Alex's POV
Two weeks passed by and Jeri and I cleaned out our parents house. We took what we wasted and threw stuff we knew we didn't need. I kept a few of my dad's shirts that still smelled like him. I also kept some of Jeni's clothes and my moms clothes.
It was the closer thing I had to them and I knew I was going to spend the rest of my life in regret knowing I didn't spend as much time with them.
"That's the last of it." I hear Kelley say as she closes the trunk of Jeri's car.
"Where's Jeri?" I ask as I look around unable to find her.
"Inside maybe." Kelley says as she gets inside the car and starts the engine.
I walk back into the now empty house and find Jeri in the empty kitchen.
"Remember when mom used to make freshly baked cookies during the winter? I could almost still smell them." Jeri says with a sigh.
"I know." Is all I say as I lay a hand on her shoulder.
"We're going to get through this, Alex. Together." Jeri says as she squeezed my hand.
Jeri went from a wheelchair to crutches so she was more mobile than before. Together we went towards the car and I helped her get inside.
We went to the airport and went through security and before you know it the three of us were on the plane to go back to Florida where I lived.
Jeri and I made the decision to just lay roots down in Florida because we both knew that California wasn't a place we wanted to be.
*
After retrieving our bags we exited the airport and I looked at Kelley.
"How do we get home?" I ask as I look over at Jeri who was leaning on her crutches.
Kelley just nodded towards a car. I looked up and saw Tobin standing in front of us. She looked up at me with a sad expression on her face.
Without thinking, I dropped the bags I was holding and jumped into Tobin's arms. To see a familiar face of of someone that I loved was such a relieving feeling.
I could tell that Tobin was surprised because it took her a while to hug me back. I pulled away and for the first time in a while I looked her in the eyes.
"Sorry..." I say as I back away from her.
"Don't be." Is all Tobin says before she helps place our things into the back of her car.
She drove us back to my beach house but I didn't want to go in quiet yet.
I went to the back and walked down to the beach. I sat on the sand and felt more tears roll down my cheeks.
I was in so much pain. But I knew I had to be strong for my parents, Jeni and Jeri. Right now, Jeri needs me just as much as I need her.
Weeks have passed by since Jeni and my parents died but things haven't been any easier and I just wanted all the pain to go away.
"Hey." I hear someone say.
I turn around and see Tobin walking over to me.
"May I?" She asks as she points to the spot next to me. I just nod my head without looking at her. She sits down next to me and lets out a sigh.
"How are you?" She asks me.
"My parents and sister just died." I say without looking at her.
"Sorry that was a bad question to ask." Tobin says and I can tell she felt uncomfortable but I couldn't blame her. Both of us have been through a lot.
"Listen I wanted to say sorry. For everything that you've been though and for what I've done. And... you don't deserve this Alex. You deserve so much better and I know we still aren't on the same path but if you need something from me... well I'll be here." Tobin says. With that she stands up but before she can leave I grab her arm.
I stand up and face her.
"No, I'm sorry. I think it's time for me to apologize. You've done your part you've apologized, you've been nice to me and you've done everything you can possibly do. So I'm sorry."
"Alex you don't have to-"
"No, Tobin. All you've done was try and fix things between us but I keep turning you down when I should also be the one trying to make things right between us."
"Alex this isn't your fault. Don't think it is. You've been through enough today so I'm going to let you get some rest." Tobin says as she starts to turn around. Again, I grab her hand and make her face me.
"I love you okay?"
"What?" Tobin says.
"I love you and I'm in love with you and no matter how hard I try to hate you I can't because I'm so in love with you. I'll always be in love with you. And I know you love me too."
