Hi! Thank you for reading my story, I hope you'll enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from Choices. I do own the names that sound unfamiliar to you. Well. I don't own them... they're just my friends. Don't tell them I said I own them.

Chapter 1

Iris

2023

Damn it, I was late. I hated being late. 'Hey Jimmy?' I called, and started rummaging in my closet again. 'Have you seen my-' I started, but Jimmy, my best friend in the world, appeared in the doorway. He was holding my scarf, a slight grin on his face. 'Looking for this?' I chuckled and took the scarf in my hands. 'You know me so well,' I said, and grabbed his face in my hands. 'LOVE YOU.' He chuckled and shook his head. 'You're late, right?' I nodded and frowned, 'this is my favourite, why do I keep losing it?' He raised his eyebrows. 'Seems like a pattern with you.' My heart skipped a beat, as I realised the trueness of his words. 'Ouch, Rys, that's cold,' I said, and whipped him with the scarf.

He rubbed his neck, and smiled sheepishly. 'I'm sorry, it's been seven years. I thought I'd finally be able to call you out on it.' I rolled my eyes and smiled. I shouldn't let my mind go back seven years at that moment. 'Sure. About calling someone out on something…' I leaned against the doorframe and raised my eyebrows at my handsome best friend. 'You done sulking about dorky, boring Eileen yet? I'm meeting my friend Emma tonight. She's totally the girl for you.' He rolled his bright blue eyes, 'so you keep saying, but you never set up a date.' He fell silent, and then his mouth fell open. 'Eileen wasn't boring!'

My eyebrows shot higher. 'I was waiting until you were done feeling sorry for yourself Jimmy. I'm all for librarians, but I don't trust a librarian that doesn't read. And didn't have any other hobbies. Have you ever had a conversation with her?' He folded his muscular arms, 'of course I did. I dated her for two years.' I grinned, 'hey, I don't judge, she was pretty. Talking wasn't her thing, so I bet you guys had other things to do.' Jimmy's eyes widened and his face grew red, causing me to start laughing. 'You're too easy,' I joked, and grabbed my coat.

He coughed and frowned, 'I dislike you right now.' I smiled, and kissed his cheek. 'Well stop, because we live together and life will get really hard if you dislike your roommate.' He rolled his eyes and smiled. 'Be careful, alright?' 'Always,' I promised, and grabbed my keys.

Jimmy and I had been living together for the past year, after he'd broken up with Eileen. He moved into my place, and we'd been having a pretty good time together. We knew each other since we were eleven, as we'd grown up together as neighbours. We'd had the same group of friends growing up, and we'd been through a lot together. Graduations, heartbreaks, happiness… everything. We'd even graduated college together, and were now working our day jobs. I was working at a local elementary school, and Jimmy was working as a big shot real estate agent. I always joked how he, as a real estate agent, didn't have his own house. God knew he could afford it, but the fact was, we really appreciated each other's presence… and we were single, so it wasn't hurting anyone anyway.

Wouldn't take long when I'd introduce him to Emma, I figured, as I stepped into my car to meet her. I'd met her when she was working, about ten months ago. She owned a little bookstore, which I'd entered one day during my break. I'd found her sitting on the floor in one of the aisles, reading a novel. She'd looked up, a coy yet playful smile playing on her lips. 'I love a good slow burning love.' I'd chuckled, we spent my entire break chatting… and we'd been chatting ever since.

About twenty minutes later, I stepped out of my parked car and found myself at the entrance of my favourite restaurant, Blue Swan. Blue Swan was a restaurant set up by two of my most favourite people in the world: my parents. They'd bought the place a few years ago, and it had undergone some massive reconstruction. Thankfully my parents weren't alone, and my group of friends had helped them build the restaurant to what it had become: a wonderful place to be. My twin brother Tim, his girlfriend Hana and I had done most, but Jimmy and our best friend Maxwell had put every free minute they had into helping my parents as well.

We all had a role in the restaurant. My mother was the head-chef, and my father was one of the cooks, yet walked out at any given time to do some administration. Tim was a lounge manager slash manager, as he helped my dad run the place. Blue Swan was famous for its desserts, which was the curtesy of Hana. She was one of the pastry-chefs, and I helped her out, once a week. Maxwell had studied to become a party planner, when he attended college, but one of the courses he'd had, was interior design. Of course, it had been about how to dress a room to create a perfect party. Maxwell had looked at Blue Swan as if it were to be water party, and had started dressing the room.

My parents wanted to recreate a lake which, I had to admit, Maxwell had totally pulled off. He'd even managed to project water waves and sparkling sunlight onto the ceiling, which made it feel like we were swimming in the ocean. The ambiance was surprisingly cosy for the fact that most of the interior was blue. It was almost magical, and I couldn't have been prouder of all my loved ones for pulling off something like this.

I walked inside the restaurant and saw that Emma was already sitting at one of the tables, waving at me. I smiled big and waved back, before checking the register if I could spot my brother. I could, so I waved at him, before arriving at the table. He smiled, and waved back. 'How are you doing?' I asked happily as I hugged Emma. She sighed and shook her head. 'I'm tired. I have a new roommate.' I raised my eyebrows, 'and that's bad… how?' 'He has a six-year old.' 'Oh!' I grinned, 'so you're like a mommy now?' She chuckled, 'definitely not a mom, but I do watch her one day a week. She's pretty cute.'

I giggled, 'why did you choose him?' 'Because it was between him, nose-picking guy and "I haven't showered in days" guy.' I sighed. 'Single daddy it was.' 'HOT single daddy it was,' Emma grinned. 'Crazy muscled and he drinks whiskey.' I cocked an eyebrow, 'don't you dare fall in love with him, Em. You belong with Jimmy!' She snorted. 'First see, then believe. Is he over that Eileen girl yet?' I chuckled, 'says he is. Blind date is coming!' She smiled and folded her arms. 'Shouldn't you be the one getting back into the dating world? You haven't dated anyone since that guy in high school and college.'

Drake Walker.

My heart skipped a beat, thinking about him. I had not allowed myself to do that for a while. 'Yeah, I'm good,' I said and frowned. 'He's definitely ruined me for other men.' I leaned onto my elbow, putting my chin in the cup of my hand.

Drake fucking Walker. I bit my lip. I wondered how he was doing.

Drake

2023

'Oh, come on Ellie, help,' I sighed as I tried to tie my daughter Elena's hair into a bun. She chuckled. 'Daddy, you're really bad at this.' I frowned, 'are you really serious about that ballet thing… because I can just unroll you.' She giggled, and grabbed the tie out of my hands. 'I'll do it myself, you watch.' I smiled and I shook my head and sat down on the edge of the bathtub. She tiptoed so she could look at her hair in the mirror. 'You know I bought you that step, right, so you can stand taller?' I asked, amused, as I folded my arms. 'My friend Amy said that this will make me taller,' she said, and looked at me, as I tried to contain a grin. 'No?' I smiled. 'I'd say your friend Amy is either telling untruths, or her parents did not really inform her correctly.' Elena's mouth fell open, 'really?' I nodded. Her face fell, as she looked down, and moped as she grabbed the step.

The bathroom door opened, and my roommate Emma stepped inside. 'Still no luck?' Elena sighed, her hands in her hair. 'Can't get it right.' Emma smiled, and walked up to Elena. 'Need my help?' 'Please,' I said, and raised my eyebrows. 'Female hair is impossible.' Emma chuckled. She took Elena's long brown hair in her hands, and turned it into a bun within a minute. 'Thank you, auntie Em!' Elena said happily. 'Ellie, we've talked about this,' I started, but Emma shook her head. 'It's fine, auntie Em it is.' I shook my head, a miniscule smile playing on my lips as I pretended to glare at Elena. She, however, shot me an angelic smile.

For a moment, I got distracted when I noticed Emma's outfit. 'Don't you look dressed up,' I noted, and pointed at her dress. 'Date?' Her hair was down, make up done, sparkly dress, the works. She grinned. 'If you consider a dinner with my best friend a date, sure.' I chuckled and shook my head. 'Guess not.' I'd started feeling for Emma. Like a sister that was, because she could've easily been. Sarcastic, brown hair, brown eyes, whiskey drinker… sure, she was pretty. Beautiful even, definitely, I could see that. She wasn't my type though.

Blond hair and green eyes, however…

I shook my head, couldn't let my brain go there. After having had an on and off again relationship, Iris and I had sworn not to stay in touch.
Apparently, the concept of loving someone too much actually existed. Both too jealous, both too… explosive, maybe?

'When are you going to start dating again? I could watch Ellie,' Emma suggested happily. Elena cheered, and threw her arms around Emma. I cocked an eyebrow. 'You already watch Elena once a week, that's more than enough.' Emma shook her head. 'Hey, one night wouldn't hurt, would it?' I snorted. 'Last actual date gave me this bastard child,' I said, pointing at Elena. Elena grinned, and bowed. 'And you couldn't live without me.' I chuckled, 'damn right I can't.' I stood up and pressed a kiss onto the top of her head.

'I'm good, Em. I'm not looking for Elena's stepmother.' Emma shot me a sympathetic look. 'You're right, life with a child is completely different.' She smiled as she put her hand on my shoulder. 'Just saying, Drake. Should you ever need it, I'll watch Ellie.' She pressed a kiss onto Elena's forehead, and looked back at me. 'I'm off, see you!' 'Have fun,' I told her, and she waved before skipping out of the bathroom.

Elena looked at me, her big brown eyes full of wonder. 'So, daddy…' I shook my head. 'No, I'm not interested in dating, Ellie.' She walked up to me, as I'd sat down on the edge of the bathtub again, and sat down on my lap. 'Are you still in love with-' I raised my eyebrows at her, indicating she shouldn't finish the sentence. 'You-know-who,' she whispered. 'I should have never told you that story,' I said, and shook my head. I lifted her in my arms and stood up, throwing her over my shoulder. 'Let's go ballerina, what else you're going to be late.' I caught a glimpse of us in the bathroom mirror, and suddenly a memory of Iris doing her make up in our bathroom mirror resurfaced. I pressed it way back into my brain, and grabbed my car keys.

Once I'd taken Elena to ballet class, and I'd returned home, I sat down on the couch. My thoughts wandered right back to Iris. God, how I missed her. I started to think that my love for her would never fucking fade. I rubbed my face and groaned. At least I had Elena to take my mind off Iris.

After Iris and I had broken up, the entire picture of a happy family had faded. I'd always imagined my life with her, and having kids of our own had been a part of that. After our break up, I didn't want to be in a relationship with anyone else. I still didn't, and I didn't think I ever would, so I'd been letting go of the idea of becoming a dad. So, when Elena's birth mother Arielle called me to inform me about her pregnancy, I felt a sense of pride throughout my body. She didn't want to be a mother, because she had different plans with her life. However, she did want to make someone else happy, by giving Elena up for adoption. "Hell no," I'd said. "I'll raise her by myself." Arielle had agreed to me becoming a single dad, and had told me that she didn't want to be a part of Elena's life. I agreed, and eight months later, we went our separate ways.

Elena didn't look like her, appearance wise. She was almost an exact copy of me, with brown hair and big brown eyes. I'd met Arielle in a bar, and the only thing that had attracted me in her back then, was that she didn't look anything like Iris. Dark hair and bright blue eyes. During the eight months we'd spent together, I found out that Arielle was a sweet girl. Kind. Very kind, even. She was an archaeologist, and wanted to work all over the world. She was the kind of girl to get excited about basically everything, and even though I was a lot more cynical, I'd liked that part of her. Which was a good thing, because I recognised it in Elena.

During the eight months of pregnancy, I'd grown to care about Arielle. She was carrying my baby, and she was a genuinely good person, how could I not care. She'd basically lived at my place until she recovered from giving birth. Once she had, she moved back home and my everyday life became difficult. Arielle and I had said goodbye, and I was alone… having to work less due to the presence of a new-born baby. I didn't want it any other way, but it did complicate things. I moved back to the Walker Ranch in Texas, so my mother could help me out with Elena. My mother moved back to the ranch when I was about twenty years old, right before I found out I'd be having a baby. My mom had dragged me through the first year… and now I could hardly believe Elena would be turning seven already. Within a few months that was… where had the time gone.

I stared at the TV, but I knew I wasn't paying attention.

My mind kept wandering off, back to 2013, senior year of high school… when it all began. Again.