Crossroads (Book Three)

Chapter 19

Lyla

I have finally made it to the last day before Christmas break. Classes are officially done and I can relax and be excited for the next two weeks of freedom. Shawn and I have already planned our time off and will be visiting both our families, his first for a few days, then to my parents place for a few days. I can't wait to spend the holiday's with him and our families, it will be the breath of fresh air I feel that we need.

Everything with my dad is still a bit of a mystery, but he hasn't had any episodes since the last one which eases my worries a bit. My therapy sessions have definitely helped to work through some of it too and helped me process the guilt I've been feeling for not being there with him when everything happened.

I'm starting to come to terms with the fact that I can't always be there for everyone when I want to be and that's just the way life works. I have an undeniable desire to help people and fix their problems, even if it's not responsibility to step in and get involved.

It's my last track practice before break and I've already completed my warmup laps of the track before I find a good spot to start stretching. We've moved to the indoor training track since the snow started falling about six weeks ago.

I don't enjoy these practices as much given the lack of fresh air, but I've still been keeping on pace to beat my times from last year so I am pleased. I catch sight of Will approaching as he waves his hand and I nod in acknowledgment. He takes a seat on the track beside me and joins in stretching.

"Hey, you ready for break?" He asks.

"Cannot wait," I groan out over enthusiastically and Will laughs lightly.

"Me too," he agrees. "What days will you be back in Harrington again?"

"We get in the night of Christmas Eve and stay until the 28th. You're staying at your parents the whole time?"

"Yup," he answers as he leans forward to reach his toes. "I told Sidney you're going to be in town over Christmas and she wanted me to tell you that she hopes you can pop by for a visit."

"We can definitely make that happen," I tell him as I smile at the memories with Will's adorable younger sister Sidney. She must be about twelve by now, but she would always follow us around and was the absolute sweetest. "Maybe I'll talk to my parents about having your family over for dinner one night," I suggest.

"That would be awesome," Will replies excitedly.

"You're leaving tonight right?"

"Yeah, I'm heading out right after practice, car is already packed. You guys are heading to Shawn's hometown on Sunday?"

"Yes, we are sticking around for Shawn's game tomorrow night then leaving early Sunday morning. Bailey is driving back with us now too. She was going to take a bus back tonight but figured she could wait an extra day and save eighty bucks."

"Smart," Will says and I nod in agreement.

The shouting of one of our coaches finishes our conversation as we both hop to our feet and make our way over to join our teammates.

I zip up my suitcase and huff as I lift it off my bed and onto the floor before rolling it to the front door of my apartment. I finally finished packing and have a spare six minutes before Shawn is supposed to be picking me up. I double check my packing list again and make sure I didn't miss anything before I hear our apartment buzzer going off and I quickly race over and hit the button to let Shawn in. By the time I've slid my boots on and grabbed my jacket there's a knock at the door.