After Midnight

Chapter 41

Barry's POV. One year later.

I stayed inside today. I did on most days, but I decided that today was one day I should defiantly not go outside. Because to day was the anniversary of Arin's death. Today marked the worst year of my life, and I was reliving it again.

I was in the local gym, and like always, it was empty. I kept hitting the punching bag I taught Arin to hit with. I remembered how she hit the first time. It was so bad that I laughed, and she glared at me. She told me to shut up and to just give her time.

"You shouldn't hit it so hard, you'll hurt yourself", A voice said behind me. I looked back and held the punching bag so it would stop moving.

"Hey", I said to Dalton. He walked over to me and put his hand in my shoulder. It looked like he had been crying.

"How long have you been here?", He asked.

I shrugged."Few hours"

"I think you need a break. Let's go for a walk"

I nodded and we walked outside.

"Where have you been?", He asked. I looked over at him.

"You know where I've been"

Dalton doesn't say much like he used to. And I haven't heard anything from Dane since he found out what happened to his sister.

"Yeah, me too", He sighed.

"How's Amy?", I asked.

"She's alright. She has to deal with me though"

I smiled."That must be tough"

He pushed me with his shoulder and laughed.

"How is Tara?"

"She's..", I shrugged."She's okay I guess. We broke up a few weeks ago. I thought I told you"

"Oh. I'm sorry", He said quietly.

"It's fine. She was kind of a bitch anyways"

He laughed again."Do you miss her?"

"No"

"Not Tara"

I sighed."Yeah. I miss her more than anything. I would ask if you do too, but I know the answer"

He nodded."I just wish I could've done something", He said, shaking his head.

"You did what you could. We all did"

"What about Dane?", He asked. I looked over at him and furrowed my eyebrows.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't lie to me, Barry"

I looked down and shrugged."That's Arin's brother-"

"If he makes you happy, then you can't just stay away from him because of Arin"

I sighed."I don't know what to do"

"Go to him", He said."Please stop being so sad, and do what makes you happy"

"But I can't", I sighed.

"Yes. You can", He pointed beside us. I saw the house. The house where she once lived. I gulped.

"Dalton.."

"Go", He said. I looked up at the house and waited a few seconds before I walked up the steps. It took all the courage I had to knock on the door. And when he answered it, I froze. His eyes were bloodshot, and his cheeks were wet. He wiped his face off and looked back up at me.

"Hi", He said. I didn't want to say anything, so I just kissed him and hoped that he still felt that way about me. He pulled me closer by my shirt and kissed me back.

That was the first time I've felt happy in the passed year. And I wasn't going to let that feeling go.