Epilogue: Come Out and Play

Via

"We're finally free!" Noah shouted from a few steps in front of me, putting his arms up in the air triumphantly. We'd just walked out of the school gates for the final time this year and for some reason, Noah was slightly too happy about this.

It's only for the Christmas holidays! I reminded him, a smile tugging on my lips. He beamed back, showing off his pearly white teeth and I gave in nodding, But yes, we are finally free.

"Thank you!" He put his hands up again and as I caught up to him, put his left arm around me. It'd only been a month since we got back together again and thankfully, after my 'monumental' (Elliot's words not mine) outburst, it had been fully smooth sailing. Translation: no drama concerning us had ensued and I hoped to keep it that way. I'm not saying the last six months hadn't been interesting, but it was nice to finally settle down into a routine without thinking about what the next event would be. People still didn't really talk to me – now instead because I was unknown, it was out of fear mostly; apparently I was fairly intimidating to most of the year in school presently – but gradually, little by little, more and more people actually...well...tried. I'm not saying it was a miracle but I don't know... it brought a tiny bit of hope for once.

"You're so cute when you're thinking you know?" Noah told me, pulling me closer as we walked home and I smiled properly this time, not hiding my feelings whatsoever. I really did have the best boyfriend in the world didn't I? "What are you thinking about?"

I gave him a face and he laughed I don't know, just life I guess. I replied after a pause, you?

"How I'm going to finally prove to my boy Elliot that Rushworth is the best," he looked back at me with a smile and I shook my head. Ever since he'd found out that Elliot supported the rival football team, they'd both been trying to prove that their team was the best. Luckily, this meant that they actually spent a bit of time together, watching matches together and whatnot – I was glad that they were getting on so well after they seemed so distant the first time.

When we finally made it to my house – for some reason it took us a surprisingly long time, or maybe not that surprising actually – it had started to snow gently, flaked decorating the pavement with wet patches after melting.

"See even the snow's celebrating that we're out of school for a whole two weeks!" Noah had said happily, and I smiled and rolled my eyes at the same time.

I'm pretty sure it's just celebrating the fact that it's cold enough to be able to exist! I replied, rubbing my hands together – it couldn't be denied that it was freezing despite the fact I had the coat that made me look like a native from the Arctic circle on. Well at least that's what I thought – Noah said it made me look like I'd been swallowed by a green monster but that was definitely him just winding me up.

We reached the tree quickly after that and then finally back into my house. I felt the warm air on my face and sighed – finally I didn't feel like I was being frozen alive. Noah laughed and I finally shut the door to keep all of the cold out.

My brother must have heard it because he suddenly came racing to us, accompanied by Elliot who also looked like he'd just won the lottery. Trust them – they always did this when Noah and I were in the same room together.

Look the two lovebirds have finally arrived! My brother started off. I rolled my eyes and Noah just laughed, pulling me in closer again but this time it felt better because I'd officially taken off the massive coat.

I know just look at them... so in love! Elliot replied back and they laughed again.

I can easily say the same when Alex gets here! I reminded him. My mum had suggested we have a sort of party (not like an actual party, more like a 'gathering') since it was the start of the Christmas holidays so I'd invited most of the people I liked, Anyway I was expecting you later?

Honestly I couldn't miss this bonus episode of Noah and Via together! I rolled my eyes again and he smiled at me.

XXX

Katie and Alex arrived shortly after, each bringing their own little piles of snow on their coats. Katie had come into the lounge first, evidently grateful for the intense heating my mum had put on as she collapsed onto the opposite sofa next to Elliot.

How did it go? I asked her, a sympathetic look on my face. She'd been slowly learning BSL for the past month, not as quickly as Noah did, but still making the effort to communicate. It was nice to finally have made another friend who wanted to get to know me that badly that they'd go to learn a different language to me, especially considering how close the two of us had gotten after the whole Mackenzie drama.

"I mean, it was still an absolute mess but not as bad as expected." She shrugged with a smile and moved on to asking Elliot what Alex had been getting up to in terms of his textiles coursework. Katie had opened up to me about her parents a few weeks ago, late at night when she was at a sleepover at mine. They'd been arguing for about a year now and they'd recently decided to divorce, which ended up being very complex and messy.

Hello ladies and gentlemen! Alex made a big entrance as he always did, swinging his arms as he slid into the warm of the lounge. It made me smile, as it always did. How did I end up with such perfect friends?!

Hello beautiful! Elliot replied back, putting his arm round Alex as they nestled in together. They were honestly such a cute couple, it hurt sometimes. It just made me so happy to know that my bestest friend in the whole world was so happy with someone in their life. How's your awkward home life?

I mean, it's not brilliant – Harrison's still completely grounded and my parents are still furious with the fact that he got expelled but it's slowly getting better I think. Yes, that's right, after I'd finally told everyone at school the truth, I decided that it was best to finally tell Mrs Porter the truth as well. Noah and Katie had gone with me of course, squidging them between me on one end of the desk in her office. I mean, I can't lie, she was pretty devastated that I'd never told her and had taken that as her doing her job very inadequately but I told her afterwards that it was my choice; she couldn't have done anything more if she didn't know. And, of course, Harrison got expelled. I hadn't seen him since and don't think I'm going to, which can only be a positive thing. I still don't understand why he did what he did, but there you go. I mean, he doesn't have anyone else to blame but himself.

"True." Katie replied, while my mum came back into the room from making hot chocolates in the kitchen. She'd piled all of them onto a massive tray and started handing them out like this was totally normal. I love my mum sometimes.

"Now, Via, I have some news." I gulped slowly at the appearance of an envelope in her hand. What could this possibly be? The possibility of it being from my father made my heart go funny and Noah hugged me tighter because of it. "I've already read it, but I think it's best if you do too instead of me just explaining."

She handed me the envelope and again, I felt like I was being suffocated. What could this actually be?

Dear Via Mason,

I, as head of the UK English Language Course admissions, am delighted to inform you that you have been invited to an awards evening in London. This event occurs every year and is only open to nominated year 11 students that we feel have produced an outstanding response to the English Language coursework.

The evening will, of course, conclude with various awards given for creativity and relevancy to the criteria set in the brief....

I stopped reading after that, my brain going through the roof. Surely this couldn't be real?

"Oh My God that's amazing Via!" Noah had obviously read over my shoulder and started hugging me so much that it made me feel like my chest was going to burst "You deserve this so much!

The letter was subsequently passed around, each one of my friends amazed by it. I mean, the exam board of the WHOLE ENGLISH COURSE liked my story so much as to nominate me an AWARD for it. I had to keep pinching myself.

XXX

"You know I love you so much right?" Noah said finally. We were cooped up in my bedroom, me lay down on the bed with my limbs spread far apart. I felt like I was in dreamland.

"Yeah?" Is all I replied with as he came over and planted a kiss on my lips. Everything melted away and all I could focus on was this amazing human in my arms. The award nomination itself mattered nothing to me – what mattered a lot more was the fact that I had someone so incredible to celebrate it with.

Yes, this is real, I finally finished this! I hope you're not disappointed - it's honestly been so amazing to hear that so many of you love reading this story as much as I loved reading it - it truthfully means the world to me! Love you all xxx

Mouseymouse144 :))