AIR || CARLSON YOUNG [1]

TWENTY-FOUR

get ready

She won. Carlson Elizabeth Young won the award, and Lacey acted okay as she announced it with a smile. She acted just fine as she hugged the love of her life, and acted so happy.

The truth is that she felt as if she was dying inside as she watched Carlson with the knowledge that she had hurt her. With Brooke by her side, Lacey tried to keep herself together when the blonde beauty grabbed the microphone to say her thank yous.

"Oh my God, hi," Carlson said and laughed airily, a wide smile plastered on her pretty face. "Gosh, thank you all so much for this. I would actually want to make one of those cliché speeches in which I say 'and I would like to thank blahblah for blahblah', so here goes." She paused briefly. "I would like to thank the only thing that kept me going, which is love. Love from my friends, family, and just love in general.

"Love is kind of like air, you forget that you need it but you're thankful you have it when you remember that it's what keeps you going," she said and took a deep breath before saying something she never thought she would say. "And I have been in love with this amazing person ever since I first met them. They are so amazing and lovely, and just so full of life. I fell in love a while ago, and I hurt that person by being a coward. So, I'm so sorry."

Carlson paused and looked over at Lacey, who wasn't smiling anymore.

"I love you, Lacey Jade Summers, and I always will."

you okay?