in the future. I miss 'em.

I turn my phone off and flip myself back over to get a little more sleep. It was only 6 a.m. after all, and it's Sunday. I definitely didn't want to be up that early.