What's Yours Is Mine

Epilogue

"It's like I'm a part of something real."

It's the first official day of summer, and the sun has managed to battle the English weather to make an appearance. I'm walking through the park, breathing in the fresh air, admiring the cloudless sky and the flourishing scent of freshly cut grass. Life it seems could not be better.

My once best friend Charlotte is walking her dog, it's quite fitting that our paths would cross on a day like today. "Hi Charlotte." I greet her, unsure of how she'll take me. Only six months ago I broke her heart and won my place as the worst best friend in history. But six months is a long time when your eighteen and I feel we've both matured a lot since then, we are right on the verge of adult hood after all. "Hi." She replies, not smiling but not scowling either.

"I am sorry you know." I give her my belated apology, I never did get the chance to tell her how truthfully sorry I was. "Whatever." She shrugs, not arrogantly, just like she's care free. "You seem happy." I add. And she does, she seems to be glowing, her famous uptightness absent. "I am... So do you by the way." She finally smiles, and although I know all is not forgiven at least the animosity is fading. "I am happy, really happy." I grin.

"So I heard your off to New York in September... That's amazing." She looks at the ground, and I guess this is charlotte's quiet way of telling me she is pleased for me. "Yeah, I can't wait." It's still unbelievable to me, that I am saying those words, that I Hayley Bedford will be living in NYC. But it's the truth, my life is suddenly like a dream. "Thanks by the way." Charlotte says, I have no idea what she is thanking me for.

"For what?" I ask, genuinely confused.
"For showing me that I can only push people so far. Me and Ryan we are good now, we finally figured out we actually do like each other quite a bit... And that's thanks to you." She's not bragging, she's just filled with pride. Her and Ryan got their act together, and I guess they found their happy place within each other. "I'm glad." I say, and with that we once best friends walk off in opposite directions.

My phone shakes in my pocket, it's a text message, 'where are you?'. 'Almost there.' I reply. I walk a little further into the trees, and there in the clearing is my beautiful boyfriend, undoubtably the love of my life, Aaron. He is sitting on a chequered blanket, giving me my favourite toothy grin. "Finally." He says as I sit down. He pulls me close and kisses me deeply, his fingers running through my hair.

When I break free, Lydia is waving at me. "Come and play!" She calls, she is kicking a football around with Henry. Lydia has found someone who loves her for who she is, and by loving him she has learned to love herself. Six months a go I never thought I'd be playing football in a park with Lydia and her posh boyfriend, but you can't predict the future can you? You just have to make sure your ready for whatever it is life is going to throw at you.

"Let's go!" Aaron picks me up and throws me over his shoulder, he runs towards Lydia and Henry. My head is swirling from the motion and from sheer enjoyment. I used to imagine scenes like this for myself, and now I'm living them. I would say it's my happy ending but actually I believe it's just the beginning.

I have the best friend I could wish for in Lydia, the most amazing and considerate boyfriend, and I'm officially an A * student. In just a few short weeks I'll be working for one of the worlds most famous fashion magazines. I like who I am, I like where I'm going and I'm hopeful for the days ahead, something I never was before Aaron. I have him to thanks for everything.

I used to tell myself that no one is ever truly happy, that life is filled with to many imperfections. But the trick to finding true happiness is in finding beauty in imperfection. Aaron taught me that. It's a good life.

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A/N- hi guys! I'd just like to say a big thank you to everyone who has read my story and in particular those who have spared their time to comment, favourite and critique my work. And to those who messaged me and encouraged me to continue with the story, I honestly would have given up a long time ago if it wasn't for you all. I'd like to add that this wasn't the ending I had planned for Hayley, when I started writing I had an entirely different plan for the characters but the readers feedback and support of Hayley made me change my mind, and I'm so happy I did. This is the perfect ending for the all the characters and I couldn't have written it without your help! So again thank you so much, I can't express how much gratitude I feel for you all but I'm sure by now you know! Feel free to message me or comment and let me know what you thought of the ending.
One last time, thank you very much,
El xxxxxxx

Ps. I wanted to leave the ending open with regards to the characters because I'm thinking of writing a sequel. If you would like a sequel please let me know via comment or personal message. :)