Dude's A Lady?

Chapter Thirteen

I packed all my belongings in a haze. My goal was clear now- get out of Illyria.

Thankfully, my house was empty. And from the many text messages and missed calls I knew they were searching for me.

I turned off my phone when Sawyer called me for the tenth time in twenty minutes. As angry as I was at dad last night- I realized I was just as angry at Sawyer too.

I needed to take control of my life again. I needed to be a girl and shed this persona.

"Are you leaving?" A familiar voice asked.I turned and met his burning gaze. He looked crossed between confused and frustrated.

"It's time for me to stop playing this charade. Don't you think?" I said my voice surprisingly small.

"Vivo I don't think you should go-" he began before I raised my hand to stop him.

"Nothing you say will stop me." I said honestly. "I have a life- a real life." I emphasized.

"What about us? What about the guys on the team and the friends you made?" Ty asked grabbing a handful of my clothes and taking it out of my suitcase.

I yanked the clothes back and repacked them. "They weren't my friends. That wasn't my team. Before yesterday they didn't even know Vivian King existed." I argued.

Tyson grabbed my shoulders and pressed them firmly. "Then what about me? I'm your friend, I know you exist." he said softly. I couldn't meet his hurt expression. Not when I told him, not even he could stop me.

"You'll forget about me too." I mumbled freeing myself from his hold.

"Vivo you are one of the greatest friends I have. Is there anything I can do to keep you here?" he asked on the cusp of desperation.

"Think of it this way." I said gently. "I literally put my life on hold for two weeks. I spent eight months back in California working my ass off for a scholarship to Maddie Dale. I finally got the golden ticket only for my brother to dangle it in front of me and guilted me into taking over his life. He ran away to tend his romance with a girl I'm sure he's not interested in anymore. And now he's back. My parents are leaving again. My life isn't going to stop for anyone anymore. I'm leaving...this is my choice."

Tyson took this all in. His jaw grinded but he remained silent. Then before I could register what was happening, his arms wrapped around me.

I pulled him closer and hid in the crook of his neck.

"Okay." he whispered, "You go be Vivo again. I'll even take you the airport." he promised.

"I don't want you to forget me." I mumbled into his skin.

"Not possible." he laughed pulling back, "Come on, lets get you packed."

I grinned and helped Tyson fold clothes. I was truly going to miss him. But with all my willpower I knew I would come visit him every chance I got.

***
I glanced at the door that boarded passengers onto the plane. Then back at Tyson who looked at the door wearily.

It was time to say goodbye.

"You call me whenever Marie isn't all over you, got it?" I grinned.

"At that rate, you'd never hear from me." he chuckled before he suddenly stopped. "I still think you should have told your family. They're going to worry."

"No." I shook my head, "Don't ruin our cliché airport moment. This moment is specially reserved for you Tyson Pierce." I glared at him playfully.

He grined and pulled me into another bone crushing hug. This time he lifted me in the air, as if I weighed nothing at all.