Trainwreck (18 page)

Epilogue

Prom. It was the first Saturday in June, and currently, Sadie and Natasha were in Sadie's bathroom at her house, getting ready while listening to a mainstream music channel. They were goofing off and having fun, singing at the top of their lungs while trying to simultaneously do their hair, which wasn't exactly working. But they didn't seem to mind. They were having fun, and that was all that mattered.

Ever since Asher had left, Sadie tried to focus on having fun rather than letting her mind dwell on what could have been. She ended up going to homecoming that evening, but she didn't have a good a time as she originally thought she would. To be honest, Sadie truly believed that Asher would call her at least once a week, or write to her – something to let her know that he was okay and that everything was going to be fine. Hell, it would have been nice for him to do something to let her know that he was still thinking of her, that he hadn't forgotten about her. But he hadn't sent her anything.

She would never admit it to anyone, because both her mother and Natasha thought that she should just move on, but Sadie could never give up on Asher. Yes, he was off-kilter when it came to showing affection or doing romantic things, but she knew somehow that he was out there, waiting for her just like she was waiting for him.

But that didn't mean that she would allow life to pass her by. Sadie didn't date anyone seriously, but she went out with Natasha and Anthony, who were still going strong since homecoming. They were actually quite a cute couple, despite their obvious differences. And once Christmas break had passed, Sadie felt herself returning to normal.

Prom. Asher was supposed to take Sadie to prom. But Asher wasn't here and Sadie wasn't hopeless. When Edward asked her to prom – strictly as friends, of course – Sadie accepted. Though the two weren't exactly close, they did share a friendship and there was definitely chemistry between the two of them. However, even with saying that she knew the night wouldn't be as enjoyable if it was Asher who was with her rather than Edward. Oh well. Maybe sometime in the future she'd see Asher again, but she couldn't wait around for him. She still had to live.

It was another two hours when Anthony pulled up to pick up Natasha.

"Are you sure you don't want me to wait with you?" she asked Sadie, looking away from Anthony, who was currently getting out of his car in order to take pictures with Natasha. "Remember what happened last time?" She pushed up her brow to emphasize her point.

"I'll be fine, Tash," Sadie said. "I promise. And it's Edward coming to get me, remember? He's late for everything except soccer practice. I'm not really worried about it." She grabbed her digital camera from the stand and gave her friend a look. "Now, go stand next to your boyfriend so I can take your picture."

It was a half an hour when Natasha and Anthony finally left. Edward had called a couple of minutes ago to let Sadie know he would be at her house in twenty minutes, so when someone knocked on her door not a moment after Sadie hung up her phone, she thought it was Natasha, having forgotten something. She glanced through the peephole and felt her heart leap into her throat.

No way. It wasn't possible.

But when Sadie opened the door, she realized that it was. There was Asher, standing in a freshly pressed tuxedo. His hair still fell into his face, and his brown eyes were still warm. He took her breath away, but there was never any doubt about that. He seemed to have built on more muscle, but he was still lean like she had remembered him. Goodness, he was still beautiful.

"Hey," he said in his usual, slightly raspy voice. His eyes looked down at Sadie with an appraising smile before they lifted up to match her eyes. "You never cease to amaze me, princess. And here I thought you couldn't get more beautiful."

"Asher," she murmured, and merely saying his name caused this scenario that Sadie had played in her head over and over again to be real. "What are you doing here? I had no idea you were coming back. Edward's taking me to prom."

Upon hearing Edward's name, Asher's whole face contorted into a scowl. "Edward is a tool," he explained as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I came here to take you to prom. I wanted to make homecoming up to you."

"You think you can just show up at my door, dressed up in a tuxedo, and demand that I go to prom with you?" Sadie asked, disbelief touching her features as she felt a familiar feeling of passion for the man in front of her start to flare up. Asher always knew exactly what to say to get her upset. "I haven't received one call from you letting me know where you are, that you're okay, that you miss me, what you're doing. I didn't receive an e- mail, a Facebook message. Hell, I didn't even receive a letter, Asher. What do you expect?"

"Listen, I'm sorry about not writing, okay?" Asher told her. He hated apologizing, but Sadie was right; he should have gotten in contact with her in some way. "I needed to get things settled before I talked to you."

"You could have just told me that you were all right, Asher," Sadie murmured, her voice softer now as her eyes melted slightly. "I mean, when you told me you had to leave, I understood and I didn't try to make you stay, but I didn't know what we were anymore. I still don't know what we are." She locked eyes with Asher, tilting her head ever so slightly to the side. "Where do I stand with you, Asher? I don't see you for seven months and then you show up on my doorstep and want to take me to prom?"

Before Sadie could continue, Asher leaned forward and placed an index finger over her lips, staring into her eyes before placing his lips gently on the crevice of her cheekbone. When he finished, he leaned back, albeit very slightly, and whispered in a husky voice, "I don't know what I am to you, Sadie, but to me, you're the love of my life." He leaned his head back a little farther so he could meet her eyes. "And you always will be."

Sadie felt her breath leave her body, and though she wanted to hide her eyes because she knew just how vulnerable they were, she couldn't tear them away from Asher's. "I," she began, but shook her head and stopped the words from escaping. "So are you back then? I just... I just don't want to get my hopes up only to have you leave me for an indefinite amount of time."

"I'm in San Diego," he told her, his lips curling up as his eyes sparkled even more, this time with excitement. "I got my GED and I'm working full-time with a construction company. I have a small apartment of my own, and I'm taking a couple of junior college classes online. I was hoping..." He let his voice trail off and tilted his head so his hair wouldn't be in his face anymore. "I was hoping that once you graduated from high school, you could come back to San Diego with me." He pressed his lips together, waiting for her response. To be honest, he never thought he would want a girl with him, living with him, being with him. But he always knew Sadie was different. And he wanted nothing else the way he wanted Sadie. "I know it's fast, but I thought..." He shook his head and reached out, the pads of his index fingers curling a stray strand of hair out of her face. "I've missed you. I know that it'll be hard, and I know that, yes, it would definitely be easier to give up, but –"

Now it was Sadie who cut him off with a slender finger to his own lips. "Asher, I never gave up on you," she told him seriously.

Asher felt his lips curl up once again as Sadie dropped her hand so it fell by her side, and he took the opportunity to place his lips on hers. The kiss started out slowly, tender, but Asher reached up and cocked her head back so he could deepen the kiss, wanting nothing more than to taste her, to explore her, though he was certain he could never forget her. She tasted like something delicious, and he never wanted to let her go. And he hoped she felt the same way in return.

"If you take me to prom," Sadie said, now breathless. "I will certainly think about it." She gave him a teasing smile, and Asher wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him.

"I missed that smile," he said in a gentle voice before locking eyes with her, grinning slightly. "You have a face for a smile, you know."

Sadie blushed and though she tried to hide it, Asher could certainly see it. "Come on," she said, reaching down to grab his hand. "Let's go. We don't want to miss out on the dancing."

"No, of course not," he mumbled dryly, but in reality, he was looking forward to another excuse where he could hold her close.

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Acknowledgments

This came from daydreams and The Breakfast Club and how magical and electrifying and depressing and exhausting and unique the high school experience is.  This is my love letter to my high school career.  Go Trojans!

Thanks to my mom, to my brother, to the city of Irvine, to Uni – all shaped me into the person I am.

Thank to Meghan, for your on point beta read.

Thank you to Desiree, for your amazing cover.  Flawless!

Thanks to Josh and Jacob – Josh, you’re almost there, Jacob, you have a while, but I wish you nothing but the best and the worst for your high school careers.  This is where you become who you are.  Embrace it, live it, and don’t ever regret it!

Kylee, I hope you fall in love, get your heart broken, get good grades, go to football games and prom and study sessions and maybe possibly detention.  Most importantly, I hope you figure out who you are and where you want to go. 

Thanks to Frank, for coming on this crazy journey with me.  I wouldn’t be where I am without you.

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Did You Like Trainwreck?

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Warmly,

Heather