"Chelsea can you please come out here for a second" my dad said. With a huff I drug myself out of my bed and walked into the dining room where dad was sitting
"Yeah what do you need?"
"Well I need to talk to you and you will not say anything until I am done speaking"
"Yeah, Yeah fine what's up?"
"Well since it seems like we have to have this conversation every week I'm tired of it and so is your mother. You are not showing us any respect. You come in at all hours of the night you are not taking in any responsibility for your chores, your room looks like a hurricane came to town, and when was the last time you showed any affection to anyone in this house besides Cole?"
"The thing is Chelsea if you don't straighten up and fly right we will take action ... Last time sending you to New Jersey didn't work and you won't go to North Carolina again we will be sending you to Forks to live with your Uncle Charlie now- "
"WHAT THE FUCK" I stood up and screamed at my dad
"Now Chelsea things are going to change and right now "
"No I'm not going anywhere near Forks ... Bella isn't even there and Forks is even more boring than Spartanburg ... At least here we have a mall."
"Chelse, Forks is the last resort I really don't want to send you there but if push comes to shove I'm shoving your ass to Washington. Now since according to your schedule you have to work tonight is that correct?"
Shit... I'm going to a party at the Tanyards with Katelin and Travis tonight but they don't know that
"Yep sure am dad and since it's now 3 o'clock I'm gonna go take a shower and get ready for work"
I walked out of the dining room and into my bedroom. I grabbed my phone and saw that I had 5 missed calls all from Travis I was about to call him back when he called again
"Yellow"
"Blue"
"What's up babe "
"Nothing just makin' sure you're not gonna flake out on us again"
"Nope fully plan on makin' it besides Will is gonna be there and he owes me a ride on his ATV to go muddin' "
"You must really love that boy if you actually willing to let him take you muddin'"
"Of course I do he's my cowboy is muddy armor"
"Ha-ha ... I know you wouldn't mind rollin' in the mud with him again" he said and I could just see that smirk on his face
Last time we had a party at the Tanyards Will and I both got a little more drunk than normal and we were having sex in the bed of this truck but he flipped us over so that I was on top and he flipped us off the truck completely and we ended up on the ground in a mud puddle but not even mud could stop us and I ended up with mud places I don't even want to think about
"Travis seriously are you going to bring that up every time I mention anything to do with Will and mud?"
"Yup … I love you baby girl but that was an experience I never want to witness again ... Next time use the back seat or at least a bed or you can always go take a roll in the hay in his barn"
"Good Idea ... Wait isn't that where you and Danny were last time?"
"Yup"
"Ewe... Seriously that was something I never want to see again … I love you but what you and your boyfriend do in yall's spare time I don't need to be prieved to"
"Kinda like the time I walked in on you and Will goin at it ... Tell you man to lay out or something that was the whitest ass I have ever seen ... I don't understand how he can have the darkest arms but the whitest ass and legs I have ever seen"
"Trav it's called a 'farmers' tan ... Man your getting me all excited now I really want to see Will but listen I need to go I gotta go take a shower and then get ready for 'work'"
"Hold up missy I thought you were going to the Tanyards with us Katelin will freak if you don't come"
"I am coming but the parental units think I gotta close tonight … I'm gonna tell them that I gotta go help out with a situation at the Chesnee store so they won't check up on me … they're threating to send me away , but I really need to go talk to my dad and take a shower"
"Alright baby girl you coming over here or Kate's ... never mind I know that you got all hot and bothered over Will so I'll see you later"
"Ok love ya … and I'll call you in a bit"
"Bye"
"Peace out"
I put my phone back on the charger and headed out to go take my shower to get ready but I needed to go talk to my dad first. I found him in his building getting ready to cut some wood for the new stairs in the back
"Hey dad I need to talk to you"
"Yeah what going on?"
"Toolz just called and said that there was some issue going on in Chesnee and they need me to go over there tonight instead of my store ... So I'm just gonna stay the night with Katelin tonight so I don't have to drive on the highway later"
"Ok that's fine but remember we have to get packed and ready for the beach tomorrow so come home when you get up"
"I will dad ... I love you now I'm gonna go get ready for work" I gave him a peck on the cheek and left my very stunned father sitting on his workbench
I took my shower and got dressed right when I was about to grab my work shirt my phone rang and it was Will calling me
"Hello"
"Hey baby where you are?"
"I was about to get in the car to come over there so I could see you before I have to go to work"
"What I thought you were off tonight … you are off tonight I just left work and look at your schedule … did you switch with Kayla again ? … you know there is a party tonight you told me you were comin' … what the hell Chelsea are you gonna stand me up again at another party?"
All the while I was headed out the door and to my explorer while he was rantin and ravin about me standing him up again
"Hold your horses mister ... Mom and Dad are freakin out on me again and even though you and I both know that I put in for a two week vacation I had to shuffle my schedule with Kayla to ensure that I would get tonight off so I could be with you before I left for the beach"
"Wow I feel really stupid right now I'm sorry baby I thought you didn't wanna come to the party… are you still coming over even though I acted like a jackass"
"Yes... You are a jackass but you're my jackass and if you would answer the door you might answer your own damn question"
Will lives in the next sub-division which is only like a minute or two from my house and the way I drive I got there while still on the phone with him. I heard shuffling on the phone and on the opposite side of the door. The door swung open and I was engulfed in him arms before I could blink. He pressed his lips against mine and I poured all the love I had for him in that kiss. I could feel him threading his hand through my hair to secure my head. He usually has medium length light brown hair but because Will is leaving for basic training for the Marines next month he has a buzz cut and I miss his hair.
I hummed into the kiss and soon we broke away from full make out to chaste kissing just as I was about to pull away I heard a throat being cleared and turned to see Will's
Papa smirking at us
"Well in my day we would not attack beautiful strange women at the door... We would do it inside "I blushed and ducked my head away from them .Will grabbed my hand and intertwined our hands together.
"Chelsea You don't have to hide from me you know I love to make you blush... So when are you two gonna give me some great-grand babies" My eyes widened and I choked on the air I was breathing. Will started to hit my back to help dislodge... air?
"Pop seriously I think your gonna give Chelse a heart attack she just choked on air" meanwhile Nana Anne came out of the kitchen wiping the flour off her hands to rush over to my side
"William Biggerstaff Atkinson what did you do" she narrowed her eyes at her husband and he sheepishly looked away
"I was kidding around with Chelsea here it's not my fault she started choking"
My eyes widened again and I croaked out "Great- Grandbabies"
Nana Anne turned to me and look like I was about to give her the answer to immortal life
"You're giving me a great grandbaby" she squealed and hugged both Will and I. I looked up at Will and I could see a faint blush on his cheeks he shook his head
"No Nana, Pop over here was teasing us buy asking us when were going to give yall a great grand baby… which by the way will not happen anytime soon…. I'm leaving for basic and Chelsea still has two more years left of High School" Will said and I nodded in agreement
"So we are gonna head out we got places to go before Chelsea leaves me for two weeks to go to the beach" he narrowed his eyes at me and I just rolled mine
"Well if 'Mister I-don't – like –Chelsea's Driving would suck it up and sit in a car for a couple hours he could have gone as well" I said with a smirk and I heard laughing and turned around to find both of his grandparents nodding in agreement and I turned back to see Will scowling at all of us
"Alright this has been fun let's get going Chelse were gonna be late" I waved goodbye to Nana Anne and Papa Will and Will and I walked out the door and headed towards his truck. He backed me up so that I was leaning against the passenger's side door. He narrowed his eyes at me and gave me a questioning look
"What"
"What have you done to get yourself in trouble babe?"
"Ugh… Apparently I come home at all hours of the night, I'm disrespectful, and I only show affection to Cole"
"You only show affection to your dog?" his laughter turned in to full on snorting and I had to roll my eyes. I can't believe my boyfriend was acting like a retard right now
"Yes I happen to love Cole Thank-you very much" I saw his hazel eyes darken and I knew I was in trouble
"Do you love him more than me?" he questioned with a very serious look on his face and I knew what he was doing
"Yes I love Cole more than you … he doesn't back talk me and he lets me snuggle with him and he makes me feel warm at night"
"Hmm… Well does he hold you after you had a fight with your parents? …. Does he jump off your battery at two in the morning when you have left your lights on all night? …. Does he know every spot on your body that makes you melt?" he asked me while skimming my jaw line with his nose
"No" I breathed out, I felt him pull away and I placed my hand over his heart
"It's yours you know" I nodded and placed his hand above my heart
"As this is yours" he moved his hand from my heart to his chest. He grabbed my hand and pulled me into his chest. He engulfed me in a hug and spoke to me in a whisper
"Chelsea please don't do anything stupid … I couldn't bear to be without … I don't want to lose you too" he said and his voice broke at the end. I brought my hands up to his face and held it in my hands
"I promise you will never lose me"
With that he swooped down and caught my lips with his and gave me the most passionate kiss ever. I could feel all his love for me in this one kiss and I could also feel the sadness he felt for the loss of his mother. I felt him pull away from me and I saw a single tear escape from his eye, I quickly wiped it away. He grabbed my hand and he placed a kiss on the back of my hand. He then helped me into the truck and while he was sure I was safely in he rounded the front and got in as well.
We were on our way to the Tanyards when I noticed that Will was not going in the normal direction. He was headed towards our spot by the swimming hole. I glanced over at him and I could tell he was over thinking things. I squeezed his hand that I was holding
"Will what are we doing here?" I asked as he parked next to the big oak beside the swimming hole. He turned to me and I mirrored his actions, he grabbed both of my hands and stared into my eyes... Hazel meeting green.
"How long have you loved me?"
"Since the day you told Ross Hanna that I didn't have cooties"
"I was in fourth grade and you were in third grade and ever since a green eyed ,freckled face, golden strawberry blonde walked into the wrong classroom I have been in love with you . I didn't care that you only liked to play on the swings or that you were afraid of the monkey bars at recess. All I cared about was the little girl whose face would light up every time I snuck you a handful of honeysuckles or the way you would neatly organize every single one of you Lisa frank pencils"
"Chelsea you know me better than anyone else and I would like to ask you a very important question" I nodded my head and he took a large deep breath. He closed his eyes while he exhaled .He opened his eyes and I could feel them boring into my soul
"Will you marry me?"
My breath caught and I could see my future with him. A little boy chasing a girl around the yard both had my golden strawberry blonde hair the little girl had green eyes while her brother had hazel. I could see Will teaching our son how to throw a football and I could see him teaching our daughter how to drive and every time she got a gear stuck I could see him tap his fingers like he always does when something was annoying him . I was brought out of my daydream when I felt him drop my hands.
"I knew it was too soon ... Why you would want to be engaged to me when you could find someone better -" I cut him off the only way I knew how. With a kiss.
"Yes Will"
"See I knew you would say no- Wait did you just say yes?" I nodded and launched myself across the cab of the truck into his lap .I straddled him and placed kisses all over his face. I felt him start laughing and I placed another kiss on his lips
"Would you like your ring?" I nodded and he reached in his pocket and pulled out a very recognizable blue box. I narrowed my eyes at him and he chuckled. I opened it and pulled out a heart shaped diamond engagement ring it was platinum and looked to be about two carats.
"Will you spent way too much money on this I cannot accept it"
"You can and you will … see I didn't spend a dime on it … it was my mother's… she loved you very much and I know she would have loved to see it on you … she told me to give it to the woman whom would always hold my heart … she also told me that if I didn't give it to Chelsea Hope Vanderbrink she would forever haunt me. So see you have to accept it"
I chuckled at his reasoning but I could see her saying that and it made me smile. I held out my hand as his slide the ring on my finger where it would stay for the rest of forever. We were finally on our way to the Tanyards and I felt a buzz in my pocket. I received a text from Katelin
'Hey hoe… you still coming right… I got your favorite Mike's Hard Raspberry Lemonade'
'Yum… I can't wait us should be there within the next 10 min. or so …. I have exciting news'
'Your gonna make me wait tell me now'
'Nope you and everyone else is gonna have to wait'
'Boo… whore…. I love you … see you soon'
'Yeah yeah love ya too bye'
I put my phone back into my pocket and I grabbed my fiancé's hand and intertwined our fingers together.
"So is this what the talk of great grand babies was all about"
"Yep I asked Pop to get the ring for me a couple of days ago and I guess he put two and two together a got eight. I didn't want to wait another day for you to be my forever that's the reason I asked"
I nodded and played with his fingers. We pulled into the muddy Tanyards where I could see all my friends were gathered around waiting for us to get here before going muddin. We parked the truck and I jumped out of the cab to find my two best friends anticipating
Something.
"Yes Can I help you?"
"Cut the bullshit missy what's the news?"
I held out my left hand and all I heard were squeals and high pitched screams which were surprisingly coming from Travis. When I finally regained my hearing I was bombarded with questions
"Oh I Gee … Chelsea can I be your MOH" I looked at Travis like he was crazy
"Trav... what the hell is a MOH?"
"Oh silly girl it's your maid of honor"
"Oh wow... yeah you see I love you both like my family but my 'MOH' position has been filled since I was five … my cousin Bella and I have always agreed that we would be each others 'MOH' , but I would still love for you to be in the wedding"
I looked at Katelin and noticed how her happiness seemed forced but I didn't want to see her in pain.
"Hey Trav I think Kate and I need to take a walk for a minute"
We walked for what seemed like an eternity before Katelin broke the silence
"So … Do you really want to tie yourself down to Will? He is about to leave for basic and then be shipped off to god knows where … What if he doesn't make it?"
"Look I don't want to think about the 'What ifs' I just want to have fun and celebrate with my friends"
It has been a crazy year I just finished my junior year of High School about to start my senior year and Will went off to basic training, and then he got deployed to Iran. I have been worried sick about him because his unit was in the middle of all the attacks going on over there. I was leaving Dorman cause I just took my senior pictures when all of a sudden my phone rang.
"Hello Nana Anne"
"Chelsea - sniff- you need to come over to our house right now we have some bad news"
"What is will ok? Please tell me he is ok?"
"Chelsea calm down and please be careful"
"I'm on my way now I'll see you in a min."
I slammed my phone down and floored my car. I was running through the two red lights on 221 and when I finally got to 26 I let it go. I looked down at one point I was doing 110. I reached the one place where my fate would be sealed and I rushed into the house. As soon as I saw the two men in uniform I lost it Papa Will held me as I sobbed and I knew right then my life was over . I did not listen to how he died I couldn't let myself envision him dying I needed to remember all the good times we shared.
I could not move its like I was froze in my memories
"Chelsea please … you told me that if I jumped you would too"
"Will it's like 60 degrees out here and I 'm not jumping in freezing cold water"
"Baby please I'm gonna freeze in here"
"Nope you're the idiot who actually believed I would get into that cold water with you"
"Fine you asked for it" He grabbed me by the leg and dragged me into the swimming hole with him
"I hate you; you got me wet and cold"
"But baby I will keep you warm plus I love it when you're wet"
"Perv … Can we please get out now before we catch colds"
"I love you Chelsea Hope"
"As I love you William Biggerstaff"
I woke up not remembering how I got into bed but as soon as I took in my surrounds everything came rushing back to me. I clutched his shirt to my body as if my life depended on it. I realized that the shirt I was holding was his football jersey, and I remembered how he always told me I looked better in his shirts than he did.
"Will can I borrow a shirt I spilt sauce all over mine"
"Sure babe let me grab you one"
"Are you serious?"
The one he handed me was his practice shirt. It had 'Atkinson' on the back along with '13'
"Will have you gone insane?"
"No… you asked for a shirt and I gave you one now what's wrong with it?"
"Are you trying to stake claim or something?" he came over to me and grabbed me by the hips
"Well I don't need half the team hitting on you so yes I'm claiming what's mine" he whispered as he placed light kisses on my neck and shoulders .He got the junction of my neck and shoulder and started sucking . I pushed him back and saw him smirking at his work
"William Biggerstaff what in god's name is wrong with you?"
"I'm staking claim" he said with a shrug. I rolled my eyes while taking off my shirt and putting his shirt on
"Damn baby you look hot … I think I'm just gonna give you all my shirts and that will be the only thing you can wear "I laughed and went over to give him a kiss
"I love you Chelsea"
"I love you too Will now let's go celebrate"
The next few days were the hardest on me. His funeral was my breaking point; I was sitting in the chair holding on to Nana Anne's hand as we watched our boy laid to rest. One of the solders brought me the flag that was covering his casket when all of a sudden I snapped; I abruptly stood up and ran. I ran and ran until I could not run anymore I collapsed in the middle of a field and let the sobs take over. All of a sudden there was a gush of wind and I smelt the one thing that I thought I would never smell again. It was cut grass, along with a hint of lemon and sweat. Will.
I don't know how I got home but when I woke up I was holding onto the bear he gave me the night before he went off to basic.
The next weeks were hell I shut everyone out and I was just there I didn't have a reason for living anymore. I would wake up , got to work , and come home and sleep . I never answered the phone when Katelin or Travis would call eventually I changed my number just so I won't hear the constant ringing anymore. Everything was fine until one day my parents had enough
"Chelsea baby we need to talk to you" my mom said.
I got out of my bed and went to sit down at the table. My dad gave me a sad smile and I couldn't bear to see the pity look he had in his eyes so I focused all my attention to my hands . I was still wearing the engagement ring and I was never going to take it off .
"Chelse, Your going to live in Forks with Bella and Uncle Charlie"
"No"
"Chelsea you are not living anymore … I see it everyday , your not talking to any of your friends and I talked to Will and Anne… you have not been over there in a month … Look I know you lost Will but baby you need to live"
"I am living … you don't know what its like to lose the only person in the world whom you love more than life itself… You still have mom and honestly I would wish what I had going on in my life on anyone"
"Chelsea You need a new place to start over … you need to live .. Will would not have wanted you to bee holed up in your room … he would want you out enjoying life even if that ment he could not be with you .. He loved you sweetheart … Now everything has been taken care of. Your car is on its way to forks and as we are speaking your mother is packing up your stuff… Don't look at Forks as a punishment … look at it as a new beginning" dad stood up and placed a kiss on my forehead and left me to my thoughts.
I walked outside and just walked until I ended up at our tree. I look at where will have carved our initials into the bark 'W.A + C.V = 4 ever' I saw this a wept . I cried for the children we would never have … I cried for our forever. I felt the wind gush around me and I smelt him . Will was here.
"Baby please don't be sad"
"Oh God I'm going nuts I'm hearing my dead fiancé's voice talking to me"
"Your not nuts. Maybe a little wacko … but defiantly not nuts"
"Why did you leave me? I can't do this alone … I need you here with me
"Baby I didn't leave you I'll always be with you … I'm in your heart. Now listen to me I love you and I promise if you ever need me just think of me and I will always come back to you but please don't shut yourself off to people… This move will be good for you … I need you to make me a promise… promise me that if you find someone who loves you please let them in
"I don't think I can promise that"
'Chelsea hope…. You need to live your life … you need to make new memories with someone you love "
"But I love you … I don't want to leave … If I leave it will mean that you are really gone"
"Chelsea I told you I'm never gone I'm always in your heart… now promise me that you will move on a find someone to love … and I want you to name your first son after me"
I laughed loudly at that and I could imagine seeing his smirk because he made me laugh.
"Will I love you and I promise to love again and naming my child after you"
"Now baby I have to go and so do you .. remember I will always love you … goodbye my love.. I'll be waiting for you"
"Bye" I whispered and the wind carried his sent away