Epilogue
Four months later
December 17th
I bubble in the last answer to my calculus exam, my last exam before Christmas vacation, and stand from my chair and collect my things before handing my test to my professor.
"Thank you Paige. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas." I smile, leaving the room while a few more people are still finishing up.
My phone starts ringing in my purse. I dig it out and answer it. "Hello?"
"How'd your test go?"
I smile at the sound of my mom's voice. "I think it went really good. I studied like crazy last night so hopefully it paid off."
"Oh I know it did. You're still coming home for Christmas, right?"
I nod, even though she can't see it. "Yeah that's the plan." I tuck a loose strand behind my ear. "I have to finish packing, and I haven't yet talked to my boss about leaving, but I should be there. I miss you guys."
"We miss you too honey. Well I love you. Call me if anything comes up."
"Love you too." I hang up only to feel a hand on my shoulder. I jump in surprise and scowl as she starts laughing.
"You know I scare easily." I frown, shoving my phone back into my bag.
Ciera tries to contain her laugh,"I know. That's why I had to do it."
I roll my eyes,"So you're coming home with me right?"
Ciera gives me a weak frown. "Where else am I going to go?"
I wrap an arm around her shoulder as we continue to walk down the vacant hallway. "Still nothing from them?"
She shakes her head. "Haven't a word from them since the funeral."
I squeeze her gently,"Well you don't need to worry about that anymore. My mom practically calls you her second daughter."
Ciera smiles, leaning her head on my shoulder. "You guys are too good for me."
We exit the University doors and I squint as I spot my car a far distance away in the crowded parking lot. "I really need to get closer parking." I chuckle.
Ciera snorts,"I told you to pay the extra five dollars for a better spot, but no."
"Hey, those five extra dollars went just fine towards a burger and fries." I laugh, remembering that day when I was feeling exceptionally hungry than usual after my afternoon class. I took my last five dollar bill from my jacket pocket and drove to McDonald's. It was a good day.
Ciera rolls her eyes. "I will never understand your relationship with food."
"It's getting pretty serious."
She lets out a short laugh. "The fact that you can fit into a size four still amazes me."
We laugh together as we walk to the car. I pull the car keys from my mess of a bag and unlock the car for us. We hop in and Ciera instantly cranks up the radio.
"Yes! I love this song!"
I smile as she starts to belch out the lyrics to what I think is supposed to be another One Direction song. Although she doesn't seem to do the song justice, I just laugh at my tone deaf friend.
I turn the song down and she frowns. "So...heard anything from him?"
Ciera shakes her head remorsefully. "He hasn't called in a month or so." She shrugs. "I don't know why."
"Because he can't stand me."
"Why would you say that?"
"Because it's true! Every Thursday after my last class he would call me. Then he'd stop and call you every other week with the excuse that it's too hard for him." I roll my eyes but then my face softens. "Now he doesn't call at all." I look past the many cars in front of me as I stop at a red light. "And it hurts."
Ciera grabs my hand with a gentle squeeze. "I know sweetie. But it's the best he could do. He's already lost one girlfriend. It's probably really hard for him to loose another."
"He could have came with."
"You know he couldn't. I didn't have anyone to stay for but he does. That family would be lost without him."
I shake my head. "Why do I even talk to you, you're always so irritatingly right?"
Ciera laughs. "It's a blessing and a curse."
I chuckle, with our bags already packed into the back, I pull onto the main highway home. "So let's talk about more important matters; what Christmas present did you get me?"
We're on the highway for a mere hour and a half. After two bathroom stops and one Taco Bell run we finally arrive in Chicago.
Ciera smiles giddily as she looks out the window with excitement. Excitement that I haven't seen on her in a while. "We're almost home."
Chicago is known for it's busy streets and tall skyscrapers and as we pass into town I can't help but recollect my time with Arron in its not as busy, but familiar aspects of California. My stomach even twists to knots when we go by a bagel shop. I let out a big breath and continue on our way. There's no need to groan about the past; what's done is done.
We live on the north side of Chicago so it's an extra ten minutes before we're entering our quiet neighborhood. At that same time the snow starts to pick back up, sending little crystals of frost over already white lawns and parked cars.
"I can't believe I've missed out on this for eighteen years." Ciera gazes fascinatingly at the snow as it falls. She laughs. "Kobe would love to see this."
I smile sadly, remembering back to an earlier time, right after we got back to Chicago. Ciera was a wreck. And it wasn't the crying or the mourning. Because she didn't do either. That's the point. She engrossed herself in her school work, volleyball, drama. She put on her usual smile and acted as if everything was okay. Then I would hear her crying under her pillow.
However now she's doing much better. She's able to talk about him, as she just now did, and not feel sad that he's gone. She's come a long way, and I can honestly say that this move is a good thing for her.
I slowly pull into the snowy driveway. My mom has outdone herself and has turned the white suburban townhouse into a gingerbread house. She's a bit over the top when it comes to Christmas. I turn off the car and look to Ciera. "Ready?"
She smiles excitedly. "Definitely! I miss them so much!" I laugh and after taking our bags from the back follow Ciera to the house.
I can already hear the faint sound of Christmas music coming from the kitchen as we enter the threshold. We sit our stuff down and immediately hear the paddle of feet coming down the stairs.
"Sissy!" Jackson comes around the corner, the biggest smile on his face as he wraps her arms around me.
I smile, squeezing him tightly. "What about Cici?"
He lights up at the mention of Ciera and rushes over to her excitedly. Ciera eagerly embraces him and sighs contently. "I missed you, buddy."
Jackson nods. "Miss you too." He looks down at our packed bags."You guys staying the night?"
