Chapter 1

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"I'm sorry," I say, feeling the tears form in my eyes.

You've got this, Allie.

I look into his beautiful brown eyes. The ones I've seen happiness and love in are now full of hurt and pain.

"That's it? You're just going to leave and not even look back? Not even look to see that you have everything you ever need right here?" He says as his voice cracks, but he hasn't let any tears all.

"You know I don't have a choice. My parents have lives that they have to get back to. I have a life I have to get back to. I can't ask them to stay just because you asked me to,"

"So I'm not in your life anymore? Wow I'm such an idiot," He says while running his hands through his hair with frustration making it stick up in different angles, looking incredibly hot.

Not the time.

"That's not what I meant. I know that you would never leave this town and I can't ask you to so, what am I supposed to do?"

He looks directly at me for a second. I see the stone walls start to build up in his head. The ones I tore down not that long ago. The ones that after getting through you could see the real him. The one he only saves for someone special.

I was special to him, but I won't be for long. Not with what I'm about to do.

He sits up straight and gives me a cold, blank look. I never wanted to see that look on his face, but right now it was pointed at me and that was even worse.

"Go, just—"

"No, this isn't right I don't want to leave like thi—"

"Leave! Go home Allison!" he shouted and I flinched. He had never yelled at me before.

I was speechless. I didn't know what to do. This whole thing's a mess and there's nothing left. I looked at him as he looked down at the wood defeated. I stood there for a moment before making a mistake that would always be with me till my last breath.

I turn on my heel and walk toward the forest, away from the bridge. Our bridge.

I don't look back, afraid that if I do I'll break.

I have to be strong for myself. I have to be strong for him. I have to be strong for us.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Are you even listening to what I'm saying," Julie says while waving a hand in my face. I snap out of my memory, a pain one at that. "Sorry what were you saying?" I asked looking up at her.

"I said my uncle has an vacant apartment in a town called Wellbrook and we're going to spend the entire summer there. Isn't that awesome?" she said looking at me with concern.

"Oh uh yeah sounds pretty cool," I force a smile, "When do we leave?"

Julie looks at me for a moment and I know she is trying to figure out what's going on in my head. She was probably the only person who could read me like an open book. It was kind of scary, but I'm sure if I didn't have her I wouldn't have been able to make it this far.

"We leave tomorrow morning early. You should probably start packing now." Julie says before turning to the door. She turns back around and looks at me one last time.

"This will be good for you and I both. Let's have a fun time before we start college okay?"

I nod and smile, but this time it wasn't forced. I was going to make sure I had some fun this summer even if I didn't like where we were going.

She leaves my bedroom and goes to hers, I'm assuming to go pack. I get up off my bed and pull out my suitcase from the closet. I go through all my clothes and pick out summer shirts, shorts, vans, converse and a few pairs of jeans along with my other necessities.

As I finish zipping up my suitcase, Julie walks in and tells me that we are leaving at 8 in the morning for the 5 hour car trip. After she leaves I move my suitcase near the door and change into my pj's.

After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I get under the covers and turn the lights out.

My last thought before I fall asleep is my wish that everything goes smoothly this summer.

Chapter 2

I wake up at 7:30 the next morning to get ready to leave. After changing into a pair of shorts, t-shirt, and some converse, I put on a light amount of make-up. Once I'm all done I head downstairs with my suitcase to see Julie putting hers into the car. I walk out and she puts mine in before closing the trunk.

"Ready for an amazing summer?" She questions as she locks up the house.

I force a smile and nod my head. I am incredibly nervous for this summer. I mean it's been two years. I don't know what to expect. We get into the car, stopping at Starbucks before getting on the highway.

"So, we will be there around one. What do you want to do when we get there?" Julie asks me as she moves to the right lane.

"Let's just get the supplies we need and head to the apartment."

"You don't want to do anything when we get there?"

"Nah, we will be tired, so we'll wait till tomorrow to go do stuff."

Julie replies with an okay and turns up the music. We sing along and jam as we make our way to Wellbrook.

After four hours of driving we stop to get gas and some snack since I was hungry. Once we purchase our things we hit the road again with an hour of the trip left.

><><

We are driving off the highway onto the streets. After about five minutes of going left and right we drive past the welcome sign for Wellbrooks.

I knew how close we were now and my stomach started to form butterflies in it. My hands start to feel clammy. I try to calm myself down by using encouraging words. None of it was helping

Julie parks the car in front of the local grocery store. We get out and make our way inside and go through all the aisles in search of what we need to last us a few days. After we think we have everything we head to the checkout line.

Once we get up to the front a older women swipes our things. While Julia pulls out her money, the women looks up at me.

"Allie, is that you?" The women says and then I recognize her.

"Hello, Mrs. Bevin. How are you?" I ask with a smile on my face.

Mrs. Bevin was our neighbor when my parents and I visited for the summer two years ago. She came to Wellbrook from New York for a vacation with her husband. She was a very nice lady and so was her husband.

"Great! Charles and I moved here a year and a half ago, because we loved it so much. And you look so grown up since the last time I saw you,"

I laugh and nod. "Yeah, lots of things have changed in two years."

She nods her head in understanding, but still has a smile on her face.

"So what brings you back to Wellbrook?" She questions as Julie gives her the money for our things. I couldn't help but notice Julie's confused face.

"Oh just a little vacation with my best friend before college." I reply as she hands Julie back the change. "That's great, Honey. You should come by sometime and see Charles. He would be happy to see you. And bring your friend too."

"That would be fantastic. I'll see what I can do."

We walk out of the store and put everything in the car. Julie and I get in the car and make our way to the apartment.

"So who was that?" Julie asks a minute later.

"She was our neighbor when I came two years ago." I reply as we reach the apartment.

Julie unexpectedly stops the car and we lurched forward while earning a few honks from behind. I turn to Julie shocked. "What was that for?" I asked regaining my breath.

"Did you forget to mention that your ex-boyfriend lives in this town or am I mistaken?" She looks at me with narrow eyes.

Julie knew all about what happened two years ago with Nick. I didn't mention the town he lived in and she never asked, so I could understand why she was surprised.

"I'm sorry. You were so excited about this trip and I didn't want to ruin it." I said with my focus straight ahead.

"Well maybe he won't even be there. I mean it's been two years." she says, knowing now how nervous I am to be here.

I snort very unattractively. "Yeah right. I've known him long enough to know he would never leave this town."

"Allie, no one said you had to hang out with him. You might not even see him. Like I said it's been two years, things have changed most likely."

I sigh and just nod my head. "Yeah maybe he did leave, but I really don't want to find out."

"You know you'll have to face your past eventually though right?" Julie looks at me with concern.

"Yeah, but not right now. Let's just have a fun vacation before school starts back up, okay?" I say finally turning to my best friend.

She nods and pulls into the driveway of the apartment. We get out and grab our suitcases from the back before heading in. The place was quite spacious and it had a big window in the living room that you can see the ocean. It was beautiful.

"There are two rooms, so which one do you want?" Julie asks when we set down all the stuff.

"I'll take the right one."

"Okay. I want to go to the local pool for a while. Wanna come?"

"No, I'm going to set up my stuff and maybe take a nap."

Julie shrugs her shoulders and makes her way to her bedroom while I make my way to mine.

My bedroom is pretty big with a bed in the middle up against the wall by the window. I have my own bathroom connected to the bedroom and a tv in the corner.

I walk into the bathroom to find a big tub next to the shower. There was bubble soap on the side of the tub and a remote that I guessed controlled the colorful lights in the bath and shower.

I am most definitely using that at least once.

Julie comes into my room to tell me that she is leaving and to see if I changed my mind. Once I tell her to go ahead she smiles at me and leaves.

Once I hear the front door close I lay on the bed with a blanket and fall asleep almost instantly.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"You know Jake is having a party. Wanna go?" he asked me.

My head is laying on his chest right over his heart and I can feel it beating. It's a nice, steady beat that is lulling me to sleep.

"No. I just want to lay here all night."

I look up after a while to see why he is so quiet. As I reach his face, he is already looking at me with a small smile.

"What are you smiling about?"

"I'm just admiring how beautiful you are." He says casually.

I blush and look up at the stars. I'm always amazed of how there are so many when there are no lights around except for the moon.

"You can still go to the party if you want. Even if I'm not." I say when I turn back to him.

"Nah, I like being here with you." he says as he picks me up to sit on his lap.

I laugh and blush all in one. He knows how to make me feel this happy.

"This is why I love you."

The words popped out of my mouth before I even realized it. I glance up at him hoping I didn't embarrass myself too much. I wasn't expecting me to say it first, but I guess that's how it plays out.

When I do see his face though, I'm shocked. His face shows an amazing smile and I can't help but smile too.

"I think I have many more reasons why I love you." he says while leaning down.

His lips touch mine and they are soft and gentle. I wrap my arms around his neck while his arms are around my waist. I can smell cinnamon from the baking we did earlier. It is now one of my favorite smells. His tongue touches my bottom lip, asking for entrance and I accepted. Our tongues tangle and it's the best feeling. After a minute or so I start to run out of breath and pull back a little.

He puts his forehead against mine and we look into each other's eyes.

"I never want to let you go.", he says and I close my eyes.

"I hope you never have to.", I say, but I knew at some point he would.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I instantly awake and sit up straight. I feel sad and empty inside. I miss him so much more than I ever realized. He was everything to me.

I get up off the bed and walk to the kitchen to see Julie making dinner, or attempting.

"Hey I was wondering when you would wake up," Julie says as she flips over a burnt pancake.

"Do you want me to do that?", I ask with a small smile on my face. It was pretty funny to watch her try to make something.

"Please do. I'm doing awful at this,"

I laugh and make a whole new batch of pancake mix. After that I pour some into the pan and start making the pancakes.

Once I'm done, I call for Julie and she comes out focused on something on her phone.

"What are you so focused on there?", I question when she finally makes it to the table so we can eat.

"Oh, I met this guy and you and me are going to meet him tomorrow,"

I shake my head, but have a smile on my face. "It's only day one and you already met a guy amazes me."

"What can I say I'm a pro." She takes bite and shrugs.

I roll my eyes and eat my pancakes.

After we're done I wash the dishes and clean up while Julie is still focused on her phone. Once everything is put away I tell Julie that I'm going out since I'm not tired from that long nap I had. She says she is going to bed, so I should take the apartment key to let myself in later.

I walk out of the apartment and get into the car. The sun has pretty much set and everyone in town's lights are on.

As I past the town and make my way to the edge of the forest, I get really nervous. I haven't been here in two years and here I am headed to the one place I never thought I'd see again.

I stop the car behind a part of the woods and lock it after closing the door. I look at my surroundings and close my eyes. The birds have quietened and you can hear an owl in the distance.

I open my eyes again and make my way through the forest. After I get to the clearing I see the bridge in the distance.

I hesitate for a second, but decide to walk anyway. One I get closer to the bridge I become more calm. It was always so peaceful here.

I take my first step on the bridge and all the memories flood back. It was a happy and sad moment all in one right there.

I sit on bridge with my legs hanging over the side.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Here I want to show you something." he says as the car comes to a stop. We get out of the car and he takes my hand in his. He starts walking into the forest and I'm not far behind.

"Are you bringing me here to kill me?" I joke as we walk in the dark. I kept tripping over everything.

Nick looks at me over his shoulder and smiles. "Dang it you figured out my plan."

I smack him in the back of the head and he chuckles.

After a bit we reach the clearing and I see a bridge in the distance. He walks over toward it and stands right on it.

It was beautiful with trees all around and the river running underneath. It looked like no one had ever touched and I'm sure no one actually had.

"From now on this is our place. No one else's, just us two." He says and looks at me.

I smile and nod my head, "Our place."

He smiles and leans down to give me a passionate kiss on the lips.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I sit there for who knows how long until I hear something move. I turn around really fast as soon as I stand up.

Big mistake.

"Allison is that you?" his voice has only changed slightly. It's more masculine if that's even possible.

I cringe at the my full name, but look up into his beautiful brown eyes. My pulse reaches an abnormal rate and I am freaking out on the inside.

Nick Rayner, my best friend, my first love, standing just a few feet away.

This can't be happening. It wasn't supposed to. I wasn't supposed to see him.

"Hey Nick." I say very shyly while looking down.

For a moment he looks at me like he would have two years ago before I left, but that soon is replaced with that cold stare. The cold, blank stare.

"You shouldn't be here." he says and I start to squirm under his gaze.

"And why's that?" I ask, hoping he would just let me stay.

"You gave up the right two years ago to come here."

That's when I snap, feeling the sudden shot of anger go through my body and look him straight in the eye.

"And who said I couldn't come here anymore?" I question crossing my arms over my chest.

"I thought it was really self explanatory."

"Wasn't exactly what I thought about when I left." I mumble under my breath.

"What?" he makes a confused yet angry face.

"You really are going to kick me out of the one place I love? Fine. Have it your way." I said, lucky that my voice didn't waver.

He sighs and looks down. I can't be around him much longer, so I walk backwards and when I'm off the bridge I turn around and run, run as fast as I can back to my car with the tears streaming down my face.