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A/N: This chapter covers eleven years.
“Oh my god!” I said, startled. “William!”
He put his hands on my shoulders. “Are you alright?”
I put my hand over my heart that was beating rapidly. “Yes, you just startled me.”
“Abby said you weren’t feeling well. She said you probably didn’t want visitors, but I thought I’d try anyways. Are you okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine.” My heart’s just torn in two because of a stupid guy that I stupidly fell for and who, stupidly, isn’t you, but I couldn’t say that.
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Yeah, I just got nauseous for a second, but it’s gone. I’m good.”
“Great.” His hands dropped from my shoulders and he smiled shyly. “So, I was wondering if you wanted to go to this frat party with me later.”
I took a deep breath as I fingered the hem of my gown. Graduation. Finally. This was going to be the best day of my life. I reached my hand up and flicked my tassel. I am so excited and nervous at the same time.
My name was called and I started to make my way across the stage. I took my diploma, shook the dean’s hand, and glanced out at the audience.
My eyes happened to land on a guy sitting three rows from the back. His messy blondish-brown hair fell into his sparkling blue eyes that were so bright I could see them from my position on the stage. I stopped and stared, wondering could it be. The guy behind me wasn’t paying attention so he bumped into me, standing like a deer in headlights on the stage, causing the crowd to give a light laugh. I broke contact with the mysterious man for a second to regain my balance and continue walking and when I looked back, the seat was empty and the man no where around.
I walked off the stage and took my seat back in the audience. I kept glancing back, but with every glance my hopes died and my spirit dampened. The seat remained empty. There was no way- no, there was always a way, but it wasn’t likely.
They concluded the ceremony and everyone threw their hat in the air. I retrieved mine from the ground and started in search of the man through the crowd. I soon ran into someone, but it wasn’t him. It was William.
“Hey, babe.” He said as he leaned over to give me a kiss on the lips. “Are you ready to go?”
I looked into his eyes and smiled. He led me towards the parking lot chatting about our plans for tonight, and I let him like a total incompetent, thinking not about my date tonight, but about the mystery man.
I then noticed a guy walking over to a sleek red sports car, a very distinctive red sports car. I froze. When I stopped moving, it caused my hand to slip out of Williams. He stopped and turned to face me. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you coming?”
I looked at him and then at the guy making his way towards his car. If it was him, and I didn’t do anything, I would miss my chance. I shook my head.
“I’m sorry William. I can’t.”
“What? If we don’t go now we’ll miss our reservations.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t go.”
“But this is a special night. I have something special planned.” I had expected it, what the special plans were, but now I knew I couldn’t go through with it. We had been dating for two years, and it’s only reasonable to expect our relationship to go to the next level, but I wasn’t sure if I was ready. No matter if he was asking me to move in or to marry him, I couldn’t do it.
I shook my head. “I’m so sorry William. I have to go.” I rushed off towards the other guy, half expecting him to look at me like I was crazy and run away.
I finally got to him, after what seemed like a million years. I tapped his shoulder and he turned to face me. I froze when I came face to face with Sean.
I didn’t know what to say. I felt like crying and hugging him and smiling all at the same time.
He could tell that I wasn’t going to say anything so he did. “Hi Taylor.”
I smiled a watery smile. “Hi Sean. I’m…I’m glad you came.”
“I’m so sorry.” He said before he wrapped his arms around me. “I just couldn’t let you throw your whole life away for me, but these last two years without you have been torture. I know I was the one who pushed you away but will you please give me a second chance? I can’t live without you in my life.”
For a moment I thought he was crying but soon realized that I was the one who was crying. I nodded, unable to say anything. “I missed you, too.”
He let go and looked down at me. “I think I’m in love with you, Taylor.”
I smiled weakly. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” I stifled a laugh. “I think I love you, too.”
I flattened my skirt before I pressed the doorbell causing a loud ding-dong to ring through the house in front of me. Before a moment had passed the door opened and in the doorway stood a woman just a little taller than I am. She had brown hair that was clipped up and a soft smile spread across her face.
“Taylor!” she wrapped her arms around me in a hug and I hugged her back. She let go and stepped aside for me to enter. Just then a form much smaller than me brushed passed my leg on her way inside.
“Trevor! Payton!” Leslie screamed as she ran through the foyer towards the back door.
“Leslie.” I warned before she had gone too far. She turned to face me with a guilty smile.
“Sorry, mom. Good afternoon, Mrs. Hale. It’s so very nice to see you again. Where is Trevor and Payton?”
Mikaila Hale smiled. “He’s in the backyard waiting for you.” She turned back to me with a smile and a shrug. “Six year olds, what can you do? Don’t worry, seven’s better.”
I smiled as a hand was put on my arm. I turned and looked into Sean’s eyes. His gaze was on Mikaila. “Cody and Lauren should be here in a moment. When they get here we have something we’d like to discuss with you.”
“Oh my gosh, is it Trevor? Did he cause problems at your house?” she asked in panic.
I smiled and shook my head. “No, nothing is wrong. We just have some news we’d like to share with you.”
“Are you expecting another?!” she asked excitedly.
I shook my head. “No, why don’t we just wait until Cody and Lauren get here.”
We walked into their house and through the back doors out onto the porch.
“Taylor, Sean!” William said gladly as he set down the spatula on the grill shelf and made his way over to us. He shook Sean’s hand and gave me a hug. “How are you?”
“We’re good, William. And yourself?” Sean asked very impersonally. We all sat down around their patio table and I watched as our three young ones played on the tree fort that William had built last year. Trevor and Payton played very well for seven year old twins and Leslie fit right in like a triplet, even though she was a year younger. Strangely she was closer to Trevor than his sister, Payton.
Just then, the sliding door opened and out walked Logan preceding his parents Cody and Lauren. Logan completely ignored the adults as he ran over to the fort to play with his friends.
Logan was only three months older than Leslie, making her the baby of the group. But you wouldn’t know that they weren’t all quadruplets let alone not even related.
Sean stood to greet his brother. “We’ve been having lunch on Fridays at the same time for the last three years and you still can’t show up on time, can you?” Sean asked playfully as he gave his brother a hug.
“It’s not my fault. Blame Lauren. She can’t seem to be ready.” His wife gave him a slap on the shoulder.
“I wouldn’t take so long if you waited to the last minute to give me the bathroom.” My sister-in-law was one to contend with, but she’d never let you know it.
Sean sat and sobered. Cody and Lauren followed suit, glancing at Sean and I first, trying to read our expressions. “Have you told them?” Cody asked. We shook our heads.
“Told us what?” William asked curiously.
I looked to my family for support. “We have a…very big family secret.” I said nervously, not wanting to lose my friends.
Lauren smiled and put her hand on the table toward the couple. “Don’t worry. It took me a while to get used to it, but after a while it’s pretty neat.” Cody smiled and put his arm around his wife.
“And what is this family secret?” William asked.
Suddenly there was box of chocolates on the table.
A half an hour and a lot of hushed explaining later, William and Mikaila were on their way to understanding.
“So you have…magic powers?” Mikaila asked uncertainly.
I nodded. “Yes, but we’ve decided to keep it from the children. For now, at least. Since they don’t become fully developed and functional until their sixteenth birthday, we decided to let them live a normal life until then. We don’t want them to be estranged as children.”
William nodded in understanding. “So does Leslie have like…”
I nodded, understanding the question. “She has a lot of power, way more than Sean and I do. Logan’s powers will be slightly weaker because he’s half…” I searched for the right word, not wanting to sound like freaks, “powerless?”
Sean laughed. “He’s half normal.” He filled in for me before letting me continue.
“But Leslie is going to be quite the powerhouse.”
“Wow,” William said with shock. “That’s great!” I smiled.
The seven year old looked down into the six year old’s eyes, still on top of her.
They paused for a moment before Leslie let out a scream. “Ew, cooties!”
Yes, finally. Sorry it took me so long to get this out. My dad nabbed my laptop and kept it all week! He doesn’t even know how to use it!
Anyway, I would truly appreciate some feedback on this chapter. I did a little foreshadowing if I decide to do a sequel. I probably will because I was struck with inspiration while writing this, but we’ll just see.
So, that’s it. Please, please, please, review!
BW2