When the Clock Struck Midnight

When the Clock Struck Midnight-Epilogue

Chapter 17-Epilogue

          “Holly!” Holly was attacked by a hyperactive Van.

          “Van! I missed you so much!” Holly hugged her tight. “Life’s been so boring without you.”

          “Of course it has,” Van declared. “I’m irreplaceable.” Holly walked her inside her house and they sat in the living room. “Where’s Jordan?”

          “He’s over at his mom’s.” Holly and Jordan had been dating for ten months now. They had an apartment in San Marcos near their school, and so far, neither has regretted saying yes to the other.

          They’d been visiting their families in Houston at least once every month and on holidays, which was why they were home again. It was Christmas Day and it was also the first time Holly and Van had seen each other since graduation.

          “Well, let’s go see him. I want to have time to catch up. I haven’t seen any of you in months.” They hooked their arms together and headed next door. “Have you wished Rodney and Amber Merry Christmas yet?”

          “Not yet. They’re staying in New York and their families visited for Christmas.”

          “How romantic,” Van mused. Holly rolled her eyes.

          They found Jordan in the kitchen, talking with his mom. Holly automatically rushed to him and he held her close.

          “Hey, Jordan! Hey, Mrs. Carter.”

          “Hi, Vanessa.” Van winced at her given name. “Hey, Holly. I’m going to go ahead and go to your house while you three catch up.” They nodded as she walked out.

          “Hey, Van. How’s life?”

          “It’s doing pretty good. Merry Christmas by the way.”

          “You, too.”

          Van visited with her friends for a little longer before she had to leave. The couple followed her out the door and said their goodbyes. Next, they went to Holly’s house to finish opening presents.

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          Jordan watched as his girlfriend laughed at her mother’s expression when she’d opened her present. Her father had gotten her a diamond choker necklace. He smiled lightly as he stared at her. He loved her and he felt damn lucky she loved him, too. Something nagged at him in the back of his mind.

          His secret. He still hadn’t told her it was him at the dance. He’d been waiting for the right moment to surprise her with the news, but every time it came, he would chicken out. He wanted desperately to tell her, to get it off his chest. It’d been almost a year and his secret was screwing with him. He told her everything and to hide something like this was just ridiculous.

This week. He would tell her this week, along with the other thing he wanted to tell her. This time he wouldn’t back down.

A plan had already started forming in his head. He would need some help and he knew just who to ask. He walked up to Holly and whispered in her ear that he’d be right back, giving her chills. He loved that he could still affect her like that. He stepped outside and made a few phone calls.

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“So, how is living with Jordan? I mean, it’s so cool your parents let you live with him.” She sucked on her lollipop noisily. Holly stared at her.