E P I L O G U E

"Put in the snickers bars as well!" I instructed Ray, who did just that, if not with a few snorts escaping his mouth. "What?" Poking his arm I enquired, as he shook his amusedly. "Fuck you and everyone who do not like snickers."

"Yeah, and people who like snickers can go to hell, because obviously Mars is the best. Who the fuck eats peanuts and chocolate together?" Cringing, he stuffed a box of mars bars in the cart, pushing it forward to the gummies section.

"I do, and I happen to be your girlfriend." Falling in step beside him, I nonchalantly threw few packets of M&M's in the cart as he sighed.

"Yeah, unfortunately. I was wondering whether it counted as grounds for break u—OW!" Not letting him finish the sentence, I smacked him on his head, even if it required me to stand on my tip toes. "I was kidding, woman!" Discreetly rubbing the back of his head he whisper yelled, eyeing the aisle for any other shoppers who might be looking on upon us. With one eyebrow raised and lips pulled into an undistinguishable scowl, he looked too adorable and that was enough for my lips to break out into a wide smile.

"I know." Grinning to myself I pushed the cart to the snacks section. Preparing food and booze for approximately eight people was not an easy task, given the fact that our friends had an appetite of an elephant. Checking off the chips and crackers on the paper list that I had loyally made and Ray who had called the whole thing bullshit because modern science had blessed us with smart phones which had the notes application but ended up at the dorm table, because obviously, forgetting your phone in the dorm was apparently just a mistake, made things more fun. I loved riling him up and I loved to see him groan at everything I did yet find it amazing.

"That hurts, fuck." His voice fell down an octave and I shivered subconsciously as it arose memories of us doing things too dirty to be even thought of in public. It was a physical reaction my body had to his voice, that deep voice which never failed to turn me on, even if it had been three years into our relationship. Shaking off the thoughts, I turned around to see his eyes already on me, a glint in them which wasn't there before.

"Okay, sorry, dramatic ass. Then why did you have to go ahead and insult my favorite chocolate? Such things aren't forgiven, Mr. Rutherford." Adjusting his hair which had oh-so graciously fallen over his forehead, I mused, watching his coffee brown irises flit between my lips and my eyes like a pendulum.

"I don't know whether to give you the fake silent treatment or pin you right here against those very snickers bars you like and kiss the soul out of you." My breath hitched and his lips curled, enjoying the effect he had on me.

"Okay stop it—" But I didn't even had to, before Simon moonwalked into our aisle with Liv basically hiding her face behind him.

"NEW YEAR'S BITCHES!" He whooped, attracting the attention of a five year old kid who eyes danced over our group in utter curiosity. His mom picked him up and settled him on her hip, not before casting a rueful glance our way.

"Keep it down!" Olivia whisper yelled, pinching Simon who let out a meek ow. "For fucks sake, do you still think you are in kindergarten?"

Shooting finger guns at the kid who looked upon us as his mom walked away with him, Simon grinned, mock saluting us. "Bro if it was up to me, I'd yell over a microphone because that's how excited I am." And we had to agree with him because this was the first new year we were going to celebrate with our friends, without the interference of our parents and all of us finding time for a deserved and much needed vacation. Simon's parents owned a private house down the Carbon Beach, and had allowed us to use it for New Year's.

"Stop embarrassing us." Ray groaned, pulling me closer to him.

"You love me anyways." Blowing air kisses our way, he eyed our cart. "Oh yes, snickers, good choice, wonderful choice. That's a lot of booze but I'm not complaining."

Ray and Olivia groaned at the same time.

"What's with people liking snickers—"

"What's with people liking snickers—"

Their mouths fell open and they both highfived, staring at the box of innocent bars in disgust. Simon and I glared at them, huffing and pushing the cart ahead. "Those motherfuckers have no taste, let me tell you. Snickers is the best."

"I second to that." I replied, watching the snickers hating duo laughing at something without a care in the world. "Are you guys done with the meat and vegetables?" Throwing in a carton of Gatorade, I turned to Simon who nodded.

"Yeah, it's all taken care of. Jack and Katie said they would meet us up at the cashier's with the general necessities." I hummed, as the billing counters came into view. Jason was supposed to meet us directly at the beach house, with his training a bit hectic at the moment. Jack and Katie had arrived a week earlier, because flights cost very much at the last moment and they had nothing to do with their assignments and projects completed beforehand.

"Guys, here!" The duo in question waved us over as we pushed through the line that earned us glared and curses from few. "Finally!" Katie squealed, throwing her arms around me. "I'm so excited." Jack watched her with a soft expression in his eyes, as he gently pulled a few strands of her hair that had fell out of place. I swooned, happy for my bestfriend.

"Yeah me too." I confessed, as we both chuckled like idiots, eager to spend a few special days with people that were equally special.

"Did you pack that lingerie I gifted you?" I smacked my palm over her mouth as she mumbled, a mess between laughing and teasing me. I released my palm as the others raised questioning brows at us. "If you haven't, I swear to God I will castrate you June Williams!"

"I have, I have. Happy? Now shush." Blush coating my cheeks, I turned away, suddenly finding the Doritos intriguing.

"Look at you," She cooed, wiggling her brows. "All ready and excited to seduce her baby daddy."

"He isn't my baby daddy!" I whisper yelled, looking up to see the lady scanning our groceries silently chuckling. Huffing, I dumped the items from my cart and moved ahead as Olivia and Ray started with theirs.

"Not yet. But he will be." I glared at her to find her laughing silently.

I rolled my eyes, and yet my insides were a gooey mess of guts and melted heart and butterflies that were thudding against my stomach walls. "Stop being childish Katelyn Evans. I'm just twenty one yet. I wouldn't want to be a mother so soon, okay?" One day. But not today. Not now. Not for a few years to come. Because I had a lot to learn and experience. Because I wanted to be the best version of myself when I would become a mother.

"Yeah, yeah of course I kn—"

"Ladies, if you're done talking, shall we take this party to the beach house?" Jack whisked in, immediately finding his place next to Katie, pulling her in towards him by her waist. Katie's eyes looked up to Jack who was smiling down upon me, but I saw the fuck-me-right-now look in her eyes, if not for a second.

"Yeah we are. Let's go."

Jack nodded and the duo walked ahead of me as I sighed, watching their hands mingling in each other's and the secret whispers in each other's ears that were meant only for the both of them. If aesthetic was a couple, it would be Jack and Katie. Maybe because they studied art. Or maybe because they carried art with themselves.

"What are you thinking about?" His warm breath fanned my ears as I sighed internally, my body pressing into his side subconsciously. His hand gripped my waist firmly as the other tilted my chin up to face him.

"Nothing. Just that—nothing." Smiling, I faced ahead, as millions of thoughts ran in my head. We exited the store to find the groceries and food already loaded up in our cars that were ready to go on a drive. We had decided to buy the goods last minute, and then leave for Carbon Beach directly.

There were times in life when you were happy, you truly were, but you just had a lot of things on your mind. A lot of questions you needed answers to. A lot of things you had to think through. But it never came in between you and the way you lived.

Simon did some trending TikTok dance that had Olivia smacking him on his head. Katie was leaning against Simon's car as Jack busied himself in straightening her coat. Olivia secretly smiled when Simon wasn't looking and Katie still wanted Jack to fuck her right in the moment. My friends were pretty weird, but they were...them. They were what they were supposed to be. Themselves.

Life really sucks and it's foolish to keep dreaming of a future without obstacles, but with the man that stood beside me in the moment and the friend's who's smiles were the only thing that lightened up the surroundings, I felt my heart burst and puddle inside of me. A girl who always considered herself ordinary to a girl surrounded by people who made me feel out of the ordinary.

I stopped in my tracks as Ray looked down at me questioningly, a hint of worry in his eyes.

"Hey, are you o—"

"I'm happy." I whispered as his eyes widened, before his brows furrowed.

He then smiled. "Okay." Leaning down a little, he pulled me closer. "I'm happy that you're happy."

I nodded and kept staring into his coffee brown eyes which almost always seemed to have me at awe. How beautiful could someone's eyes be?

"I don't know what made you come to that conclusion, but I'm happy that you're happy. I will try my best to keep you happy, for as long as you'll have me."

"Okay." I whispered back.

"Oi! You both! Stop eye fucking and sit you asses in your car! I'll fuck you up if I'm late to the beach party!" Simon screamed across the parking lot as we chuckled, turning to our friends who were eyeing us mischievously.

"Let's go!" Katie waved us over and I smiled, grabbing Ray's hand as we walked over to our friends, to a new year with them, and to many more new year's with them.

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AHHHHH I LOVE THEM SO MUCH! Also, June is right, snickers for the W!

The bonus chapters will come in, slowly but surely!