Changed me

Did He Apologize?

" I think I want to move back."

"Wow you're really trying to be single today." Within seconds of the words leaving her mouth Jake pulled her to him. Smiling widely she laughed as he whispered in her ear and I slid over to put distance between myself and the couple. Staring at the door in front of me I waited for it to open.

"Are you looking for me?" the voice caught me off guard and had me ready to punch it's owner in the face. However, I'm pretty positive punching your father was grounds for being grounded.

"Where did you even come from? I have been staring at that door this whole time."

" There's another exit right over there." He pointed down the hall to a room that was out of my view. Of course there was another exit.

"So what happened?"

" Not my story to tell Panda." The warm and relaxed smile on his face immediately put my nerves at ease. Leaning back against the bench where we sat he turned his attention down the hall. "You should ask him."

Striding down the hall in his Lex approved outfit, Nile walked alongside Uncle Mike. I think this is the first time I have ever seen Uncle Mike without a hat on. I tried to read their faces but they were looking at each other as they spoke. Body language was not my strong suit so I could not tell much from the way they were walking. Standing up I subconsciously smoothed out the dress that adorned my body. Before I knew it, Uncle Mike and Nile were directly in front of me.

"Well" I was over the wait. I wanted to know the answer to my question and prolonging it was not going to help me.

" So impatient." Uncle Mike spoke first. He did not even try to hide the amusement in his voice. "But answer the girls question nephew."

"I'll tell you about it tonight." Kissing my lips quickly he grabbed my hand pulling me behind him. Everyone else laughed while I tried to hide my building annoyance. I guess Nile was trying to be single too.

Staring at my reflection in the mirror I look at the girl staring back at me. I had spent almost three hours looking for the perfect outfit for tonight and if my reflection was any indication I think I had chosen the perfect one. Lex had spent the last hour doing my makeup and I was thankful she did not kill me for the amount of times I moved while she did my eye liner. There was just something about touching eyes that freaked me out.

"How do I look."Giving me a prolonged once over I watched as a smile etched its was across her face. Her once blonde long hair was now shorter and darker and I was still getting used to it.

"Happy." Her simple response stopped me in my tracks. Lex often had these moments of simplistic insight. This was one of those moments where something she said forced me to take a look beyond the here and now. Although I was still annoyed that Nile did not tell me everything that happened today, context clues and the celebration lunch dad made let me know everything I needed to know.

" Thanks Lex." Hugging her I grabbed a light jacket and went downstairs for my supposed surprise.

"Not ready to be an aunt yet, just to let you know." Lex yelled from the top of the stairs.

" Do I even want to know what Lex is talking about?" Dad stood at the bottom of the stairs looking at us like we were crazy. This was not a conversation that I wanted to have with my father. " Well I second whatever she just said." was his response before disappearing to his room.

"Ready to go ?" There he was dressed in a burgundy button down and black jeans. He smelled like Nile. Standing back I looked at him I gave him a serious once over. I mean he was my boyfriend so I could look all I wanted. "Like what you see ?"

" I do." There goes that confidence again sneaking up the way it always did. Instead of waiting for his response, I walked out of the house letting him follow behind me. I could feel his eyes on my back. It was all so normal. Flirting and joking with the boy who once would not so much as utter a word to me.

"Lets go get some ice cream first and then we can get dinner."

"Dessert before dinner, what did I do to deserve this?"

We filled the silence on our ride with random conversation about school and about Aria. He was working with Lila so that he could still be there for Aria. Throughout the past few months Nile was only able to see Aria a handful of times. However, Lila promised with the investigations coming to an end she would let Aria come around more. Pulling into the parking lot Nile turned the car off.

"He's going to jail." Normal. That statement was our gateway to normalcy. Turning in the driver's seat he faced me. "He's not allowed to be in contact with me or Aria. Uncle Mike was named as my guardian." He rushed through the words as if he were afraid that if he did not say them they would not be true. His eyes were closed as he spoke but his face was palette of emotions. " It's over."

Words. The power of words is unimaginable right now they were the end of a season. They were the end of life as Nile knew it. "It's over." He repeated and I gave him the time and space he needed to let those words move from his mind to his lips until they worked their way through his body. He needed those words to settle building a new foundation for the new life ahead of him.

"It's over." his voice broke this time. Reaching across the console I held his hand in mine as he tried to hold back the tears. His hand squeezed mine tightly and I returned the gesture. Within minutes he swallowed hard and opened the door to get out. Following suit I closed the car door however, Nile did not move beyond the drivers side. Standing in front of him I took his hand yet again maintaining contact with him for fear that he would begin to doubt that any of this was truly happening. I did not want him to think that if he opened his eyes it would all be a dream.

"Manny it's really over."

" Yeah Nile, it is." I confirmed his thought taking a step closer to him and closing the gap between us. Instantly he wrapped his arms around my waist and held on tightly. In that moment we were normal. Nile was not afraid and I had absolutely no doubt. Resting my chin on his chest I looked up at him.

"This is random but do you remember when we were reading romeo and juliet in english class?" His question caught me off guard but I nodded anyway.

"What if we were wrong about them?"

"Wrong about what ?"

" Everyone considers that book to be such a beautiful tragedy. We often pay attention solely to the fact that they were so in love that they would rather die than live without the other. What if that's not what love looks like." He paused tilting his head down to look at me. " What if love looks like living. Living a life worth living and becoming exactly who we were meant to be. What if love is, if even for a moment, meant to change us and teach us how to live."

Closing the gap between us he looked into my eyes. I could feel his racing heartbeat as he spoke. His hold tightening with every word that he said. Brushing his lips lightly he kissed me. The kiss was brief but before I could miss his lips they were back on mine. Starting soft it quickly gained intensity. His tongue licked my bottom lip seeking permission which I granted without question. Within one swift motion he lifted me off the ground and instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist. His lips never leaving mine until the need for air became overwhelming.

What if love looks like living.What if love is, if even for a moment, meant to change us and teach us how to live. Words from the boy who changed me.

Wow. It's actually done. Now I get to edit the heck out of this story! I know it may seem all over the place but if you knew you would understand. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for reading and journeying with me. Although this story is done I'll be editing and making it better!