(Note that the very last chapter, On the Ride, never happened in any of the “what-if” chapters unless noted)

Before you read: This is a rewrite of the chapter Goodbye to You: Part 2. The first lines are from the original chapter.

A l t e r n a t e E n d i n g

What if Nessa picked Tony?
Everything's Right

“So what exactly do you want then? Was the only reason you came here was to tell me you never wanted to see me again?”

Looking into his eyes, I could see that my decision wasn’t only hurting me, but it was hurting the both of us and I hated it. There were too many people I’ve hurt. “This isn’t easy for me either, okay?” I heard my voice crack and I finally broke down, letting all my tears and emotions spill. I didn’t want to let Tony go, but it seemed like the best thing to do right now.

“Nessa,” Tony whispered, lifting my chin up with his finger. “You said you love me, right? Don’t do this then,” he pleaded with his heartbreaking blue eyes.

Tears blurred my vision as I looked up at him.

“I let you go, and that was a mistake,” he admitted. “And I’m sorry. But don’t make the same mistake.”

My heart couldn’t stop beating; it never stopped beating for him. “Tony…” My brain told me no, but everything else was telling me otherwise. If it hurt this much to let him go, was it still the right thing?

Before I could say anything else, he interrupted. “Don’t let our season be over, Nessa…”’

One month later

I jumped on him before he even stepped out of the dugout. “Good game!” I exclaimed as he nearly lifted me off the ground. He went 4 for five with a steal. My guy was amazing.

“Thanks.” He kissed me on the cheek before loosening his grasp and I escaped from his massive bear hug.

“So you ready for tonight’s Giants game?” I questioned with a grin as Tony casually took my hand into his as we walked. “Let’s catch batting practice so I can wave to Noah Lowry!” I suggested cheerfully.

Tony rolled his stunning blue eyes out of jealously and I laughed. “I would hate him if he weren’t dealing this year,” he mumbled under his breath.

“Good game, Tones!” Paula squealed.

We turned to see her and the rest of the gang coming up to us with smiles on their faces. As usual, Paula and Kat jumped on Tony.

My eyes wandered behind them and I spotted Nikki and James talking to one of Tony’s teammates, their hands intertwined.

Nikki’s dark brown eyes caught me staring and she smiled, waving happily at me.

I smiled and waved back. James’s green eyes looked over at my direction and he flashed a warm smile. “Ready for Martens’s exam tomorrow?” I called out to him.

He snickered. “I hope so!” he called back with a wave before turning back to Dupree and Nikki.

I turned back to the gang and saw Nick giving Tony a pat on the back. “Nice three-bagger out there, man!” he exclaimed with a crooked grin.

“Thanks,” Tony said with a nod.

To my surprise, Tony and Nick had actually become good friends. I had explained to Tony that I was involved with Nick before. At first Tony was a little uneasy about him, but he eventually warmed up after their non-stop sports talk and football games. I guess Nick has that irresistible charm on anybody. Do I smell a bromance brewing?

“You’re coming to the Giants game with us tonight?” I asked Nick.

He flashed a gorgeous grin that held a hint of mischief in it. “What? So I can ruin you two’s date?” he joked with a nudge.

I nudged him back and he laughed as pulled me into a quick hug. “I’ll see you guys tonight. Save me some garlic fries,” he told me with stern eyes before he let go of me.

“Later, man.” Tony gave Nick a fist pound.

I sighed and Tony pulled me closer to him as we watched Nick leave. “You think he’ll come home with another phone number?” he asked playfully.

Every time Nick went to a Giants game with us he’d flirt with girls around our section. Of course, they had hearts in their eyes before he’d open his mouth to talk to them. “Probably,” I laughed.

Sometimes I wondered if Nick would really have been different with me. Guess I’ll never know.

“Ness!” Holly exclaimed, her hazel eyes wide in surprise as she pushed through the crowd.

Tony unwrapped his toned arm from me. “Hold on, babe,” he whispered before catching up to one of his teammates.

I looked at Holly curiously as she finally stood in front of me. “You’ll never guess who I saw!” she whispered excitedly as more people walked towards the parking lot in no hurry, stopping to chat with friends along the way.

Her hazel eyes wandered towards the crowd and locked on one spot in the crowd.

A slightly built guy wearing a fitted gray tee was hanging near the bleachers with some other guys. I watched as his fingers roughly went through his jet-black hair and my heart literally jumped went I realized who it was.

Shane. I haven’t spoken to him since we argued in the auto garage nearly one month ago, so there wasn’t any closure. I was no longer bitter towards him and his hurtful words—I eventually got over it, but I didn’t know if he was over it. It was killing me.

“Should I talk to him?” I asked Holly, not taking my eyes off Shane as he left the group and walked alone towards the parking lot like everyone else.

She shrugged. “If you want.”

My heart pounded, torn between closure or just letting go. All I wanted to know was if he still hated me or not. But if Shane wasn’t over it then seeing me again would definitely not help; it would just hurt him more.

He shoved his hands inside his jean pockets as I debated with myself whether to settle things once and for all.

Closure or let go?

Possibly hurt him again or go on keep on wondering if he ever will forgive me?

I let him go.

“Not now,” I said softly, talking to both Holly and myself. When we were both ready, I promised myself as I tore my eyes away from him.

“Come on, Ness!” Tony called out, motioning me over to him.

I felt myself grinning and his arm was right back around me. “So for tonight’s game I was thinking garlic fries and nachos or just garlic fries?” he questioned in a playful tone.

I laughed. “Both! You’ll have to share with me, though.”

He flashed a killer grin. “Deal.”

I smiled and pulled him into a kiss. The butterflies never seemed to fade away; no wonder I could never let Tony go. He was my first—well, second—real love. We both shared our first love.

Past kisses, this kiss, future kisses…I knew they would all have the same electrifying emotions as our very first one.

He smiled warmly and gently pulled me closer to him. “So my baseball season’s almost over,” he reminded me.

I nodded. “Mhmm,” I replied in a melancholy tone.

“That means I get to come to your house more, eat all your food, get down…” he listed jokingly.

With a laugh, I nudged him hard. “Wow, I’m really looking forward to that,” I said sarcastically.

He snickered. “Or we could go to the beach,” he suggested in a softer tone. “Bring the gang, bring the football, lots of food, my blanket…”

His hopeful eyes were filled with happiness. I smiled, just picturing how perfect that moment will be; it sounded just like the golden times. “I think I like that idea better,” I whispered.

“Then we’re set!”

My lips met his again, not ever getting enough of him. “I love you,” I whispered into his ear after my lips unwillingly left his before Steve or Carlos would teasingly tell us to just get a room.

He snickered softly. “I love you, too, Ness.”

We walked into the parking lot with his arm back securely around me as we headed to the place where it all started—the baseball stadium.

Smiles light up as we walk in
Old conversations begin again
Nostalgia's thick as the August air
It takes us back to a time when we didn't care, we didn't care
Hey, everything's right, said everything's right tonight

-Everything’s Right by Matt Wertz

A/N: Thanks again for everyone who has read and for the kind words! Tell me which ending was your favorite! The original ending, the James alternate ending, the Nick alternate ending, the Shane alternate ending, or the Tony alternate ending?

I hope you guys enjoyed this story and I’ll be trying to complete Step Outside and possibly starting a fourth story to this if there’s enough people interested! So vote!

Thanks for reading, guys! You rock. I’ll keep you updated on my next possible stories! – Basically My Favorite