I'm sorry to skip ahead so far, but I'm tired of the pregnancies, births, and newborn babies coming home. So, with that, I've skipped 6 years. Sorry for the long wait, too. I'm having a hard time in the ideas area. So help would be nice. And I really love the reviews. They make my day.
Info you, the readers, need to know:
Eden – 7 Delaney and Devin – 11
Elliot – 9 Tyson – 7
Triplets – 6 Blake – 10
Brian and Brianna – 12 Brady – 14
I'll explain the rest somewhere in the chapter. I won't keep you waiting any longer.
Only own the characters I made up.
One Step Farther
It was the annual "Family Reunion" for the forth of July. This year, 2025, it was held at the Bolton's place for Skyler Christopher Bolton's birthday. Chad, Troy, Zeke, and Ryan were huddled around the grill, cooking lunch.
Brady was crowding Sharpay, who was sitting with five-year-old Julian Kenneth. "Mom! Why can't I go to the movies with my friends?" Brady complained. Sharpay continued wiping the bright red lip stick off of Julian's face. "Brady Anthony Baylor, this event means a lot to us. Now, the least you could do is spend this one day with your family without any of your school friends! Do I make myself clear?" Brady dropped his head and mumbled, "Yes ma'am." Sharpay let out a breath. "Good. Now go and play basketball with your cousins."
Julian started to climb off the bench, but Sharpay held him there. "I'm not finished with you yet, Julian." She watched as Brady walked away, saying, "Some of them aren't even my cousins." Gabriella shook her head at the fourteen-year-old. "What happened to Ian?" she asked, walking up to the two with her last child clinging to her. "He thought it would be funny if he got into my lip stick. He ended up getting it all over his face." Gabriella chuckled and her now one-year-old son squealed with glee hearing his mother laughing. "Oh, do you think it's funny, too, Skyler?" Sharpay asked, smiling.
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Eden and Elliot were perched up against the big oak tree, watching the basketball area in silence. Brady had gotten over his grumpiness and was playing with Brian, Devin, Delaney, Tyson, Blake, Noah, and Braison. They brought their gaze over to the swing set, where Jaiden (Brianna) was pushing the three-year-old girls Logan Reese Bolton and Presley Lorraine Danforth. Brianna had become tired of everyone confusing her with her slightly older brother and decided to go by her middle name.
Eden quickly stole a glance of Elliot, but turned away when he turned his head her way. "Do you want to play a game?" he asked. She smiled and replied, "Sure. What game?"
"I don't care. You choose." Eden brought a hand to her chin and pretended to ponder about it for a long moment. Elliot laughed, causing Eden to immediately join in. She thought it was weird how they always did that so one time she asked her mom. "It happens with all best friends, doesn't it Troy?" she'd said, glancing sideways at her husband. Eden, of course, had missed the sparkle in their eyes when they'd said that, but she never noticed. "How about Truth or Dare?" she finally decided. Elliot groaned. "Do we have to play that one?" Eden nodded. "You were the one that let me pick, Eli." He stuck his tongue out at her and she mimicked him. "Alright. Ask away." Elliot turned toward her. "Truth or dare?" she asked. "Um, truth," Elliot replied. "Chicken," Eden taunted. "Whatever. Dare, then."
"I dare you to….kiss me." His eyes went wide and he blushed, shrieking, "WHAT?!" She faced him and said, "I dared you. You have to do it." He sighed. "Fine." He started to lean forward and just before he touched her lips, she jumped up and sprinted down the hill, laughing. He watched her and smiled, shaking his head. Two seconds later, he leapt up and chased after her. She giggled wildly and ran faster after catching a glimpse of him.
Troy was flipping burgers when his oldest daughter zipped past him. He snapped his head in her direction, and then quickly brought his head toward where she was running from. He spotted Elliot coming and as he came closer, Troy put his arm out and stopped the young boy by the shoulder.
Elliot fell backwards onto his butt from the shock of stopping so sudden. He spotted the feet of Eden's father right beside him and looked up. He smiled innocently. "Um, hi Mr. Bolton."
"Why were you chasing my daughter, Elliot?" Troy asked, smirking. Elliot racked his brain for an answer just as Ryan and Kelsi walked up. "What is Elliot doing on the ground?" Kelsi asked. "He was just about to tell me why he was chasing Eden," Troy replied with a hint of amusement.
The group turned when they heard giggling coming closer and closer to them. "Hi, angel," Troy greeted. "Hello, Daddy," Eden responded. Then, she noticed Elliot. "What happened to you?" she laughed, "Don't tell me you tripped over a ladybug." Elliot blushed for the second time in a few minutes, but tried and failed to hide it by rolling his eyes and laughing sarcastically. "So," Ryan urged, "are you going to answer?" Eden looked confused. "Answer what?"
Kelsi opened her mouth to tell the young girl, but a basketball came flying in their direction. "Yo Elliot!" Brian yelled, "Toss that here!" Elliot picked the ball up and stood, throwing it over. "Now, can you answer?" Troy laughed quietly. Elliot cleared his throat. "Um, she dared me to kiss her and ran when I tried." Eden laughed. "That was so funny, you have to admit." Troy laughed along with his daughter.
"EEEE!!" Eden whipped around to see her little brother running toward her as best he could. "Hey Skye!" she smiled, "Where's mommy?" Eden bent down and put her hands under his arms. He bounced up and down, pointing behind him. Everyone looked up at the oncoming Gabriella. "Hey honey," Gabriella greeted Troy before kissing him. "What are you guys up to?" she asked. Kelsi shrugged. "I have no idea myself. Something about Eden daring Elliot to kiss her and then running off."
Gabriella raised an eyebrow but waved it off. She turned to Kelsi. "Kels, you've gotta hear what Julian got himself into. Shar's over there with him, Taylor, Jaiden, and Presley." Kelsi nodded and stepped in front of Ryan. "Now, Elliot, watch what you're getting yourself into. Eden takes after her father; they both love pulling pranks." Elliot opened his mouth, shocked. "What…I-she…I'm not…Huh?" The adults laughed and Troy ruffled the boys blond hair. "Run along buddy." Elliot took the chance immediately and scrambled off before spotting Eden and running after her again.
"Those two are too cute," Kelsi laughed. Gabriella agreed and the two walked over to where Sharpay, Taylor, Julian, Jaiden, and Presley were. "So what did Ian get into now?" Kelsi asked as she and Gabriella approached. "Mama, he put lipstick all over his face," Kelsi's daughter told her, laughing. Everybody smiled at the preteen. She was definitely going to be a star when she got older. She had the outgoing personality down pact, and that, she got from her father's side of the family.
The day went on quicker than most would have liked and before they knew it, it was time to go home. Chad, Taylor, Zeke, and Sharpay had all left with their kids in tow. Gabriella had put Skyler, Logan, and the triplets to bed.
Troy and Gabriella were now sitting at the dining room table with Kelsi, Ryan, Eden, and Elliot.
"Please, Mom?" Elliot begged, "I really want to stay. And Mr. and Mrs. Bolton said it was okay."
Ryan looked at his wife. "Come on, Honey. Those two will be fine out in the treehouse." Kelsi sighed and said, "Alright, Eli, you can stay." Elliot and Eden high-fived and dashed out the back door before they could change their minds.
I bet I can beat you to the tree," Eden proclaimed. Before she let her best friend answer, she sprinted to the tree. Elliot blinked and started to run, but she still won. Elliot sulked as he came over to her. "Sore loser," Eden teased. "I'm gonna beat you up now," Elliot told her. Eden stared at him. "Why?" she asked. Elliot thought for a moment. "Because I'm bigger than you, that's why."
Eden widened her eyes as he came closer and closer. "You wouldn't do that, would you?" she asked a few minutes later. Elliot laughed. "Of course not. I couldn't beat you up if I tried." He hugged her. "You're my best friend forever..."
"And no one can break us apart," Eden finished.
So, what do you think of Eden and Elliot? Cute, aren't they? I have a question to ask you, too. What would you think if I changed my penname to Little A? If it would be too confusing, I won't do it. Please REVIEW!! I love them! Please give me some ideas too. I need something to work with. What do you want to happen? And if you haven't figured it out, the stuff happening between Eden and Elliot are based off of Mary's Song by Taylor Swift and I don't own it. Remember: REVIEW!!