::All I Can Give You Is My Love and Some Pocket Change:: Original Slash Sequel ::01::

I shaved the thin, dark stubble forming on my pale face. I smiled at myself in the mirror, flashing white teeth. Today was a good day. I was turning eighteen years old and tomorrow after today's party, I was leaving. I was looking forward not to see my father and Mindy ever again.

I blow-dried my wet hair and styled it. I smiled at the picture of my mother and I in the corner of my mirror. She was in a better place now, away from my father, away from the pain. I realized that now and it didn't hurt so much knowing she was gone.

My father was gone and I think Mindy was, as well. They were "on the rocks" and probably going to divorce soon. He found out she cheated with some teenager and got angry. She called him a hypocrite. He threatened to sue for adultery. I knew it would happen sooner or later. I didn't care either way though. I was going someplace I hadn't been in a long time.

Wellington Springs.

I sighed contentedly, thinking about those jade eyes and that perfect face. I never quite forgot about a certain boy that changed my life forever, no matter how many dates I went on and how many people my friends hooked me up with.

"Spenc! Get your ass down here!"

I smiled in the mirror again and walked out of the bathroom and downstairs to find my three best friends on my couch. Britney grinned at me and ran towards me, shoving a gift into my hands.

I smiled, "Thanks, Brit."

"Welcooooomeee," she sang and clapped her hands as I opened it.

I grinned, "Thank you!" The gift was a CD case able to hold about fifty CDs. Just weeks earlier I'd been complaining about not being able to get my CDs organized.

"Open it, dumbass!"

"Okay, okay." I opened it and smiled. The case was full of mix CDs her and I had recorded in her basement sort of like our own radio show. A song, our thoughts on it, so on.

"Thank you so much, Brit." I hugged her as Tasha held out her gift to me. I thanked her and took it, opening it.

The bright-colored collage made me blink a few times, but smile to myself all the same. She had to have spent hours on it. There were pictures of her, Britney, Jesse, and I all at the beach, at the mall, at Christmas, just random pictures. There was a bright paper frame for each individual picture, some of them with labels.

I almost wanted to cry. It was so nice of her. "Thank you...so much, Tasha. Really."

Tasha nodded, "Well if I'm not going to see my best friend for awhile, I thought he should at least go out in style." She laughed.

Jesse handed me two gifts. I smiled at him and opened the first. It was a clock that he'd creatively taken the back out of and glued magazine clippings on to create the lyrics to one of my favorite songs, Warmess on the Soul, by Avenged Sevenfold. I grinned and opened the second. It was a pair of jeans with random patches, skulls, and little sayings that he'd used a screen print to use.

"You guys didn't have to do all this," I said, "I didn't expect you to--"

"We all wanted to," Britney said, "We've been planning it for weeks. Why else would I have had you start recording those random CDs?"

I smiled, "Thank you. So much. All three of you." I kissed each of them on the cheek and looked over all they'd given me. No money could buy friends like that.

Tasha dragged me over to the birthday cake she'd set on the kitchen counter and lit the candles. I laughed as she childishly forced me to blow them all out and make a wish.

"What'd ya wish for?" Tasha asked.

"Can't tell you or it spoils it," I lied. I hadn't wished for anything.

Jesse handed me a knife and I cut the cake as Britney got the plates from the cupboards. I set a large chunk of chocolate cake on each plate. We walked into the living room and Britney turned on some random movie.


Before I knew it, my three best friends were getting ready to leave, kissing me on the cheek, giving me hugs and wishing me luck. I watched as they left. For the first time since I moved back to Philadelphia from Wellington Springs, I regretted thinking about going back.

However, I collected my composure and dragged my already-packed luggage into my Lincoln Navigator. I walked slowly to the driver's side and opened the door. I took a deep breath before putting the keys in the ignition and starting the vehicle.

I programmed my GPS to give me directions to Wellington Springs. I pulled out of the driveway and watched the road. I had to have been crazy.

Questions rushed through my mind. I realized I hadn't thought anything through at all. What if he left? What if he has a boyfriend? Things had surely changed over two years. Even if he was still living there and still single, how could he forgive me? I yelled at him and never apologized. Did I really matter, anyway? Was I just another boy he hardly knew?

But I never turned around, not once.
After all that we've been through, I'm coming home to you. ♥
Plugging: Scream by Avenged Sevenfold

Feeling: Half Sad Half Hyper =/

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