The One Who Left

Chapter Nine

Brooke's POV

I thought I'd never again wake up in Brady's arms. Never thought I would get this close to him.

But as I looked at him sleeping soundly, with his arms around me, I felt my heart tighten.

No matter how much my brain screamed at me to get the hell away. I couldn't.

"Why do you also do this to me?" Brady's deep breathing was the only reply, "Make me want you so bad when I can never have you. And why now?" I closed my eyes inhaling his sent. It took a second before I realized I recognized it.

•••

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" I screamed as I jumped on Brady, who had just say up in his bed, "Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday day to you. Happy birthday BRADY. HAPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!" I finished the song practically screaming.

"I'm gonna kill you for waking me up like this," Brady didn't seem mad at all though. He grabbed my waist and pulled me next to him, "Let me sleep more."

"No you lazy ass," I had to push down the butterflies, "We have places to go, c'mon. Put on real clothes and meet me downstairs in five minutes."

"Five minutes?" Brady grumbled looking at me though tired eyes.

"Too much time? How about-"

"IM UP!" Brady pushed me off his bed and I landed on his carpet laughing. I stood up and ran my fingers through his hair.

"Fix your hair while your at will you?"

"Anything for you," Brady said sheepishly.

Five minutes later, almost on the dot, Brady walked downstairs hair all fixed.

I had been mid conversation with his mom but when he came down I stopped talking and turned to him, "You ready to start your birthday?"

"Mom? Are you in on all of this?" Brady looked at his mom feigning anger.

"I don't know what your talking about," But Mrs. Smith looked at me and winked as she said this.

"Let's go! We're gonna take my car since I need to drive," I grabbed his hand and pulled him out the door. When we got to my car I suddenly stopped and let him walk ahead of me. When he turned around, I put the bandana I had been holding over his eyes.

"Sorry you can't see where we're going," I smirked as I buckled his seat belt and got into the drivers seat.

Two hours and four stops later, I brought Brady out of the car for the final time, "This is where all the clues have led. Any guesses?"

"Well let's see we've gone mini golfing where only a hole in one would earn me a clue, bowling where the strike would do, an arcade where I literally searched the building for the clue, and finally the mall where I had to search for the numbers of the coordinates of this building."

"Sooo?"

"AND although I wasn't blind folded because I was following the clues, now I am... SO I don't have any idea," Brady turned his head the wrong way and smiled, "Thanks for making this the best birthday ever."

I laughed and moved his head so it was actually facing me, "Anything for you," I kissed his cheek, grateful he couldn't see my flaming ones.

He was silent but smiling as we walked through the building to the final birthday surprise.

"Alright here we go," I took off his blind fold and smiled.

"SURPRISE!" All of our friends jumped out of their hiding spots.

Brady laughed, eyes shinning. He turned to me again, "You did this?" When I nodded he smiled wider, "I really have to up your birthday surprises."

The party had been great and when we opened presents it finally came to an end. Brady got a new lacrosse sticks and gloves from some of the boys on his team. Our friend Maya got him a new biker helmet. And so much more.

Reaching the end of the pile with only mine left, Brady smiled, "Brooke you didn't have to do this, not after the party."

"It's small, but something I think you'll like." It was true, it was small but meaningful in our own private joke way.

He unwrapped the paper and saw a small cologne bottle. It read 'smell better'. I had put a sticky note on it reading, 'please use, you need desperately (;'. He burst out laughing at everyone's confused looks.

"You never disappoint Brooke."

"It's no longer being made so use cautiously," I warned.

"Only when I want to remember all of our great times," He winked and my heart flip flopped.

•••

He still used it. The cologne. The smell was all over him. It surrounded me, overwhelming me.

"You always have to make it so hard." I took a deep inhale, "It's been so long since I smelt this, too long."

"Don't hate me," Brady voice croaked suddenly.

I jumped up with a scream and a snarl, "What the hell, why would you not tell me your awake?!"

"Please let me tell you the story," he croaked again, "The truth."

My heart stopped. He was going to talk.

My silence seemed to grant him permission and he took a deep breath before beginning, "Please whatever you think, just know I was stupid. I hate this, this story so much." He took another deep breath and started talking.

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Is this considers a cliffhanger? I don't think so... but I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'll admit it's kind of a filler but it's also a lead in for a big one. Comment what you think!

Thank you everyone for reading,
izz <3 <3