Revealed

109. Solane

The crowd moves Jeremy and I to the center of the floor where we almost lose each other. We jump along to the music screaming and letting the rhythm flow through our incomparable bodies.

All of us meet back up later in the night at the bar.
"Hey bartender! Eight shots of tequila right here man!", Melissa hasn't even had a drink yet but her behavior makes it look like she has. I look past Melissa to Sharon and raise an eyebrow. I told her we wouldn't be drinking. She sighs back at me and shrugs her shoulders.

"Make that seven tequila shots and one Pincer Vodka shot," Nickson yells.

Melissa gasps. "I love your taste!", she seductively squeals at him. Gimme two of those!"

Stella taps my shoulder. "Can she handle that?!"

"I dare you to try and stop her."

Stella slouches in the seat and shakes her head at the ground smiling.

Jeremy grabs a shot for he and I.

"To deadly situations, long lasting friendships, and true love."

He looks down at me when he says the last part. I bite my lip and we all chug down our drinks. My throat immediately burns and I cough a very painful cough. Jeremy rubs my back.

"First time?"

"That obvious?", I try to laugh.

"ROUND TWO GUYS! WHO'S DOWN?!"

Sharon walks up to me and gives me a tight hug. We let go of each other and I ask her what the hug is for.

"I owe you sixteen plus years of hugs. Interest included. My insurance is a flop this time." I laugh along with her at that very well thought out joke.

"I gotta give it to ya, sis. That was a real smooth line."

She giggles. "Did Melissa forget you guys have to pay for those drinks?"

"Not any more than the bartender forgot to check our ID's, I think."

Everyone bursts out into laughter as Melissa goes for her third round.

The rest of the night is a blur. It ended with a lot of kissing, crying, and hugging. Although I don't believe anyone can forget how Melissa was so drunk and had thrown up on three dancing girls before passing out. We all had to carry her in and out of the car while on our way back to the beach house.

Summer flew by fast. The girls and I had heard nothing of Phil or Harrison the whole time. We mostly spent our days shopping and at the edge of the water. The guys were always together somewhere, but on days when we all got to meet up, we had a blast. We all traveled the world for the last few weeks of summer. I saw new places that I never even knew existed. My first plane ride was just as terrifying as I imagined it. It was thrilling. I flew through the clouds...I loved it. I loved how my heart jumped out of my chest faster at every inch we went higher into the air.. It was like a movie.

Faine was able to get the money to get his family under insurance. He got his sister into a beautiful and affordable prep school. He continued to date my sister. They had a few arguments, but always figured it out. That's how love works, I guess. Speaking of Sharon, she went back to our mother. One difference though: she went back with me. I was so scared. I wasn't sure how to feel about her. She left me alone and never came back. But if she hadn't done that, my life would be so different. I wouldn't know half of the great people that I love. Her actions helped me find a stronger relationship with my sister. I want to do everything with her now. At the steps of my mother's door, I made the decision to forgive. In life, you can hate someone. You can want them dead. But it doesn't change anything. And thinking about it, nothing truly bad did happen to me. What's left for me to hate her for? She opened her door in tears.

"Oh my.... Solane?" She walked closer to me with one hand over her mouth and the other hand reaching out towards me shivering. She was in shock. I nodded and took her hand. I placed it over my heart and smiled.

"Hi, mom."

She pulled me into a loving hug. "I'm so sorry.."

"I forgive you."

I can't forget about Melissa and Nickson. They had been vibing all summer. A few kisses here and there. Some occasional floor rumbling. But they never made anything official.

"I just don't like labels," Melissa would tell me. That was the excuse every time.

Can't say the same for Stella and Neal. They became best friends. I was a little jealous of how close they were, can't lie. That was supposed to me and Melissa. But I got over that jealousy phase. I want Stella to be happy. Neal is moving into an apartment with her at the start of her freshman year in college. He and Faine found their way out of the gang life. Nickson, on the other hand, he fits perfectly into the stereotype of "Once in a gang, always in a gang".

Stella also fulfilled her promise about Jayden. He never walked out of that party the same, LOL.

As for Mama, we talked things through. I told her the truth about Jeremy and how he actually had kidnapped me. I told her all about how we met and everything he exposed me to. I told her I loved him. She didn't agree at first, but when she realized she couldn't change how I felt, she learned to be okay with it.

And then, there's Jeremy. The love of my life. We haven't been super lovey dovey, but can you blame me if we have? He changed everything for me. I had new intentions. I found my purpose... with him. He decided to go to college. We obviously couldn't get into the same one due to educational reasons and the really late timing. But I was able to help pull some strings. He's going to get his bachelors at a college only 2 hours and 54 minutes away from me. We planned out our whole year together. When we're gonna meet up, nights out, study dates, communication, everything. Until then, we're spending every available minute together.

The last few months have been a real hassle, but the next chapter in my life is just going to be even more confusing with even better opportunities. All which I'll get to spend with Jeremy by my side...

His eyes.

His body.

His soul.

I love all of it. I want all of it all the time. He's my story. Even when he leaves me for just a minute, I miss him like crazy. It's like watching your heart leave your body. Who could survive?