And I'm back sooner than expected! I managed to write three chapters before the 25th. Whether I decided to upload this on the 25th or not... well, you'll find out when it happens. We've seen the worst of Lily and now she finally starts to heal. I actually kind of like how the third book of "High School Story" kind of goes along with Lily's journey through grief here, but I am happy to say that Lily does get a happy ending to that trial, and it is quite the surprise! I will tell you today that this surprise was not planned. But, you'll have to watch for the next chapter to see what it is!
Also, I started writing a chapter for a story I am hoping to publish soon called "Gondor's Grace." Right now, you are getting Lilianna's story. "Gondor's Grace" will be Anna's story, and Anna actually gives Lily a glimpse of her old life here, so I'm hoping to use that in the new "Lord of the Rings" story. I do plan on publishing only that chapter as a prelude and to see how you all react to it. If it reacts well, then obviously, I will keep going once I finish "Lilianna". I'll probably keep going regardless because I have thought about writing Anna's first 200 years for some time now (and no, it will NOT be a 200-chapter story like this one seems to be!). A huge thank you to Stina Sia for inspiring me!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to "Meet the Robinsons," "TMNT," "Choices: High School Story," "Criminal Case," nor "Lord of the Rings: The Third Age." I only own Lilianna, Little Donnie, Mika, Karena, Diana, and Wesley.
March 24, 2060 - Westport, Connecticut, USA
DIANA'S POV
I went into my first cheerleading practice of the spring season today and smiled at the sight of Sydney, Payton, and Mia. I greeted them and hugged them, and then Mia told me to sit down.
"All right ladies... and gentleman," Mia announced as I glanced over at the only male cheerleader in the room. "Welcome back to cheer."
"Hip-hip-hooray!" Payton cheered.
"Sydney, our choreographer, spent yesterday reworking our routines to incorporate our new cheerleaders."
"And, Diana, as promised, there's a special featured section I choreographed with you in mind this time," Sydney explained.
"Can't wait to see it!" I replied enthusiastically.
We watched Mia and Sydney perform the routine that involved lots of complex moves.
"Diana, this will be your part."
Mia backed off while Sydney executed a complicated series of tricks, ending in a graceful pose.
"Ta-da!"
"Wow!" I exclaimed, honestly feeling a little surprised.
"Hold up just a second!" Kara suddenly chimed in. "You're handing Diana a solo without even auditioning us?"
"I think you're playing favorites," Zoe said angrily. "You don't want to give us a chance."
"Diana's earned a special spotlight," Mia shot back. "Besides, you and Zoe are flyers, and this part doesn't feature flying."
"Sure, but not all of us are flyers," Kara replied. "Kieran, you want to do that part, right?"
I, once again, glanced over at the lone male cheerleader.
"Huh? Yeah, I guess?"
I frowned, feeling complicated about the matter. Kieran seemed uncertain. But then again, so did I. But my purpose here was to make the Staples students feel welcome here, so I thought of a solution.
"Actually, it's only fair that we give Kieran a chance. Perhaps we should audition for it."
"Good," Kara gloated. "You know real talent when you see it."
She pushed Kieran forward and he stumbled at the sudden movement. I frowned again. It was clear he was being forced into it by his peers.
"Kieran, you were paying attention. Do the routine. Show them how good you are."
"Oh, um, that's okay," Kieran replied with hesitance. "I don't need to-"
"I said, do the routine," Kara interrupted him with gritted teeth. "Sydney, music."
With reluctance, Kieran easily copied Sydney move for move while adding his own undeniable flair. I hated to admit it, but Kara was right. He was talented, indeed.
"Diana killed tryouts already and deserves this solo," Mia angrily told Kara.
"Kieran was supposed to have a solo this season anyway," Zoe chimed in. "And then our school burnt down. It's like you don't care."
"Ugh, fine. Diana, how about you remind us you can do this routine better?"
"Show 'em what you've got, Diana!" Payton cheered me on.
I felt nervous and confident at the same time when I made my way to the floor. I felt nervous because the moves were very complicated. But at the same time, I had my kunoichi training my entire life. This may be easier than I am making it out to be. Sydney played the music. My first move was a cartwheel, then a round off, then a series of flips. I danced my way through the rest of the routine before posing with my hands in the air. After the music stopped, I put my hands down and jogged back to the bleachers, blowing out a sigh of relief.
"So, Mia, Kieran was way better, right?" Kara asked with a smirk.
"He was really good," Mia replied with surprise. "I'll admit it. But Diana also nailed it, as always."
"Thanks!" I replied, feeling just as surprised.
"If they were both so good, who gets the solo?" Kara asked.
"I want to be fair here since Kieran impressed me," Mia said clearly. "I do not pick favorites."
"So he's doing the solo?" Zoe asked excitedly.
"Oh, no, please!" Emma pleaded. "Mia, don't take this from Diana!"
"Emma, it's okay," I replied.
"Actually, I haven't made up my mind," Mia explained. "Diana, Kieran, I'll have you two switch off on that part for now. I'll give one of you the solo by the end of the quarter. Practice hard until then."
"The end of the quarter?" I asked. "So the solo's only going to be performed once? How is that going to be possible?"
"Yeah!" Kara chimed in. "Clearly, you're too weak to make a choice."
"I'm giving Kieran a fair shot," Mia shot back. "Don't push me. Diana, you're junior captain now. Please lead the team through drills."
"Will do!"
After a few hours of drills and practicing our routines, I changed out of my t-shirt and shorts and went to my locker.
"You're not mad at me about the featured section, are you?"
I jumped at the male voice speaking to me, and I saw Kieran standing next to me with a frown. I immediately felt awkward.
"No, I'm not mad," I answered honestly. "You were great out there. You're a very talented cheerleader."
"Really?" he asked with surprise. "I mean, thanks. Hey, I'm not trying to take your solo."
"I know," I replied with a half-hearted smile. "It kind of looked like Kara was pushing you into it. Why do you listen to her?"
"I... I don't know."
He smiled genuinely.
"For what it's worth, you did a great job, too. I'll be doing my best on principle, but I hope you keep your spot."
"Thank you so much," I replied with a grin. "You're a really sweet person, Kieran."
"Same to you. See you around."
He waved goodbye and left. Then it was my turn to leave. I packed up all my stuff and waited for my dad to pick me up.
San Diego, California, USA
ANNA'S POV
I drove up to the preserve and waited there for Lily. Jasper offered to watch Charity while I spoke with Lily alone. It turned out her first official time with her children since James's death did not go well, so I thought it would be unwise for Charity to be with me.
Suddenly, the portal appeared and out came Lily, wearing a black blouse, black pants, and black boots.
"You wear grief well."
"Thanks, I think," Lily replied. "I can't tell if you're sarcastic or genuine."
"A little bit of both. I believe it is time for the phoenix to rise from the ashes."
"I feel so weary, Anna. Why is it that every single time life is good, something horrible happens?"
"What do you mean by that?" I asked as we started walking together.
"I had a good life before I was kidnapped and the kidnapping changed everything. Then I went to college and wanted to go further. Only one school would accept me, Anna. All those rejection letters I had received were another trial that I never thought would end. Then Little Donnie happened. I finally receive the news that I was pregnant for the first time only to find out the baby was a mutant turtle. Then Ashley happened while I was pregnant with my second baby. And now, Ashley gets put away and I've lost the love of my life!"
Lily kicked little rocks out of frustration.
"You just want a little normalcy in your life," I replied with understanding.
"Is it that obvious?"
"A little. But maybe normalcy is not the word to use here. Maybe... stability is the better word. Does that sound more accurate?"
"Actually, life had become stable when Mika was born," Lily explained. "And it was a great almost five years."
"So, normalcy?"
"Yes. Have you ever wanted that, Anna?"
"Actually, no. Darling, you have no idea what I wanted in my 200 years of life. Life, for the most part, was normal when I lived in Minas Tirith. There were no wars. No plotting. There were only five Elves left in Middle-Earth: Queen Arwen, Lord Celeborn, Legolas, my mother, and myself. When my brother Adan was born, there were six of us. And then some of King Elessar's children were Elves as well. My life at first was... actually really boring."
"How come?" Lily asked, genuinely intrigued.
"I went to school like everybody else," I explained with a smile. "I was gifted in art and astronomy. I graduated the top of my class, though all I wanted to do was pretend to fight a dark lord like Sauron. My father trained me to fight, but every time I was given a chance to prove my skills, he told me to stay and train with my mother in the Houses of Healing."
"Ouch. Your father makes me think of Uncle Leo."
I laughed.
"Oh, it's nothing like that! My father didn't want to see me die in battle. He actually cared about me. He trained me to defend myself if I absolutely needed to. But I wanted to respect my mother's wishes as well and I trained to be a healer. Though it was rare I was treating someone because they had been injured in battle. But anyway. I wanted to be more involved, be more active, so, in disguise, I trained to be part of the Citadel Guard. When my father discovered it was me, he was floored! You should have seen his face!"
For the first time since James's death, Lily laughed.
"But it was worth it. Healing someone is a worthy job, but protecting the King of Gondor? It was a treasure, especially when I worked alongside my father."
"You really cherished your dad, didn't you?"
I smiled fondly.
"Yes, very much. So when my father died, I felt a part of me died with him, and I swore to protect his body at all costs. The grief was too much for my mother, and she and Adan sailed to the Grey Havens with Legolas and Gimli. I was alone with my father's lifeless body. And over the years, it seemed to be autumn all the time. Everything just... started to die, even after Eldarion became king. He asked me for my hand in marriage just so I wouldn't be alone, but I turned him down. I wanted to be more than a queen sitting by his side. I wanted to do something with my life."
"And you wanted to do that with someone," Lily replied, realizing where I was going with my life story.
"Believe it or not, going through that portal from Minas Tirith to this world... it was the best thing I'd ever done since my father's death. I got a second chance at life to truly live, and I met Jasper that way. Now, Jasper and I work together doing what we love doing. He gets to work with those who need help and who need some guidance. I stand for the truth, like my father instilled in me. And life has been exciting for me everyday because I'm not just lawyering. I'm searching for something all the time, whether that's the Shredder or something to help my daughter thrive."
"Anna, hearing your story is very fascinating, but what does that have to do with me?"
"You still have a purpose here, Lily, or else God would have called you home, too. James served his purpose here, and now he has a purpose in heaven: watching over you and your children. But you are still here and you can still make a difference. You just need a little guidance right now to get you back on that path. Normal always changes, and that is okay."
"Thank you, Anna."
We hugged.
"Russell says I need to work on getting physically well, first. I puked when I tried to get my appetite back."
"Really? The last time you threw up, you were pregnant with Mika."
"I think this is a part of grief," Lily replied, shaking her head. "James and I had been using protection every time we spent time alone. And besides, we swore we were done having kids. Two is plenty for me."
"Well, then let's try to help you with your appetite then," I suggested. "Come on over for dinner and I can fix you up one of your favorite meals. Fried chicken, right?"
Lily smiled.
"I love fried chicken. Especially with mashed potatoes and green peas."
"I can do that! Come on!"
Lily got into the car with me and drove back to my house.
March 29, 2060 - Westport, Connecticut, USA
DIANA'S POV
Emma and I arrived at homeroom just before the bell rang and we took our usual seats by Caleb.
"Hey, Diana, Emma, you're coming to my party on Friday night, right?"
Our eyes lit up with excitement.
"Yes!" Emma replied. "Of course! Thank you for inviting me, Caleb! I never thought I'd be invited to the biggest party of the season!"
"You're welcome," Caleb said with laughter. "What about you, Diana?"
"Of course, I'll be there. Couldn't miss something like that."
The television came on and Maria and Tucker sat together.
"Good morning Westport High-"
"And Staples!"
Maria winced but kept smiling.
"This is your Trojan and Wrecker news. We have a special guest here today to tell us about an exciting new program."
"Everyone, give it up for PRINCIPAL HUGHS!"
Maria clapped politely as the camera widened to include Principal Hughs in the shot.
"Thank you, thank you. It's stupendous to be here. Good morning, children! I'd like to announce that I have stickers in my office. Come by between classes if you want one!"
I couldn't help but giggle. Then again, we all need to be young children sometimes just to let loose.
"That's good to know," Maria replied. "But don't you have another announcement? Something related to lunch?"
"Oh, right! Right! I know we at Westport High School love making new friends, so I thought to myself, self, why not set up a new program to help? This week is Mixing Bowl Week. Every table at lunch needs to have at least two Westport High students and two Staples High students."
"But what if I don't want to?" Morgan groaned.
"It's just a week, Morgan," Ms. Maddox replied.
"I think it's a great idea!" I spoke up. "I bet we'll find two really cool Staples students to join our group. Right, Emma?"
"I hope so," Emma said with a frown.
After Principal Hughs attempted to read a book about counting to ten, we went through with our day with mixed emotions. Some of us were looking forward to making new friends. Others were not as enthusiastic, sticking with the idea that Staples and Westport High were always rivals. Then, lunch came around and it was warm enough outside for us to eat in the courtyard.
"Hi, everyone!" I greeted my friends. "Have we found two Staples students yet?"
"Yep!" Maria answered. "Jade, Cameron, this is Diana. Diana, these two are Cameron Levy and Jade Ali."
"Hi, Diana," Cameron said, holding out her hand for me to shake. "Aiden's mentioned you a few times during band practice."
"Cameron's a sax player," Aiden explained excitedly. "She's going to be performing a solo I composed for the spring concert!"
"That's neat!" I replied. "And, of course, I've already met Jade."
"Did you know she's playing cleanup hitter on the baseball team?" Caleb asked excitedly. "That's unheard of for a freshman."
Jade laughed.
"Thanks for bragging for me Caleb. So much easier than having to do it myself."
"I'm still not sure why we're taking the 'two Staples kids at every table' thing so seriously, by the way," Michael chimed in skeptically. "What are they gonna do? Go to every lunch table and check whether you have a Staples ID or a Westport High one?"
"What, you don't like having Jade here?" Caleb asked.
"Actually, Michael, I've been meaning to ask you about football," Jade chimed in. "Are you going to play again next fall?"
"Well, that depends on whether Caleb can find someone else decent at playing quarterback."
"I hope they don't. Your homecoming game was one of the most exciting ones I've ever been to."
"Well, I'm flattered to have a fan, Jade, but I'm afraid you're not my type."
"Wait, what?" Jade and I asked at the same time.
"Was I hitting on you?" Jade asked with surprise. "I didn't mean to."
"It's okay, Jade," I assured her. "That's Michael's sense of humor."
"Oh, good! Because I definitely didn't meant to hit on you, and-"
"Jade, I advise you to stop right there," Luis warned her. "Or else Myra is going to tease you mercilessly."
"Oh, I'll find someone to ship her with," Myra said with a gleam in her brown eyes. "It just won't be Michael."
"Hey, can we go back to talking about football?" Caleb chimed in. "Cameron, what's your take?"
"I know basically nothing about sports that aren't Quidditch, but I like going to the games anyway."
"Did you go to the homecoming game?" I asked.
"Yeah," Cameron answered. "Obviously my favorite part was the marching band arrangement of The First Day."
"You hear that, Aiden?" Emma asked with a grin. "Cameron liked your arrangement!"
"You wrote that and the piece you're performing this spring?" Cameron asked in shock as Aiden blushed. "Dude, that's amazing!"
"Technically, arranging is different than composing, but thank you."
"Oh, I know. I'm so jealous though. I can't do either."
"What's stopping you?" I asked.
"I just don't have the ear for it. I like the idea of composing, but whenever I try, nothing comes to me. No muse, as they say."
"You're still creative though," Emma complimented her. "That short story you wrote for creative writing was captivating."
"Yours was fun, too. Though, I could tell it was fan fiction with the names changed."
We all seemed to have a good time as we ate our lunches and talked together.
"Come on, Michael," Sydney teased him. "Admit it."
"Okay, fine. For once, Principal Hughs's crazy kindergarten idea actually worked out well."
"Is it okay if I sit here again tomorrow?" Jade asked.
"Of course," Caleb answered. "Actually, my brother and I are having a party this Friday evening. You two should both come."
The smiles on Cameron and Jade's faces turned upside down.
"I don't know," Jade said uneasily. "I've usually got a lot of homework."
"On a Friday?"
"Yeah. You know, get it out of the way early?"
"I don't think I'll be able to make it either," Cameron explained. "Friday night is usually family night."
"Are you two sure about that?" I asked, sensing fear in their voices.
There was an awkward silence.
"It's cool," Caleb spoke. "I get it."
Mercifully, the bell rang and we all scrambled to get to our next class.
New York City, New York, USA
DONATELLO'S POV
I heard knocking on the door to my office. I looked up and smiled.
"Hey, Lily."
"Hi, Dad. Can we talk for ten minutes?"
"Ten minutes? That's a specific time frame."
"I'd say a few minutes, but is it possible for you to examine me?" Lily asked, walking in the door. "I haven't been feeling right since... well, you know."
"Grief has a way of messing with your body. Did you want to talk about how you're feeling physically, mentally, or emotionally?"
"All three, I guess? I've been seeing Russell about the mental part and Anna about the emotional part. But now I need your help on the physical part."
"You've surrounded yourself with amazing people, and that's a great start to moving forward. So, what progress have you made so far?"
"Well, Russell simply told me I needed to take care of myself physically first before we try to heal my mind."
"That's a smart idea," I replied in agreement. "Sometimes it's the physical that causes the mental issues. But what about Anna?"
"Anna spoke to me about her own life, about what her purpose was in Minas Tirith and now here. She wanted to be anything but normal while I wanted to be normal for a change."
I frowned.
"Aww, Lily. Normal is just a state of mind. If everyone was perfectly normal, then life wouldn't be very exciting, would it?"
"I suppose not. But my normal has changed every time. First the kidnapping, then moving to Pacific Bay, then my having a baby, and now this."
"That's a part of life. Life is always changing in the most unexpected ways. For example, when I met your mother, it only happened because Splinter allowed me and my brothers to go topside. If he hadn't, I would never have met her. In this case, you are struggling with moving on from your husband's death. And I take it you are wishing things had changed back then?"
"No! Not at all. I heavily believe my kidnapping changed me for the better."
I smiled.
"Good, and it's rare someone gets to tell the tale. And here you are, doing just that. If you hadn't been kidnapped, you would not have met James, and I don't think I would have worked to become a better father for you. In fact, I would have been more protective of you than ever before. I think you are getting closer to being thankful that James was a part of your life and that he was able to protect you and the children."
"Anna's been a huge influence to help me take one step closer to moving forward. I've been texting her every night."
"And I've also noticed you've been spending more time with us in the lair, which is huge, because before, you were shutting yourself in our room."
"I am thankful for all of you that you are there for me, whether I want to stay in bed or if I want to be with you."
"I'm thankful we are able to be there for you. But right now, let's examine you. Come on up."
Lily sat down on the bed and I got my equipment ready to go.
"What are your symptoms?"
"I've had barely any appetite since James passed," Lily explained. "I only drink water."
"Any nausea?"
"Yes, every day at random."
"What about sleep?"
"More than usual. I'm going to bed early and waking up late. I believe this is all from grieving."
"Well, I can tell that you are dehydrated, so let's work with getting some more fluids in you."
"I've been working on that. I'd only drink three cups a day. Now I'm drinking eight."
"That's a good start. Let's bump it up to ten, though. You still look a little dehydrated. Now, as for food, have you been keeping anything down?"
"Just a piece of toast here and there. Any smell and I puke."
"Hmm, I better take some blood in case it's serious."
"Go ahead."
I took some of my daughter's blood, and then she went back to her office. I analyzed the blood and found quite the diagnosis. But I kept it to myself for now. I wanted to wait until Lily was ready to hear the news.
Westport, Connecticut, USA
LILIANNA'S POV
"So how are you feeling since last week?" Russell asked me.
"I'm still not eating, but other than that, much better."
"Good! What have you been doing?"
"I've been drinking more water throughout the day," I explained. "But my dad still thought I was dehydrated, so he told me to drink two more cups a day. I've also been processing my emotions with Anna, who kept assuring me they were perfectly normal considering what I am going through. I've been my family more because now I realize I want to be with them."
"That's good," Russell replied with a smile. "So, you saw your father?"
"Yes, my symptoms weren't getting any better. He took some blood in case I had something serious."
"I think it's just the grief. I have to believe you are doing fine for what you are going through."
"Thank you."
"So let's talk about the stages of grief. The first is denial. I take it you've been through this stage already?"
"Yes. Before James was buried, I spent my entire day with 'him.' I just kept having hope that he was somehow alive. But when he was buried and not moving, it just felt all too real, like I was in this new world with so many fears ahead of me."
"Just out of curiosity, did you ever bathe him or something of that nature?"
"Actually, yes. He was starting to stink up the room, so I bathed him and preserved him with oils."
"I'm amazed you've learned how to do that," Russell said with surprise.
"Trust me, Russell, anything I do nowadays amazes me. I don't feel like I'm the confident woman I was before."
"Let's talk about that for a moment. How come you don't feel confident?"
"Well, you know that I'm Aumanil, right?"
He nodded.
"Well, when James had died, I was in the next room transforming into Aumanil. Had I been there just one second earlier, I could have changed his life."
"Or you could have died instead of him," Russell replied, raising an eyebrow. "James died by stab wounds, right? The Shredder would have stabbed you the same way. You could have died and your children would have no mother to comfort them."
"I never thought of it that way," I replied.
"Do you feel you have survivor's guilt?"
"I did at first, but you and Anna set me straight. James saved our family. I believe he would have made the same choice if things were different."
"That's good that you think that way. I imagined you must have felt depressed or angry after everything."
"I still feel depressed at times. I'll start crying at random, too. I felt bad for lashing out at Wilbur and my family and already promised myself I'd never be angry again."
"And then there's the next stage, which is bargaining."
"I'm not going to do that," I replied. "It's not right."
"So you say you are mad at God, and yet you are choosing not to bargain?"
I shook my head.
"I said that out of anger and I realized I was wrong. I asked him to forgive me."
"Good. It sounds like you are doing better now than you were last week."
"I've realized I had a lot of support and that's made a difference. I think I'm ready to move forward."
"Very good," Russell replied with a wide smile. "Then here's the activity I want to assign to you. Glance at all the photos you have of James. Think of all the good memories you have of him and cherish them. Think of all the bad memories you've made and how they have made you two a better couple and better people."
DIANA'S POV
After cheerleading practice, I felt my pants vibrating. I took out my iPhone and saw a text from Myra.
"Diana! I need your help!"
"Oh my gosh, Myra! Is everything alright? What is it?"
"I need you to convince Cameron to come to Caleb's party so Aiden can flirt with her."
"Are you serious right now?" I asked out loud. "I thought it was an emergency!"
I texted her back, not really in the caring mood at the moment.
"Why not do it yourself? You're good at this stuff."
"Aiden knows me," Myra replied. "If he hears I was behind this, no way he'll let Cameron near him."
I pondered this for a moment and realized she was right.
"Fair."
"Now go before she leaves the school!"
"Right! Band has practice, too. Let me see what I can do."
I made my way to the band room and found Cameron polishing her saxophone.
"Hey, Cameron!"
She glanced my way and smiled at me.
"Hey, Diana."
"Are you sure you don't want to go to Caleb's party on Friday?" I asked.
"It was sweet of Caleb to offer," Cameron answered, frowning again. "But yeah, I'm sure."
"But it would be a great opportunity to make more friends at Westport High," I suggested, leaving Aiden out of it.
"And that's what I'm worried about."
I knew it!
"Why is that?" I asked.
"Listen, you're all really nice people, but not everyone is, especially at Staples High. I don't want to get involved in this school rivalry, especially now that we're in close quarters."
"Cameron, it's not a Westport High party. It's just a party. I promise you won't be the only Staples High kid there."
"I just don't want to make a political statement."
I broke a grin, an idea coming to mind.
"If people ask, just say you heard there was going to be a party and didn't even think about it."
Cameron finally smiled back.
"All right, I'll go. You make it sound easy."
"It will be easy, and you will have fun."
"I'll talk to Jade, too. I bet I can convince her to go now that I'm going."
"That sounds great. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye, Diana!"
I left the band room and texted Myra back.
"Okay, Myra. Cameron will be there."
She sent me three blue hearts before sending me a second text.
"Woooo! This is gonna be the best party EVER!"
"I'll talk to you later, okay?"
"Bye!"
I put my phone away and headed home for the evening.
March 31, 2060 - San Diego, California, USA
ANNA'S POV
"How are you feeling tonight?"
"Much better," Lily answered with a smile. "Thank you for helping me."
"Anytime!"
We started walking together. Lily was no longer wearing all black. Instead, she wore a white shirt with a long green skirt and brown boots.
"How is Charity doing?" Lily suddenly asked.
"She's doing wonderful," I answered with a smile. "She'll be turning five in just a few weeks."
"Goodness, I can't imagine how I'll be feeling when Mika turns five in June!"
"Do you think you'll be ready?"
"Definitely. I'm thinking of asking Wilbur and Karena if I could take the kids back home on Friday."
"Are you ready to talk to them?" I asked.
"Yes. Russell told me to think of all the memories I made with James, and so I've been looking through all of my photos of him and the two of us together. My parents kept a scrapbook of my childhood years, and James was in there."
"Going back into the house James died in may be scary," I warned her. "Are you sure you're ready for this?"
"Yes. I think I may be selling the house and finding a new place or even moving into the lair. But the lair is very crowded. I kind of forced my parents to sleep in Uncle Leo's old room and that wasn't fair to them."
"Hey, they're your family. They love you and want what's best for you. I don't believe they minded sleeping in another room for a month."
"But anyway, I want to see what the children think, too. Little Donnie's going to be ten in May, so he'll understand what's going on. Mika... I'm not sure. We'll see."
"If you think moving into a new place is wise, then that is what you should do. James was murdered in that house. I know if I was in your shoes, I would not be comfortable sleeping there again."
Lily shuddered.
"I think you're right. But we'll see how it goes. I do want to stay in Westport, though. It's been good for us. And besides, Wesley and Little Donnie are best friends. I'd hate to break that up. I mean, sure, I may have to drive Little Donnie over there instead of just having Wesley walk here, but-"
"Or Karena could drive Wesley to your place."
I smiled.
"I think that's the best part about life. Life is full of possibilities, and life is unpredictable. It's what makes living here so exciting to me. All you gotta do is lie your possibilities down on the table and discuss which options are best."
Lily smiled in return.
"I love your thinking, Anna, and I think you're right. I'm ready to embrace the unknown. Though I'm not ready to be called a widow."
"It takes time, and I don't think it will ever be something you get used to. And who knows? You may find love again, or you may rock it out as a widowed mother."
Lily laughed.
"I won't lie, I'm liking the second option better. I think James was my once in a lifetime, and I'm going to cherish that."
"You are the strongest woman I've ever known, Lily, even stronger than the strongest women I've known in Middle-Earth. You truly are a phoenix."
"You know? I do feel like a phoenix. I never thought I'd see the light in anything until I spoke to you. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you, for helping me find it again."
We hugged, and I felt her smiling into my shoulder.
April 2, 2060 - Westport, Connecticut, USA
DIANA'S POV
I sat in my room getting some homework done before I decided to go to the party when I received a text from Michael. I glanced at it and grew concerned.
"Diana, where are you? You need to get to the party ASAP."
I texted him back.
"Is everything okay?"
"Kara and Max just crashed and they're talking smack about you. They're trying to stop people from voting for you for prom queen. Look, it's bad."
"I'll be right over."
"Time for some major damage control," I said out loud.
I closed my tablet and walked over to my closet. I knew I needed something that would pop out at a party.
"WESLEY!"
In a flash, Wesley and Little Donnie appeared at my door.
"You called?" my little brother asked with a grin.
"I need your help finding something to wear. I'm going to a party that's along the beach. But I also need to stand out. I'm campaigning for prom queen and need to be confident."
"No problemo. Come on, Donnie!"
I reread the texts from Michael as the two boys discussed amongst themselves.
"Diana's been wearing pink a lot lately," Little Donnie suggested.
"Oh!" Wesley exclaimed excitedly. "I know!"
Wesley dug into my closet and took out a V-neck sparkling pink romper. I smirked and snapped a finger at the two boys.
"It's absolutely perfect. I'll be right back."
I changed out of my white laced shirt and pink jeans and put on the pink romper. I put my long hair in two braids and put some silver jewelry on myself to match the outfit. I went back into my room and showed it off to my little brother and his best friend.
"Yup, this'll definitely stand out! Thank you, Wesley and Donnie!"
"You're welcome!" the two boys said together with their thumbs up.
My phone vibrated in my hand again as Michael sent me another text.
"You coming or not?"
"I'm on my way! See you soon!"
I ran out of my room and down the stairs.
"You ready?" Mom asked with a smile.
"Yes!"
Then the doorbell rang.
"Aww, shucks!" Mom exclaimed. "I gotta get the door."
My mom walked over to the door and opened it.
"Lily! Hi!"
"Hi, Karena."
I followed behind and saw my godmother at the door with a smile on her face.
"Hey, Diana," Lily greeted me.
"Hey, Lily. How are you feeling?"
"Better. Thank you. I came to speak with Little Donnie and Mika."
"You may to speak with them as much as you want, Lily," Mom replied. "I was just about to go drop Diana off at a party."
Lily glanced at my outfit.
"You look really good in that," she complimented me. "You'll stand out for sure!"
"Thank you! That's my hope! See you later, Lily!"
LILIANNA'S POV
After Karena and Diana left, I called out for my children.
"MOM!"
I smiled when I saw my kids' faces emerge from Wesley's room. They rushed down the stairs and ran into my arms with excited faces. This time, I was just as excited to see them.
"It is so good to see you!" I told them.
"We miss you, Mommy," Mika replied.
"I missed you, too."
"Are you okay?" Little Donnie asked.
"Yes, I am okay. I'm doing a lot better. May we sit down and talk?"
"Sure."
"Wesley, you're welcome to join us if you'd like."
The four of us sat at the kitchen table. And then the door opened to reveal Wilbur.
"Oh!" Wilbur exclaimed with a grin. "Hi, Lily! I just saw you!"
I laughed.
"Yes, you did. I'm here to talk with my children. You're welcome to join us."
"Sure! I'm sure you need my help."
Wilbur set his backpack down and joined us at the table.
"I wanted to tell you two that I am so sorry for not being there for you," I explained to my children. "I was not in my right mind. Grief is a very powerful feeling that can very quickly overcome you and I almost let it control me. I could not be the mother you needed me to be in the toughest time of your life. I hope you can forgive me."
Little Donnie glanced over at his sister and then back to me with a smile.
"We forgive you, Mom. Can you forgive us?"
"Forgive you? What on earth for?"
"We weren't there for you when you needed us," Little Donnie explained. "And we didn't help Daddy escape."
"No, Donatello, you did the right thing. Every one of us did the right thing that night."
"We did?"
"Yes. I know, it's hard to see it that way, and now I feel that I owe you the truth."
I let out a sigh.
"Donatello, the night you were born, the Shredder was reborn in Tokyo, Japan. He is a clone of the Shredder your grandfather fought. This Shredder is just as dangerous as the original Shredder, and Donnie, had you been with us, the Shredder would have killed you for sure. Your father sacrificed his life for all of us to get away, and we will not let that be in vain. As for you not being there for me, like I said before, I was not in my right mind and I was not ready to reveal the truth to you. I thought if I had been there one second earlier, I would have saved your father's life. But a good friend told me I may have been killed instead."
"Don't die, Mommy!" Mika cried. "We love you."
"I love you both, too, and my good friend helped me see that you two need me. But I want to ask you both how you feel about Daddy's passing away."
"It hurt, Mom," Little Donnie answered. "When Grandpa told me what happened, I was very sad, and Mika was sad, too. When we saw Daddy going under the ground, we cried again. But Daddy would want us to be happy, and he'd want us to love you for him."
I smiled as my eyes watered up.
"You're absolutely right, Donatello. And thank you both for loving me and calling me your mom. It warms my heart very much."
"I'm scared, Mommy," Mika confessed. "What's going to happen now that Daddy's gone?"
"Well, we're going to do a trial run at our house. It will be strange. If you have any nightmares while you sleep, please come wake me up. I promise I will be there for you. If you believe we need to move to another house because of this, then that's what we'll do."
"But what about Wesley?" Little Donnie asked as he glanced at his best friend. "I don't want to be away from him."
"I promise we will stay in Westport, Donatello," I assured him. "I can see you two like it here very much."
"And if anything, Karena and I can work this out with your mom," Wilbur chimed in. "We've seen how good friends you two are and we don't want anything to drive you apart."
"So, what do you two think?" I asked. "Are you ready to go back home?"
"No."
"How come, Mika?"
"I'm hungry!"
"I can fix that!" Wilbur replied. "Karena told me Diana's going to a party. Why don't I order pizza?"
"You know what?" I answered. "Pizza sounds delicious. What do you think, kids?"
"Yeah!" the three kids answered at the same time.
Wilbur got on the phone and ordered our dinner.
DIANA'S POV
My mother dropped me off and I just let myself in. I was floored to find the party was packed! The house was packed and there were lots of students partying in the backyard as well.
"Diana!"
I turned to see Caleb and his brother Ezra walking up to me. Caleb and I quickly kissed each other.
"Hey, you," I flirted with him.
"Hey, yourself."
"Diana, you made it!" Ezra said happily. "Glad you could come."
"Of course! Like this was a party until I showed up! It ain't no party like a Diana Robinson party because a Diana Robinson party don't stop!"
The two brothers laughed.
"I just wanna say, Diana, I'm loving your style," Ezra complimented me. "You're looking good."
"You know what they say: if looks could kill!"
"Then you'd be a real danger to everyone," Caleb said in agreement. "Make yourself at home. We've got drinks over there, dancing over there, and some people are hanging outside, too."
"Thanks, I'll-"
"DIANA!"
Michael pushed his way through the crowd to get to me.
"You're just in time."
"Is this about Max and Kara?" I asked.
"See for yourself..."
I followed his gaze across the room where Max and Kara confronted Morgan and Wes. I walked over to them and paid close attention to their conversation.
"You'd be an idiot if you don't vote for us for prom king and queen," Kara told them.
"Yeah, we can give you what Diana can't," Max said with glee. "Free t-shirts, hall passes to cut class, you name it."
"Been there, done that," Wes replied. "Don't trust 'em, Morgan."
"I dunno," Morgan said in contemplation. "It's a pretty nice offer."
"Okay, that's enough," I chimed in sternly. "Kara, Max, you can't bribe people for votes!"
"Oh, look!" Max grumbled upon seeing me. "It's the fun police."
"Back off, Diana!" Kara lashed at me. "We were just talking to Morgan and Wes. It's like your whole strategy is to tell the competition off. Guess what? It's not working!"
"That is not my strategy and you know it," I angrily replied. "I just want to run a clean race."
"Sure, because that's what you're doing," Max said with skepticism. "Come on, Kara. Let's talk to some other voters."
We parted ways and I returned to Michael, Caleb, and Ezra.
"Well, that didn't go how I planned," I told them defeatedly.
"Don't beat yourself up over it," Michael assured me. "They've been doing this all night. Same with the rest of their Staples posse."
"And if we kick them out, then the Staples kids we actually like will leave too," Ezra explained.
"You know what, they'll still never get enough votes," I said with determination.
"I hope not. I don't think I could stand Max and Kara winning our prom and queen."
"Does that mean I have your vote?"
"We'll see, Diana," Ezra answered with a grin. "You're not winning it that easily."
"I guess it's time to make the rounds, then. I've got to show off my dazzling personality! Then by the time voting comes around, I'll be the obvious choice! Whatever the case, we can't let Max and Kara win."
"Good luck, Diana," Caleb replied.
First, I went to the dance floor. The couches had been pushed aside so people could dance there. I slid next to Michael as he people-watched.
"Not joining in on the fun?" I asked.
"Oh, this is for everyone else's sake," Michael answered with a smirk. "If I got out there, my moves would put them all to shame."
"Well, Mr. Confident, let's put your money where your mouth is."
"But I-"
I pushed Michael onto the dance floor and I quickly joined him, swaying in time to the music.
"Are you happy now?" Michael asked.
"Most definitely!" I shouted. "Your moves are just so good!"
I turned to my left to see Autumn dancing with Frank, Payton, and some other seniors. I noticed both Julian and Wes looking to make a move on Autumn.
"Ugh, look at Julian over there!" Payton said next to me. "He's so close to asking Autumn to dance! He just needs a bit of encouragement."
"Are you kidding?" Michael replied. "Wes is about to do the same thing!"
"Let's get Wes to dance with her!" I suggested.
"Awesome. I know Wes has cleaned up his act. This is a great chance for him to prove that."
"Well, I don't have a problem with Wes," Payton chimed in. "But Julian's been so nice to Autumn lately. He deserves a chance."
"I totally get it," I replied. "But today, I'm team Wes. Michael, I'll go talk to him. Get something slower playing."
"You've got it."
Michael strolled over to the stereo system while I approached Wes, who had his arms crossed, but smiled at me nonetheless.
"Diana."
"Wes."
He turned back to watch Autumn.
"Why don't you just ask her to dance already?" I asked.
"Like she'd say yes," Wes replied with sadness. "I already screwed things up with her."
"I'm sure she'd give you a second chance. Trust me."
Wes studied me for a moment as I smiled at him. Then he nodded, uncrossing his arms.
"Okay. I'll give it a shot. But this comes back on you if she says no."
I watched Wes casually walking up to Autumn and tapping her on the shoulder as a slower song began to play. Autumn looked shocked at first, but then smiled at him and accepted, placing her arms around his neck. Michael approached me, crossing his arms and smiling at the sight.
"Say what you will," he said. "But I think they're great together."
"Yeah, I have to agree. I'm going to go get myself a drink. I'll see you later."
I went back to the drink station and found Jade and Bethany with Caleb and Ezra.
"You can't be serious!" Jade exclaimed.
"Believe me, he is," Caleb replied.
"You all look cozy," I chimed in, pouring myself a Pepsi. "What's up?"
"I was just remembering back when Bethany and Ezra hung out in junior high," Caleb explained. "You two had some kind of bet then."
"Oh yeah!" Bethany, a tall blonde student, replied enthusiastically. "Which of us could kiss more people by the end of the year."
"I, of course, won," Ezra boasted.
"Liar! My long, blonde locks scored me that kiss with Chad, remember?"
"But my dashing good looks and sweet guitar jams got the kiss with Isabelle. Remember that?"
"It sounds like you two had some great memories," I said with amusement in my voice.
"Are you kidding me?" Bethany replied with a laugh. "This guy's the only thing that kept me sane in middle school!"
"I was bummed when we went to different high schools," Ezra explained. "But now it's like old times again."
Zoe and Terrence then walked up to us. Terrence poured drinks for the two of them while Zoe glanced up and down at Jade and Bethany.
"Careful, girls," Zoe warned them. "Remember your loyalties lie with Staples. Would hate for someone like Max or Kara to get the wrong impression."
I rolled my eyes. I swore for a moment she watched way too many chick-flicks and drama movies.
"Come on, darling," Terrence told her, glaring at Caleb. "Let's move away from the riffraff."
"I couldn't have said it better myself."
The two of them walked away and Bethany sarcastically waved behind their backs.
"Buh-bye!"
"That was... something else," I spoke up after some awkward moments.
"At least Terrence's ego isn't as bad as Max's," Bethany replied. "There's a reason I switched to band this quarter. Good luck running against Max and Kara. You'll need it."
She suddenly grinned at me.
"But with that outfit, I'd say your chances are good."
I laughed and thanked her. Then I made my way outside to watch the sunset. I stood alongside Emma, Maria, Sydney, Myra, Luis, and Kieran at the shoreline, watching the clouds changing colors as the sun made its way down to the horizon. Luis held Emma close and kissed her forehead.
"This is nice," Emma said with bliss.
"Thanks for joining us, Diana," Maria said with a smile.
We continued to watch the skies turn into a bright pink and deep purple.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything around here," I spoke.
"Nope!" Luis replied. "We're just getting to know Kieran."
"He's so much fun to hang out with outside of cheerleading!" Sydney said excitedly.
"Who knew a Staples kid could be so cool!" Myra geeked out.
"This party is so much better than I imagined," Kieran replied happily. "Everyone here is so nice. When Max and Kara said I had to come, I thought everyone would hate me since I'm just a Staples kid."
"That's crazy talk," Emma assured him. "You're fun to hang out with."
"Glad you think so. I don't know if I'll ever have the heart to pit everyone against Diana now."
"Wait, what now?" I asked.
"Max and Kara wanted me to convert everyone against you for prom queen. They even sent Zoe and Terrence to make sure I did it."
He nodded to the door, and I glanced over to see Zoe wrapped in Terrence's arms. After some words, she kissed him with such enthusiasm.
"Do they have to do that in front of everybody?" I asked quietly.
My eyes suddenly fell on Brian, who had a frown on his face. For a moment, I wondered if he was okay. Then he came up to us, particularly Sydney and Myra, with a sly grin.
"Hey, girl, how about you and me find somewhere-"
"Forget it, Brian," Sydney interrupted him. "I'm dating Mia."
"That wasn't a no."
"And I'm into girls."
"What a coincidence! Me too!"
Sydney rolled her eyes and moved away.
"What about you, Myra?" Brian asked. "I'm single. You're single. We could fix that problem easily."
"Us?" Myra asked with shock. "Together?"
"Brian, get lost!" I yelled.
"You don't have to put up with these losers anymore," Brian said loud and clear. "I'm here now."
"Aren't you supposed to be helping Max and Kara?" I asked, but I got an eyeroll in response.
"They can campaign themselves. I'd rather focus on my girl Myra."
"Your girl?"
"What do you say, baby? There's a nice, secluded spot just down the beach. No one will disturb us as we make out."
"EW!" I exclaimed. "I did not need to hear that!"
"Brian, back off," Emma angrily told him. "You're crossing a line."
Myra suddenly doubled over in a fit of giggles, clutching at her sides.
"Like that's ever gonna happen!" Myra told him. "I'm not interested, Brian."
"You heard it from her, Brian," I said with a gleeful grin. "Looks like it's time for you to go."
"If Myra wants me gone, she can say-"
He caught Maria giving him a death glare.
"All right, all right. I'm going. But if you change your mind... you know where to find me."
I caught Brian winking at Myra as he wanders back into the house. Myra just kept right on laughing.
"What a creep," Maria said angrily.
"You said it!" I replied. "Seriously."
"I don't know," Myra said, calming herself down. "I think he's a real joker."
"Heath Ledger, Mark Hamill, or Jack Nicholson?" Luis asked, and we all gazed at him in response. "What? It's a valid question!"
"And that's my cue to check in on some other people," I said, walking backwards. "See you all later!"
I walked over to the fire pit and met up with Aiden, Nishan, Sakura, Cameron, and Koh. While Cameron roasted marshmallows, Koh was tossing papers into the fire.
"Why am I not surprised you're burning things, Koh?" I asked with a smirk.
"What else am I supposed to do with these old tests? Throw them away?"
"Shouldn't we be a bit concerned with fire?" Aiden asked. "Especially after what happened at Staples?"
"It's fine, Aiden," Cameron assured him. "You don't have to be worried for my sake."
"Besides, I'm being safe!" Koh chimed in. "There's a bucket of warm water right over there just in case."
"You know, this is a great example of a chemical reaction," Nishan explained. "Just like we were talking about in class-"
"Yeah!" Koh shouted as she tossed another piece of paper into the fire. "Two points!"
"But can you make a three-pointer?" Sakura dared her.
"You have the right idea, Koh," Cameron encouraged her. "Sometimes you've gotta live a little."
As Cameron crumpled an old test and walked far away to make the throw, my mind went to Lily. She claimed she was much better today. But I wondered just what all she learned from her grief. Lily was having the time of her life as a complete family, and now she was a single mother. I only hoped that Lily would set aside time for herself when things got stressful.
"You know, you're alright," Koh suddenly spoke with a grin. "You're alright for a Staples kid."
"I can't believe it's come to this," Aiden replied.
The fire roared as Koh tossed an old textbook into it.
"Burn, baby, burn! Want in, Diana?"
"I think I'll pass," I answered with a laugh. "I don't want to ruin this moment."
"I'm glad somebody has some sense," Aiden said with a grin.
"Suit yourselves."
I watched Koh sliding test after test into the fire.
"The Mitchells have the best fire pit ever."
"Oh, yeah," I said out loud. "Koh's better off having all the fun."
"I really don't get it," Aiden replied.
Right on cue, Cameron grabbed his arm and pulled him closer to the fire. She pulled out two pieces of music from her backpack and handed one to him.
"Just close your eyes, breathe, and drop it in."
"We have other copies of this, right?" Aiden asked with uncertainty.
"Of course! We've got loads back in the band room. But this is about art and expression! Sometimes that means letting things go..."
My mind went to Lily again as Aiden hesitantly drops his piece of music into the fire. I found myself walking away from the firepit and relaxing on a vacant chair facing the beach. My other friends had gone inside, which meant I was alone, which was what I needed. I needed to think.
I knew Lily had stopped by my house to talk to her two kids. I truly believed she was better and she was ready to move forward with her life. But just what would she have to let go of in order to move forward with her life? I had thought of texting her to have a bonfire at her own home so she can toss the things she no longer wanted. I took out my phone and told her to do just that. And then I turned off both my phones for the night and let out a sigh. Then I smiled, realizing just how amazing the night was.
"So here's where you ran off to."
I turned my head and found Caleb standing by me. He sat on the armrest and I leaned against him, feeling the warm of his skin.
"I was hoping you'd find me out here," I told him quietly.
"Finders keepers."
We chuckled. We gazed at each other and brushed our lips against each other's.
"Well, no complaints here," I said softly.
"I didn't mention it when you walked in, but you look amazing tonight."
"Thank my brother. He's my fashionista."
He kissed my forehead.
"I will definitely thank your brother. Wesley, right?"
"Very good!"
"Are you enjoying yourself?"
"Honestly, I just want to spend some alone time with you," I told him. "I want to cherish every moment we have together. And besides, I feel like I've hardly seen you tonight."
"Lucky for you, I have an idea to fix that."
I smirked.
"Oh? Do tell."
"I've been really looking forward to some alone time with you tonight," Caleb explained with a sly smile. "And it's such a shame there's this huge beach next to us, but nobody's using it."
I giggled as he slid off the chair and started to whisper to me in my ear.
"You, me, and the beach. How about it?"
"Absolutely. How could I say no to that?"
"I thought that might interest you."
We got up and laced our fingers together. Caleb led me down the sandy path to the beach. We slid our shoes off and let the sand squish between our toes as we walked toward the water's edge. I went a little farther ahead. When I stopped, Caleb hugged me from behind. The moon was out and shining in the sparkling blue sky.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Caleb suddenly asked me.
"Well, for one, I'm thinking about where the extra penny goes if I add my two cents."
He laughed as I continued.
"Obviously somebody's making a profit if you offer me a penny for my thoughts, but I put my two cents in!"
"I've never thought about that before."
"Does somebody have a giant castle of pennies from that question?"
"I'm sure they've exchanged it for nickels," Caleb answered. "Less obvious that way."
"Must be saving up for a quarter house."
"I wonder where your mind goes sometimes."
"Well, it's an important question!"
I turned back to the view in front of me, the moon reflecting off Long Island Sound.
"I can't believe this is your backyard," I said in awe.
"Yeah, I lucked out. I used to race home after school just to play on the beach. There was a good month or so where I made a new sandcastle every single day."
I laughed.
"I didn't realize I was dating the sandcastle artiste of Westport, Connecticut! I simply must see your craft in action."
"All right, but only if you help me out."
"Deal."
We spent quite some time constructing our sandcastle. Caleb had quite the library of knowledge about sandcastles, and I suggested adding a moat. We eventually finished and stepped back to admire it. Our sandcastle was knee-high, complete with a surrounding moat and seaweed alligators.
"No one's getting across our moat!" I boasted with a laugh. "Not while I'm queen of this castle!"
"Just one more thing to add."
Caleb handed me a long, spindly seashell.
"Time to claim this castle as our own," he told me. "Care to do the honors?"
I stuck the shell atop the highest tower.
"In the name of House Robinson, I dub thee... Stormholt!"
"Stormholt... great name."
"Enemies beware!" I yelled, drawing an imaginary sword. "You'll never take Stormholt down!"
Caleb looked amused.
"I'm honored to see this artist side of you," I told him with a grin.
"It's been a long time since I made one," he replied. "I think I called the last one Fort Batman. Stormholt is clearly better."
I sheathed my imaginary sword and took his hand.
"Let's take a selfie with Stormholt," I suggested. "I can turn my phone back on for this moment."
Caleb and I posed with the castle in the frame and I skillfully took the shot. I glanced at the photo and smiled.
"Yeah, I think this is a keeper," I said proudly.
I looked over at him and caught him gazing at me.
"What?" I asked.
He traced my jawline with his hand.
"You're so breathtaking, sweetheart."
"You're pretty handsome yourself, sweetheart."
We closed the distance with a kiss. I felt his hands running up and down my back, sending shivers down my spine. Just when I was enjoying the moment, we pulled back, and he placed his head against my forehead.
"Kiss me again," I whispered to him.
"Wait."
He leaned in slowly and brushed his lips against my collarbone. I closed my eyes and moaned at the touch. He started to leave a trail of passionate kisses down my neck and I ran my fingers through his thick hair. We eventually landed in the sand and I captured his lips, wanting him more and more. I sunk deeper into the sand, with one hand around his neck and the other on his chest, while his hands were on the back of my head and against my back. We eventually broke apart to catch our breath. Caleb was so dashing with the stars in the background, and I wondered how I got so lucky.
"We should head back," he said with a heavy sigh.
"I know you're right, but... I wish you weren't."
He helped me up and he smiled at me.
"It is my backyard, so we can always revisit this later."
"I'm gonna hold you to that."
I stole one final kiss as we walked hand-in-hand back to the house.