Epilogue

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My eyes blinked open, “Riley, wake up Marni and Rose are waiting.” My heart jumped Derek’s voice, and I looked up and my eyes trailed over my bedroom. I let my eyes sweep over the beanbag chairs, flat screen TV, mini fridge, bay view windows, and then the den with someone of the most expensive gaming systems I’d ever seen. My old bedroom that I never thought I’d see again. The last thing I remembered was Jaguar, the Manor, the werewolves. My hate for Jaguar and wanting to kill him, my heart jumped and I tried with all my might to make my fangs lengthen. Nothing, I looked down on my hands noting the normal skin and I looked at the mirror across the room. Blond hair and blue eyes. No bronze skin and golden hair with sapphire eyes.  

I stood up looking down on my wrinkled pajamas and then at the mirror again. I covered my mouth with my hand wanting to shriek and yell for joy when my bedroom door opened. I looked up my eyes meeting Derek’s brown ones, I whirled around running at him throwing my arms around his neck and holding on like he’d disappear from my life again.

“Jesus, Riley you’ve never been this happy to see me?” Derek mused hugging me to him tighter and I stepped back blushing as I realized I was still in my pjs.

“Derek! I can’t believe you let me hug you when I’m in my pjs, get out.” I grabbed a piece of clothing of the floor smacking him with it until he finally held up his hands in surrender and backed out.

“Hurry up, Marni and Rose are waiting.” He said to the closing door, as it smacked shut I heard his chuckle. I opened it again poking my head through.

“Wha-, “I blushed deeper and he grinned twirling my pink bra around his finger. Twelve

“Need this?” He asked innocently.

“Give me my bra, Derek!” I shouted lunging forward and snatching it away from him before slamming the door shut and tossing my pjs off and pulling a white and green stripped work out shirt and a pair of faded ripped skinny jeans and then my flats on. I ran a brush through my hair before leaving down in its natural waves before grabbing my bag and keys. I shut my door behind me locking it before stumbling down the steps and into the kitchen.

“See ya later Riley, hope you had a nice night, I know I did.” He waggled his eyebrows grinning before I smacked his shoulder and waved over my shoulder as I left the house and climbed into my BMW. Marni and Rose sat in there already their arms crossed and huffing.

“Marni! Rose!” I cried pulling them both into a hug sniffling back tears at the sight of my impatient red headed Marni, and then quiet Rose.

“Stop hugging us, we’re going to be late Riley.” Marni snapped and gave me a smile before I threw the car into drive and carefully guided it down the street and onto the highway. I rolled down the windows letting the wind rush into the car blowing my blond hair back. I grinned and then yanked the car down the exit and into Jefferson High parking lot. I grinned at the tall brick building which I used to hate, the sight of all the freshmen, juniors, sophomores, and seniors pouring into the building was I sight I never thought I’d see again.

“I’ll be in English, Riley see ya.” Marni said and climbed out of my car slamming the door and I trailed her followed by Rose. Brandon stood waiting eagerly for Rose at the tops of the steps.

“Should I go?” Rose looked at me questioningly and I remembered what happened before.

“I think there’s a better guy for you Rose, you should dump him. He doesn’t deserve you but Zack on the other hand.” I pointed to the ogling light browned haired guy staring at Rose before running up the steps when she looked at him.

“You sure?” Rose bites her lip and then looked back at Brandon.

“I’m sure but it’s your decision.” I said and then pushed her gently. “Go on.” She smiled and bounced up the steps, she talked with Brandon for a few seconds and then he sighed walking away and she looked down at me with a smile and walked into the school proudly.

“I don’t have to be worried about competition do I?” Two pairs of tanned arms wrapped around me and I turned in the grip to meet a pair of sparkling light blue-green eyes that I never thought I’d see again.

He grinned down on me and I gulped nearly choking on the sobs that rose up in me. Sean gave me another soft smile and pulled me toward the behind the school huge oak tree he sat me down. “Sean,” I whispered my fingers trailing across his cheek and lips before I buried my head in his shoulder the tears I held back overflowing.

“Hey, hey everything’s okay Riley. I’m here, I’ll always be.” I waited for my tears to stop before grabbing his shirt and pulling his face down so it was level with mine. Happiness and pain welled up in me, Sean was here, and everything was fine. Nothing was wrong; I’d gotten a second chance. I glanced up at the sky thinking. Thank you… I felt everything that burdened me for the past two years lift away.

“Forever?” I asked and he grabbed my belt loops making me stumble closer to him.

“Forever,” he whispered and we sealed that promise with one everlasting kiss. I let myself wrap around him looking at the sky occasionally and cold nip of fall air. Fall, autumn, the time when everything dies, and the time when everything is reborn. I looked at the sky thinking, thank you.

I gave a deep sigh, everything that had happened; everything I’d experienced even though it all felt so real in the end was just a dream. I let my eyes close as I rested against Sean smiling as the words vibrated through my mind. It was just a dream, Riley. Go back to sleep now, everything is alright. My father’s words soothed me, I snuggled closer to Sean feeling my love for him intensify to the point I knew he was the one and everything was just a dream plain and simple. “I love you.” I whispered to him and he lowered his lips to mine showing his love until it was barely bearable, he loved me as did I love him.

“It wasAll Just a Dream.”

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