It's been a few days since Isaac and I have been dating. And it's heaven in a nutshell. Whenever I'm around him, or even just thinking about him, I can't stop smiling. Right now, he's everything to me, and I don't really see that changing anytime soon. 

Work starts again for me in a few days, and I'm not sure if I'm excited it or not. Sometimes I like my job, sometimes I don't; it all depends on my boss' mood. 

Holly and I are walking over to Isaac's. It's a beautiful Saturday morning with a bright, blue sky and fluffy, white clouds rolling past us. There's a slight breeze that picks through my hair, but it feels nice. 

I'm dressed in a cute, yellow sundress complete with sunglasses and a pair of flipflops. Today, Holly suggested we go to the nearby beach and just enjoy ourselves. I readily agreed and got ready. I haven't been to the beach in forever. It'll feel nice and refreshing.

We reach Isaac's house and ring the doorbell. A few seconds past before the front door opens and Bella greets us happily. "I'm so excited! I love the beach!"

Holly laughs and steps inside. I follow then wait for Bella to close the door. After, she takes my hand in hers and leads me over to the kitchen. I sit down on one of the stools.

"Isy will be right down. He's just being a girl and taking forever to get ready." 

"What? Am not!" Isaac shouts from the top of the stairs.

Bella giggles.

I twist myself and look over at the stairwell. Isaacs dressed in a pair of khaki shorts and a light blue shirt which he's buttoning up. 

Damn.

Isaac catches my gaze and chuckles. He comes over to me and hugs me from behind, kissing my cheek.

"You guys are so cute," Holly gushes. 

I swat her then stand up.

"Are we going yet?" Bella voices from behind the counter. I can barely see the top of her head over the top of the marble-topped bar.

"Yep." Isaac intertwines his fingers with mine and leads me to his car. He opens the door for me, and I slide into the passenger's seat. He jogs over to the driver's seat and starts up the car. Bella and Holly hop in the back. 

We're soon rolling down the street, windows down and music up. Holly and Bella are singing crazily out of tune in the back while I listen. Isaac's thumping his thumb on the steering wheel while his other hand is in mine. 

This is perfection. I wish it would be like this every day. How nice that would be. 

Actually, I wish these past few weeks would just loop endlessly. 

We pass a few other cars but we're soon rolling up to the beach. I can hear tiny pebbles crushing beneath the weight of the car. And then we're scrambling out with our beach towels towards the sandy beach. Bella immediately rushes into the lake, stomping around and splashing the water.  Holly throws her towel at me and races after Bella.

"She's like a kid," Isaac says, shaking his head and smiling as he lays out the blankets.

I nod in agreement, helping him. After, I lie down on one, and he lies next to me. I watch as Holly and Bella play in the water. I wonder how cold it is.

"Want to go in?"

I look over at Isaac and he's squinting at me. I smile and nod. Without warning, he picks me up bridal style and trudges over to the lake. He wades waist-deep into the water before suddenly throwing me in. I let out a yelp before I'm sucked into the water. Frantically, I push myself back above water only to hear Isaac laughing insanely. 

I narrow my eyes at him and tackle him into the water. He drops beneath and I try climbing over him for some reason but he grabs onto my waist and stands back up. And then I'm on his shoulders and Bella is on Holly's and we're fighting for dominance. We're laughing and having fun. 

This is like my family. It feels amazing. And I feel completely free. 

We're in the water until noon when the sun is blazing hot above us and the sand beneath us is scorching our feet. We hop our way painfully over to our beach blankets. 

"Ow." Isaac rubs the bottom of his feet.

I smile and shake my head. Holly's pulling out a few sandwiches and handing them to us. We sit in a circle and eat. I listen as they talk about what we're going to play next. 

The sun is beating down on us, and we're soon full and dry. Bella is lying on the blanket, giggling as Isaac tells her something funny.

"Come on." Holly tugs on my hand and she leads me back into the water where we splash around a little.

"He's amazing, isn't he?"

I tilt my head. What?

"Look at him." She points over to them. 

I watch as Isaac tickles Bella.

"Normally, brothers don't really do that, especially with younger siblings."

I shrug. I suppose. I've never really had anyone to model after for that but I take her word for it.

"He's just great," I hear her mutter. Looking over at her, I see her staring at Isaac.

I'm about to tap her shoulder or shake her but then I see him. I see the man I've been hiding from for a year. The man I've been trying to forget for a year. And, yet, he's right there, staring back at me in amazement. What on earth is he doing here? 

He moved states away a while ago. After what happened, we both went our separate ways. So, what is he doing back here? 

"Angie?" Holly follows my gaze. "Oh."

I purse my lips. What am I going to do?

"Are you going to talk with him?"

I swallow and slowly shake my head. I don't think that would be a good idea. After everything that happened, he didn't deserve anything from me. 

"Didn't he just up and leave one day?"

I nod grimly. Just seeing him is bringing back so many memories.

"So why's he back?"

Shaking my head, I look at her painfully. It hurts to see him again. To see the man I used to love so incredibly deeply. The man a year ago I would've done anything for. 

"C'mon, let's go back up on the beach." Holly slowly leads me back to where Isaac and Bella are still playing around. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see him watching me. 

"Hey, you girls had fun?" Isaac asks, breathing deeply. Bella giggles beside him.

I nod blankly. I keep looking over at him. He's staring at me. 

"Yeah," Holly whispers.

"What's wrong? What are you looking at?" Isaac looks in the direction I am and immediately frowns. "Who is that?"

I shake my head and stand up. Should I go over there and talk with him? Is it worth it? He must be back here for a reason. 

"Hun, maybe you should go and talk with him," Holly says. 

Isaac frowns but doesn't say anything.

Dazed, I just nod and walk his way. He walks towards me, too, and then we're meeting halfway.

"Hey," he says.

I just stare at him.

He shifts uncomfortably under my gaze. "I suppose you're wondering why I'm back here, right?"

I nod. Everything seems to be so jumbled right now; I can't get my thoughts straight.

"I came back because of you. I missed you, a lot. I know it's hard to believe after everything I've done but you have to forgive me. I never meant to hurt you, that was the last thing I ever wanted. You meant so much to me, you have to understand. Please."

I just stare at him. Did he really just say that? 

He frowns and glances over my shoulder. "Is he your new boyfriend?"

Slowly, I bob my head up and down.

He purses his lips. "Can I meet him?"

I give him a sceptical look. 

"Please?"

Sighing, I turn and walk back towards my friends and boyfriend. 

Holly stands up and motions for Isaac to follow, and he does. My eyes narrow a bit as I see he's standing a bit too close to Holly for my liking, but I drop it when I reach them. 

"Hey, Hollister," he says.

"You can't call me that anymore. You lost that right a long time ago, Daniel."

He licks his lips. "I know. And I'm sorry. I told you guys that. It's just—"

"It's just what? You got a little drunk and went off with that bimbo to have a night of pleasure? How much heartache did you create for a year over one night?" Holly places her hands on her hips, arching an eyebrow.

Daniel hangs his head. "A lot. I know. And I'm sorry! I just—"

"Why are you here?" Holly clips, obviously annoyed.

I stand silently, just listening as memory after memory floods through my mind.

"I'm here for her."

"No. You cannot do what you did to her, cause as much pain as you did, leave out of nowhere, then just come back and say that! You just can't! That's so impossibly unfair to her. She's been through hell and back and it all started with you. You hurt her so much and now you broke her. How does that make you feel? Maybe you'll feel a sliver of the pain she did. She loved you with every bit of her beautifully happy and pure soul but you just had to go and ruin it, didn't you? You just had to get drunk and go with her best friend! Really? How disgusting can you be? She loved you to bits and wouldn't shut up about it! She daydreamed about you on the daily and whenever I saw her smiling randomly, I knew she was thinking about you! Once, she even told me you were the one she wanted to be with for the rest of forever! Did you feel none of that? Was she not good enough for you? Did you think you could find someone better than her?" Holly spat, her fists clenching at her sides, her jaw ticking. 

Daniel stands frozen to the spot, his face twisted in a painful look. "I..."

"You what? You want to apologise? Well, dickwad, it's too late for that. You had your chance and now you've ruined it. You've ruined any chance with her!"

Daniel frowns then turns to me, silently pleading. 

My eyes widen, and I stumble back. He hasn't changed... I can still see the old him. I can still see the man I loved. 

"Don't you dare look at her like that! Knowing her, she'll probably forgive you and say sorry for everything that happened even though none of it was her fault. Get your disgusting arse away from her. She's too good for you. She—"

"Holly! I get it! She's too good for me, and I'm just a piece of lowly trash! I know! I've lived with that mindset for a year now. Every day, I'm waking up and imagining how it could've gone differently. How I could've stayed at home with her and none of this pain would've happened to any of us. I'm constantly imagining what it would've been like if it never happened and how I'd still probably be waking up and seeing her beautiful face cuddling with me every morning! I'm constantly thinking about her; she's all I've been thinking about for a year now! I was drunk and stupid and it happened. And I've suffered from the consequences now and it hurts. A lot. I know I hurt her. I just want a second chance."

Holly purses her lips. I stand there silently. Is he telling the truth? What reason wouldn't he have to? 

I gently place my hand on Daniel's arm and look at him. He looks down at me and smiles sadly. "I know what I did hurt you a lot. I know I put you through a lot of pain. And you didn't deserve any of that. You deserve only the best which is another reason I came over. I just wanted to see that Angie had the best there is." He turns to Isaac who's staring at him blankly. 

What's going on in his mind? He must be so confused. My gaze wanders down to Bella who's looking up at all of us from the ground with a calculating look on her face.

"Hi, I'm Daniel." Daniel holds out his hand and, for a second, I think Isaac's not going to take it. But he does.

"Isaac."

"Nice to meet you. And who are you?" Daniel kneels down to Bella's height and smiles.

Watching him, I find that I've missed his easy smile. 

"I think you should forgive him. He means it. He's saddened by what happened and truly wants forgiveness," Bella says simply, looking at Daniel intensely for a second then looking up at us. She then stands up and comes over to me, taking my hand in hers and tugging me down. "He still likes you."

My eyes widen and they meet his. And I know she's right.

But do I still like him? After everything he's done to me. He said he was drunk and it was an accident. Obviously, accidents happen. It just hurt that it was him. I sigh, standing back up but never letting go of little Bella's hands. 

Daniel stands back up, too, his eyes locked with mine. 

None of us say anything. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Holly frowning but I can tell she's thinking about all of this. On the other side, I only see Isaac's blank face. I have to talk to him later and explain everything. 

Looking back at Daniel—at his soft, pleading eyes and sagging shoulders—I can tell he's tired of all this. And so am I. My strong wall protecting the part of my heart with all of the memories with him falls. 

I gently let go of Bella's hand and step forward, embracing Daniel in a tight hug. He hugs me back and I let the past year go. I let every heartache and pain and misery he caused go. I let it all fall right at our feet. A part of me still loves him, but I'm not sure if I'll ever love him the same. 

Slowly, we part and smile. 

"I've missed you, Angie."

I smile and nod.

Daniel tilts his head curiously. "Can you no longer talk?"

"She can but chooses not to," Holly says for me, her voice tense. I can tell she's not overly excited about my decision, but she's going to have to live with it. I'm tired of remembering all the pain he caused. It's wearing me out.

"Why?"

"A lot has happened in the past year, Daniel. She's been through a lot of pain and not all of it is because of you." 

He frowns. "Are you ever going to talk again?"

I open my mouth then close it. I honestly don't know. I really don't have a reason to say anything and, for the past weeks, my actions have been enough. But, as I think about it more, I can't just go around the rest of my life not talking, especially with work. 

What if I've lost my voice, though? What if, when I try to speak, no sound comes out from my mouth? Will I have to learn to speak again? 

That's ridiculous. I ridicule myself. Of course, I still know how to speak. It hasn't been that long. 

"When she wants to talk again, she will. If she wishes to remain silent for now, then who cares?" Holly says curtly, barely looking at Daniel.

"Geez, Holly. I'm sorry, okay? Why can't you just forgive me?" 

"Why? Why can't I 'just forgive' you? Open your eyes and realise what you did to her. What you truly did to her. Then come talk to me." With that, Holly turns on her heel and stomps back to the car. 

I watch as Isaac and Bella clean everything up and follow her. 

"I am really sorry, you know."

I look back at Daniel for a second then hold up a finger signalling him to wait here. After he nods, I trudge over to the car.

"You're staying, aren't you?" Holly grumbles, looking at me first with contempt then sadness. 

I nod.

"Okay. You be careful, yeah? And tell Daniel I'm sorry. I was harsh on him. It's just, I know what he did to you, and I don't want to see that for you again."

We hug each other through the window then I step back and watch as they drive off. Did I just make a mistake? 

Sighing, I walk back over to the beach where Daniel's still waiting in the exact spot I left him.

"I'm sorry, Angie. I can't tell you how sorry I am for everything I've done to you." Daniel kicks himself, looking down at the ground and toeing a small dune of sand.

I rest my hand on his shoulder and give him a reassuring smile. 

He smiles back. "Want to take a walk along the beach?"

I nod, grateful. I'm happy we're putting everything that happened behind us. 

"So, anything new?"

I shake my head.

"Ah, well, I've started a company and it's been pretty successful so far. We're gaining more employees each month and meeting the daily quota. I'm bringing in a few bucks, and I can see a bright future for it. I've been pretty lonely, though."

I roll my eyes. Of course, he had to bring that up. He knows, though, that I have a boyfriend. Who I left to go with some ex that hurt me a year ago... Probably not my best move but Isaac's got to understand. 

We walk back and across the beach multiple times, and I listen as Isaac talks about what's been going on with his life in the past year. I listen tentatively, and it's like nothing's changed between us. Within a few hours, it's almost like we're back to normal. Everything really does seem to be looking up. Maybe this is it. Maybe this is where I can finally find peace. After a year of torment and pain, maybe it's all coming to a beautiful end.

I find myself lost in time until the moon is setting behind the lake waves and we're some of the last people left on the beach. 

"I suppose you want to go home."

I nod tiredly. However nice it's been talking with him, I'm so tired. And I just want to cuddle with Isaac for the rest of the evening and into the next morning. 

What if I've messed everything up between him and I? What if he thinks of me differently after today?

"Hey, if he hurts you, let me know, yeah? I know I'll probably be in line after Holly, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm here to stay now."

I smile and nod, thankful. It's nice having him back in my life, even if we're just friends now. But that's okay. I think it's all going to be okay.

"Can I drive you home?" Daniel offers.

I give him a grateful smile as he leads me to his car. We drive silently to Isaac's house after I point him down this road and that road. He stops just at the bottom of the driveway.

"I'm never not going to be sorry for what I did to you. I felt so incredibly bad, you don't even know. I know you went through a lot of pain and suffering, and I just hope it's all over. I'm sorry, Angie, truly." Daniel looks at me sadly.

I place my hand gently over his and whisper two words. "I know."

Daniel's eyes widen and a smile takes over his face. He hugs me tightly then lets me out of the car. I reach the front door and look over my shoulder, watching as Daniel drives past the house, waving. I wave back, smiling, then open the door.

I sigh happily. I talked. I just talked for the first time in weeks. And it felt amazing. 

I walk further into the house, wondering where everyone is. I see a light on in the living room and conclude that Holly and Isaac must be waiting up for me. I set my stuff down on the counter and walk into the living room only to freeze in my spot, eyes wide and my heart broken. 

~~~

❝She loved you with every bit of her beautifully happy and pure soul but you just had to go and ruin it, didn't you?❞