The Bad Boy Saved My Life #Wattys2016

Chapter #30

Chapter #30: Feel Alive Again

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"Roxanne, I'm sorry. I'll be home soon, alright?"

"I can't believe you'd run off like that, I mean- I didn't even know you tried to do that to yourself! Peyton I can't- Why didn't you reach out to anyone I mean-"

"Roxanne! Please. Please just be quiet okay? I really can't take anymore yelling. I'll come over when I get back," I sighed into the phone. I felt bad for interrupting her. I could feel her panic. I lifted my head up to see Evan standing by the shore.

I kicked the sand with my toes and watched as it flew in the air. The other line was quiet for a moment.

"I just- I... Okay," I could hear the hurt in her voice, as if she was about to cry. "I haven't heard from you in what seems like weeks, Peyton."

I blinked a few times, letting the silence take over. "I know; and I'm sorry for that. I'll explain when I get home okay?"

"Okay," she concluded. "I miss you, Peyton."

I frowned sadly, "I miss you too."

"Biffle," she giggled.

She let out a squeaky laugh, before she hung up the phone. I placed my cell in my back pocket and ran towards Evan, poking him in his rib cage before resuming to walk in front of him, in calm relaxing silence.

"I'm sorry," I looked up at his soft face.

The beach, the scent of the warm sand, the people everywhere. I loved it, like I once had many years ago. It was always a great place to escape to, and even though it wasn't as hot as it normally was here in New Jersey beach, I still put on a flowy skirt and spaghetti strap, cardigan at my waist and a water bottle in hand. I felt 15, alive again, as I purposely pushed my toes deeper into the sand with every step.

Knowing that I had someone who I loved walking right behind me made me feel great, safe and so much more. The breeze was perfect, blowing my hair gently back and I couldn't help but smile.

I've grown up, I've become such a different person. I was walking down a beach, not in sweatpants, but in a flowy skirt. My cardigan was flopping at the crease of my elbow now and it blew behind me. My spaghetti strap was loose and my pink bikini top was laying comfortably underneath it. I realized that people really don't care, they only stare and judge. If people cared, they would've walked up to me and questioned my lightly visible scars; but no one did. And I was okay with that. I've changed as a person and realized that maybe thinking that if I left would make everything better, but it really wouldn't have. I belong here.

I turned around, watching as Evan slowly walked behind me, his head turned to the right as he watched the waves slam against the rocks and rise up to the shore. I couldn't help but smile even more. Maybe I should continue to smile everyday, because knowing that I didn't have to force a smile anymore made me feel giddy inside. I was actually happy.

I didn't feel so troubled anymore. I never would have thought that things could be good again. I thought of my parents, and how they would be smiling if they were watching down on me at this very moment. It gave me slight peace.

It had been a 3 days since I saw Melody, and since I had even set foot in my old school. What had happened mentally exhausted me that night, and Evan and I went to bed quietly and peacefully, without a word spoken. I was grateful for that.

I've moved on since then, as dumb as that sounds. I really didn't care to keep in touch with a friend whom wasn't real in the first place, so why should I care now, when she finally turned into something she wanted to be? It is really true when others used to tell me that people changed. My mind was consumed with thoughts as I continued to walk on the shore until I felt arms wrap around my waist and fling me in circles. My feet flew out in front of me and I burst out into laughter.