Chapter 17: Part 15

"Hi,  I heard you were looking for me."  Tolan  uttered.

"I was" I stated back. " You didn't even wish me  luck." Tolan said as he was stepping closer.        "That's rich coming from you." I shot back with annoyance.

"What do you mean" he responded back calmly.

" Why don't you ask Lydia, since you gave her your jersey. Her support means, the stars and the moon to you"

He tried to talk to me . I  interrupted him by holding my hand out "save it, go play ball. Have to  check on my brother."  I walked off.

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"Oh baby I wish. I would have came earlier"

" It's okay mom. I'm fine plus you were working." Arden tried to comfort our mother.

With my parents, Arden, and  I was seated in the bleachers. Compared to a standard nuclear family, this is the closest thing to one we have ever been. But since this wasn't my reality, I had to remember and wake up. I wished that things were all different. He stayed to support the team.

Arden was so hard headed, that my mom had to strike a deal,  which was after this game he was going to the doctors tomorrow.

Tolan and Ace were added in the last half of the game. Arden keeps glancing at the scouts. I really feel bad for him. Because I saw him practice like an animal and change his entire diet. This is so unfair he deserves, to be on that field.

We are watching the final moments of the game.

Tolan has the ball

He is going 20, 10.He is dodging tackles left and right. He was trucking plays

He is running towards the end zone will he score.

There is legit no one he can pass  it to.

I see Ace caught up to him. Tolan sees Ace

he fakes  passes the ball to Ace.

And continues to bolt.

Tolan scores a touchdown

The crowd goes wild

"Now that was impressive, he ran 109 yards to the end zone . That was an athletic play from a punter." Arden was shouting to me.

He threw his helmet, on the ground in celebration.

" Wait Bree is that your boyfriend?" My mom asked.

I just gave her a smile. And awkwardly  clapped my hands.

My phone vibrates. It's a message from Bowie " We need to talk."

I texted back  now?

" yeah."

" Um guys, I'm heading down to. Analia and Bowie them."  I picking up my jacket. " I'm coming with you." Arden jumps up after me.

As we walk away with him. I look back at my mom and dad. My dad looks crazy uncomfortable.

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Analia and Colton were sitting in the bleachers. Then I see Bowie on the side of the bleachers.

"I'm coming, quickly going to Bowie." I said  to Arden, I  walked off without, waiting for a response.

"Hi, you were looking for me" I said as I approached Bowie.

" There is no effortless way to say this. But I'll just come out and say it. I'm leaving, with my to parents  California."

"Oh wow. When you are leaving?"

"2 days from today." Bowie explains. I was taken a back on the news

" Is that why Analia was mad at you." It all starts to make sense now.

"Wow this is a lot  to take in. Lia and you have been, friends an exceptionally long time. You introduced me to Tolan.." My eyes started to sting a bit " Not going to lie. The thought of you being apart from us is unsettling."

" Look Bree, we both know high school isn't suppose to last forever." He gave me a sheepish smile. "Plus we are finishing high school. In a few months."

His words rang so true, but one of the hardest things. Is facing reality as it is, not as what it was, or what you wish it to be.

I  gave him a hug, without thinking.

"You know your brother is watching us." I chuckled as he said that. " Yeah, that's my bodyguard."

"Look we can still party tonight. Like it's 1999 " He tried to console me.

" I don't want to party. Today was  pretty   hard." I pulled away from him, to end the hug

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My mom took us home. Colton and my brother  stayed behind. Since it's Colton's last night, here.  They are  going to paint, the town red.

"Thanks miss Miller."     "Thanks mom." And we ran upstairs. "Do you to want go out and celebrate?" Analia asked

"No , I got embarrassed enough for the day. EVEN A WHOLE LIFE TIME." I said as I flopped on the bed. " So much as happened to me over a span of  this week."

" Yeah . I know what you mean. You  are way stronger, than me." Analia tried to comfort me. "You sad,  about Colton Leaving."

" Yeah it is sad, but like he said earlier,  he's only a phone call away. "I tried to reassure her. " Are you going to miss him?"

" Yeah seeing him reminds me of simpler times. When we would go out with your brother . And just chill .... those were simpler." After Analia spoke those words, it threw me into a whole of memories.

" Those were lighter times." Than I  was interrupted  by an important thought." Did you know about. Bowie moving away with his parents?"

" Yeah, I wanted  him to tell you." She confessed. " Is that why you, were mad at him?" She sat next to me. As I inquired. "Yeah us 3 were suppose to go college together. We can't part ways now. We promised each  other."

"Well not every promise works out that way. Life happens." I patted her on the back

"I know but that  doesn't  make, it less painful because I admitted it. It feels like things are changing too early." I looked at Analia confused after she said that.

"What do you mean? Sure Bowie is leaving but we still have each other." I uttered back

She just bit her lip and  turned away.

" What are you doing here I'm sure you want, to party with Ace ?Go I will be fine." I encourage Analia.

" No, I'm sure he wants to celebrate,  his  win. With his teammates." Analia encouraged

I pull out my phone,  and I see no missed  calls from Tolan  .

I   roll my eyes. Threw my phone on my bed and stood up.

"So what do you want to do Lia?"

---------

" My stomach , Trevor  Noah is funny." Analia said while aggressively hitting the air and laughing.

" Yeah" I said while wiping my tears from my eyes. " Who needs to go out when, we can just watch a comedy  special."

I hear the keys Turning. "Why aren't you guy's  dressed?" Colton questioned. Analia and I looked between each other, we where in our PJs." We've  been trying to reach both, of you on your phones." Arden informed.

"We are not going out." Analia stated.

" Nah this is my last night here. Come on guys this will be like old times." Analia looked at me as Colton spoke. Colton  convinces me " This is my last night here"

" It's  fine if you don't want to go." Arden reassures me. Even though I didn't want, to go I could tell everyone else did.

" Fine." Analia clapped  her hands, at my response, and she jumped up to go upstairs .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"This will be good for you. Plus I know exactly what you going to wear." She ran into my closet. She came out with two sexy cut out dresses. White and black.

"In the words of Taylor the icon. WE not dressing for men or innocence. We  dressing for revenge."

I reached out to grab the white dress cause, it's his favorite colored finished, off doing our hair and  makeup. I walk towards, the  my jewelry box. Pull out the silver heart necklace, that Tolan gave me. I asked Anaila to put around my neck. She hesitantly walked over and helped me.

We showed up to the house it was a beach home. I don't know whose  house this is. All  I know it's  a player's house.

Not going to lie we looked like fire .As we entered, I pulled Analia to the dance floor. As the boys follow us .

I turned around and I took Colton's hands " Let's dance." H just nodded his head and followed me.

I let the music take  control of my feet.

It's like I stepped outside, myself and let the beat control me

My hips get swayed by the music.

I throw my hands it the air without a care.

I been dancing with Colton .Because Analia  and Arden  where  outside.

" I'm thirsty."  I said to Colton. He looked at me and responded "Okay. Let's get a drink or something."

As Colton and I. Walk towards, the punch table.

" I've been  looking for you. But I see you've been busy."

I turn around to see Tolan.

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but one of the hardest things is facing reality as it is not as what it was, or what you wish it to be.(jack welch)