Always

Chapter Eleven: Good Times

~

   “Are you going out again?” My mom says  as I grab my purse. 

   “Does it look like I am?” I brush my fingers through my hair, making sure to get out all the knots. 

   “I would just like to spend some time with you is all.” 

   “I can’t tonight.” 

   “You say that every other night when you’re going out June.” I suddenly felt like a horrible daughter. Of course she misses having me around. Especially when Dad isn’t here to keep her company. 

   I should tell her about Brian. That he’s back in my life. That he’s mine once again. I need to, but I can’t. It’ll tear her apart if she finds out that him and I are seeing another. 

   “Saturday. I promise.” I give her a quick kiss on the cheek. 

   I wait for Brian a few houses down from my own. It was quite chilly, and I wish I would of brought a sweater with me, but my mom distracted me. Brian finally came as I felt my teeth begin to chatter. 

   “Sorry I’m late. My dad was in one of his moods again.” 

   “He okay?” I ask. 

   Brian could only nod. 

   I placed my hand over his. I knew how Brian’s dad was. Especially when he was angry. 

   “So. Where are we going?” I ask, trying to change the mood. 

   “Can’t tell you that. It’s a surprise.” I stick my tongue out at him as he grins. 

   Tonight, Brian was taking me out on a date, I just didn’t know where. I’m a very curious person, so all I did was ask questions as he drove. 

   “Is it at the beach?” 

   “Maybe.” 

   “Is it going to be just us?” 

   “Not exactly.” 

   “Will I like it?” 

   “Hopefully.” 

   “Is it -” 

   “You’ll find out when you see it.” 

   “Fine.” 

   As we arrive at the beach, Brian hands me a bandana. “For a blindfold.” 

   “Do I have to?” 

   “Since it is a surprise…” 

   “Ugh, fine.” Brian puts the bandana over my eyes, making sure to not get my hair caught as he ties it in the back. I hear him open his door, then shut it. Five seconds later, the passenger door opens. 

   “You’re going to make sure I don’t fall, right?” Brian takes my hand and helps me out his truck.

   “I promise.” He leads me to wherever he has set the surprise. Along the way he had to pick me up so I wouldn’t fall. Brian finally let my hand go, my stomach having those small butterflies.

   “Are you ready?” 

   “Sure am.” Brain unties the blindfold, and I gasp with such surprise. 

   “I...You...:” 

   “Happy Birthday June.” 

   A little ways away from the waves of the ocean, a table with two chairs stood. Candles, plates, cups, and silverware were placed neatly on the table. 

   “Thank you so much Brian.” 

   “It has just barely began.” We sat across from each other, the candles bringing out his blue eyes. “I brought your favorite.” Brian picks up a bag from underneath the table. He brings out two already made tacos. 

   “Did you make them?” 

   “I learned from the best.” I smile. I take a bite of my taco. 

   “This is really good. Great job.” 

   “I tried.” We laugh in unison, the sound making me fall for him more. 

   Brian picked up our trash, then pulled out two wrapped presents. 

   “I thought we said no gifts.” 

   “Only ones from me.” 

   “Who’s the other from?” He wouldn’t say. 

   I grab the one that had pink and purple stripes all over it. 

   “This one’s from you.” I unwrap the present carefully, trying not to put too many rips in the paper. “I love it!” I shriek as I start to open the box. 

   Brian laughs. “I thought you might’ve need a new one.” 

   In my hands was a new stereo. “Thank you so much. I’m literally going to use it every day.” 

   I grab the other box, which had plain white wrapping, and a single pink bow on top. I instantly knew who it was from. I only knew one person who wrapped presents like this. 

   “So she knows about us now?” I look up at Brian, his expression hard to read. 

   “I came over early this morning when you were still in bed. She was surprised to see me, to realize that I was back...But we had a very long talk about us…” 

   I pick at the bow, silently listening. “Does she accept?” The smile on his face tells me my answer. 

   “Go ahead. Open it.” I give him one last stare before I put my attention back on the present. I slowly tear off the paper, thinking of all things of what it might be. 

   I gasped. Then felt a tear fall. 

   “It’s…” Beautiful. It was a picture frame with such delicate designs all around it. But what made me cry was the picture. It was the last picture we took before my dad got sick. It was the four of us. Me, Mom, Dad, and Brian. Mom was smiling her beautiful smile, I had my arms wrapped around Brian, a pure smile of happiness on my face. 

   The best part? My dad had his hand on Brian’s shoulder, smiling at him. That’s the day when my dad accepted Brian as one of his sons. 

   “Thank you so much Mom.” I stood up, still holding the frame against my chest, and look towards the sun, which was setting. Brian stands beside me, his eyes closed, his dimple showing. 

   “Brian…” He turns to face me, his eyes now open, staring at me. “Can I do something crazy?”

   He grins. “Show me how crazy.” 

   With the frame still against my chest, I stand on my tip-toes, getting closer towards Brian...Our lips meet. Gentle. Real.

~