The Story of Us

by Rebecca Harner

  He picked me up and spun me around right in the middle of the gate area. I missed every little thing about him: the birthmarks on his neck, the smell of his cologne, even his obsession with Vans and Sperrys.

  Once he finally set me down, I took a step back and let my eyes examine his face. He looked just as handsome as he always did. With those blue eyes, the freckles, his adorable nose, and his soft, kissable lips, tempting me without even trying.

  A smile formed on his face as he grabbed the back of my neck and leaned in. I wrapped my arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. I wanted to be as close to him as possible.

  I heard someone clear his throat and Nash and I pulled away, glaring at whoever interrupted us. Cameron! “Cam!” I squealed as I gave him an enormous hug.

  “How’s my favorite person in the whole world?” he asked when I pulled away.

  “Fantastic, now.” I smiled at him, then at everyone else who was there—Hayes, Sierra, and Carter.

  “Well, I’m going to get my bags so we can go back to the hotel.” I turned back around and caught Nash checking me out. “Hey! Eyes up here, buddy.” I snapped my fingers in front of his face, which turned a deep shade of red.

  “Sorry. I just missed you so much.” He grabbed my hands and intertwined our fingers. They fit perfectly, because we were meant to be.

  Nash

  Violet looked incredible. I could see she had been working out because her arms and legs had more muscle on them than usual. Her shorts really showed off her butt as well. She looked hot. Wait, no, Nash, she is beautiful, not hot. Ahh . . . who was I kidding, she was pretty hot, too.

  I grabbed her two suitcases and we each pulled one as we headed to the limo. “Cameron, you have to Vine Nash pulling a girlie suitcase,” I heard her say out loud.

  He looked over at me for approval and I gladly agreed. He pulled out his phone and gave me the heads-up that it was recording.

  I started strutting my stuff down the hallway and flipped my head back and forth like I was on a runway.

  I heard all of them laughing, which must have been my cue to stop. Everyone around us was staring at me and laughing, too. “Do it for the Vine,” I said to all of them.

  Some of them nodded like they understood but then there were the grandpas who looked at me like I was a disgrace to the country. Our generation gets looked down upon all the time.

  Violet and Cam were huddled around his phone, trying to come up with a good caption for it. They must have finally agreed because he put his phone away right when mine vibrated.

  It only took us a few minutes to find the car waiting for us outside, with Chad beside it. Once he saw us, he smiled and waved.

  “So nice to see you again, Violet. Everyone is so excited to see you as well.” He opened the door for us to step in after the driver took her luggage.

  I immediately sat down next to Carter, but when Violet came it was dead silent. I looked at all the guys who were checking her out without a single care. She gave them all a confused look before sitting down next to me.

  Some of them started talking after they said hi to her, but Carter kept staring her down. When he finally broke his stare, he met mine, which was a death glare. He immediately turned his head around and started talking to Hayes.

  Violet was already in a deep conversation with Tess, Lacey, and Sierra so I just sat there in silence. Listening to everyone’s conversation, I made sure no one was checking her out on my watch. If they were, I would have to pound their face in.

  Violet

  “Viols, all the guys are checking you out,” Tess announced when we were finally alone in the hotel room.

  “I know. I wish they would look at me that way.” Lacey pouted while plopping her butt down on the bed.

  “I thought they were acting weird. I mean, I still look like the Violet from last year, right?” The only guy apart from the family who checked me out was Nash, because everyone knew I was off-limits, being his girlfriend.

  I joined track that year at my school, so I was definitely more toned and very tan. I did go up a cup size as well, but that’s normal for being a teenage girl. Right?

  “Honey, your body is maturing. Their minds are also changing from boys to men. They look at girls differently now. Even Nash,” Sierra explained to all of us.

  “I mean, I did join track this year so I’m more toned and tan.” I examined myself in the mirror, still only seeing all my flaws.

  “Don’t be embarrassed. Be proud of how you look,” Sierra stated before leaving the room. I swear she was a lifesaver sometimes. She knew exactly what to say and when to say it. She had amazing advice on everything and never judged anybody. She was my queen.

  “Well, I’m going to go to the beach. Do you want to come along?” Tess asked us. Lacey squealed and nodded.

  “Ummm . . .” My mind quickly went to my scars. What would people think of them? Sierra’s voice also came back in my mind, telling me what to do. I had an amazing toned body and a fantastic tan, why not show it off? I should’ve been proud of how I looked.

  Lacey and Tess were still staring at me, waiting for my answer. “More serious question, though, guys.” I pulled out all my bikinis I bought before summer and arranged them on the bed. “Which one should I wear?”

  The girls squealed and ran over to my collection. “Oh, this would be perfect to kick off the tour. You might even give the guys a heart attack.” Lacey picked out a purple bandeau with lace trimming and matching bottoms.

  “We aren’t inviting the boys, are we?” I quickly asked them. I didn’t want them seeing me half-naked after everything that happened in the limo.

  “Nahh . . . let’s make it a girls’ day,” Tess said. She already had a white bikini on and Lacey was in a hot pink one.

  We all had cover-ups, messy buns, flip-flops, and sunglasses on so we were majorly twinning it today. I grabbed my phone and a room key before heading out.

  Sierra Gurll: Girls day at the beach. You should join us when you get back! Love youu!!

  All three of us skipped out of the hotel and messed around on the way to the beach. Once we finally got there, we managed to find an empty spot to sit because it was so crowded with people.

  We walked down to the water and took funny selfies of us playing in the water. I posted one on Instagram and Twitter of me on Lacey’s back: we were “riding” off into the horizon. It was adorable.

  All of us were just messing around and soaking up some Vitamin D when we heard loud laughter coming up from behind us.

  “We literally can’t do anything without them tagging along,” I said quietly to Lacey, ignoring the loud voices. “Don’t take off your sunglasses because they will recognize us then.”

  We all heard them coming closer toward us, but we didn’t dare turn around and reveal ourselves.

  “Hey, gorgeous. You know you shouldn’t be down here by yourself,” Cam told us while the rest of the guys stood in front of us. Nash was with them but wasn’t paying attention to us. It was nice to know that he didn’t go around flirting with random girls.

  “And why is that?” Tess smirked.

  “Because.” He sat down next to her and grabbed her hand. “We don’t want to let three gorgeous girls get kidnapped, now, do we?”

  I snorted and he glared over at me. “Cameron, you are such a flirt,” I said to him. They were all so clueless it wasn’t even funny.

  “How do you know my name?” he asked, now sitting next to me.

  “I don’t know, because you’re famous on Vine and I’m one of your best friends?” I took off my sunglasses and Tess and Lacey did the same.

  The guys gasped before cracking up into a fit of laughter. Cameron was beet red and quickly apologized to Tess. “No worries.” She brushed the situation away like it was nothing.

  Nash sat down next to me but he didn’t say one word. “Are you
okay?” I asked him. His blue eyes turned to me and he grabbed my hand, pulling me up on my feet.

  “Can we talk?” he asked. I nodded, trying to relax. He led me to a quiet area on the beach that didn’t have anybody nearby. I was beyond scared right now; was he breaking up with me? When a girl hears “Can we talk?” it usually never ends well.

  He sat down on the sand and motioned for me to do the same. “What’s up?” I asked him.

  “I’m just tired of this,” he blurted out. Was he sick of being with me? I literally just saw him today after months of being separated. What did I do?

  A thousand thoughts were zooming through my mind. I couldn’t live with myself if I wasn’t with him. He was the only guy I actually loved. I felt so alive when I was with him. I felt like a completely different person.

  Where did it all go wrong?

  Nash

  “I’m just tired of this,” I said right away. She didn’t respond—like she was lost in her own deep thoughts. I hoped she understood where I was coming from.

  “Violet, what’s wrong?” I grabbed her head and turned it toward me. There were tears rolling down her face.

  “What did I do?” she asked very quietly.

  I crunched my eyebrows together, trying to figure out what she was talking about. “You did nothing. I wanted to talk about the guys. What happened?” I started wiping her tears away with my thumb. I hated to see her so sad when she was so beautiful.

  I heard her sigh in relief and she collapsed into my arms. “I thought you were breaking up with me.” She laughed into my shoulder.

  “Sweetie, you are crazy. I’m never letting you go.” She pulled away from my arms and kissed my cheek. She wiped the rest of her tears away and pulled herself back together.

  “So what’s up?” she asked again, more cheerfully, though.

  “I’m frustrated with the guys. All day today they have been checking you out and talking about you right in front of me. I’m sick of it.”

  “Why on earth would they be looking at me?” She laughed and intertwined our fingers. “All I did was join track and people think I’m a completely different person.” She rested her head on my shoulder while we looked up into the setting sky.

  Loud music started blaring a couple of feet away from us, which made both of us jump up. People started dancing and jumping around right next to us.

  “Do you want to dance?” I yelled so she could hear me. I could see a smile form on her face as she dragged me to the middle of the people.

  “I’m that flight that you get on, international / First class seat on my lap, girl, riding comfortable.”

  Of course Jason Derulo’s “Talk Dirty to Me” had to come on and Violet was becoming an animal out there. I’d never seen her so flirty and out of control in public. Before I knew it, we were grinding on each other for the rest of the song.

  We were both exhausted after the first song and I managed to pull her out of the crowd. “Do you want a drink?” Some people were setting up kegs in the back and I could’ve definitely used some.

  “Yeah, sure. Not too much.” She flashed me her flirty smile before heading back to dance with Tess and Lacey.

  “You and Violet were getting pretty crazy back there,” Cameron joked with me as I was pouring some alcohol into my cup. “Are you gonna get some tonight?” I smirked and shrugged my shoulders before heading back to Violet.

  After one hour of drinking and dancing, Violet was completely drunk. I wasn’t getting her any more drinks, so she must’ve been getting some for herself.

  “I-I think we need to go back to the room. I-I don’t feel so good.” She clutched her stomach while squinting her eyes at me.

  I bent down and picked her up into my arms. I carried her like that all the way into the room, where I gently set her on the bed.

  “Come here, Nashty?” She held her arms out for me and patted the space next to her.

  I casually lay down and put my arm around her and she scooted closer to me. I leaned in and kissed her lightly before things started to heat up.

  She climbed on top of me and had her hands feeling my abs while I explored her mouth. I felt her hands travel down to my shorts and she traced the seam along my boxers.

  I must’ve been too carried away because I never realized my hands were inching closer and closer to her bikini top.

  We’d obviously had too much to drink, because neither one of us was thinking straight. Before I knew it, one thing was leading to another, to something we could never take back.

  I sat on the balcony with my head in my hands. What did I just do?

  Tears started falling down my face and my palms were all sweaty. “You are so stupid. Nash. You’re an idiot.” I punched my fist into the screen, causing it to rip along the edges.

  She was gonna hate me. I couldn’t believe I used her like that. I was now pacing back and forth on the balcony, trying to figure out what to do.

  I heard rustling from the bed and turned my head to see her sleeping so peacefully. I slipped her into pajamas because I didn’t want her to be in bed naked.

  She was gonna wake up and realize it wasn’t a dream. I took advantage of her when she was barely stable. Oh my gosh. Her brother was going to kill me.

  “Nash, are you all right?” Cameron walked into the room with a deeply concerned look on his face. I told him everything and I wasn’t embarrassed to show him the tears running down my cheek.

  “It’s okay, man. Everything will be fine. You used protection, right?” I slammed my fist back into the table, causing it to bleed. “Oh, shit,” he mumbled.

  “Why don’t you just get some rest and let it play out in the morning,” he suggested. I nodded and slept on the other bed, because I couldn’t stand being in the one with Violet.

  I’m going to lose her. She’s going to hate me forever. These words kept playing in my mind as I rocked myself back and forth.

  Violet

  I woke up with slight discomfort underneath my waist. I clasped my hand over my mouth as last night’s events played back in my mind.

  “I’m such a slut. Oh my gosh, he is gonna hate me,” I said out loud, while tears started running down my face. What did I just do?

  My body started shaking as my worst fears climbed into my mind.

  “Violet, everything is going to be okay.” I felt strong arms pull me into them while they held me tight.

  “I’m a slut, Cameron.” He rocked me back and forth while rubbing my back.

  “Violet, you are not. Don’t ever say that. He was going crazy last night because he thought you would hate him. He feels terrible about it.” He thought I would hate him? I was the one who led him on, it’s not his fault.

  We both turned our heads when we heard sheets rustling in the bed next to us. “I’m going to let you guys talk.” Cameron squeezed my hand before walking out of the room.

  I stood up and made my way over to Nash, who was just starting to wake up. “Hi, Nash,” I said with a small smile when his blue eyes finally opened.

  “Violet! I’m so sorry. I love you so much. Please don’t hate me.” He jolted up in the bed and tears were forming in his eyes.

  “Nash, I would never hate you. I thought you would hate me because I led you into it.” I held my hand up to his cheek as a few tears fell from his eyes.

  “Violet, I could never hate you. I love you so much.” He grabbed my head in his hands and kissed my forehead. I smiled and kissed his cheek.

  “You know, I feel so much closer to you now. You’ve never cried in front of me before.” I rested my head against his forehead and gazed into his eyes. “Nash, I love you. Like I really really love you.”

  “To infinity and beyond, babe.” He leaned in and kissed me very lightly before pulling away. “Just no more getting wasted. Okay?”

  I laughed and held out my pinkie fing
er. “Promise?” He locked his with mine and pulled me into his lap. “Just don’t tell anybody besides Cameron. Especially Hayden, oh my God, he would lock me in my room for the rest of my life.”

  “What? He would probably beat me to death.” We both laughed and lay back down on the bed.

  “You know, I’m glad I was with you when it happened. I wouldn’t want it to be with anyone else.” I rested my head on his shoulder right when he kissed the top of my head.

  “There is never going to be anyone else for me besides you. You are the one, Violet.”

  Those words repeated in my mind over and over again. Was this relationship still some silly teenage love or was it growing into something else? Something more powerful and meaningful?

  At that moment I realized that I could never be with anyone else. Nash was like the missing puzzle piece that I’d been searching for for a long time. He was the answer to all my questions and I wanted to see his face when I walked down the aisle. No one else could make me feel the same way that he did.

  Our love would grow forever, to infinity and beyond.

  Violet

  We were already halfway through our two-month tour and it was the greatest experience of our lives. Nash and I were closer than ever before. We grew into a more mature couple instead of having a silly relationship.

  The past couple of days I had started to feel really moody and indifferent to all the guys. I felt bad, but we girls hate it when Aunt Flo pays a visit; it just throws everything off.

  “Are you okay?” Nash sat next to me on one of the couches in the green room. We were on a fifteen-minute break from the meet-and-greet and everyone was just relaxing.

  “I hate being a girl.” I laughed and buried my face into his shoulder.

  “Do you want to just go back to the room and rest?” He started rubbing my back, forming circle patterns.

  “No! I have to meet everyone,” I protested. There was no way I was going to miss a day of the meet-and-greets. I loved seeing everybody and their smiles when they met the guys.