by Mercy Amare
“I never wanted you,” Mike tells Ty. “When your mom told me she was pregnant, I begged her to get an abortion. Instead, she decided to keep you. I married her because it was the right thing to do. But you’re right. I do hate you. I hate the fact that you exist.”
In one quick movement, Ty pulls the gun from his pants and points it at Mike.
“I guess you’re not as dumb as I thought,” Mike says. He puts the gun to his side. “Go ahead. Shoot me.”
Ty doesn’t pull the trigger. He just stands there, pointing the gun.
“You don’t have it in you,” he says. “You couldn’t kill me if you wanted to. Even though you know I’m going to kill you and all your friends, you don’t have the balls. You’re just like your mother. Weak.”
“You’re right. I am like my mother. I can feel things. I love,” he says. “But you’re wrong. I’m not scared to kill you. I’m not weak. Your first mistake was underestimating me.”
The gun goes off and there is a loud ringing in my ear. I watch as Mike falls backward. His eyes are looking at Ty in shock. His back hits the balcony and he falls over. His body makes a loud thump as it hits the ground. Somehow I find my voice and I scream.
Oh my God.
Ty just killed his dad.
For me.
He killed his dad for me.
No, not just for me. He killed his dad for his mom. For me. For Jacqueline. For every other person who has died because of him.
My head is spinning, so I lean over on Gabe. The gun shot is still ringing in my ears, and the last thing I think before I fall into blackness is that Ty is the bravest person I have ever met.
Sunday, May 6
7 a.m.
What the hell were you thinking?
I wake up in the hospital. Again. Except hopefully this time will be the last time.
Gabe is sitting in the chair by my bed. He stands up when he sees that I’m awake.
“You really have to stop passing out,” Gabe says, grabbing my hand.
“Is Mike really dead?” I ask.
“No. Actually, he’s not,” Gabe answers. “He’s in the ICU. The gunshot barely missed his heart, which I think is what Ty wanted. He didn’t want to kill his dad, just injure him. Ty recorded the whole conversation with his dad, so when Mike wakes up, he will be going to jail for a really, really long time. The media is already all over the story.”
“So it’s really over?”
“It’s really over.”
A few seconds later, the door opens and Dad walks in holding a coffee. When he sees I’m awake he walks over to the bed.
“What the hell were you thinking?” he asks me, raising his voice. It’s the first time he’s ever yelled at me. “You could’ve gotten yourself killed!”
“I know, but I didn’t,” I say. “I’m alive.”
“Why did you do that?”
“For you,” I answer. “For Veronica, for Toby… for my baby sister. I did it for me.”
“We could’ve gone about this a different way,” he says. “It wasn’t your job. The police should’ve done that.”
“We didn’t have proof. This was the only way. And I’m sorry that I worried you, but I’m okay. For the first time in a long time, I am okay. My stalker is caught, and he’s going to jail. I’m free.”
“I know. I know,” he says, lowering his head. “I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you, Kihanna. I love you so much, and just thinking that I almost lost you…”
“Ty saved my life,” I tell him. “Mike had his gun pointed at me, and Ty stepped between the gun and me. He was so brave, Dad.”
“Toby told me,” Dad says. “Ty is always welcome in our family. I will never be able to repay him for what he did. I’ve already told him he’s welcome to stay with us as long as he wants. He has a large trust fund that he gets when he turns twenty-one, but until then he’s pretty much on his own. All his dad’s accounts have been frozen, pending the trial. I’ve already told him I’m taking care of his college.”
“Good. Ty deserves it. He deserves a loving family,” I say.
The door opens again. Veronica and Toby walk in together. Veronica’s face relaxes when she sees I’m awake.
“You had me so worried,” she says.
“Sorry. I don’t know why I always pass out when I watch somebody get shot,” I say, laughing.
“It’s really not funny,” Dad says.
“But it kind of is. It’s over, Dad. It’s finally over. All the pain I’ve been through. All the death… it’s finally over.”
“Yes, it is.” Dad leans over and kisses the top of my head. “It’s really over.”
I can tell that even as he says it, he can hardly believe it. I am truly safe for the first time in a long time.
Today is the first day of normal.
Today is the first day of forever.
8 p.m.
All of this was worth it for you.
After being released from the hospital, I spend most of my day at the police station. The detective is mad that I put myself in danger, but I can tell that he’s also relieved. The case had been a tough one.
I don’t get to see Ty all day, not until we go to dinner that night. When I see him I run up to him and throw my arms around him.
“Thank you,” I tell him as I pull back. “You saved my life.”
“You would’ve done the same thing for me,” he says. “I’m just sorry that it was my dad that did this to you. I hate him. If only I would’ve told the police what he did all those years ago, he never would’ve been here to bother you…”
“I wouldn’t want that,” I say. “Because if your dad would’ve been in jail, I never would’ve gotten to meet you. All of this was worth it for you, Ty. You’re my best friend.”
“You’re my best friend too,” he says. “And I realized something when I was talking to my dad. You and I weren’t meant to be together, Kihanna. If so, I wouldn’t have cheated on you. I hate that I cheated on you. After watching my dad do that to my mom all those years… I just can’t believe I did the same thing to you. I won’t ever do that to a girl again. Having you in my life has changed me so much, and I’m so thankful to have you as a friend. I really don’t deserve you.”
“I don’t care about what happened in the past. What matters is the future, and I want you in it.”
Ty smiles, and puts his arm around me. We head inside where my family, Gabe, and Gabe’s family is waiting on us.
“Did your dad tell you he’s paying for my college?” Ty asks me, as we take our seats.
“Yeah. I’m so glad he can help you out.”
“Me too. I don’t know what I would do without him.”
I look over at my dad, who is smiling at me.
“I don’t know what I would do without him either,” I say.
When I came here ten months ago, I had no idea what to expect. I didn’t want to leave my mom, but at the same time I couldn’t wait to get to know my dad. I worried that my stepfamily would hate me… that I would hate them… but over the months, they have truly became my family. Dad is the absolute best dad I could ever ask for. And Veronica… she has truly became a second mom to me. Toby… my stepbrother… somehow, over the months, he has truly become my brother. Now I cannot imagine life without him… without any of them.
Gabe grabs my hand under the table, and I grin at him. Finally, we can be together. I don’t have to worry about a crazy psycho killing him for dating me. We can just be a normal couple. Really, that’s all I ever wanted.
I look around the table. Everybody is smiling, and on each face I can see relief. I have never felt so loved in my life. The only thing missing right now is my mom, and somehow I think she knows how happy I am.
Finally, I am complete.
Saturday, May 26
12 p.m.
Graduation Day.
“I can’t believe we’re graduating high school tonight,” Gabe says, as he watches me straighten my hair.
&n
bsp; “I know! I’m so ready,” I tell him. “I can’t believe we leave for Tahiti next week!”
It’s been twenty days since my world was turned upside down, and I couldn’t be happier. I’ve been to school every day, and I am finally allowed to drive myself. I don’t need a bodyguard anymore. I have to say, I definitely don’t miss having Cole around.
Mike Newman’s trial was on Monday. It wasn’t really much of a trial. He pleaded guilty to all of the charges — one charge of second degree murder, for killing Ty’s mom, five charges of first degree murder, and four charges of attempted murder. Needless to say, he is going to be in jail for the rest of his life.
I’m also not scared to be in my bedroom anymore. I stayed in my room the night I came home from the hospital, and I haven’t had any problems since.
I put down my straightener and walk into my closet. I have a ton of dresses to choose from tonight. Veronica ended up buying three different ones, and I have no idea which one I should wear.
“Which dress should I wear?” I ask Gabe, showing him the three dresses.
Gabe is lying on my bed and looks over at me. “I don’t think you should wear anything under your gown. That’ll be much easier to take off.”
I roll my eyes but can’t help but smile.
I hold up a metallic-colored dress. “I think I’ll wear this one.”
“I like that one.”
I put the other two back in my closet and put on the dress.
“What do you think?” I ask, doing a spin for Gabe.
“I love it,” he says. “But graduation isn’t until six, so you should definitely take it off.”
“You’re right. I don’t want to get anything on it.” I start to walk back in my closet.
“I mean you should take it off here. So I can watch,” he says.
I laugh and shake my head. But I do take my dress off. Then let Gabe kiss me senseless.
“I love you,” I tell him. I’ve told him every day since the incident, and I plan on telling it to him every day for the rest of my life.
“I love you too.”
2 p.m.
New car.
A little bit later, there is a knock on my door, so Gabe and I get up and get dressed.
“You two better not be doing something gross in there!” I hear Toby’s voice from the other side.
Once I put on my dress, I open the door. Both Toby and Ty are standing on the other side.
“You hair is really messed up,” Ty says. “Your dad wants you downstairs, but you might want to fix all that before you head down. I don’t think he’d be too happy to know you two were up here having sex in your room.”
“How do you know we were having sex?” I ask. “Maybe we were taking a nap.”
Toby busts out laughing. “Yeah, right. And hurry up.”
I go to the bathroom and run a brush through my hair. Afterward, I head downstairs with Toby, Ty, and Gabe. Dad and Veronica are waiting in the foyer.
“Kihanna, you look beautiful,” he says when he sees me.
“I love that dress,” Veronica says. “Good choice.”
“We wanted to give you your graduation present before graduation,” Dad tells me, holding out a set of keys. “Want to see?”
“Yeah,” I say, smiling.
I follow him out the front door. Sitting at the front of the circle drive is a brand new Range Rover. It’s black with big, chrome rims. There is a big purple bow tied to the top, much like when I got my Mercedes.
“I traded in your car, like you asked,” Dad says. “I got the top of the line for you. So you can come home anytime you want from Berkeley. All of you can fit in here.”
I open up the driver’s side and climb inside. It has the new car smell, which I have grown to love. The leather seats are so soft. I look around the car and can’t help but smile. “I love it!” I tell Dad.
I climb out of the car and give him a hug.
“Thank you!”
“Nothing but the best for my baby girl,” he says.
“I love you, Dad.”
“Love you too.”
6 p.m.
High school is over.
I sit, listening to all the speeches. Parents are tearing up in the audience, teachers are talking about how much they’re going to miss us, and students are all relieved to have made it this far.
I never thought graduation day would get here, but finally, here I am. In just a few short minutes my name will be called, and I will walk on stage to accept my diploma. I will officially be a high school graduate. I know I still have four years left of college, but this is the end of a huge chapter in my life. I’ve spent thirteen years of my life in school for this one moment. It seems surreal now that it’s here.
Gabe sits just a few seats over from me. I look over at him and smile.
A few minutes later, I hear my name called.
“Kihanna Evers.”
I walk onto the stage and accept my diploma. Everybody cheers for me, and a photographer snaps a bunch of pictures. As I walk back to my seat I am seeing spots from all the flashes.
And just like that, high school is over.
8 p.m.
Change.
Dad throws a graduation party for Gabe, Ty, and me. It’s also a sort of going away party, since we leaving in a few days for Tahiti. We’ll be gone for two months, coming back in time for the birth of my baby sister, and to pack. Then we will be leaving for Berkeley, which is crazy.
Toby will still be in Mountain View for his last year of high school, but next year at this time he will be joining us. I can’t wait.
“We did it,” I say to Ty and Gabe, as we walk outside to join the party.
“High school holds some great memories for me,” Ty says. “Most of them involving the janitor’s closet.”
Gabe laughs. “You are so gross.”
“Don’t worry, Ty, you’ll make lots of new memories in college,” I tell him.
“That’s what I’m hoping for,” he says. “Hopefully lots of hot sorority girls.”
“Just please make sure I’m not in the room when you have them over,” Gabe says.
“I know you,” Ty says. “You will spend every spare minute you have with Kihanna. The two of you will most definitely be having lots of sex. Probably two or three times a day. To be honest, I’m kind of jealous.”
“Maybe you should get a girlfriend,” I suggest. “Then you can do it every day. As many times as you want.”
He laughs. “Yeah, right. Me get a girlfriend? That probably won’t be happening for a long, long time.”
I can’t imagine Ty getting a girlfriend for a while either. I just want him to be happy — rather that’s single or in a relationship. Someday I know Ty will find a girl who will sweep him off his feet and I can’t wait to meet her. She is going to be pretty freaking special.
We walk into the party and are all given lots of “congratulations.”
My dad pulls me into a hug.
“I’m so proud of you,” he tells me. “And I know your mom would be too.”
“I wish she could’ve been here today.”
“Me too. But I have no doubt that she was watching you,” he says. “She did such a good job raising you. I’m sad that I missed out on so much of your life, but you’re such a beautiful, intelligent, kind, and responsible young woman. I hope I can raise the new baby as well as she raised you.”
“Unlike her, you won’t be alone,” I say. “You have me, Toby, and Veronica. She might be a little spoiled, but she will have so much love.”
Dad smiles. “You know that I love you, right? More than you can even imagine.”
“I know.”
“I’m going to miss you while you’re away at Berkeley, but I’m proud of you for going there,” he says.
“Thanks, Dad.”
I make my way through the crowd. A lot of my friends from school are here, celebrating their own graduation.
Tonight is bittersweet. I’m saying goodbye to a lot
of good friends, but I’m also saying hello to a new life. I’ll be making new friends, and my life will be changing so much. Change, while scary, is also really exciting. I can’t wait to see what the future hold.
Saturday, August 18
11 a.m.
Kailee Evers.
My summer in Bora Bora was the best summer of my life. White sand, turquoise water, and all my friends. It was just… perfect.
Toby, Ty, Gabe and I spent all the time together, just hanging out. It was nice to get away and clear my head after everything that happened. And it was especially nice because the whole time there I didn’t have any worries.
Dad, as promised, came for a couple of weeks. He and Veronica came in mid-June, but Veronica wasn’t allowed to travel after that. The doctor wanted her close in case she went into labor early. But she didn’t. In fact, she was a few days late. For a little bit, I was worried she wouldn’t give birth before I had to leave for college. But at 3:47 AM, Kailee Evers was born. She has a head full of sandy blonde hair, and she has bright blue eyes. I swear, she looks like a girl version of Toby.
As I hold her, I think it’s going to be really hard to leave for college on Monday, because I want to stay here with her. I want to get to know her. But Gabe promises we can come back next weekend.
It’s hard to believe how much my life has changed in just one short year.
When my mom sent me here, I was sure that I would hate it. I never imagined that I would grow to love it. I have so many people in my life now that I care about, and I have so many people who love me. I can’t imagine my life any other way than it is right now.
“My turn,” Toby says, taking Kailee from my arms.
Veronica smiles, watching Toby hold the baby. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so happy. She finally has her baby girl.