Always You

Chapter 31

Matilda replies, "of course but even if he did not.... you would have five thousand other guys falling at your feet." Holly thinks for a moment before smiling and twirling around in the outfit saying, "I look fabulous!." Matilda says, "aww, Declan's gonna love it!." They head downstairs as Justin says, "come on babe we don't want to be late." Matilda says, "Holly needs me a little bit longer, just can you let them know we will be a little late". Justin comes over and takes Matilda's hand saying, "you know this will be the last appointment before you give birth". Holly overhears Matilda's conversation with Justin saying, "Tilly you need to go, I will manage." Matilda says, "I can cancel this appointment and stay with you." Holly comes saying, "tell me what's phase two of the plan?." Matilda replies, "I have a suggestion... doesn't Declan have a major sweet tooth?." Holly nods as Matilda says, "how about, a birthday cake baked by the girl you are destined to be with? What's not to love?." Holly says, "you're a genius, Tilly!." They share a hug as Matilda wishes her luck and leaves for her hospital appointment with Justin. In the kitchen Holly looks around and grabs an apron before taking out a baking book and the ingredients. She says, "what flavour should I do to win his heart? vanilla, lemon, strawberry...." Holly closes her eyes for a moment and then opens them again saying, "I will do a strawberry birthday cake with vanilla frosting." She begins to mix the ingredients before putting it in the oven; she tidies up and then begins to make the frosting and thinks, 'I should add some color into it'. Holly decides to choose pink representing love; after the cake has cooled Holly decorates it before taking a picture and sending it to Matilda along with a text, 'Phase two: complete'. Matilda texts, 'good luck bestie!.' Holly packs the cake in a box and takes it with her to the college where the fall festival is happening; Holly looks around thinking, 'I just need to find....' She suddenly sees Declan and goes over to him; he turns surprised and stunned to see her. Holly says smiling, "hi, Declan." Declan asks, "Holly! what are you doing here?." Holly replies, "surprise! I couldn't miss your birthday... what kind of girlfriend would I be?." Declan says, "you still want to be my girlfriend?." Holly takes Declan's hand into her and smiles whilst staring into his eyes; he says, "Holls, there's so much I need to say". Holly says, "wait, there's something I need to say first... I just have to get it." Declan says, "I will be right here, babe." 

Holly runs and grabs the box carrying it thinking, 'I've got this, I've got this....' Someone bumps into her causing her to drop the cake as she thinks, 'what the....?'. She looks up from the ground and meets the cold gaze of Jason. Holly says, "Jason? watch where you are GOING." Jason says, "I am so sorry, Holly." He bends down to extend his hand saying, "I did not mean to trip you!." Holly gets up as Jason says, "but maybe it was fate." Holly asks, "what are you talking about?." Jason replies, "I mean, I miss you Holly and I was just wondering.... if you have had any second thoughts about us." Holly says, "Jason... you must be insane, you're almost a baby daddy! with someone else!." Jason says, "I don't think you mean that, and I think if you would give me another chance.... you would see we are meant to be." Holly says, "give you a chance??." Jason says, "kiss me, Holly it will help you remember." Jason suddenly comes closer to her, his mouth puckered up as Holly shoves him into the pumpkin patch saying, "get OFF of me!". Jason says, "whoa ahhhh." He gets back up annoyed saying, "did I really deserve that?." Holly rolls her eyes saying, "do you DESERVE THAT?". The students gathered around them forming a crowd as Holly says, "well let's see, Jason you dated me, secretly slept with my best friend... then ignored her... lied about being the father of her baby... and talked shit about both of us behind our backs so YEAH I would say that you DESERVED that!." A girl says, "hell yeah, go Holly!." Declan comes there asking, "what the hell is going on here??". Holly turns to see Declan beside her saying, "Declan, this is not what it looks like". Holly notices that Declan isn't looking at her but at Jason. Jason asks, "what is your problem, man? She does not want to be with you... how many times does she have to tell you?." Jason replies, "I can't help it, Declan I love her". Declan angrily says, "no... I love her!." Holly was stunned as her eyes sparkled with happiness and a smile emerged from her lips saying, "Declan, say that again." Declan says, "with pleasure, I love you Holly! I always have." Holly says, "I love you, Declan." He caresses her face saying, "and now that I have said it out loud.... I am never going to stop saying it." They share a kiss as the crowd cheers while Jason says, "whatever, this is lame!." Soon as the sunset emerges Declan and Holly take a walk on the beach as Holly says, "god, this place is so great". Declan says, "better than Canada?." Holly says, "maybe not but I am not cut out for that country after all." Declan says, "I am so sorry I left you, Holls... I woke up and all I could think about was how much I loved you, but you were so far away and I got scared, scared of getting hurt but leaving... that hurt just as bad and maybe worse, because I knew I was hurting you, too". Holly sees the regret in Declan's eyes and takes his hand saying, "Declan, I forgive you". Declan pulls Holly closer saying, "Holly, there's something I really want to say to you, I want you to stay here with me, not go back to Toronto... I've already talked to my mom about it, you can have your room back for the rest of the semester." Holly says, "Declan says I don't know what to say...." Declan says, "say yes! I also know someone who has missed you very much." 

Declan brings out a small kitten in his pocket as Holly says, "Tiddles!." Holly takes Tiddles and cuddles him in her arms and kisses him saying, "I missed you, my little furball." Declan says, "I want to finish what we started, here, together." Holly kisses Declan replying, "of course I will stay with you... how could I ever leave a love like this behind?." Declan pulls her into a hug saying, "I am so happy, I could cry". Holly says, "don't cry, just kiss me." They share a warm kiss before soon heading back; Eight months later it is graduation as Matilda, Justin, Holly, and Declan are waiting to collect their college diploma. The principal says, "congratulations to the class of 2022! Whatever plans you have for the future... I hope it's everything you have dreamed of and more." Declan says, "you can bet on it!". Their names are called out as Matilda picks up her certificate while Justin holds their daughter; Jason gives Matilda a cold look as she holds her daughter. Holly, Justin, and Declan collect their certificate. Later outside college Holly is waiting with Matilda and Justin as Holly says, "Martha is so beautiful...." Matilda asks, "when are you and Declan going to have a baby?". Holly replies, "well actually...." She places her hand on her stomach as Justin says, "congratulations." Declan comes on his motorbike as Matilda says to Declan, "you better take care of them both!." Holly gets on the bike leaving Declan confused as he rides off; later at the beach Holly says, "I have a surprise for you, Declan". Declan says, "I also have a surprise for you". He gets down on his knee saying, "Holly, you're the love of my life, my sunshine, my moon and my star, I can't imagine spending my days without you by my side, will you marry me?". Holly nods as he puts the sapphire ring on her finger and lifts her in the air. Holly says, "in a few months we will have someone else who will share our love." Declan says, "who?." Holly places his hand on her stomach as Declan smiles and yells, "YES! WE DID IT!." Declan screams in joy at the sky as he soon runs back to Holly kissing her passionately; Holly thinks, 'it's always been him... this is the story of how Declan and I got together.' Declan thinks, 'no matter what we faced, mine and Holly relationship grew stronger and there's no one I would rather be than with her.'