The Second Chance {Tyler Carter}

Welcome Back To My Life

I knew from the second we sat down he wouldn't handle it well. There would definitely be tears. There could be some anger. He could walk out and never want to talk to me again. But that wouldn't be like Tyler. He wasn't a mean guy. He always understood my reasoning.

Would he still be the same?

"Look, I'm not going to dance around this. What happened way back then? Why did you leave without even so much as a goodbye? You changed your number and left me. You used to tell me everything. Why wouldn't you tell me?" he asked.

"It's a long story."

"I've waited this long. I've got time."

I sighed knowing it wouldn't be easy.

"My parents had been struggling to keep the house. Money was tight. Then my brother had that car accident, and we couldn't afford it anymore. My family decided to move in with my grandparents in Florida. Dad got a job there that would pay well, Mom would get a job too, and James could get the wheelchair he needed after the accident as well as the therapy do he could walk again. It all happened so fast. I wanted to tell you. I just couldn't  bring myself to do it. I was ashamed, and sad. So, I gave you that bracelet, and lied about going having somewhere for school since I knew I never would see you again. I didn't change my number. We just didn't have any phones anymore. Besides, you had Rachel and your music. You didn't need to be sad for me. I couldn't hold you back. So I just left on the plane, and never looked back. I moved back here a year ago."

He froze upon hearing that. I could see his eyes glassing over. I bit my lip and swallowed the lump on my own throat. Shit.

"You're fucking crazy if you think I was better off without you," he began," My life feel apart as soon as you left. Yeah, I had Rachel. You know what though? She was killed by a drunk driver. And then I had lost both of the two people that meant the most to me. One just disappeared. The other was dead. Who was left? If you'd have told me where you were going, you know damn well I'd have gone out of my way to see you whenever I could. My number never changed. You could've at least used someone else's phone so I didn't spend all that time worried."

"I'm sorry," was all I could managed to get out.

"You were my best friend since fucking kindergarten. I didn't come here to get pissed though. I know you're sorry. I came to get my best friend back, if that's okay with you."

"I'm not who I was back then, Tyler," I admitted,"You wouldn't want me around if you knew everything that's happened since then. I'm not in a great part of my life."

"Yeah I do!" he exclaimed,"I've changed too. I grew up. You did too. Our lives may be different, but I still want you in mine!"

"Tyler, you don't understand."

"Then help me understand. I've been trying to talk to you for seven fuckin' years. Give me something here. You've seen what's been up in my life. I haven't got to see a second of yours."

"Well that's not something I can explain in one shot unless I'm either drunk off my ass, or...hmmmm, yeah no I just have to be really fucking drunk."

He gave me the stupid smirk he used to give me when we were kids. That stupid little smirk I could never say no to got me into so much trouble. Like the first time I got drunk was because he stole a bottle of his parents tequila and convinced me to drink it with him. How did he do it? With that stupid smirk, that's how! We were also 14 year old idiots, but the smirk was a big factor.

"Oh my god, Tyler!" I laughed,"Don't give me that look,"It's a serious moment for once."

"But you looked about ready to cry. You know I always hated seeing that especially when it's because of me," he whined,"And I would've cried too because we both know I can be a little bitch when it comes down to it."