If It Was Meant to Be

12

Ethan POV
"I don't want to go to bed" she whines
"Well you don't really have a choice." I say with a slight giggle as I lead her to her bed
"I am a grown ass woman I'll go to bed whenever I want." She says with a hint of conviction muddled by the sound of her drunken state. I laugh at her in a way I haven't done in a long time... it's almost like old times. And for a second if a minute of a day I'm not the bastard who hurt her or a cheater or some prick from Beverly Hills whose fate was sealed the minute they came into this world... I'm just here with her. We are just in the moment together, like it should've always been.
"Com'on, let's go Audrey in bed"
She then wobbles over to the bed and plays idly with the fringe of the silk pillow. Whatever feelings I hoped not to find in Audrey just kept bubbling up like a fizzing soda. I remember the summer just before this hell of a school year. Sitting on the family embellished lawn chairs and looking out into my future. With Audrey playing in the sand by the shore, just as hammered on whiskey as of right now. Or should I say whiskey and Pepsi, after a bit of time you start to experiment and this is just one of the many concoctions produced from our drunken midnight runs. I saw vulnerability in her, I saw what most would call love.
"Ethan, look at the castle I built!" I remember her saying, the words echoing in my head.
"Ready for round two of swimming Audrey?"
"Yeah, I'm ready for anything!"
I then run with my feet hitting the sand hard and snatch Audrey uplifting her into my lap and running into the Malibu beach.
"I love you Ethan, I've always loved you..."
I re-enter the real world to find Audrey say those word:s,
"I love you.
"No matter what El... what's her name... Ellie? Well no matter what Ellie does, I'll always try for you."
She pauses and looks like she's about to pass out
"Because you are the one and only"

Walking down the dorm hallway I try to not think about the words said in the room just steps away. Audrey said the three special words to me. I love you. Even the thought of Audrey being drunk still wasn't enough to chase the thought of her out of my mind. When I finally arrive at my room I quiet my footsteps and listen to what conversation is going on inside.
"So, tomorrow for tryouts we need 10 new uniforms ready. There's a lot of new freshmen and old seniors, that means lots of kicking asses out and and welcoming in. Are you ready for the bright bitches to come our way."
"Becca, I was born ready to see the bright bitches" I hear Elise say
The voices all Burst out laughing, but it's not just girl voices... I hear another familiar voice that I can't quite place. So in the effort to find out what visitors are staying with me, I walk in.
"Oh hey Holloway, join us in roasting the freshman tomorrow for the cheerleading tryouts."
Elise motions to the seat next to her by breakfast bar and I sit down. I give Charlie a familiar SOS glance that I've mastered and he gives me so much of a nod back to reassure my problem.
"Ethan, I haven't seen you all day instead of giving me an explanation... maybe you could walk our guests out and do a little walking on me."
Before I could answer to the sex call of the day Charlie answers my SOS call.
"Ethan, don't we have plans, lacrosse strategy lesson. Isn't that tonight? I mean Elise, if he's going to do some walking on you, he could at least have some abs while doing it. Doesn't that sound much more pleasing?"
"I mean..." she stutters
"Bye girls, sorry I couldn't stay longer! And Becca it was nice to see you, I might drop by for the tryouts." I add with a smirk
And just like that I'm out the door. Charlie is the kind of guy that is so confident in his words, even Elise can't talk back. This is Elise goddamn Carlson I'm talking about here, stuttering is just not in her playbook.