"I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floating around accidentally- like on a breeze, but I think maybe it's both. Maybe both is happening at the same time. I miss you, Jenny. If there's anything you need, I won't be far away." - Forrest Gump
I TEARED UP OH MY GOD^

The level of peace and tranquility I feel is out of this world. I don't know if it's the hand rubbing up and down my back in a soothing manner, or if it's the sound of birds humming out their beautiful noise. Maybe it's the sun peeking through the curtains of the small window in the room. Maybe it's just a wonderful mixture of everything.

"Wake up, Angel."

One of the sources of comfort starts to move underneath me and I let out a grumble of protest, fisting my hands on the fabric I feel underneath me.

"Come on, get up. We're docked and it's beach day."

A husky laugh is heard from around me when I only snuggle towards the comfort even more.

"Never pegged you as someone who liked to cuddle, Angel." That comment has my breathing freezing and my eyes snapping open.

I'm on top of Derek a-fucking-gain.

"Shit, I'm sorry." I scramble to get off him and he only laughs when I do, rolling off the bed.

His muscles flex when he stretches and his green eyes look even greener now. I snap my eyes shut when I see him turning to look at me again.

I feel the bed dip again and I peek my eyes open, seeing Derek straddling my waist again and holding his camera out in front of me.

"For fucks sake, stop with the pictures." I mumble, heading the familiar click of the camera and letting out a grumble.

"I hope you drop that damn thing in the ocean," I say, pulling his sweatshirt even further down on me and turning to face him.

He still sits on the bed and his eyes are trained on me, his bottom lip between his teeth.

"Are you gonna give me my sweatshirt back?" he mumbles and now it's my turn to smirk at him. Grabbing my bag in my hand I shoot him the middle finger.

"No," I say before slamming the door. His groaning could be heard from outside the door and it makes me smirk to myself.

I see Autumn in Haden's T-shirt sipping on her coffee. Her legs are crossed and that blonde hair of hers is blowing wildly while she reads a book.

I smirk knowingly at her, the freak. I hope she and Haden were at least using birth control because they'd be the most unprepared parents to ever fucking exist.

In fact, I think Haden as a father in general would be a bad mix. I remember one time while baby sitting his three year old sister, he managed to dye her whole skin green on 'accident'. Later he told me he really just wanted to make her look like one of Shrek's babies.

So yeah, I don't think him having kids right now would be a very good idea.

After we all get ready, we headed to the beach. Haden, Autumn and Ashton decided to the restaurants to get food first, but Derek and I head directly to the calming waves of the water.

"Can you believe we're seniors?" he smiles almost sadly, watching our feet make imprints in the sand," I mean, we're graduating this year and all doing so many crazy things. I just feel like we're still those little kids who played with hot wheels and collected silly bands."

I laugh at the memory. We had a competition over who could collect the most silly bands, boys vs girls, and Autumn and I won. We had silly bands practically up to our shoulders but we were probably the reason our school banned them shortly after.

"Look how cool the sky looks!" I point out, almost smiling at how great it looks. Derek takes a couple of pictures of the sky, smiling too.

The waves are almost dyed a purple color from the way the moon is setting and the sun is rising. The sand is quickly warming up and I thank God for my flip flops.

"And look how tall those plants are!" I run over to them, childishly measuring my height with it. I pose childishly for Derek when he brings his camera up.

"Do you still want to go to photography school?" I ask while we walk up closer to the waves and he shakes his head.

"Nahh, I got a basketball scholarship to UCLA," he says and I widen my eyes in surprise, throwing my arms around his neck.

"That's huge, Derek! How didn't I know about..."

My voice trails off and I pull my lower lip into my mouth. He casts his gaze down and an awkward silence embraces us quickly.

How many important things did I miss that happened in their lives? I didn't even know what they wanted to do with their lives. I didn't know shit.

"Hey, let me take a picture of you now Mr. Photographer!" I quickly change the subject, taking the camera away from him while he grins before giving me a serious expression.

"Look at you, Mr. Model," I laugh at my own lame attempt to joke but he only smiles at me, slightly shaking his head.

"You know  what Autumn's going to do, right? She's going to the Rhode Island school of design for art."

Of course she was. Autumn was a master with anything artistic, while I was just simply an admirer of her creations.

I nod my head. A wave of sadness hits me when I realize we're all growing up. While they'll continue to grow up and move on, I won't be able too.

"What about you, what are you doing?" he asks.

"I'll probably be dead," I mumble softly, letting the waves softly hit my feet while we walk into them.

"Hmm?"

"I'm taking a gap year. My parents really want to spend some quality time together," I answer, not technically lying but not quite telling the truth either but he nods, seemingly buying it.

The day passes in a blur. We all have a water gun fight and Derek takes pictures of everyone, being the little photographer that he is.

"What I don't fucking understand is why you wear those shoes to a beach, Haden," I say and he rolls his eyes, taking Autumn's hand in his as we walk back to the boat.

"Because fashion is great and I didn't even get them dirty. Don't be such a mom, Angelina," he laughs.

Before I could insult him back, Derek speaks up for me.

"Speaking of becoming a mom, I'm guessing you and Autumn had quite a time last night," Derek sings, raising his eyebrow and dodging Autumn's hits.

"We're very safe, thank you! I saw Angel in your sweatshirt so explain that!"

My cheeks flush a furious red and I splutter incoherently, shaking my head. Derek blushes and casts his gaze down, also shaking his head rapidly.

"Look, their mouths are so full of each other's cum, they can't even speak!" Autumn laughs and Haden covers his mouth to contain his laughter too.

"I'd be careful if I were you, Autumn. Don't make me tell them about what you did with a dill pickle and a popsicle stick at the end of 8th grade," I say warningly and now it's her face flushing red.

The boat ride home was relatively quick and all of us just relaxed and ate.

I couldn't help but think about everything. They we're going to grow up together but without me, just as they had done when I tried to end the friendship to begin with.

Derek drives me to my house and I'm surprised to see another vehicle sitting in the drive way. I'm cracking up about something Derek said when my door flies open and out walks a guy I've never seen before and my dad right next to him.

"Oh, I've heard so much about you!" The man goes to throw his arms around me but I step back towards Derek's embrace, shooting him a confused look.

"Um, do I know you?" I question, looking at my dad. His eyes are everywhere but my face and my mom is nowhere to be found.

The boy sighs in front of me, looking between
my dad and I.

"No, but I know you. I'm your brother."

Not that any of you care that much but got so sick, so that's why this update is late. I started spring break Thursday and came down with the nastiest cold ever. Just my luck. So I'm pretty sure I've been high off NyQuil for the last few days.

And if you know me, you know I don't handle colds well. I'm a big baby.

Anyways, I hope you guys liked the chapter even if it was pure shit. I'm going back to sleep now. ☹️☹️☹️☹️

LOVE YOU ALL.