I spent Halloween with Demi and Joe at Tyler's party. It was his seventeenth birthday party he celebrates on Halloween because his birthday is so close to it. He's a year and 10 months older than me so for two months into the school year I was fifteen and he was sixteen. Technically for two months I could say he was only a year older than me. It was a fun party for most people I'm not the type of girl to get drunk at a house party. I had never been to a house party before and I wasn't sure if this counted because it was still a birthday and a costume party. I would have had more fun if Tyler wasn't so busy thanking everyone for coming. I was dressed in normal clothes since I wasn't really into the Halloween thing this year. It was something I use to enjoy but I stopped liking it after fifth grade. My brother was dressed as spider man and I was a princess. My older brother Justin was taking us out and he was with his girlfriend. He took his eye off of us and I ended up getting lost. It was terrifying for an eleven year old. It was so dark out and I was looking for my brother but instead I was pushed down concrete steps. Some older kids thought it was funny so they took my candy then pushed me. I screamed for ten minutes before I got help. It never appealed to me to ever dress up for Halloween again. Nate did bother me that night. He was dressed in a vampire costume and he told me he wanted to sink his teeth into me. So classy. I wasn't falling for any of his bullshit.
"Having fun?" Tyler asked, coming from the kitchen.
"Yup!" I said with fake excitement.
"You're a bad liar." He laughed. He knew me so well.
"Sorry." I giggled.
"Let's get out of here." He smiled.
"What? You're having a party Tyler!"
"So? I'd rather have a good time with you." I blushed.
We left the party and went for a walk on the beach. It was nice. I actually enjoyed Halloween for once.
Thanksgiving Day was spent at Tyler's house. Usually I spent it with my family but my older brother couldn't come so my mom wanted to go to a spa weekend. My little brother went to stay with my dad. I didn't really feel the need to spend a depressing family dinner at an army base. It wasn't that I didn't want to see my dad. I did but not like that so I told him I had plans already. I slept over Demi's that whole week and spent Thanksgiving with Tyler while she went to her aunt's. It was awesome meeting Tyler's family. His older sister and mom were really nice. I felt so at home and apart of the family. I knew where Tyler got his nice qualities from. They taught him how to be a good guy. That was what I was thankful for this year.
Over Christmas Break Tyler left the day after Christmas to go skiing for New Years. I was really bummed out not being able to see him on New Years. All year I kept fantasizing that he'd give me my first kiss at midnight. Christmas was actually really cool. Tyler spent the morning with his family but came over my house for lunch and to open presents we got each other.
"You didn't have to get me anything." Tyler said when I handed him his present.
"Of course I did. I'm not going to let you buy me something and not give you anything." I laughed. I got Tyler a hockey jersey he really wanted and couldn't stop talking about. When he opened it his face lit up.
"Alex I can't believe you actually got me this." He was so shocked which made me smile.
"Thank you!" He hugged me tight and put his jersey back in the bag. Tyler handed me my present.
"It's not as amazing as what you got me but I hope you like it." Tyler smiled and handed it to me. He got me a necklace that said my name. It was so pretty.
"Wow it's amazing." I looked at him he was smiling.
"You like it?"
"I love it." I turned around and pulled my hair up as Ty put the necklace on me. I shivered at his touch as he clasped the necklace on.I was so in love with my necklace it was beautiful and it came from someone who cares about me. It was the best present I have ever gotten.
"Thank you so much Tyler!" I hugged him wanting to never let go.
It was the first time Tyler met both my parents and my brothers. My older brother Justin doesn't live with me. Justin's a freshmen an ivy league college. He graduated High School a year early, my parents were so proud of him. Tyler actually remembered him sort of. He just remembered seeing a smart guy always running the science fairs. That made me laugh. Justin was surprised his little sister was hanging out with the most popular guy in school. Justin always thought Tyler was a jerk like Nate. When Justin was a junior, Tyler was a sophomore so Justin remembered that Tyler was the most popular guy in the sophomore class. Ty met my parents who thought he was a really nice guy. He's been over my house all the time but he never met them. My mom is a preschool teacher and runs after school clubs and programs. She's never home before six. My dad is in the army so he's usually away. He lives on base and claims he can't make the hour trip back every night. It's actually a half hour away. My parents hardly see each other it's only on weekend is my dad even home. They don't like being around each other for more than a quickie. It doesn't bother me that much since I was never really close to either of them. My little brother Max thought Tyler was really cool. Max is in seventh grade and he's very immature but at the same time he's mature enough to take care of his self. Max is never home until the time my mom comes home. She has no idea when she gets home he had be gone all day. I didn't really mind being alone after school. I know Max can take care of himself. I liked being able to have Tyler over and not have anyone keep checking on us. We had grown so close I didn't want to be apart for over a week. I thought he'd be busy the whole time and not have time to call me. He had fun and we talked a few times on the phone. It actually wasn't that bad. I spent more time with Demi and Joe but I missed him.
When Tyler got back from skiing the first thing he did was have a TV/movie marathon with me. It was really nice. Sometimes it actually felt like we were more than just friends. Tyler would wait for me outside of a few of my classes. He'd kiss my cheek, put his arm around me all the time and pay for me when we'd go to the food court or the diner despite how much I'd argue with that. It felt so real and I wasn't the only one that saw it like that. The only thing missing was the actual boyfriend title. My New Years resolution was to find a way to be honest with Tyler and stop being afraid. Demi would be pissed off if I didn't make it my resolution. She was annoyed hearing about how much I like Tyler when I could be doing something about it when I'm not. She's not like me in that way. When she realized she liked Joe she went up to him and kissed him on the swing set. It was so unexpectedly brave for a seventh grader. That's why Demi couldn't understand why I wasn't being honest. She thinks that if you feel a certain way you owe it to yourself to be truthful. I see what she meant and I know I also owe it to Tyler. It's still hard being so vulnerable and opening my heart when I know it could break.
