Before it ends

Not done just yet...

By the time I'd dropped the girls off, Grace was high on sugar and Hayley had two takeaway slices of chocolate bailey surprise.
"Goodnight, baby."
"Night." She gave me a kiss on the cheek. I watched the girls creep into the front door and waited until I saw the upstairs light turn on.
"That was awesome." I turned to Dan before making a U-turn and heading home.
"It was wasn't it?" The car fell silent.
"So you really like Grace then?" Dan nodded, a smile threatened the corner of his lips.
"I'm guessing you Dad's back?" It was posed more as a question than a statement.
"I-What?"
"That's a yes then." He turned to look out the window.
"How'd you figure it out?"
"I've never met your dad Ryan. If I ever did I'd probably end up killing him." I kept my eyes focused on the road, two hands on the steering wheel and paling knuckles. "But I've met you mum, and never have I ever seen her so scared. Not even the time we got lost on our road trip and we're for two days straight with no signal." I laughed with Dan as he spoke.
"You're really not as dumb as you look." Again the car filled with laughter.
"I swear if I were a girl I'd be like Karen Smith from Mean girls."
"I still can't believe you love that movie." I mock.
"Correction: I love Karen Smith."
"Keep telling yourself that."
"It's called the truth, Montgomery." He raised his voice and batted his eyelashes.
"Hayley does not sound like that."
"Yeah I'm sure you of all people know what is sound like to have Hayley fucking Rhys calling your name."
"It's not like that."
"You mean you haven't-"
"We're here." I pulled in to my drive way. My phone read 10:30.
"Are you sure we're not hitting the gym tomorrow?" Dan climbed out of the car.
"Fine but not until around one." He nodded.
"See you at T minus 13:00." I waved and he jogged back to his house.

None of my lights looked turned on. When I entered, the whole house was quiet. I climbed as silently as I could back to my room. Emily must have still been up, I could hear her laughing in her bedroom. I took a quick shower, and jumped into bed-
I couldn't sleep though. I knew I should, I knew I'd be tired tomorrow, but I couldn't. It felt like the day wasn't over.
The sound of my phone cut straight into my thoughts.

Incoming FaceTime call: HER❤️💍

"Hey." I answered with a smile.

"Did I wake you?"

"No."

"I couldn't sleep."

"How come?"

"I don't know." She shrugged and I stared down at her messy hair spread across across her pillow. A thick black strap lay across her shoulder and the moonlight made each feature glow.

"Today was great right?"

"Yeah." She nodded "I feel like it's one of those times we'll remember."

"Yeah," I agreed "probably because you could cut the sexual tension with a knife." She laughed.

"We can't lie half of it was coming from us."

"Yeah I guess, more you than me though."

"Really?"

"Yep." I teased " I mean you couldn't keep your hand off me."

"Ha. You ain't seen nothing yet, Montgomery."

"Great."

"Great." I couldn't help the small smile climbing on to my lips. "So you sing?" She finally broke the silence.

"I did."

"How come I've never heard you?"

"No one has. To be honest Ashley only found out because she knew the head of our school."

"What?"

"I used to go to an academy, it
specialised in music."

"Well do you write?"

"Write?"

"Yeah, songs."

"I used to."

"Write one for me." I didn't have to look to know she was smiling, I could hear it in her voice.

"Maybe."

"Okay." She nodded "I'd love if you did though." I hadn't written in at least a year, I just stopped the more we moved around.

"So where do you think I should bring my sister tomorrow.?"

"Well you could go into town. Arcade then Bella's."

"Bella's?"

"Yeah. The pasta shop we passed on our way home."

"I'll think she'll like that.  Do you fancy going shopping with her. While I'm at the gym. I'll leave the money on the counter and key under the plant plot. You could come around  at 1:00."

"Yeah that'd be awesome." I agreed "I like your sister." We both fell into a comfortable silence again.

"Can I ask you something?"

I nodded "If you want."

She smiled faintly and then carried on "Your dad, I know what he did but, how long for?"

I wasn't expecting that. I wasn't expecting her to properly ask. I knew I wouldn't hide anything from her, I knew I'd tell her if she asked. I just didn't think she would- I hoped she wouldn't- but she had.
"You don't have to answe-"

"11 months." The words came out so weakly I barely recognised my voice. The line fell silent. "Say something."

"I'm sorry."

"Other than that."

"I'm glad you're here."

"Me to." And that was it, the conversation was over but not one of us was ready to say goodbye . I heard Hayley yawning and then the slight shuffle of sheets.

"Goodnight Hayls."

"Night Montgomery." She closed her eyes and her lashes fluttered like butterflies.

"You're so beautiful." I knew she couldn't hear me- but I said it anyway, because it was true, I meant it-and with that thought I closed my eyes aswell. This time I fell asleep. With her beside me and the picture of her sleeping stamped in my mind.
*******
"Montgomery." I felt a tingling feeling climb up my neck, it landed on my jaw.
"Montgomery." The feeling found its way to my chin, and then finally, where it felt most welcome: my lips.
There was a recognisable shiver creeping it's way through my body and without thinking, my lips parted.
I was kissing her.
    "Montgomery."
I was kissing who?
"Mont-fucking-gomery."
My eyes shot open and I looked around. I was in my bed. In my room. Not a girl in sight.

"Oh my god look at your phone dufus." The familiar sound swam to my ears and I lifted up my pillow.

3% great.

"Look my phones gonna die but are we still on for one?"
"One?"
"With your sister Montgomery, are we still going shopping?"
"Yeah, yeah. Surprise her."
"Okay." Hayley nodded. "I'll talk to you later."

-call ended-