Bad Reputation

Bad Reputation (Epilogue)

Epilogue

Six months later…

I was lying on Jayden’s bed in an almost empty room. The only thing left where the bed and the desk in the corner. The closet was empty, the dirty clothes on the ground removed and all posters taken down. It was weird seeing it this empty, even if it had been somewhat of a gradual process. Only yesterday were the last clothes packed and the suitcases brought out.

Jayden was lying next to me, with his arm around me and we were staring up into the roof. Jayden’s finger was playing with my hair.

“It’s weird, isn’t it?” he whispered into my ear then.

I nodded, burying my head in his chest. Jayden tightened his arm around me and turned his head to look at me.

“The last time we’re in here…”

I stretched up and kissed him lightly.

“I’m sure it’s not the last time,” I argued, pulling away and sitting up.

It was mid-July and the sun was beating down outside. Jayden, Sofia and I would be driving across country. This fall we would all be attending Rice University in Houston, Texas and we would be renting an apartment together. We had made the plans soon after we made up and now we were here. In only a few minutes we would be leaving. Sofia had some last minute packing to do and now she was repacking the car to get her last bag into it.

“Well, yeah, but not for a long time,” Jayden said as he sat in as well.

“It is a little sad,” I agreed.

Jayden leaned towards me and kissed me hard and passionately. I kissed him back for a long time until our breaths were coming in short pants and Sofia yelled, “Are we leaving or not?” from outside the door.

I laughed and pulled away from him, ready to get up and go to the car. Just as my feet hit the ground, Jayden pulled me back and kissed me again.

“We need to leave,” I told him against his lips. “Fee will come in here and you know it.”

Jayden sighed and stood up too.

“Yeah, you’re right,” he said and then he took my hand and dragged me out the door of his bedroom for the last time.

As I had thought Sofia was standing on the other side of the door, leaning against the wall with a smirk on her face.

“Took you long enough,” she said when we came out.

“You’re the one who needed to pack,” Jayden replied nonchalantly, walking past her and into the living room.

Debbie was sitting in the couch, watching some rerun of a show form the eighties with a cup of coffee in her hands. She looked up when she hear us enter. Then she stood up and ran over to us. She threw her hands around Jayden.

“Are you leaving now?” she asked, burying her head in his neck. Jayden wrapped his arms around her.

“Yeah, mom, we’re leaving now,” he replied, tightening his arms around her for a second before he let go.

“You’ll come back soon, right?” she asked, looking into his eyes.

It was such a touching moment, so unlike the goodbye I’d had with my parents earlier that day. I left at eight, right before they were going to work. We were all standing in the garage, my bags packed in the Aston Martin. Father nodded coldly at me and said, “Goodbye, Melissa.” Mother pressed her lips together, placed her hand on my car for one second and then pulled away.

Then they each got in their car and drove away. Our relationship hadn’t gotten any better over the months. In anything it had gotten worse. They were paying for my tuition to college as long as I never came home again. I was happy enough with that.

And now I was standing in the Carter’s living room, watching the woman who’ve become like a mother to me too get tears in her eyes at the thought of sending us away.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” Debbie said, going over to Sofia and hugging her too. She had never really moved out again. As far as she knew her parents had moved from this town. At least their house had an eviction notice on the door and the windows were bordered up. I knew Sofia was like a daughter to Debbie. The first tears fell when they pulled away from each other.

“Promise me you’ll visit,” she said.

Sofia nodded. “Of course, Debbie, as long as you’ll come visit us too.”

Debbie smiled at her and then moved over to me.

“I’m glad I got to know you, Melissa,” she said, wrapping her arms around me too.

I hugged her back. This was how it was supposed to be when a child left for college. Hugs, tears and warm goodbyes. I was glad I got to know her too.

“Take care of him for me, will you?” Debbie asked, nodding her head in Jayden’s direction.

“Of course, Debbie,”

Debbie walked away from me and back over to Jayden. She clapped him twice on the shoulder and said, “Well, I guess I just have to let you go then.”

Jayden pulled her into another hug that lasted for several minutes. I knew the two of them had a very special bond. She had almost raised him alone while grieving the loss of her oldest son. They had had a hard life, but everything was looking up for them now.

When they pulled away, Debbie wiped her eyes.

“Go now, or else I really start to cry,” she demanded.

We all bid out goodbyes and walked out the door.

My car was filled up with bags and suitcases. There was only place for one person in the car, and I would be driving my beloved Aston Martin.

Sofia and Jayden walked over to their motorcycles and got on. We looked at each other and smiled an excited smile. This was it. We would be leaving this town and really starting our lives.

I really couldn’t wait to get out and get on with my life.

****

THE END!!!

So that was the epilogue of Bad Reputation, which means the book is over :(

I've really enjoyed writing this book and I hope you enjoyed reading it too. Thank you for the ones who read and voted my story, it really means a lot to me :D

I've got a bonus chapter that I'll post on Saturday in Jayden's POV, so check in then and please check out my new story The Art of Seduction, too ;)

xxAliza <3