My Next Door Bully

Epilogue

EPILOGUE - MY NEXT DOOR BULLY

"Yeah, I just, um, finished class," he tells me, sounding and looking flushed. Ant's hair is messed up and his cheeks have a red tint on them, his breathing is heavy as well from what I can see. We're on FaceTime talking about our days. But from what I can see, he definitely wasn't in class, but was probably doing something involving Brody.

"Ant, I know damn well you weren't in class by the looks of you," I point out.

He turns red as a tomato and Brody peeks out from beside him, shirtless.

"Hi, Tessa."

"Hello, Brody, nice to see you," I say, trying to stifle a laugh at the look on Anthonys face. A deer caught in headlights.

"W-we were just, um, uh—" Anthony tries and I snap, I can't control my laughter anymore and I'm leaned over. Students around me start to look at me weird and I try to straighten myself out.

"I don't need the details, Ant, I'll, uh, let you get back to class," I respond and wiggle my eyebrows as I end the call.

We made it to college. All of us.

We went to prom and graduation and had the time of our lives on senior skip day. Our group of friends has progressed and each and every one of us has changed.

Starting with Kayla and Mark, they are currently backpacking through Europe together after deciding they wanted to take a gap year, and from the looks of their Instagrams, they are going strong and extremely cute.

Anthony and Brody didn't want to do the whole long distance thing so they applied for the same school and got in.

Elle broke up with Aaron after realizing she wanted to focus on herself. She's joined some sorority to be around girls.

Things since that day I basically attacked Ashton under the bleachers have changed.

I met my mom's boyfriend, Tom, who is a surgeon and successful. They met at the fancy restaurant my mom works at, and from the start they had this—and I quote—"undying connection." Tom is actually really nice, they moved to an apartment since the house before was too big for both of them.

Priya and I barely talk but from what I gathered she moved to Paris to study some fashion things. I've stalked around the internet to find some stuff on Benjamin Adler: He got into Harvard and is studying to become a lawyer.

I guess in that same game where I kissed Ashton there were some important scouts and he played his best game ever (Ash says that I was his lucky charm) and he received a scholarship to Berkeley, for god's sake! It's for some weird named Division II or something—Ash tried to explain it to me but I was near hopeless. Not only am I super ecstatic for him but also for me.

I got into—wait for it—California College of the Arts to study photography, my freaking dream school! Which also means that Ashton and I would be exactly 2.8 miles away from each other or about a fifteen minute drive. We talked about it and are currently saving up to buy or rent our own place.

I was really hoping to get into California College of the Arts since I applied, it had always been my dream to go to California and now I get to do it with Ash. I didn't want to be one of those couples who tried long distance but held each other back in the end. Now, we can see each other whenever we want without any hassle.

As for Ace, I visited him before I moved to California. I met his wife and my half little brother, Jack. I'd like to get to know Jack, we are related. But it'll take me time to heal from what Ace did to my family. I haven't talked to him since and I think it's okay that I don't want to be close to him.

He's my dad but also not at the same time. He was never there for me and my mom so I've come to terms that I like my little life without him.

...

I'm on my way to meet Ash right now, he just finished practice and we're supposed to meet at some this taco place.

The California weather is unpredictable. One day it's blazing hot that I'm afraid I'll be burned alive, and other days it's so cold I'm scared I'll turn into a live popsicle. All in all, I love it.

As I enter the restaurant, I spot the back of Ash's head and head towards him.

I place my hands over his eyes and say, "guess who?"

He chuckles and responds, "Amanda? I told you not to meet in public."

I gasp dramatically and smack the back of his head before I sit, "that better be a joke," I deadpan and point at him.

He holds his hands up in surrender, "no comment said here."

I narrow my eyes into slits and he chuckles again as he leans forward.

"Hi, babe, how was class?" He kisses my nose, then my cheeks and finally my lips. I smile and pull him closer before realizing we're in public.

"Good, what about you? You stink, how was practice?"

He sighs and rolls his eyes, "hard and intense, I didn't get a chance to take a shower. My calves are killing me."

"Ouch, it'll get better. You're not only the hottests player on the team but also the best," I respond.

"Thank you thank you," he smiles.

I blew him a kiss and then we ordered our food.

"So I was thinking...." Ashton trails off as he sips his coke.

"You were thinking...." I say as I dip a chip in salsa.

"I don't really want to play soccer professionally," he says and I nod. Whatever he wants for his future is his decision and I'll support him no matter what. "I've talked about it with the coach and he supports me, we've been meeting up and he's given me some tips. Tessa, I kind of want to be a soccer coach. Because as much as I love soccer I want to teach other people and encourage other people to love it as much as I do," he finishes.

"Ash, I think that's amazing. I love how interested you are in this, you'll do great," I add and interlace my hand with his.

"Thanks babe. What about you? Have you thought about what you'll do once we're done with school?"

"Yeah, a little. I kind of want to open up my own photography studio, what do you think?" I respond.

"I think that's great, you can take professional pictures of others and still enjoy it for yourself," he says. "Oh! I've also found some cheap apartments on Elm street, it's a little small but I think it's nice, you'll love it...." Ashton keeps going on and on about this new apartment. He shows me some pictures of it and did some complicated math on how much we'd actually have to pay for the rent.

"So what do you think?" he asks, once he's done presenting his research and wipes his hand until they are immaculate (his OCD has toned down a bit but he keeps cleaning my dorm room only to find it dirty the next time he sees it).

"The apartment is cute and cozy, I love it," I grin at him and he grins back, showing his dimple.

"And I love you," he replies.

"I have a deep liking for you as well," I respond and chuckle.

He rolls his eyes.

I laugh and reply seriously, "I love you, Ash, so much."

"Good." He kisses me and we walk off into the sunset—well, more like: left the restaurant, got in his car, drove to my dorm and most definitely studied instead of doing anything else.

The end.