THE END. (64)

I was finally wearing my turquoise silk dress, and I couldn't believe it.

We were doing it — leave all the mess behind and fly out of here, heading home to California, just Bella and I.

We sat down in our seats, the plane was almost ready to take off.

Everything felt just right.

"I love you," I whispered, our hands holding tight.

"I love you too. So much." She pulled me closer, and I felt like I was finally home.

"I can't wait to go home with you."

She started to chuckle softly.

"Well, I'm so fucking happy about this, but now you're stuck with me..."

"Don't worry, I'll manage, you troublemaker," I grinned playfully.

She raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? You think you can handle me?"

She made me laugh.

"I've got this..."

She leaned in closer, her lips brushing against my ear as she whispered, "Good, because you're mine forever now."

It gave me chills of pleasure...

"Good thing I'm starting to like the idea..." I replied, my heart racing as she kissed me.

The world outside the window started to light up with a beautiful sunrise. The plane took off, and I rested my head on her shoulder.

For the first time in forever, it felt like I could finally breathe.

~

A YEAR LATER, JUNE 1.

*ELLIE'S POV*

It's the moment.

I stood there, my hands already shaking.

The formal dress and everything else—I had to adjust it like a hundred times to get it right.

This was it.

The day I'd been dreaming.

The music played, slow and solemn.

"Oh, shit, this is really happening..." I muttered under my breath.

There was a crowd.

The most important people in my life were sitting there, cheering me on.

Finally, the moment came.

I walked out slowly, my step confident than I thought wearing these heels.

Silence... until...

The principal started talking, congratulating us... the english literature students.

Then, finally, I heard my name. "Ellie Golden."

I didn't even flinch as I walked up to the podium, they gave me my degree, and I smiled.

In that moment, I turned around.

In the crowd—there she was. Bella.

Her glistening eyes locked on mine, smiling so big, like she was about to cry.

I swear, everything else faded away.

I was here. I had made it. We made it.

I spotted my best friend Delilah right next to her, grinning and clapping her hands and—wait for it—my dad.

Standing there, looking all stiff, but his eyes were softer than I'd ever seen them.

So... in this year, nothing had changed, but everything was different...

I made peace with my dad, and we even went to his place for several dinners. Now he was talking to my girlfriend like they were old friends...

About her, Bella landed a job as a lawyer at this really great firm, and she was absolutely killing it.

She was made for it—it was the perfect place for her.

About that... we heard from Leo that Joe shut down his society... everyone left him.

Now he's got nothing, no job, no career, no plan...

I guess karma really does come around, huh?

The ceremony came to an end.

For a brief moment, I stepped back from everyone, looking up at the sky.

My mom wasn't here. She never would be. And I wondered, wherever she was, if she was proud of me.

I turned around, Bella's gorgeous burgundy dress drawing my eyes... her red hair shone in the sunlight...

I winked to get her attention and she came towards me, just as I wanted.

"Look at you," she said softly, placing her hand on my waist as she hugged me from behind.

"You did it!"

"Yeah, I guess I'm kind of a big deal now," I joked, my head resting on her cheek.

"I'll admit, I'm impressed," she teased.

"I couldn't have done it without you, love. This means the world to me," I said, turning to face her.

"You still would have made it, baby, but I guess I deserve some credit for being your support system..."

I laughed, shaking my head.

"So you still love after all my very insane moments?!"

"More than anything."

"I love you too. More than anything."

"Your mom would be so proud of you, Ellie..." She whispered in my ear.

"Do you really think so?" I was almost crying.

"I know so."

Bella tilted her head softly at my tear-filled eyes.

"Don't cry, baby, you still haven't opened my gift for you..." she chuckled.

She suddenly pulled a small, white box out of her sleeve and handed it to me.

"Oh," I gasped.

My hands were shaking as I slowly opened it, a flutter in my chest.

It was a beautiful moon pendant on a necklace.

A small note with a dedication on the side.

>

"Oh, God," I cried.

She chuckled, wiping away my tears.

"I guess you like it...?"

"I love it, baby. Everything about it is just perfect, thank you. Can you help me put it on?"

She put the necklace on me, and I threw myself into her arms so hard that we almost fell onto the grass.

I kissed her deeply, not giving a damn about all the other people watching.

For me it was just me and her. Like always.

"UGH! I thought it was a ring! I even bet with your classmates, Ellie!" Delilah blurted out of nowhere.

I was almost choking on this.

"Quit it..." I scolded her.

"I lost 20 bucks!" She complained again.

Bella's expression was priceless as she turned to Delilah. "You bet on this?"

Delilah crossed her arms, pouting. "Of course I did! You had these 'proposal vibes' written all over you!"

Bella smirked. "Maybe. But I don't need a ring to make it clear, Deli. For now..." She gave me a teasing yet serious look.

OH MY GOD...!!

Caught between embarrassment and amusement, I buried my face in her chest.

"I can't believe this is happening..."

Delilah groaned dramatically and walked away with a playful smile. "Oww! You two are my favorite couple! But the worst for my wallet!"

They both burst into laughter at that...

"Baby..." Bella lifted my chin.

"There's one thing more..."

"What? I'm already too embarrassed..."

She smiled. "You know, in July, it'll be one year since we've been together..."

I nodded happily. "Yeah, it is."

She pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket and held it in front of me, grinning like crazy.

"What is this, love?" I asked softly.

"Read it, would you?"

It was a plane ticket.

"Paris...?" I gasped, out of breath.

"I remember you told me last year you'd always wanted to go.... so, why not make it happen?"

She raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the moment.

I blinked, in shock.

"Bella... you... I... I can't believe you did this for me... Paris... that's my dream..." My vision blurred with tears. Again.

Bella stroked my arms to make me realize this was really happening.

"I've been planning this for a while. I just knew your graduation would be the perfect moment to surprise you with it..."

I just couldn't speak anymore, I was just crying my eyes out on her chest.

"Hey, it's okay, just save some tears for Paris, alright? We've got a whole trip ahead of us..." she giggled.

I laughed through my tears.

"I'm just so happy... you don't know how much you make me happy..."

She pulled me closer. "Right back at you..." Her grin was just so cute.

I miserably tried to pull myself together, but I still couldn't believe all the amazing things that had happened to me in the past five minutes.

My moment.

"Hey, since we're in the mood to reveal things..." I told her, smiling.

"You have things to reveal...?"

"Remember when you told me we could be a story we'd tell one day?" I asked.

"Yes..."

"Well..." I smirked.

"I'm working on that..."

"What do you mean, Ellie?" She raised an eyebrow.

Then she finally understood.

"You wrote about us?" Her eyes lit up.

I nodded. "You'll see when it's finished..."

"And when it's finished?"

I smiled. "Now."

And it's THE END.

I'm sorry for teasing you about them getting married ahahaha! 😉

Thank you for reading my story, it was an honor. ❤️

Ps: I have published my new book called: HEARTSTORM ⬅️