Sunday, November 12
Normal.
Things are back to somewhat normal now. Everybody had a lot of questions, so I feel like I’ve been answering the same things over and over again. But it seems like everything has sort of died down now and things are normal.
Well... kind of normal. I guess it’s a new normal. A normal where I’m safe. A normal where everybody can finally know who I am. No more hiding.
By Sunday night, nearly all the kids are back on campus. I think everybody missed being here. Boarding school seems like it would suck at first, but once you get used to being on campus, it’s weird to not be here. It’s weird, even though I have only been back a day, it almost feels like I’ve never left.
Tonight, everybody is celebrating being back on campus. We’re having a party at the docks, of course. I’m excited to go. Tonight is the first night I can go without looking over my shoulder the entire time.
I spot my friends hanging out. Emma is with Jason. She has a huge smile on her face. I’m so glad she has been able to move on from Bryce. They both seem like they’re a lot happier now that they’re not together. Bryce is actually single at the moment, which I think is good for him.
I spot Teagan and Estaine standing by each other. Estaine is looking at Teagan like she’s the only girl in the world.
Estaine was a good first boyfriend for me. I learned a lot from our very short relationship—the number one thing being don’t date somebody unless you’re one hundred percent certain that you like them. I made a mistake by moving too fast with him. But he’s happy now, and I love that he is. He never looked at me the way he now looks at Teagan, which is such a relief.
And Teagan... she’s so happy. She has always known that she and Estaine belong together. I’m just glad he figured it out, too.
I spot Charlie in the crowd. He’s leaned up against a tree, talking to some girl that I don’t know. I just laugh. I don’t think Charlie will ever not be a player, but that’s okay.
I look at the bonfire and am surprised when I meet a pair of familiar eyes.
Brooks.
I grin at him and he waves at me.
So many things have changed since that first night we met. I thought it was love at first sight, but I realize now that love is more than just an immediate attraction. It’s more than just a feeling you get when you’re with somebody. Brooks is an incredible guy, and an even more incredible friend, but I know that is all he will ever be to me. Just a friend.
I look at the boy standing next to me. Even though there is no threat, his eyes still scan the crowd, always assessing and looking for danger. Even though he’s technically not my bodyguard anymore, he is still my protector. He’s my best friend. He’s my boyfriend. He’s my everything. And I couldn’t have asked for a better man to love.
“What do we do now?” I ask Sander.
“I guess now we try and figure out what our normal is,” he says.
I like the sound of that.
When Sander showed up all those months ago, I hated him being here. I didn’t want him around. And I definitely didn’t want a babysitter. My, how wrong I was.
In just a few months, Sander Soto has completely changed my life. He’s turned it upside down in the best way possible, and I can’t imagine life without him.
Life is hard, but I know that no matter what comes, he will be here for me. I just can’t wait to see what our future holds.
The end.