A Chance at Life

Marty's Vacation

After our small vacation to Texas, we find ourselves back on LA soil. The days become weeks and weeks become months. Shelby joins us in college, our first semester officially starts with a new season and Eli starts his new school.

It was mid September and I'd just book 2 return flights for Marty and Marcus to come over to LA for Marty's birthday while on the phone to her. "So you definitely want to be here for your birthday?"
"Yes Toni, my parents don't mind and my dad is probably enjoying some pasta on a balcony right now"
"But what about your mom?"
"She's working on my birthday, she wants me to come to LA"
"We'll get Fatin and Leah over here"
"Do they live close to you?"
"Closer than you think. They've been over once or twice since being in LA"
"Didn't Fatin's parents just buy them an apartment?"
"Yeah, it has great views of the city. We'll have to visit"
"Where's Shelby?"
"She's working" I look up as someone knocks on the front door. 'Oh hey someone's here"
"Call me soon?"
"You'll see me soon Marty" She ends the call and I get up.

I open the door and there's a package sat on the doormat. I take it in to the living room as Emily comes downstairs. "What's that?"
"I don't know, it's for Shelby"
"Did you get her something?"
"No" I call Shelby not expecting her to answer but she does.
"Hey Toni what's up?"
"Did you order something?"
"No why?"
"There's a package here for you"
"Open it. I don't know what it is"
I start to open it with Emily next to me watching and see some of Shelby's stuff from her house in Texas.
"There's some things from Texas in here"
"What do you mean?"
"A teddy bear, a couple pictures of you and your family, some perfume, couple books and a journal?"
"It wasn't me, I haven't asked for anything"
"Maybe your mom sent it?"
"Why would she send me anything?"
"I don't know. Maybe you should message her"
"I finish in 20 minutes, can you pick me up?"
"Yeah of course"

We get home an hour later after a grocery store stop for a few things. "Where's the box?"
"In the living room" Shelby comes into the kitchen with the box of things as I start to unpack.
"None of these pictures have my dad in them"
"Hmm?"
"Look" she shows me the selection of pictures; two of her and her siblings, another of her and her mom and a group one without her dad in it.
"Maybe she misses you. What did she say when you turned up?"
"Or she wants to get rid of me. She was just asking about LA...we didn't really address the elephant in the room"
"Maybe you should call her?"
"Yeah" I finish putting away the groceries and pick up Shelby's journal.
"What's this?" She laughs taking it off me and smiles.
"It's my journal"
"What's inside?"
"If my mom has sent this she probably knows what's inside which is why she sent it. It's a diary from the last couple years. Um...the first half is about mainly about Becca, the second half is about you"
"When was the last time you wrote in it?"
"Graduation" she passes me the book and I open the first page.
"Do not read. How classic" she laughs and I begin to read the first few lines. "How long is this?"
"You'll be reading it a while"

I spend the next few hours reading Shelby's book and realize that she's been through more than I expected. She's not only written about her hiding her sexuality but things she's been through growing up. I skip through some pages where it gets really personal and get lost with time. Shelby joins me in bed and I continue to read out loud while she lays on me and listens. I hear her sniffle and stop to check on her.
"You okay?"
"I'm just thinking about how sad I am in this. Continue?"
"Of course."
I read until I begin to get tired myself and I see that Shelby had fallen asleep at some point. I stop reading and mark where I stopped. I close the book and turn on the tv, falling asleep and cuddling Shelby.

Before we know it, we're celebrating Marty's 19th birthday and we're enjoying everyone's company with a small party. Over the weekend we travel around California as much as we can while Marty and Marcus are here, we take them to all our favourite spots. One of the final places we take them is the Santa Monica Pier where we spend half the day there and at the beach.

"Toni! Can we get cotton candy?!"
"Marty duh!"
"Wait I want some too!" Marty grabs Shelby's hand and they run off to the stall. Marcus and I take a pit stop at another stall with some small gifts.
"Hey T?"
"Marco?"
"What do you think about weddings?"
"Weddings?"
"Yeah"
"Uh...I don't know I've not really thought of them why?"
"I was just thinking-"
"You're going to propose to Marty?!"
"Shhh!" He covers my mouth and I squeal with excitement.
"Marcus! This is great! Wait are you sure?"
"You're asking me if I'm sure?"
"Good point but we have so many years to decide on these things"
"With Marty turning 19 and I'm turning 20 soon, I just want her to know that I'm here to stay you know?"
"You want to get married?"
"It'll be a long engagement. When we're fully ready we can do the whole wedding thing"
"Tell me everything"
"I want to start by-" Marty comes running over with 3 cotton candy sticks.
"Here you go! Shelby is just getting a drink" I smile at Marcus and pat his back.

I walk over to Shelby and grab the huge drink she's paying for. "Ah Toni, do you have a dollar on you?"
"I think so" I check my pockets and find all my loose change. I hand it to the guy and we walk off back to Marty and Marcus.
"So what's next?"
"We eat all this and head back. We can go out for dinner tonight. Shelby and I found this nice restaurant"
"You've actually eaten things other than burgers and fries?"
"Very funny"

We head back home to get ready for dinner and Shelby comes in our room looking rather sad. "What's wrong?"
"I tried calling my mom a few times and it went straight to voicemail"
"Maybe-"
"Maybe I should stop tryin'. They don't fucking care anyway, I'm moving on. You're my future now" she hugs me and I hug her back.
"I have a secret to tell you"
"You do?"
"Marcus wants to propose to Marty"
"He does!!" She jumps up and down all excited. "This is such great news! When's he doing it?"
"I don't know, he says that he wants to get engaged now but doesn't want to marry her until they're both ready"
"This is amazing, planning a wedding?!"
"Who's planning a wedding?" I look behind Shelby and Marty's stood at the door.
"Uhh..."
"We're just talking about the future. For when Toni decides to get on one knee" Shelby laughs and links my arm.
"I have to do the proposing?"
"I mean it's the 21st century so not really" she kisses my cheek and drags Marty back downstairs.

I finish getting my final touches and Marcus knocks on the open door. "I was hoping I could take her somewhere nice and do it"
"Marty's always dreamed of travelling. Why don't you go to the City of Love"
"Good idea, Marty loves all things romance. Are you nearly ready?" I finish putting my mascara on and close the lid.
"Let's go"

During dinner, Shelby and Marty talk about all things college while I chat to Marcus about his future. "So why don't you take up a hobby?"
"Like what Toni" he laughs and sips his drink.
"I don't know, knitting?" Everyone laughs at me and I chuckle along. "I'm serious, or gardening?"
"Marcus likes puzzles, I try to buy him ones that will have him focused for days" Marty's says with a proud voice knowing that Marcus is a hidden genius.
"Like jigsaw puzzle? Or brain puzzles?"
"Any, you're like super smart aren't you?"
"I love good puzzles to solve. My secret party trick is completing a rubix cube" Marcus laughs along with Marty.
"That's such a strange thing to be able to do"
"I think everyone should have a hobby" I smile and Shelby nods.
"My hobby was pageants before I decided to quit"
"You can go back to them Shelb?"
"Mmm. Startin' fresh remember" We finish up dinner and take a stroll back home.

I walk with Shelby holding her hand while Marty and Marcus walk behind us. "Do you think your sister is back from New York?"
"I mean she was only going for the summer so I don't see why she shouldn't be. Why?"
"Just thought it'd be nice for you to spend some time together"
"I don't know, I still don't trust her"
"Just think about it. Maybe you can see what your-"
"Don't say it. I don't want to know the woman" Shelby nods and we finally arrive back home.

I head straight to bed and Shelby joins me a few minutes later. "Call her, see what she's up to"
"I'll think about it" I kiss her and turn over closing my eyes. I feel her cuddle up to me and kiss my neck.
"I love you, goodnight"