The Unknown Ending

Last Part: Returned

Narrator:

It's the night of the date. Ethan took Sarah to a musical cafe, where they dined, sang karaoke together and danced the night away. Afterwards, they were sitting on a blanket outside of Ethan car looking at the stars. Sarah's head on his shoulder and Ethan's arm around hers.

"Tonight was fun, definitely less chaotic," She comments breaking the silence.

"Yeah," He answers chuckling.

"Except when I decided to join the dance circle. Should have been something besides the Macarena but..."

She giggles at his comment, "Okay yeah, true." She looks back up at the sky.

"But, um I have to admit something Ethan. I don't want to keep this from you any longer," she sighs and sits up with her legs crossed.

"Okay bring it," he sits up next to her. She looks hesitant.

"Come on Sarah, you know you can tell me anything right?" He takes her hand and looks at her to continue.

"I lied," she says simply.

"... you lied? You didn't like our karaoke song we chose?"

"No.... I lied about being human. I'm never going to be human again, I was just weak... I'm so sorry Ethan, I was panicking and I didn't know how you were gonna react and I didn't want-"

"Uh, I think I should take you home. It's getting late," He says letting go of her hand and walking to his car. Once he gets inside, his head hits the steering wheel.

Sarah decides to give him a few moments before silently getting in the passenger's seat, where Ethan begins to drive, not saying a word. Once he drops Sarah off at her house, he drives off again before she can even say goodbye. Her eyes well up with tears, but she wipes them away and begins to walk up to her front door. 

Sarah:

It's been a week, and Ethan still refuses to talk to me. Benny says he needs time to think or grieve, or both. But I can't stand having him avoid me any longer.

S: Ethan, meet me behind the school at 4. Please, we have to talk about this.

My text goes through, but he decides to leave me on read. I sigh.

S: Please. We can work this out. I promise.

E: Ok.

Finally. It's 3:30 now so I have only a half a hour to try and prepare myself for the conversation ahead. What will happen to us?

I'm waiting behind the school for him now. It's 3:59. I really want this to work out. But it's simply impossible and eating me up inside. I soon see a figure turn the corner.

"Wow, that explosion did shake you up a little bit huh?"

Oh my gosh! I run over and hug Erica tight.

"I-I can't believe it! How were you able to come back? Wait. How did you know I was gonna be here?"

"Well, let's just say that Anastasia told me and Rory we were horrible guards, and kicked us out. We went to Ethan's house to look for you once we came back and when we arrived Ethan told us he was just going to meet you. But, he decided that it was better if I take you to meet him somewhere that wasn't behind our grimy school. Follow me!" Erica grabs my hand and we start running to another location.

I am running with Erica towards a park. Old Miller park near our school, where me and Ethan always go to study together or just chat about our problems. I remember even sometimes attempting to give him combat lessons, but that practice isn't for everyone. Only us two met here. This was because we both knew we could trust each other with our lives and sometimes we just needed a break from the constant sarcasm and jokes by the other three. I remember countless times when Ethan stared at me with a look of admiration and affection in his eyes whenever I was in one of my long rants about adventures with the vampire council and his eyes showed sympathy and understanding during my confessions and rants about my dysfunctional life. He gets me. He always has. He's my best friend. I walk through a row of trees with my hand now pulling Erica's and into the main clearing of the park. My eyes scan the area, and I finally spot the person I was pulled here for. There he was, sitting on a picnic blanket, and staring intently at his phone. He's in our usual spot... I then feel a soft pat on my back almost nudging me forward, and turn around to see that Erica has vanished. It's just me and him now. I slowly start walking toward the picnic blanket. Ethan looks up from his device, flashes a shy smile and pats the space next to him. I take a seat and he immediately wraps me into an embrace. I am surprised at first, that was not the greeting I was expecting, but then the warm feeling of his arms around me brings me back to the moment and flows through my body. I relax into him.

"I'm sorry," I hear him whisper. I pull away almost abruptly and cup my face in my hands, looking him deep in the eyes. Searching for something I'll never find.
"You shouldn't apologize Ethan, you did nothing wrong! I should be apologizing, I was the one who lied to you. I was the one who got your hopes up and then crushed them. You have every reason to be angry with me, I completely understand. I'm really sorry."

"But Sarah, I'm not angry," He assures me, but his eyes moved down to his lap. "I'm just... heartbroken"

"Ethan look at me. I love you. I care about you a lot. Yes, we should've been something and I really wish I was human because if I was I'd choose to be with you in a heartbeat. But unless you want to become a vampire, which I'm sure you don't, there just isn't a way. But guess what? We are both still so young and I'm not going anywhere! I will always be here to comfort you and protect you. I'll give you advice about girls and be your shoulder to cry on. We already are the closest of friends and you will always be the most important person in my life. Stern cannot keep us apart, my immortality cannot keep us apart, not even the universe can keep us apart." I say all this with my hands still holding his chin, and my eyes locked to his. His face is unreadable at first, but he then cracks a small smile.
"And while I'm still single, do you think maybe for now we can be friends with benefits?" I smile and nod. He always knew how to look on the bright side of things.

He pulls me close and kisses me passionately. We slowly pull apart again, our foreheads still touching.

"Okay, let's not tempt each other too much," He says and I giggle.

He pulls me into a big hug, and I rest my head on his shoulder which seems to be getting stronger. I have taught him well.

"I love you," He whispers into my hair. I smile to myself.

"Right back atcha," I answer. I then let go and start to get up, playfully patting his back. He stands up with me and together we fold up the picnic blanket. He takes it and holds my hand with his free one.

"Let's go home, bestie," He says smirking. I raise my eyebrows and laugh, "I should start getting used to that," I reply. Together we walk, hand in hand back to our friends. But our story isn't over yet. 

End of Last Part