After Jem left, the air was a solid piece of ice and Jaela only wanted it to melt.
"So..." she said. Her voice breaking. "Are we... okay" she looked up at her best friend begging for everything to be okay. He didn't respond. "Please let everything be okay," she paused trying to hold everything in "because I need you" she broke down and began to cry. He sat back down on her bed and laid her head on his lap.
"We're okay. I promised, didn't I?" He said.
She cried and cried for what felt like hours. Until she fell asleep. Grayson didn't move he laid sat there against the wall with her head on his lap. And when she awoke he brushed her hair out of her face.
"I'm sorry" she said. "I'm sorry I used you for my own happiness. You deserve so much better."
"Well I'm just a fixer upper if that fixed you up,then I guess it's fine." He said about to cry.
"It's not fine, you can't ignore your own heart trying to fix mine. I can't use other people's love for my own selfish needs. I'm so sorry, I wish I could tell him that. But he wouldn't forgive me and I don't forgive him."
"If you want to say sorry, you should forgive him for what he has done, then he'll forgive you for letting us happen. And I forgive you. You are my best friend. I'll never let anything get in the way of us. If you want to go after him, do it."
"I don't, he loves her, whoever she is, I'll let him be happy." He rested his head on hers.
"Okay if that's what you want, Jaela."
"I think that's what I want, thank you for fixing me, will we always be best friends?"
"No problem and yes, I won't ever abandon you" And they were back asleep.
When Jem got back to his college he ran to Noelle's dorm where she sat in her chair reading another old classic book. Her big eyes looked up at him as he opened the door.
"Noelle, I choose you." He pulled her up and kissed her. "But right now, for the last time, I need to cry over Jaela, my ex. Will you please be there for me?"
"Of course," she said,leading him to her bedroom and sitting down so he sits too. "What happened?" He explained.
"I felt so bad, why couldn't I just understand? I was feeling the same way. But I actually love you. She didn't even love the poor guy. He looked so sad. They were close obviously but he loves her. And now, I don't know. I want her to forgive me."
"Well if you forgive her maybe she'll forgive you."
"What if she isn't sorry?" He lays his head in her lap.
"I'm sure she is, she really did love you, Jem. It wasn't all pretend. It just wasn't the right time or places." Noelle said running her fingers through his hair.
"I hope so, because I loved her."
Eli and Melody grew even closer after they're first date. Eli learned that Melody was adopted. Her parents who adopted her, were from Colombia so were all 6 over her siblings. Melody wanted to go to college there in Colombia after highschool, and this being their senior year. Eli decided he'd go with her. He loved her, and wanted to make this be a forever thing.
So in June, Eli packed his suitcases and set out to meet Melody at the airport. She was there waiting. She smiled when she saw him.
"I was afraid you'd change your mind"
"No, we are forever babe." He said hugging her. She had six suitcases and he only had four. He kissed her. But before the plane came, he got down on one knee.
"I knew from the very first time I saw you, so tiny in your chair that I wanted to get to know you and as I was getting the balls to ask you out, you asked me out. And that's when I knew I would love you. That life wouldn't be complete if you weren't in it for the rest of my life. So, Melody Harris, will you marry me?"
Eli said on one knee looking up at Melody. Her red hair falling around her face.
"Oh my gosh, Eli. I love you too, and yes. Yes I'll marry you!" She leaned in to kiss him and fell into his arms. The entire airport awed at them. And Eli smiled just the reaction he wanted.
After Blaine and Lalita's wedding, the vacationed in India. Where they were to meet her side of the family. They slept in a expensive hotel on the coast.
"I now understand why you paint such beautiful bodies of water, Lalita. The view of this water is heavenly" the water was so blue, such a light blue you could see the sand beneath.
"I've always wanted to paint something.." Lalita said.
"What's that?"
"Ive always wanted to paint a man in the water" she blushed. "Nude" Blaine blushed as well. He never thought of her as the type to want to go skinny dipping but he was down for whatever.
"Let's go tonight."
That night they went skinny dipping, Blaine ran into the water and at her request he closed his eyes as Lalita stepped into the cold black ocean water.
"Are you in, wife?" He said snickering that he could actually use that term at 20.
"Yes, husband. I am in." She said her voice faltering because of the cold.
He looked at his beautiful wife her hair slicked back wet. He kissed her. And she kissed him back but from under the water he felt her touch him. And he abruptly stopped kissing her.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am certain,I am certain I love you and I want all of you tonight on our honeymoon" she said.
He leaned in and kissed her.
"I love you too, beautiful"
