DONT BLAME ME

AN; Last Chapter!!! If you shipped Horenity, I apologize lol but thank you for tagging along on my first story:)
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~Hope Pov~

"Breakfast?," my mom asks, handing me a cereal bar and apple juice. I let out a small giggle. "No, but I'll take the juice. Thank you.,"I smiled.
"So do you think youll go to the party?," my mom asks. "It's not a party mom, it's a gathering. And I don't know yet, I don't feel like being bothered with anyone," I lowered my head.
"Hope, you already made your decision so all you have to do is see it through," my mom smiled as I looked up at her.
"I should actually get going" I headed towards the door. "I'll leave the key under the mat for you tonight," she shouted.

It's Friday. It's the last day of school. Loveburn high was having an afterschool gathering to celebrate our successes. The only real success was that seniors were graduating and everyone else was moving up. Still, we weren't happy. I took a deep breath before walking into the school. I made it to my first period with no issues, until there was an issue. I took my seat behind Tess. I hadn't told her about any of my decision making, she was still waiting on me. I was going to say something until I was called upon.

"Hope, can I see you for a minute.," Mr Price didn't ask, he motioned me outside the class door. I was really hoping this day was not going to start off bad.
"Since everyone turned in their essay yesterday, I had time to grade all of them," He spoke softly and gently. I swallowed hard, my eyes widened.

I pressed my lips together, "did I make a good grade?," I strained out.
"You did. Both of you did, actually," he ran his fingers through his hair as if he was nervous over his next choice of words. "Mr. Price, did I do something wrong?," I asked him.

"In literature you use a metaphor for love. What do you use for love in the real world?" He quizzed me. I looked around trying to search for the answer, as he kept repeating the second half of the question. "My heart", I blurted out silently. "Exactly Hope," he smiled, "come back in when you're ready.,". Mr. Price had shut the door and started class. He knows.

I peeped through the small classroom door window, I laid eyes on Tess. I said to myself, "my heart".
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The rest of the day went by fast. It was either that or I was zoned out and overthinking about the conversation I had with my teacher earlier.

I was walking so fast in the hallway I ran into an open locker....Rens locker.
"Oh my fuck, not again" I grouched, rubbing my head. Ren closed her locker.
"I guess my locker wanted revenge" Ren huffed out a laugh. I returned the laugh. "I guess I deserved that,". We were quietly standing face to face for a second. "Umm I was actually going to find you and speak to you but you seem to be in a rush so?," Ren said softly, turning away. "Wait no, what is it?" I pleaded.

Ren looked at me with a saddened smile, "I just wanted to say goodbye,". My eyes softened, and Ren pulled me into a hug, "Happy Summer, Hope Starr,". It then hit me. Ren was leaving and I was never going to see her again. I let out a big sigh, "Happy Summer, Cirenity Blake,". We then split and went our separate ways.

I stopped a few feet from her locker and shedded a tear. That was a difficult thing for me to do, say goodbye to someone I had so much love for.

I went out to the courtyard to look for Tess because I haven't spoken to her today. When I got there, Tess was under the big tree that stood in the middle of the field surrounded by multiple people. Everyone was heading towards the after school gathering. I greeted her there, "Hey, can we talk?," I requested. "Yeah, we can go over there,". Tess walked me over to the school parking lot. There were cars but everyone was in the courtyard.

I didn't know how to start. I stuttered over every word that tried to come out, but Tess was patient with me. Words eventually came to be, but not in the way I wanted to say.

"So I broke up with Ren for you," I stated. I immediately regretted the words that left my mouth. "Excuse me!?," Tess exclaimed. "Are you telling me that you think I caused your break up?," she added. I fumbled my words, "N-no that's not what I meant I-,", Tess interrupted. "Just when I thought you figured it out," Tess ran away back to the courtyard. I, however, was in no party mood so I went home.
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It was quiet when I walked in the house. I assumed my mom must have been napping so I creeped upstairs to check on her. I peeped into her room to find her sitting on the floor looking at a family photo album. She must have heard me coming. "You know, I was bestfriends with your mommy before we started dating," she sniffled.

"Mom. Are you okay?," I asked her, heading to sit beside her. She wiped her face quickly trying to hide her tears. "Yes. Yes I am. I just miss her sometimes," mom pouted.
"Mom, just because you're a stone cold lawyer, doesn't mean you have to hide your feelings with me. Just like I don't with you," I gave her a side hug.

"We weren't like you guys though. You and Tess.," my mom said. "Our friendship was toxic. We were enemies up until our first year of college, but we convinced ourselves we loved each other. We loved the drama and didn't want to let it go.," mom looked at me with soft eyes. "What are you saying, mom?," I questioned her.

"I'm saying that beyond you and Tess' friendship is actual love, Hope. I'm not saying it as your mom, or your friend, nor someone who is rooting for you. I'm saying this as an observer, someone who's seen it and lived it," my mom exclaimed. I looked at her with a shaken expression. "You love her and she loves you,and you shouldn't let that go. She's literally the Jeepers to your Creepers," she smirked.

I couldn't help but let out a superb laugh. Even in the midst of a serious conversation, my mom still knew how to joke around. We stood up at the same time for her to pull me into a hug, and I headed to the door. I stopped and turned to face her, "By the way, it's okay to miss mommy. But she left, so don't blame yourself,".

I was in my room waiting around thinking about everything I wanted to say to Tess. I had been waiting for a few hours. As soon as I saw that it had hit six pm, I knew the party was over. I'd seen Tess walking home outside my window, it was raining. It has been doing that here a lot lately. "Mom! I'll be back later," I hollered, running quickly down the stairs and out the door. "Go get her!," she bellowed back.

I caught up to Tess as soon as she hit her front door. "Tess, wait up," I breathed. Tess turned around with a frown plastered across her face.

"Listen, I just thought that if I told you about the break up, you'd be happy," I explained myself. I messed up. That didn't sound any better than before. "Hope, you can't be mad at me because you dumped Ren," she stated sternly. Tess' tone proceeded angrily, "Ugh you drive me crazy!!," she flailed her arms. "You wanna blame me? Fine. But I was not the one hiding her feelings for years,".

Wow. She meant that. Tess was holding on to that one for a long time. I swallowed hard, choosing my next words carefully. I knew exactly where I was going.

"You know what, you're right, I can't blame you for that," I started. I took a step towards her. "I blame you for falling out of the stunt when we first met. I blame you for dancing with me at the middle school dance. I blame you for not stopping me from dating Ren," I continued. She interrupted.

"No, that's not fair," she spoke tearfully. I wouldn't let her get any words in. I took another step.

"I even blame you for making me screw her. I blame you for everything Tess. I blame you because I love you!," I exclaimed, flailing my arms.

Tess' eyes softened. I rested my hands on her shoulders, "and could be a beauty school dropout, hand jiving on a blue moon, and that grease could be lightning on a summer night but you're the one that I want and I am hopelessly devoted to you," I admitted gently, my tone full of emotion. Tess huffed out a laugh, "that was so corny,".

We exchanged smiles as we leaned into a kiss. The kiss I've always imagined.

Her perfected lips crashed into mine creating a smooth and warm combination. They parted slightly allowing mine to slip inside. Tess wrapped her arms around me pulling me in closer. Our rhythm became one as I allowed our tongues to tangle. I pulled away admiring every inch of this red hair beauty in front of me. Tess smiled, running her fingers through my wet hair, the rain made this super dramatic. I lifted Tess and spun her around.

This is the only thing that matters, this moment. All the fighting, the lies, the chaos and crying drifted away. This girl was mine and I didn't blame her for a thing.

~ Hey Alexa, play 'Don't Blame Me' by Taylor Swift.

AN; THE END! Thank you for reading:)