Holding On Forever - Hillary NGO (a court of thorns and roses ebook free TXT) 📗

this for?" I questioned Jesse.
"Aqua, why this is yours to spend on whatever. Your parents instructed me that you shall use it to buy more clothing, school supplies and on whatever your heart desires."
"Oh. Thank you Jesse, I'll head off to the mall right now then. Also, may you unpack my luggage for me?"
Jessie smiled at my request. "Why of course Aqua. I'll do it now."
As I was about to say thank you, Jesse scurried upstairs to my room to unpack my things for me. I heaved a sigh. Might as well get what I need before school starts next week.

I strolled out of the house towards my convertible and typed the address to the nearest mall. As I drove there, my mind kept on wandering if I would see Shay again, but then again this is a pretty big place so maybe I won't.

Chapter 2: Past Catches Up With Me

I pulled into the mall's parking lot and found an empty space. I parked the convertible into the tight space and climbed out holding my magnolia purse. I wander around the outside of the mall until I found the entrance. I entered the mall and saw mobs of people rushing towards store and some teenagers just hanging around. I hastily found Forever 21 and started to wander around the store. I grabbed everything that seemed cute and rushed towards the changing rooms. In the end, I decided on 2 black and white shift dresses with a golden belt attached, 5 assorted color chiffon tops and 3 high waist shorts. I paid for the clothing and slowly stepped out of the store. As soon as I stepped out, my eyes popped out.
Why? Oh why now?

Chapter 3: Is It Really Her?

I looked up and my eyes seemed to deceive me. It can't be her, she moved away and forgot all about you I tried telling myself.

My heart told me otherwise however and WOW she has changed. She was wearing a clean white ripped skinny jean with white heels and a green v-neck shirt covered by a blue varsity jacket. Her brownish, black hair was longer that it was to her back, her brown eyes were filled with emotion, her skin was a lot tanner than I remember and her face looked perfect even without makeup. She was about 5'7 and she never looked better than she did now. She looked right at me and froze. Please tell me she doesn't remember that fight we had.

I guess she did because she gracefully hurried away from me and my group of friends. A huge smack awoke me from her trance as I looked at my friend Justin.
"Ow! What the heck was that for?" I hollered.
Justin started laughing. "Who was that chick you were ogling your eyes at?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," I stammered.
"Shay. I never seen you like this, you look like a lovesick fool," exclaimed Justin.
"Okay. So remember that girl I used to hang out with when we were little."
"Dude, you hanged out with a lot of girls."
"No, not like that. Remember that girl who I always hanged out with and I mean always."
"Wasn't her name? Uhm. What was it again?" questioned Justin. "Aqua!" Justin snapped. "I knew I'll remember."
"Sure," I replied sarcastically.
"Wait! Didn't she move?"
"That's what I thought, but that has to be her. That girl I was 'ogling my eyes' at looked just like her, just older."
"Dude, I remember now. When it was her last week at the middle school, she looked so depressed."
"I remember that too. I always thought it was my fault and wanted to apologize to her but before I could, she moved away."
"Wait, what do you mean your fault? What did you do?"
"So remember in eighth grade how I wanted to do anything to be cool."
"Yeah. Of course I remember, but I always thought it was stupid."
"Wow. Thanks for the encouragement."
"No problem dude," smiled Justin.
"Okay, so the popular crowd told me I could hang out with them if I ditched Aqua just because she was in 7th grade."
"And I'm guessing you did it, huh?"
"Yeah. When I told her I didn't want to hang out with her, she got all mad about it and ran off."
"Dude, your low," croaked Justin.
"Thanks," I groaned.
"Come on Shay," Justin ordered. "You need to think about this. Alone."
Justin dragged me out of the mall towards my silver aston martin one-77 and took my car keys. He started up the car and all I could think of was her as I looked out the passenger window. Her...

Chapter 4: There He Is

Oh shoot! There he was and here I am just standing there looking at him. I have to admit he looks a lot better than he did when he was 13 years old. Who am I kidding? He looks totally hotter nowadays. Instead of his long dark brown hair blocking his eyes, he cut it a little shorter showing his deep brown mesmerizing eyes. He was wearing a striped blue shirt attached with gray long sleeves, black knee length basketball shorts and dark blue Nike shoes. He wasn't that short scrawny kid anymore, instead he looked about 6'4 and really built but not much where it looked abnormal. I think he saw me because I swiftly turned my head and dashed off into the opposite direction he was heading to. I didn't look back because I was afraid he would recognize me again. I ran until I reach the entrance I came in from and ran towards my car as fast as my little legs could take me. Once I reached my powder blue convertible, I opened the door and slumped into the seat. I threw my head back and sighed.

Chapter 5: What Is She To Me?

Justin stopped the car and I knew that we arrived at my house. We got out of the car and slammed the doors shut. We walked on the gravel path towards the front door of my 2 story house. I took the house key out of my jean pocket and inserted it into the lock. I twisted the key around and the lock snapped open. We walked inside and saw my mom cooking up a storm in the kitchen while my little brother was in the game room playing on the Xbox 360.
"Hi little bro!" I screamed at Ty.
"I'm not little," roared Ty. "I'm 16 and I deserve to be treated like one."
"Sure," I replied rolling my eyes. "Come on Justin."
We both walked upstairs into my room and plopped ourselves on the two black bean bags in the corner of my room.
"So..." asked Justin. "Tell me more."
When he said that, I explained everything to him like when I first met her and she was just in preschool while I was in kindergarten. How our friendship grew and we became best friends and how I just threw it all away in a second.
"Wow," whispered Justin.
"I know. I'm a total jerk for doing that to her."
"No duh you are!"
"Thanks," I answered back as tears rose to my eyes. I haven't told anybody about it all these years and now I see her or a look alike of her and I'm about to cry. Suck it up man!

"Dude, all I'm saying is that you practically knew her all your life and you treated her really badly. I think you should apologize to her."
"I tried man! She moved before I could though."
"Well she didn't really give you a chance then. Nobody knew she was leaving until a few days after she actually left. So how would you know?"
"Man! I'm just so frustrated right now. She brings out the soft side in me and I hate it so much."
"This girl must be something special than to make you this crazy."
Once Justin said that, he got up and left my house. I heard the front door creak open and shut and saw Justin striding towards his house which