picture us (d. dobrik) (book #2) Wattys 2018

Next Step

Audrie

The following day, I planned on visiting my best friend and godson, so I quickly changed into jeans, a plain black t-shirt, and some Vans. I ran out of the house before David had a chance to talk to me and sped away in my car. The drive to the new Sire home wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. The thing that was bad was when I rang the doorbell and Scotty opened the door. "Holy shit. Audrie, you're back!" He pulled me in for a really tight hug and cut off most of my circulation. I knew I was missed, but I knew this was a bit much. I hugged back and laughed slightly. "I missed you too, Sire. Where are my best friend and godson?"

"Kristen is in the nursery with Jack. He woke up to the doorbell. She's going to murder you and I have to be at the vlog house. Bye, Aud. Really glad you're back." I smiled as I watched him go. I closed the door and stepped carefully through the house in search of the nursery. Once I found it, I stood in the doorway looking at how much my best friend had grown. "You've certainly aged. Motherhood does that, I guess." She gasped and spun around, careful not to drop her son. "Audrie Koshy! I have missed you." We embraced each other as best we could without suffocating the baby. We pulled apart and I looked lovingly at Jack. "He's beautiful. You and Scott really have good genes. This kid is gonna grow to break a lot of hearts." Kristen raised her eyebrows at me. "Not that his Auntie Audie will condone such behavior." She shook her head at my comment and chuckled. "Do you want to hold him?" She held him out to me and I nodded eagerly. I had been awaiting this moment for so long, I refused to wait another moment.

I held my godson in my arms and watched as his eyes scanned my face before drooping and eventually closing completely. "How are you doing, Kristen? With the baby and Scott and the new house." She shrugged her shoulders and began tidying up the room. "I'm doing better than I thought I would. Motherhood didn't come easy. Scott is such a big help and the whole friend group/ blog squad, whatever, has been so loving and supportive. David even refuses to put Scott or myself in the vlog if we have Jack with us. I really love that everyone has been there for our family. And you? How was seeing David and being back?"

I walked to the crib and set the sleeping boy inside it before turning to face my best friend, my bottom lip in between my teeth. "It was hard leaving him. It was even harder coming back and seeing him. It was such torture when we were locked in the house for the whole day. But I know we can get through this. We are stronger together, everyone has witnessed it." We walked out of the room together and went to the kitchen. Kristen poured me a cup of coffee and we sat on the small table. "David Dobrik has done a lot of things to hurt his friends in a humorous way, but he would never truly hurt you the way we were all lead to believe." I nodded and laughed a little. "What?" Kristen inquired. "What's so funny?"

I kept laughing as I realized something that was imperative in that moment. "This is so stupid. The whole ordeal was stupid. Why did we let some fake blonde get in our heads? We didn't even fucking know her. We're so stupid." I continued to laugh, and, eventually, Kristen joined in.

Months passed and we were saying goodbye to 2017. David and I had become best friends again, slowly but surely. We were somewhat lovers, as in we kissed and we held hands, but we didn't label it.

Naturally, David was hosting the party at his house, so everybody was gathered with champagne and beer and all other alcoholic beverages. Scotty and Kristen had Jack, Jason and Trisha were doing what they could to keep up appearances for the vlog, Liza was drinking tea on the counter, Alex and Gabbie were stood in front of the group, Zane, Heath, Erin, Carly, Josh, and Jonah were all putting in money for a bet that I would later learn more about, and David and I were quietly minding our business in the back of all the commotion.

Alex tapped a fork on his beer bottle, causing everyone to stop what they were doing. "Before the new year comes around, Alex and I have some amazing news." Gabbie gushed. "Alex and I have been dating for a few months now, and while that is part of the announcement, the second part is that I'm pregnant." We all lit up and rushed to hug and congratulate the newly confirmed couple on both of their announcements.

At 11:56 P.M., David stood and yelled for everyone to "shut their traps." He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the front of the room and we stood in front of the 'clickbait' sign.

He grabbed my hand and smiled brightly at me.

"Audrie Koshy, I'm not the perfect human being you see every single day. Shocking, I know. I'm filled with flaws and ugly parts of me. You've seen them first hand, and you still came back to me. I don't know what the future holds for me, I can't control it, but I do know that I can control who I spend that future with."

He sunk down on one knee and held out the hand that wasn't holding mine. I watched as Zane sent Clickbait over with a box in his mouth. I smiled as I realized what was happening and why David and the guys spent so much time with my dog those past few months. David retrieved the box from Click's mouth and sent him back to Zane.

"So, Audrie, if you'll have me, I would like to share my future with you and yours with me. I want to be weird and annoying with you forever. So, Audrie Koshy, will you marry me?"

I smiled sheepishly and sighed. "David, when we first met, I thought that you were just the boy Liza broke up with. I've learned so much from you and made so many memories with you that a future for you and me is inevitable. I won't lie and say we are perfect, because we are far from it. But I want nothing more than to fix problems with you. And nothing would make me happier than to grow with you, prosper with you, have a family, a home, a life with you. David Dobrik, I will marry you."

Applause erupted around us as he slid the ring on my finger and we kissed in front of the 'clickbait' sign, in front of our friends at exactly 12:00 A.M. January 1st, 2018. Heath sent Link over with a sign that read 'she didn't embarrass our friend' attached to her side over to us, and we posed for a picture with the beloved dog. Gabbie and I posed for a separate picture together to announce her pregnancy and my engagement.

It was the best of times. We were over all the pettiness and childish dramatics. We just were. In that moment, we were living our best lives.