woken up [DYLAN OBRIEN] book 2/2

Chapter 11

     Stephanie  Larson's POV

I see his beautiful face. He has grown some scruff, nice. But his eyes have stayed exactly the same. Those gold beauties have looked into my heart before. I bet they can do it again. One more thing I noticed was his hair. It has definitely grown, keeping its dark color.

"I missed you, Stephanie." he softly. " I'm sorry for leaving. Its just everything was difficult, especially you. I couldn't handle it anymore. So I ran, like I always do. You can stay angry at me for throwing away what we had. But you can never make me forget about you. Because, I love you! A part of me died when I left! So I contacted Holland and we talked. She would tell me what was going on with everyone, especially you. I could never forget you. So please. Give me a chance, give us a chance." a tear rolled down my cheek once again.

"I am not mad at you. I was mad at myself. I drove you away from all that you loved. When I came home and all your stuff was gone, it destroyed me. Depression rippled through my body everyday. I tried to move on so many times. All that led to was drunken nights and meaningless hook ups. Like I said, you leaving me destroyed me. You come back and think everyone is going to forgive you! You want to know something dumb?" he walked a step closer to me, causing my heart to beat faster. "I forgive you. Because I am desperately in love with you." his motions quick, he kissed me.

     He cupped my cheek with his left hand. His lips tight on mine. This felt so natural to me. He was my home, he was where I felt safe. His lips touching mine again after their long parting. Our lips moved in sync. I wrapped my hands around his neck, intensifying the whole ordeal. He moved his hands from my cheek to my blonde hair. The kiss was heating up quite fast. I quickly separated our lips and kept our foreheads touching. We caught our breath, staying there in this blissful moment.

"What does this make us, Dyl?" 

   "Dylan?" I ask. Our foreheads still in contact. He grabs my hand with such desperation. Our eyes meet once again in the past two hours. "I don't know what this makes us, Stephanie." his voice cracks. I could see a tear roll down his face. "I think I should go back outside." I let go of his hands. He obviously didn't know what he wanted. Dylan couldn't grasp that I am only here for a week. If he doesn't make up his mind, I'm leaving. I will not waste my time on a man who can't figure out what he wants.

  I reach the grassy field where the whole crowd greets me once more.

 "Hey, mom. I need some help. Well actually some advice." she nods. "Dylan and I kissed. He said he didn't know what he wanted. What do I do?" I ask. A stressful groan exits my mouth. She gives a sad-smile, "You are going to have to figure that out on your own. "

 A smile appear on my face.

All of a sudden, hands land on my shoulders from behind. I quickly turn around to see the one and only Crystal Reed. "Crystal! I missed you!" I gave her a tight bear hug. "I missed you more!" she wiggled out of my uncomfortable grasp. She scanned my body from top to bottom. "Damn, Florida did you well." she laughed when I punched her shoulder playfully.

  "Thanks for noticing." I gave her a wink with a laugh followed by it. She laughed as well, "Anyways, how have you been. Sitting on a beach in the warm sun, maybe with a hot lifeguard?" I smiled. "There were no hot lifeguards but there was delicious junk food." We both shared another laugh.

 Holland, Crystal, and I were always the triple threat. Everyone knows that we are the original trio. We tell each other everything about our lives. They were my first real friends on the show. They met me and did everything they could to make me feel welcomed. Holland and Crystal will forever be my 'Teen Wolf' sisters.

Right when Crystal opened her mouth to speak, a voice blared on a speaker. "If I could get everyone's attention?" the whole crowd faced Holland, who was on an elevated porch. "I gathered you all here today to celebrate the missed presence of Stephanie Larson. Well, eight months ago she left to a long, well needed vacation, of sorts, to Florida. We missed her, a lot. But today is the day we welcome her back to her home and give her love and support. So to end this celebration, some people have came here with a speech to tell Steph. Lets begin shall we!" the crowd pushed me to the front on the porch. Holland gave me a seat to sit on while I listened.

   Jeff jumped up onto the patio and grabbed the microphone. He cleared his throat, preparing to speak. "About two years ago, I casted Stephanie onto the show. She was a great addition. She worked hard and never gave up. At that time she gained all of her memory back," I smiled at the thought of how it happened. "I watched you become a woman, Stephanie. You grew up so much while filming. And I hope I will be able to see you grow up even more. Welcome home." his audience applauded him while I cried happy tears. He walked down from the patio to give me a warm hug. 

  My mom quickly ran up the brick steps. "Crap, I don't know what to say. When you were fifteen, you broke your ankle. You told me it didn't hurt at all, that you didn't feel any pain. You are such a warrior, Stephanie. You lost your memory, but you still kept fighting. I love you with all my heart, I am glad you are back home." A couple more tears roll down my cheek.

  They all think I am staying here permanently but I don't know if I am. The last thing I want to do is hurt them again. Before I could realize it, Holland and Crystal were on the "stage".

 Crystal went first, "I remember when you first walked into those doors of Starbucks. You looked scared and clueless. Then Tyler yelled out your name," the whole party laughed. "You told us about yourself and we all instantly fell in love. We are glad to be the friends that welcome you back home!" I smiled, but I knew I didn't deserve this. Holland quickly snatched the microphone, "And happy late birthday! You're twenty-four now!" I smiled once again.

 The party died down, people started to leave. Everyone said their "goodbye" and "I love you"

I quickly left, going back into the house. I walked past the spot Dylan and I shared the steamy smooch. I stand there,  I had everything I wanted right then. But being the stubborn person I am, I walked out on him. I threw away everything I could've had. My feet take me back up the stairs. "Are you going to bed?" Holland shouted from the kitchen. "Yep, goodnight!"

 "The cleaning guys are out there, by the way!" She shouted. I laughed, "Okay, Hol!"

I walked to my guest room,shut the door, and ripped my shirt and pants off. I walked to my bed and grab the sweatpants that I set out in advance. My usual is no shirt, or bra, and some sweatpants. I'm the average white girl. I walk to my bed and pull the covers away from the collection of soft pillows. I lay there and stare at the ceiling fan. 

  I almost drifted into a deep sleep until I heard rustling in the closet. Wondering what was in there, I pulled back the blankets and grabbed the large shirt on my dresser. I quickly put it on so I could investigate . Fear and curiousness ran through my mind wildly. I walked towards the door and reached for the handle. Before I could get a hold of it, the door blew open. I screamed, then a hand quickly covered my mouth. "Ssh!" a familiar voice whisper-shouted. 

   It was Dylan.

 I ripped his hand from my mouth. "What the hell are you doing?" I shouted at him. In my mind, I smiled at his adorable dork like personality. He paced to the bedside lamp and turned it on, causing the room to have a faded light. His feet quickly returned to me, he fiddled with his hands then looked at me. I reached for his hands, "Why are you really here, Dylan?"

  His voice hoarse, like he has been crying. "Because I love you. I can't have you leaving me again. I know that I screwed everything up. And I won't let that happen again. Because you deserve much better than what I gave you. Cause, Stephanie, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met. You are funny, smart, and you actually put up with my dirty jokes." We shared a small laugh, as for the tears rolling down our cheeks.

 "You are my life, and I can't live without you. The months you were gone, were the hardest months of my life. So please, give me a second chance. Because, I will love you forever." I continue to stare into his eyes.

 "I love you."