Part Two

Tonight is the night I've been waiting for. Another chance to hang out with Tori before I leave for my studies. She keeps telling me that she'll leave Blake, and I really want to believe that. I hope tonight can prove she doesn't need him. He's immature and can't connect on the emotional level I can. I make my way downstairs to the kitchen. Ava is laying across the kitchen bench as she waits for the food in the microwave to cook. "Are you partying tonight?" I ask, grabbing a drink from the fridge. "No way." She shakes her head with disgust. "Why are you going to a kiddie's party?" "I'm hurt." I press my hand against my heart and frown at her. "And I was invited," I add. "By who?" She frowns, moving off the counter to peer at me, a small teasing smile slipping onto her face. "My lady friend." I wink. "Sounds mysterious. Will I ever meet her?" "If tonight goes well, yes. I want the whole world to meet her. I think I love her, actually." "Hold your horses, love is a big thing." Ava bumps her shoulder against mine as she reaches for the microwave. She presses the button and grab the meal out. Kyle wanders into the kitchen and looks towards Ava. While she's consumed with her food, I notice the glaze of adoration swirling within his brown eyes. Ava tells me I don't know what love is, but she can't see that her best friend has been pining after her for years. "Are you coming tonight?" I ask Kyle. Kyle hesitantly looks away from Ava and nods his head. "Sure am." "Whilst you're at it, get lazy butt here to come as well," I tease. "Leave me to eat mac and cheese alone, thanks." Ava flops against the kitchen bench, while blowing on the food. She scoops some up on the fork and eat the food. "Last chance, I'm grabbing my keys." Ava shakes her head, then smiles down at her food. 'Thanks, but I'm good here. Have fun with Kyle tonight." Shaking my head, I run upstairs and collect my keys off my desk before making my way downstairs. I head towards the door and Kyle follows in tow. We get into my beat up black car and head towards the party. "You should say something to Ava," I say. "What do you mean?" Blushes Kyle. "Tell her you like her man," I respond. "I'm her brother and I'm giving you permission to date my younger sister. After this party, I want you to tell her how you feel." "I don't know what you're talking about," says Kyle. He looks out the window to avoid my gaze. "Don't give me that. I see the way you follow her around, just ask her out." Kyle huffs and leans against the back on his chair. "Man, I don't know where to start." "I like you, simple." I shrug my shoulders. Pulling up to the front of the house, I find a free spot under a tree where my car just fits. I grab my phone out and message Tori. 'Meet me outside and we'll hang out tonight.' – L "I can't just say that to her," Kyle replies. "You can, and you should." We climb out of the car and make our way towards the house. My phone busses with a reply. 'Like always?' – Tori. 'Always' – Logan. "You're crazy." Kyle shakes his head. "Says the one who will be thanking me afterwards." Punching his shoulder, I wave goodbye as I walk away. I don't know where Tori will be, so I walk around the backyard in search for her. As I walk to the more secluded area, I see Tori standing towards the fenced off area. "Tori?" "Shh." She waves me closer. I step into the shadows and instantly wrap my arms around her body, then press my lips against hers. "I need to leave soon, but I wanted to say hi," she says, a small smile on her lips. "But I just got here?" The only reason I'm here is because I want to see her. "I'll see you in a bit, I need to take care of something." Leaning up, she presses her lips against mine and slips out of the shadows. I watch her walk towards the house and greet Blake. She wraps her arms around his waist, then presses a kiss against his cheek. I know I should be patient, but I need a drink for this. Walking out of the shadows, I wander past Blake and Tori and I step into the house. I find the kitchen straight away, it's the first room that leads in from outside. The fridge door is open, but I notice it's packed with free beer. I grab a couple of bottles and quickly chug them down before disposing the rubbish in the bin. As I turn around, I notice Tori is missing but Blake is still standing with his group of friends. I look around the backyard, but I can't find her. I walk through the backyard and out to the front yard. From a distance, I see two people arguing over something. One of the dark figures walks away, leaving the other one upset. I hide in one of the bushes while they walk past. Once the coast is clear, I wander over to the person and realise its Tori. "What's wrong?" She's sitting on the floor, head in her hands crying. "Nothing is wrong, everything is fine." "Your upset, Tori, just tell me what's wrong so I can fix it." "You can't fix this," she yells, "You can't just fix me like a broken toy." "You're not making any sense." "I'm pregnant," shouts Tori, tears streaming down her face. "Wha-t-t?" I stutter. "I don't know who the father." She buries her face in her hands. My heart clenches uncomfortably. I grab her shoulders and pull her body to mine roughly. As I wrap my arms around her body tightly, I nuzzle my face into the side of her neck. "Everything is going to be okay, love, always!" I whisper. "They're not going to be okay, Logan." Her body shakes as she breaks down in my arms. I adjust our bodies so that I can angle her face up so that I can see it. With one hand cupping her face, I kiss her cheek and half smile reassuringly, "We can figure this out together, I love you." "We can't." She shakes her head. "I can't do this to you." "I don't care who the father is, Tori, we can raise the baby together. I can drop out of school and get a job to support us," I say. Tori struggles, but I hold onto her tighter. She manages to break free, the sadness clinging to her facial features makes my heart break. "Forget about me, Logan Greyson, I'm bad news." "Stop." I shake my head. "I don't care what you say, I will help you." "No, Logan, go home." Before I can grab Tori, she's walking away from me. I try to chase after her, but she's already around the side of the house and into the backyard where everyone can see her. Blake is too drunk to notice, but a few of her friends rush after her. Hazed and out of my mind, I reach for my keys. "This party is shit." I turn and see Jude, Blake's brother appear from nowhere. "I know," I agree, "I'm leaving, want a lift?" "Sure." He nods his head. We walk back to my car and I get inside. My head throbs, but I don't care. I push away the pain with the idea of getting home and crawling into bed. When the night rolls over, and the sun comes up, Tori will see I'm the better option of her. I turn the car on and reverse out of the driveway. "What has you leaving so early," asks Jude. "I was hoping to meet with a friend, but she's too busy, you?" I ask. "Something like that." He nods his head. I drive around the corner and head straight. It's not until I get to the main section of the estate that I realise I don't know where he lives. "Where am I doing?" "Take a turn to the right, follow the road, second on the left." "Oh." My mind wanders back to Tori and the baby. I'm so angry that she'd allow me to come to a party, just to slam the door in my face and tell me goodbye. Didn't she care that we had something special between us? Blake can't support her, he doesn't know Tori like I do. We'd make the perfect set of parents because I'd love her and the baby like my own. "Dude, careful." Jude slams his shoulder into mind. From the force of the shove, my body jerks to the side, which sends the car spinning. I try to gain control, but the tyres spin with their own mind. The road is so dark and I can't see anything. Suddenly, we collide with something. My body jerks around like a ragdoll being tossed like a child. "Logan, man, are you okay?" My body feels heavy, like I'm being pinned down. The world is spinning, I can't see clear. "There's so much blood, I don't know what to do," shouts Jude. I don't care what he's saying, my head is light and fuzzy. Everyone said, don't go near her, a pretty face is damage, but I never listened. "Hold on, I think someone's stopping." "Jude, we have to leave," someone shouts. "I can't Tori, he's dying." "Someone will help, Jude, you need to leave." "How can you say that Tori?" "Get out of the car." I feel something touch my face. A fuzzy image of Tori's face appears in my vision. "Remember when you said we'd go to London together?" I hear her say. "Hmm." I internally smile. "One day we'll visit London and we'll tell them the story of us. How you took my breath away, how you showed me what it's like to love." Tori strokes my forehead. "But you need to stay strong for me, I love you." In the next moment, the blurry image of her face disappears and I'm alone and afraid. I think about the fresh air and the bustle of a busy London as Tori and I walk through the street, a little one running around our legs. I think about the amount of times I'll kiss her swollen stomach and tell them how much I love them. Leaving this world doesn't feel like a colossal jump, but a reminder of what forever will become. the end