Hallmark Moments

The Ending

The first time I was in an accident, my mother was killed. So…shouldn't that mean the next time death came knocking, I'd be dead? Of course not, death loved playing with me. Death absolutely adored throwing me around like a rag doll, making me break my bones and scarring me even further.

'Jesus Camryn…what the hell is wrong with you?' oh…I almost forgot that accusations were part and parcel of me getting involved in accidents.

'Dad, it wasn't as if she pushed herself in front of the damn car, jeez!'

'Yeah, dad. It was all Parker's fault for telling her that he loved her while she was crossing the road. You stupid ass.'

'Sorry.'

'Parker, you i***t. Couldn't you have told her like any normal teenager would? If you weren't my best friend's son, I would've skinned you alive.'

'I'm sorry, Mr Delaine! It just came out!'

'I'm in love with you Camryn! Uhh…'

I chose that moment to open my eyes. Almost immediately, Jonathan and Tyler cooed over me.

'How shitty do I look this time?' I asked. My brothers laughed. 'You're still pretty to Parker so you don't have anything to worry about.'

'Shut up, man.'

'You shut up. You almost killed our sister, jerk head.' Jonathan growled. Parker had the decency to appear sheepish. I couldn't help but smile.

'Did I break anything?'

'Probably Parker's heart.' Tyler said, making Jonathan and dad laugh out loud.

'You're never going to let me live this down are you?'

'Maybe we should leave them alone to sort their thoughts.' Dad grinned, pulling both Tyler and Jonathan out who protested profusely.

I looked down at the white sheet covering my body. 'You definitely know how to make your statements work, don't you?' I asked lightly. When I didn't hear a peep coming from Parker, I decided to look at him and found him misty-eyed. 'I'm sorry, Camryn. I didn't mean to do it. It's just that…after you told me how you felt…and then you asked me to leave…I couldn't take it anymore. I knew I should just straight away tell you the truth.' Parker dragged a chair and placed it beside the bed and sat down, facing me. He was so close that I moved away from him a little bit. He looked hurt and I found it endearing that he was finally showing me his true feelings instead of the charade he's been putting up in front of our peers.

He put his hand over mine before sliding his fingers through my fingers. He pulled it to his lips and kissed it. Some of his tears fell on to my hand.

'I meant to tell you that I've loved you for a long time…long before I approached you to agree to the stupid deal.' He started. 'But I chickened out when we were in the seventh grade.'

What? What? WHAT? He's been in love with me since the seventh grade!? That's four years! Four frickin years!

And at any moment, it would be the part of a movie when the heroine says something suave and everything will end as a happy moment. Oh wait…there it is. And there it goes…darn it I missed it.

It was actually replaced by Parker's lips on mine. It was a sweet and uncomplicated kiss but I gently pushed him away. 'Parker…' I whispered. He shook his head and kissed me again. My hands on his chest slid up to cup his cheeks as I deepened it just a bit. I felt his hands on my stomach and I closed my eyes.

'OY! Get away from my sister!' I couldn't help but push Parker away as both of us burst out laughing. Jonathan was banging on the room door and I could see he was seething with anger through the partially closed wedge blinds at the window. Tyler was pulling him back while dad laughed. It was the first time I saw actual joy in that old man's build.

I turned to look at Parker and saw him smiling at me. I couldn't read his expression but his gaze on me was soft, something I've never seen before. I placed a hand on his cheek and traced the outline of his cheekbones with my thumb and pulled him into a short graze of our lips before I released him.

'You don't think this is too sudden do you?'

I didn't mean to burst this bubble but it had to be asked. I mean…one month. I just had to go through one month for me to realise that I had feelings for my best friend. It was too much of a cliché to actually be happening.

Parker shrugged. 'Don't ask me.' He tilted his head. 'It was a long time coming for me. I've wanted this for years.'

I smiled and dropped my hands to the side and realised that his hands were still on my stomach. I felt my face heat up but I didn't look away from Parker. Since he showed me his feelings, I felt obligated to show him mine. It was only fair. When he found out what I was blushing about, all he did was circle my waist, pulling me towards him. It ached all over but I wasn't thinking too straight so I thought what the hell.

'If you had liked me since we were in the seventh grade—'

'Sixth.'

'You hypocritical liar!' I smiled as I said it to show him that I was only joking. He smiled back and shrugged. 'There are just some things you say and don't say.' I agreed to that and continued my ramblings.

'If you had liked me since we were in the sixth grade, why did you let Laine give you a hickey and…why did you kiss Josephine last Saturday?' It was painful to say because it gave me back the image I had wished to eradicate from my mind but it had to be said.

'Laine was…an experiment. I mistakenly told her that I never had a hickey from anyone and she gave it to me right then and there. Josephine…she was really a mistake.' Parker pulled my face to meet his. 'I was messed up because of you. I know that's not an excuse but…I just couldn't take that you had lied to me. I really wasn't thinking straight so…when Josephine came that afternoon, I didn't think twice about why she was there.'

'Stop…I've had enough.' I didn't even realise that my eyes were closed as I opened them to look at him. 'Whatever s**t for brains…just answer me one thing.'

'Anything…' Parker said, dragging the first syllable.

'Why exactly did you choose to ask me to agree to the pretend girlfriend thing? I mean…' I was interrupted by his lips on mine and for a second, I almost lost myself in it but when I came to I didn't push him away. All I did was just enjoy the feel of his lips adding gentle pressure on mine. When he pulled away, I looked at him quizzically.

'You asked me why I chose to ask you to agree?' a smile slowly made its way across Parker's very…very handsome face. 'It was because of that.' I think my frown prompted him to continue. 'I knew sooner or later someone might bring up the subject so…I took the advantage of having my first kiss.'

'Your…'

'I didn't know it was yours either…trust me. That was why I was surprised when you said it was your first. I didn't feel it when we actually did it though…did you lie to me about that too?' his tone was playful and I couldn't help but smile suggestively back at him. 'Maybe you were the one doing the lying.'

'You flatter me, Camryn Delaine.'

'So do you, Parker Rosdale.'

'Won't stop me from doing this.' Parker gave me another kiss, this time we ignored the screaming coming from my brothers and father.

I was exempted from school for a whole week as I recovered in the hospital and also at home. Dad pretty much took care of food, Jonathan and Tyler took care of the guests and Parker took care of my lips.

The people who came to visit all got the same version of the lie Parker and I made up. It was completely exaggerated of course.

We all told them that after we broke up, I got run down by a car because I was thinking too much of Parker and then Parker materialised in his car and sent me to the hospital. Then, I discover that he was the one who saved me and I took him back, rather reluctantly but we worked things out and now we're back together. Everyone who visited, which were half of the population of the school who were so into the drama Parker and I had put up, lapped it all up. Except for Hayden. When I get better, I'd have to beat her up like Parker did when he wanted to start a friendship with me. She's too smart for her own good.

Well…granted that she was aware enough to see that Parker's car was parked in front of the bus stop a few minutes away from school.

All in all, it wasn't a great week but having Parker kiss me till I bruised was more than enough to compensate every shitty thing that happened.

All I can say is…you can never avoid a Hallmark moment because it will always be there, whether you like it or not.