This Could Be Us

Chapter Twenty - Promises, Promises

{Aria Chandler}

Have you ever just paused your life for a moment and taken a minute to appreciate everything in it? Well, that's what I decided to do the day I was finally free of my boot. Now, you can't really pause time, but you can run away from the hustle and bustle of life and enjoy a little peace and quiet. 

I ventured that day, after my doctor's appointment, to my very special spot. It was a beautiful sunny day with a slight cool breeze in the air. I pulled up to the path that lead to the cliff that overlooked the lake and hiked slowly up til I reached my spot. I sat down, extending my feet over the edge, allowing them to dangle. I took a deep breath in and glanced out over the lake.

A few months had passed since Paige and Zach's break-up and Paige's odd disappearance. Honestly, life since then has been the best it has ever been for me, despite being crippled. That was all done with now, I was finally out of my boot and I could start regaining strength for track. It would take a few weeks before I could start running full speed again, but I didn't care. I was just happy that I could finally pick up speed again. It was rough having to take things slow and hobble around from place to place.

As for Carter and Zach, the three of us have never gotten along better. I think the time Zach took to collect his thoughts and reevaluate everything did him some good. He is no longer trying to pursue me or trying to make me jealous by dating some crazy bitch. He told us he was going to step back and just be single for awhile. Carter and Zach's bromance gets stronger by the day, but as unbearable as it is sometimes, I am glad they are such great friends.

Anna and I spend most of our time making fun of the two idiots and their behavior whenever the four of us hang out, which is almost all of the time. It's crazy to think how far we have all come and the rollercoaster ride we have taken to get here. I wouldn't want it any other way. It's been the most interesting year of high school, and how lovely is it that it is my last.

Carter, Zach, and I have been spending quite a lot of time in the library researching the perfect college for Zach. He has been offered a few different scholarships and asked for our opinions on where would be the best fit for him. Carter and I already decided we were going to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison together, where he would play football. Zach and Carter were both offered football scholarships to play there, but I wasn't so sure if it was the best idea for us all to attend the same school. In the end, it was Zach's decision and he had narrowed it down to UWM and some university in South Dakota.

Paige has yet to show back up. There have been constant social media posts, news stories, and the whole shabang. With as insane as that girl was, I couldn't help but wonder what happened to her. The boys didn't seem to care all that much, but they did their part in hanging up missing posters all around town. Still after all this time, no one has seen or heard from her.

I took one last glance around the lake before letting my thoughts settle and preparing myself to leave. However, when I turned around Carter was behind me wearing that stupid, but cute, little smirk of his.

I rolled my eyes at him and turned back to the lake. "I'm starting to regret showing you this place."

"You've been up here for three hours, babe." He chuckled, settling himself down next to me on the cliff.

"I've just been thinking about this year and all that's happened." I explained.

I listened as he exhaled deeply, remembering all the events of this year himself. "Yeah it's really been a crazy year - emphasis on the crazy."

We both laughed at that. Then there was a moment of silence. Then he turned to me. I turned to him. He smiled. I smiled.

"You know I love you, right?" he asked.