Redefining You and Me

|| Prologue ||

~~~~*~~~~

August 19th, 2019

“Okay, I’m willing to answer one more question today.” I sigh, and look out at the class of sophomores that are chattering wildly. “Let’s hear it so we can move on.” A kid in the middle row raises his hand and laughs loudly as I call him out. 

 “Are you in a relationship Miss. Andrews?” He asks and the class erupts in laughter.

 “I thought I said no more personal questions, but, no, I am not.” I reply. The classroom roars with comments as I open up air-play and put up the notes for the book I am requiring them to read, The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli. “Get out your books and let’s begin.” I read off the important notes they needed to take and assign their homework, which is a set of chapters they need to read for the quiz tomorrow. “Please, do not forget to read! If you do, the quiz will be impossible. Spark Notes is no help for this. Read the book!” I call before they all leave my class for fifth period. 

 My phone buzzes as I walk down to the teacher’s lounge and I find a text from my long-time best friend, Grace, who I met when I was at Camp Turn Around. A camp for troubled teens. I never regret going there, it’s where I made two long-lasting friendships and met the one person who had my heart, even if he didn’t know it. 

 Grace: Jake just told me that Tyler got promoted at work, I’m supposed to invite you down to the station. He wants to see you. 

 Me: No way can I get down to Pensacola tonight. You realize my work is everyday all day and I can’t just get up and leave right?

 Grace: I’ll tell Jake to let Tyler know you can’t make it then. Talk to you later Addie. 

 I put my phone into my back pocket and get a cup of coffee from the station in the lounge. “How’s it going Addison?” John, a basketball and football coach, asks me. 

 I smile, “Good, you?”

 “Great. I was wondering if you might want to go out this weekend?” 

 “Sorry, I have plans, and I don’t date co-workers.” I reply and walk past him to get out of the lounge. I send Grace another text, asking for Tyler’s work number and then get to work on grading my classes’ essays over the weekly note packet they receive. She replies within seconds and I punch in the number to my Iphone. 

 “This is Sheriff Bower.” He says, his voice deeper and more grown up than before. 

 “It’s Addie.” I say quickly. 

 “Addie,” He whisperers nervously, “How did you get this number?” 

 “Grace gave it to me. I just wanted to say congrats on getting promoted and sorry I can’t make it up tonight. I have school tomorrow and I can’t really skip.” 

 “Oh, that’s alright, I get it. I just thought it would be nice to catch up sometime.”

 “Yeah, it would. How have you been, Tyler?”

 “I’ve been good, just working hard. How about you? Have any problem students?”

 “No, just very distracting students. They like to try and get us off topic. Today, my fourth period class asked me personal questions about my relationships and just stuff like that.” 

“And what about your relationships? Do you have a boyfriend? I wouldn’t want to interfere with something.” 

 “Nope, it’s just me and my dog, Jasper.”

 “Oh, well,” He pauses and the phone is muffled, “Sorry Addie, I have to go, I’ll talk to you some other time. It was nice catching up.” He hangs up and leaves a beeping noise in my phone. 

~~*~~

 “I can’t believe you’re here!’ Grace squeals while hugging me. I smile and walk into her apartment. “Are you planning on going to the station?” She asks.

 “Yeah, I’ll let you know what I’m doing tonight.” I say.

 “Okay, just shoot me a text or something, I’ll be here all day.” She laughs and I run back out to my car.

 Time to go see Tyler. 

 I pull into the station and quickly walk inside. The man at the front smiles and introduces himself as Seth. “Can you call Tyler Bower down here please?” I ask him. 

 “Anything for you gorgeous.” He replies flirtatiously and calls up to Tyler. I roll my eyes and take a minute to look around the large police station. 

 “I’m here to turn myself in.” I joke as Tyler steps through the exit side. 

 He’s even more attractive than the last few times I had seen him. And he was definitely more grown up. Which added this feeling to the pit of my stomach. “Oh, and what exactly did you do?” He asks, looking down at me. 

 “I actually am here to tell you that I forgot to tell you something the night you left.” I admit. Tyler laughs and brings me into him for a hug. 

 “It’s really good to see you.” He says. 

I stare up into his deep brown eyes and smile, “You have no idea.”

 “Come on, let’s go somewhere.” Tyler grabs my hand and leads me back through the station to a separate glass door that leads to behind to large building. 

 “Where are you taking me?” I ask. 

 “Climb.” He instructs and points at a tall ladder that leads to the top of the building. 

 “You’re kidding.” 

 “Just climb it Addie.” I obey and take a hold of the ladder. A few minutes later, I am staring at a beautiful view of the city below us. “Now, wasn’t that worth it?” He laughs. “I missed you so much. You have no clue.”

 “I think I do, actually.” I walk closer to him and cautiously put my arms around his neck.

 “Addie, there’s something I think I need to confess.” 

“From the moment I met you at camp all those years ago, I just knew you were it for me. Somehow, I just knew. And when I talked to you—“ I cut him off by pressing my lips to his in an abrupt manner. “I love you Addie. And I’m done wasting my time not being with you, I made a mistake in our first real attempt at a relationship and every minute after was torture for me. I love you."

 “I love you too.” He kisses me again, but I cut him short, “but, what about the fact that I have a job in Tallahassee and you’re here?”

 “Move here?" He gave me a questioning look, so full of hope. "Not tomorrow obviously, but, you can give a notice. Then we can move you here and you can work as a history teacher at one of the schools here.” 

 “That’ll be two months from now. What do we do in that time?” 

 “Find time to see each other. I don’t know how we’ll work it out, but I know that you’re not leaving me again.” 

 “Okay, I’ll move here.”