"Happy birthday!" I shouted with a grin spread out on my lips before tackling Tyler in my bedroom.

Of course, it was as though he felt no pain when he landed straight on his back on my floor with me straddling his waist above him.

His laughed echoed loudly in my quiet room, and I leaned down to hug him. "You're officially 18," I smiled when I pulled away from him.

Tyler began drawing shapes on my bare thighs as he looked up at me with a smile — it was as though he wasn't aware of what he was doing.

"Hey, you're following my lead soon," he reminded me, and I rolled my eyes, looking at my closed bedroom door to make sure my dad didn't come barging in.

This position would be hard to explain to a man who would be calling the police.

"The 27th right?" He asked after some time passed, and my eyes slowly moved to his, however, I could tell he wasn't asking. He was stating that he still remembered after all this time.

I smiled. "Yeah, that's it," I whispered.

Tyler and I stared at each other silently, and my heart started skipping as though it was about to receive a prize.

My lips parted, wanting to speak but no sound came out.

He glanced at my lips quickly that I was sure it was a delusion, but by seeing how his chest began to rise, I knew I didn't.

Our moment — or whatever it was — was cut off short when Tyler's phone began to ring from my nightstand.

No words passed between us as I quickly got off of Tyler, who then stood up before reaching for his cell phone.

He sighed when he read the caller ID before answering. "Hey mom."

Tyler smiled at his mothers words. "Thanks."

His smile was removed off his face from what his mother said next. "Okay, I'll see you soon," he grumbled before shutting off his phone.

"What?" I asked, taking a seat on the edge of my bed.

Tyler followed my lead and sat next to me. "Mom wants me home," he chuckles before continuing. "Well, I can't be surprised. It's midnight."

I nodded and stood up from the bed with Tyler following behind me.

Thankfully, my dad was asleep by the time we went downstairs so I didn't have to worry about getting yelled at.

"Goodnight," I smiled as I opened the front door for Tyler.

"Goodnight baby," he smiled softly before enveloping me in a hug.

His fresh scent of clovers made me smile into the crook of his neck before moving away.

"I'll see you tomorrow," I whispered with a ghost of a smile on my lips.

He nodded once before glancing at my lips one last time before leaving.

I closed the door behind him once he was seated in his car, leaning against it as a shaky breath left me.

0

What the hell is going on with me?

➸

I'm woken up Friday morning by my alarm, and I grudgingly moved my body to the ledge of the bed to shut it off.

After brushing my teeth and handling my unruly hair, I dressed myself in leggings and a baggy grey sweatshirt before heading downstairs, where I saw my father eating scrambled eggs on the bar stool.

"Hi," I greeted with a smile as I moved to the stove.

As I pouring in the egg whites into the pan, dad began to speak. "So I heard Tyler leave pretty late last night."

My eyes tightly closed before moving the egg whites around with a spatula. "Yeah he was," I replied.

Dad didn't respond until I finished mixing the egg whites together. "You both are still close then?"

I slowly nodded as I moved the scrambled egg whites into a plate. "Well, yeah, I guess so."

After beginning to eat the scrambled eggs from the plate, I turned back around I noticed my dad's attention was still on me. "Amanda," he started slowly. "I don't know how I feel about you both hanging out when I'm asleep."

My brows furrowed as I crossed my arms over my chest. "Why? We used to have sleepovers all the time as kids."

"That's it, honey. You were kids. You're almost an adult under my roof. Boys have no control nowadays," he sighed, and my eyebrows shot up.

"Dad, we're friends," I began slowly before taking another bite from the scrambled eggs. "We're not gonna do anything that you think we'll do."

Before he could respond, the doorbell rang and I left my plate on the counter before leaving the kitchen to open the door.

Once I've opened it, I found Tyler leaning against the frame of the door. "Hey baby," he smiled, flashing his faint dimple on his left cheek.

"Hi Rely," I said with a sly smile and he laughed before tilting his head to his car that's parked behind him.

"Need a ride?" He asked, and I nodded before offering him to come in.

Once I got back to the kitchen, I grabbed my bag and packed it with a sandwich and water bottle before putting my used dish in the sink.

"See you later dad," I said over my shoulder before walking to Tyler, who was looking at an old picture of my dad and I on the first day of elementary school.

"Let's go?" I asked, but didn't wait for him to respond as I passed though the front door.

Tyler responded before closing the front door for me. We walked next to each other until we reached the passenger door where Tyler then opened the door for me.

"Thanks," I laughed before stepping in.

Tyler bowed dramatically before circling the car to his side.

"Where's Travis?" I asked once I noticed the puppy killer wasn't anywhere inside.

He didn't respond until he began driving down the street. "He decided to take the bus again," he mumbled.

I slowly nodded my head as I looked out the window, watching the houses pass by.

"So," Tyler began after some time passed. "I'm having a family dinner with my family tonight, and I was wondering if you'd like to come," Tyler offered.

I bite my lower lip. "Are you sure, Tyler? I know your mom isn't my greatest fan."

"Don't be insane, baby," he whispered as he took a quick look at me before looking ahead of him.

Tyler cringed afterward when he really thought about it. "Okay, maybe a little. But you have to talk to her. Share your point of view."

I slowly nodded. "Okay," I looked at him and smiled. "How did your family celebrate your birthday this morning?"

He shrugged as he began driving into the schools parking lot. "Mom made some blueberry pancakes, and Erin gave me nineteen birthday punches," he rolled his eyes. "Gotta love younger siblings."

A chuckle bubbled out of me as he parked his car near the front of the school. "You're only ten months older," I reminded him.

"Almost a year," he said quickly before opening his door with me following behind him.

As we began walking towards the school, I found Claire standing next to a woman with strawberry blond hair by the front of the school.

"Are you guys talking?" Tyler asked when he noticed where my attention was located.

Suddenly, Claire looked our way, and I noticed how she tried resisting a glare.

"No. Haven't spoken to her since Tuesday," I said quietly.

Tyler slowly nodded, noticing the feeling of betrayal I felt by the thought of her.

"Hey guys! Yo loser!" Erin shouted, most likely addressing Tyler with that last comment.

We both looked off to the side, where Erin was walking faster than normal to our direction.

"Did you tell her yet?" Erin asked out of breath, and Tyler chuckled as he nodded.

"Good," she whispered breathlessly as she rested her left hand on my shoulder for support.

My brows furrowed as I rested my hand on her shoulder as well. "Are you okay?" I asked slowly, and she nodded.

"I really need to workout more," she confessed, and Tyler scoffed.

"Understatement of the century."

After a few moments passed, Erin had calmed her breathing before standing up straight. "So are you coming tonight for sure?" Erin asked

I nodded with a soft smile on my lips. "Great!" She shouted. "It starts at seven, okay?"

"Okay," I responded before the warning bell rang, echoing outside the school.

Tyler looked at Erin one last time before looking at me. "Let's head to class?"

I nodded, and waved goodbye to Erin before falling in step next to Tyler.

➸

The end of the day came quickly, but I didn't have a chance to meet up with Tyler because at the first chance she got, Erin tackled me in the hall.

Erin offered to drive me home thankfully, and as we were in her car, we began talking about Claire.

"I can't believe that bitch was two-faced this whole time," Erin hissed as she pulled up on the street in front of mine.

Before I could respond, she shrugged. "Well, I'm not fully shocked. She always was weird."

A chuckle left me as we began driving down my street. "Nice, Erin. Nice."

"What? I'm just being honest," she answered in a high voice.

"I know, I know," I laughed, looking outside the window.

As seconds passed by, my house was nearing closer and closer when my heart started to accelerate at the thought of tonight.

"Are you sure it's okay if I come tonight? I know your mom isn't my biggest fan," I said before biting my lower lip.

Erin sighed as she parked her car on my driveway. After unbuckling her seat belt, she turned her body so she faced me. "Listen Mandy. If you wanna impress her, be your cute self."

She tilted her head to the side as she pouted her lower lip slightly. "Wearing a dress wouldn't hurt."

I groaned. "A dress?"

Erin nodded her head. "Yes. I know you hate them, but maybe if you dress all nice and girly, she'll actually listen to you instead of cursing you in her head."

"But I don't own a dress," I sighed, and she shrugged.

"Find one."

My eyes rolled as I unbuckled my seat belt. "Great advice, thanks. Let me just go rob a store now."

Erin sighed. "I'll see you at seven, Mandy," she said, and I took that as a goodbye.

Once I got inside my house, I went to my room and stared at my closet for a long period of time, eyeing the shirts and sweatshirts that were hung.

A thought passed through me as I headed to my dad's bedroom.

Stepping into his walk-in closet, I found two cardboard boxes pressed against the wall.

Noticing how everything of his was already hung, I assumed the contents in that box were my mom's.

Slowly stepping closer to it, I pulled open the single flap and found different color skirts and dresses that she once wore.

I smiled softly at the thought of her before opening the box fully.

➸

When it was six, my dad came home and I immediately asked him if I could go to Tyler's house — which he seemed hesitant with before agreeing.

After asking his permission to use mom's old dresses, he smiled at the thought before letting me. But not before reminding me that I look just like her.

I spent over thirty minutes looking at my mothers dresses all over again, and after a long time deciding, I chose a little black mod style dress that hugged my figure.

fifteen minutes before the dinner was supposed to start, I prepared my bag before heading downstairs.

"Honey, really?" Dad asked when he noticed me slipping into my black converse.

My eyes rolled dramatically as I continued to press my foot into the shoe. "Yeah. I'm wearing a dress already, I'm not wearing heels."

Fuck that.

Dad smiled as he grabbed his car keys from the table next to the door. "Just like your mother," he whispered admirably.

After that last statement, we headed to his car and the ride to Tyler's house only took a few minutes.

"What time should I pick you up?" Dad asked once he parked outside of Tyler's house.

I unbuckled my seat belt before answering. "I'll probably ask Erin to drop me off, no worries."

Dad slowly nodded before eyeing the Evans house once. "Have fun," he smiled before unlocking the door.

I stepped foot onto the porch and flattened out any wrinkles on the goddamn dress before ringing the doorbell.

On the other side of the door, I heard someone shouting that they would get the door before it was thrown open, revealing Tyler's mother, who still hasn't aged a day.

Dark brown hair and bluish-green eyes. She looks exactly like Erin. However, instead of being mildly short like her daughter, it seemed as though she has now grown to be over 5'8.

"Hi Mrs. Evans," I smiled softly as I eyed how her bangs peaked out from the side of her hairline.

"Amanda," she nodded in greeting.

"Marianne, is that Amanda?" Her husband, Timothy, shouted from inside of the house, breaking my staring contest with her.

"Yes!" She shouted over her shoulder before stepping out of the doorway to let me in.

Once I was inside, I noticed how it looked just like it was two and a half weeks ago. The only difference was that the table was set and organized beautifully.

"It's Mexican theme night," she whispered in my ear before heading to the table.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps jogging down the stairs caught my attention, and I found Tyler, who was in a white button up shirt and dark jeans.

"Amanda," he spoke with a smile before enveloping me in his arms.

"Happy birthday... again," I chuckled into his chest before moving away.

I smiled as I lifted up his wrapped present. "For you."

Tyler gasped and he extended his hand to his chest playfully. "For me?"

My eyes rolled as he grabbed it from my hold. "Thanks baby," he whispered, eyeing the package.

"Kids, come to the table," Marianne shouted from the table, followed by Erin rushing down the stairs in a burgundy lace skater dress.

After we've greeted each other, the three of us headed to the table, where I began to eye all of the variety of meals on the table.

On the left, there was chicken quesadillas, and by the right, there was do-it-yourself tacos. As I was glancing through the other dishes, I noticed Enchiladas by the center of the table and I grinned.

We all took our seats — Timothy by the head, and Marianne by his left. Next to her is Erin, who I'm sitting across from.

And of course, next to me is Tyler.

For the first ten minutes, everyone grabbed their desired meal and ate quietly, however, I couldn't help but notice Marianne staring at me from time to time.

It wasn't until towards the end of dinner when she finally spoke up. "You know, Amanda, my children may welcome you back with open arms, but don't think I will."

Tyler dropped his taco, causing it to echo inside the now quiet house. "Mom," he said with a warning tone and Marianne's eyebrows rose.

"I'm not lying, Tyler. She left at your weakest point. Who says she won't again?" She said, and from the looks of it, it was as though she was fighting back tears.

"Mrs. Evan," I whispered, catching her attention. "That, like you, was the worst day of my life. I know I left, but trust me when I say that I fought hard to stay with him by his bed."

I glanced at Tyler before looking back to his mom with a small smile. "I love your son, and I'm sorry that I wasn't here to prove it to you. But, I'm here now."

Now, Marianne was crying with all her might.

Not wanting her to feel embarrassed, I stood up from the table and rounded it so I was standing in front of her.

Opening my hand in front of her, she hesitantly grabbed it before I lifted her up to her feet, hugging her tightly.

"Call me Mari," she whispered into my neck, and I smiled.

"Okay Mari," I said, moving away from her.

Marianne sniffed, rubbing her eyes to get rid of her tears before looking at everyone. "Why are we all sitting here? Clean up the table so we can get ready for cake!"

➸

"Come on, just open it," I whined, begging Tyler to stop being overdramatic and just open the present I got him.

We were both currently sitting in his room — with the door open, of course — while we were waiting for the cake to be served.

In this time, he decided to procrastinate with opening his present.

He hid his smile as he looked down to the red wrapping paper that was covering his gift.

Slowly he began to rip open the wrapping paper, revealing one Stephen King's books, The Dead Zone.

He smiled at the cover. "You used to read it all the time when we were ten," I explained with a chuckle.

"I didn't think you still liked him until I saw you at the book store, reading another one of his books," I reminded him and he smiled.

"Open it," I said with a nod to the book.

Tyler's brows furrowed as he opened the first page of the book, revealing not only Stephen King's signature, but a message to him as well.

To Tyler Evans,

Don't give up on the things you want to do with life. Live 2018 to the fullest

— Stephen King 02/01/18

"Stephen King..." he began but didn't finish his sentence.

"He signed it," I laughed, and Tyler's wide eyes met mine.

Suddenly, Tyler caught me by surprise when he pulled me to him before wrapping his arms around me in a tight hug.

"Thank you," he whispered into my neck, and I smiled before wrapping my arms around his waist.

Slowly, we began moving away from each other, but stayed close together, only staring into each other's eyes.

Tyler began glancing at my lips as he slowly started to drag his hands down from my arms to my waist.

I sucked in a harsh breath as I felt goosebumps rush up and down my legs.

A spark of interest flared inside of me at the thought of kissing Tyler, and unintentionally, I glanced down to his lips.

I didn't even notice that Tyler had moved closer to me until our breaths were mingling together.

"Guys, cake!" Erin shouted from the end of the hall and we sprang apart.

I cleared my throat as I stood up. "We should..."

"Yeah," he nodded, heading out first before I could.

My jaw clenched as I slowly followed him downstairs, ignoring my racing heart in the process.

➸