Is This Smart? (Under editing and revising)

Epilouge

We are all back together again. Together, at the same hotel where it all began. I'm sitting very close beside Jordan on a plush sofa. He's smiling. I'm smiling. I look around the cafe where we all sit. Jennifer is smiling, so is Ann, Maggie and Colin. Everyone is. We're all happy, so it seems.

Right now. This moment. I wish I could live in it forever. Happy. Together with all my favorite people. Everything is absolutely perfect.

I look over at Jordan, he seems to have been watching me intently, but right as I turn towards him, he whips his head the other way. I burst out in a fit of uncontrollable laughter. Then, Jordan looks down at me, now grinning from ear to ear. He pokes me in the ribs, starting up my giggles and uncontrollable laughter, then I screech, "Stop!! Jordan!? Stop it! Come on! Seriously??"

Instantly, he just stops and sits there, smiling and looking straight at me. Slightly surprised, I ask, "What?"

"Oh, nothing. You're just finally happy! Like when first I met you. That makes me feel really happy, as well." He replies, honestly.

I can feel the blood rush to my cheeks in seconds and a grin, which I try my hardest to suppress, blooms across my face. I resituate myself back onto the plush love seat: Jordan's arm over my shoulders and my body leaning against him. Smiles still plastered across my face.

Thoughts of everything we've all been through flood my mind. My smile fads just a bit. But, Jordan must sense what I feel. The feelings and memories of the things I have learned and overcome. Fear. Pain. Sacrifice. Trust. Loyalty. Endurance. Uncontrollable love. Facing fears.

Jordan reaches over and encloses my chilled hand in both of his large, warm ones. This reminds me of the single most important thing I've learned. I am never alone! No matter what. Not in anything I face or anything I struggle with. With my friends by my side, I don't have to worry about facing trials alone. I learned about love and sacrifice.

Like, when I didn't want to let Jennifer travel alone, I was scared, but I decided to join her. And, when I wasn't supposed to walk on my injured leg, Ann carried me, though it completely and thoroughly exhausted her. And, Maggie agreed to come with me, when I joined Jennifer. Though, she obviously didn't want to, nor did she enjoy coming.

And then there is Jordan. He's always been there and he always will be, I can just feel it. From the moment we first arrived in Canada, I nearly fell out of the cab, he was there. When I totaled that boat, he was there. When I was terrified that night in the hotel, he showed up in the middle of the night. And, I popped my knee out, he fixed it, without question. Oh, and when he brought pizza, we cannot forget about that. Countless times, he's been there, comforting me, protecting me, and caring for me, regardless the danger or stupidity of the circumstances. I love him: there's no other way to explain this crazy feeling from inside me.

My relationship with Jordan will never replace my rock solid relationships with each and every one of my friends. Years ago, we all made a promise with each other. We would never let any guy come between or ruin our relationship. And, I plan to keep that promise: no matter how hard it might be. Never.

We've all overcome obstacles. Jennifer found some answers. Ann has, sort of, stopped trying to scare us. Maggie, eventually, forgave Jennifer for suggesting another trip. And, I have found someone who loves me. I've always been confident I'd be the last to be in a dating relationship or to even find a guys who loved me for who I am.

I also have learned what's really important to me: my friends. Without them, I wouldn't have never made it through the struggles and grief of the events of late. Without them, I would have never fallen out of the taxi to be caught by Jordan, thus not meeting him.

My gaze drifts around the room. Ann is reading a book and drinking Starbucks that one of the staff members, Steven I think, gave to her. Maggie is leaning over the front desk talking with Colin. Jennifer is sitting on a high stool, doing the exact same as me: observing everyone. When our eyes meet, we share a smile, but no words. Unsurprisingly, Jennifer raises her eyebrows at me, then winks quickly before looking away.

Finally, I look over at the amazing guy next to me. He is watching me again. I scoot closer to him and he reaches his strong arms around me. I lean my head down onto his shoulder. One of his large hands is claimed by both of mine. The other is soothingly rubbing through my curly hair. Everything is so real. So real and so so extremely perfect.

Again, I look over to Jennifer and smile. Just then, she smiles back. Everyone is smiling. Everyone is happy. Everyone is together. Everyone is safe. Safe forever.

The End??