Chapter Fifty Five An Avalanche

"Levi get over here." Mom told him, handing Hailey her camera.

"We're taking another picture?" Levi groaned.

"Yes! You just graduated and I want to remember this moment." She said.

"I think you have enough picture to last a lifetime." He replied, walking toward her.

"One more wouldn't hurt."

Mom hugged Levi and he had one arm wrapped around her. Hailey took the picture and showed it to Mom.

Last month we had Nationals and today Levi and Hailey graduated. I was proud of them. They graduated once again and now they could start a new chapter in their lives.

I glanced away from them when I heard a small cry. Smiling I went over to Hunter who was holding the newest addition to the Jaxon family.

"Still trying to figure out how to hold him?" I asked, adjusting baby Austin in his arms.

He was barely a few weeks old but unlike other babies, he wasn't fussy. I mean only when he was with Hunter.

"What do you expect when he's always with his mother?" Hunter said, looking at his son.

Over the past month, I got to know Alexandria and she got to know us. Hunter and Alexandria weren't engaged but it wouldn't be long enough until Hunter popped the question. She was already apart of the family but it would be official soon.

"Just face it." Alexandria joined us. "He's a mama's boy. Aren't you, Austin?" She cooed.

"Not for long he won't." Hunter said.

They began to play argue over who Austin would love more and I laughed at them. They just didn't know, Austin, would love me the most but I would let them think otherwise.

"Quit arguing in front of my grandson." Mom said. "Let me see him."

"I don't think that's a good idea." Hunter told her.

Mom frowned. "And why's that?"

"Last time we gave you him, you and Dad wouldn't give him back." Hunter replied.

Mom put her hands on her hips. "Well sorry for loving on him."

"Just give Austin to her or she won't stop crying." Dad said.

Hunter gave Austin to Mom and she wouldn't stop smiling at him. It was crazy to know our parents would love our children more than they loved their children.

Well I guess not all grandparents loved their grandchildren. My mom's parents loved me of course but Richard's parents weren't my real grandparents. Nana loved me as if I were her own and I loved her. Papa, on the other hand, didn't really talk to me unless Nana was around.

They were both here today for the celebration and I haven't spoken to Papa yet. Nana talked to me and congratulated me on the win for Nationals.

Grandpa and Grandma, my mom's parents, were the same as always. Grandma was finally happy that she had a great grandchild and nothing could ruin her mood.

If Austin suddenly went missing, I knew either Mom or Grandma took him or possibly even both of them. They loved Austin.

I was walking into the kitchen when Papa stopped me by the doorway of the kitchen. He had a hand on my shoulder.

"Colby, there's something I need to say."

That was more than he ever said to me in my entire life, even on his good days. Something must've been wrong if he was speaking to me.

"What is it?" I asked, concerned.

"I haven't been much of a grandfather to you and I want to apologize for that." He started. "It has nothing to do with you not being my granddaughter because you will always be my granddaughter no matter what."

"It's okay, Papa. You don't have to explain." I told him.

He shook his head. "No, no, no. I need to because it isn't fair or right of me to take my anger out on you when it wasn't your fault. I had so much anger at your deadbeat father. When I saw you, I thought how could a father leave his child? How could he leave you? And every time I looked at you, I thought of him and the anger came back."

That explained why he glared at me every time he looked at me or why he never spoke to me.

"Thanks for telling me." I said. "And thank you loving me as your own."

He pulled me into a hug and I nearly cried at the vulnerable movement. He did care for me all this time. I didn't know what broke him out of his trance but whatever it was, I was glad it did.

"I love you, Colby."

So much for not crying.

"I love you too."

Once the hug ended, I wiped my tears away and walked into the kitchen to get what I was going to get. A drink.

I was alone for a few moments before Mom found me, looking out into the backyard at the yellow flower.

"There you are." She said, walking over to me. "I've been meaning to talk to all day but I've been busy."

"What do you want to talk about?"

She didn't waste any time and jump right into the topic.

"I know cheering wasn't what you wanted to do in college and I'm sorry for forcing you to do it. So, how do you feel about joining the dance team and majoring in dance?"

I broke out into a huge smile. "Are you serious?"

She nodded. "Yes, I am."

I hugged, tightly. "That would be amazing!"

She smiled. "Good because I already spoke to Bill about you not joining the cheer team this year and he's happy you're doing something you love. We both are."

"Thank you, Mom."

"There's no need to thank me. Dancing is a part of you and I shouldn't had kept it from you. I'm actually excited to see your first dance routine."

"I'm already ready to start my second year." I said.

"You should be."

Dad's loud voice interrupted our conversation.

"Group picture!"

We walked to the living room and everyone was there, looking at Dad.

"Is this the last one?" Levi asked.

"Yes." Dad paused. "If it's a good one. Now everyone outside."

We followed Dad out the door and he positioned us in front of the house. He set the self timer on and quickly ran over to his spot before the time ran out. It flashed and Mom went to see how it turned out.

"It looks great." She said.

"Thank God." Levi muttered. "I seriously can not wait for tonight."

"Me either." Hailey said. "It'll be the last thing we can all do before we leave this place."

"We do need a night out and so do Hunter and Alexandria." I said.

"Mom would be more than happy to watch Austin." Hunter replied. "What do you say, Alex?"

"Are you kidding me?" She said. "Of course! I need this night."

This was going to be the night of no worrying, stress free and drama free. This going to be the start of summer and our new chapter. And it all began this night.

***

I got ready at my house, taking my sweet time because I didn't need to rush. I did my make up and hair first. This was the first time, I was going out that didn't involve cheering or college.

The last time we went out, I lost my baby that night. I didn't want to think about a negative thing. I wanted tonight to be filled with positivity and laughter. This was the last time we would be all together.

Hailey and Levi were moving to New York in a couple of days. Levi majored in business so he was heading to the main company in our family to get the feel of it. Dad would keep an eye on him during the first year.

Anthony and Sabrina were heading to San Antonio to start their own lives. Hunter was finding a place as close as he could be to be near Alexandria and Austin. I was happy for all of them.

I just finished putting my outfit on when Alexandria walked into my room. For being a new mother, she looked great. Hunter better keep her close at all times.

"Are you ready?" She asked.

I nodded. "Yeah. Let's go."

We all rode in Hailey's car and meet the rest at the club. I glanced around the parking lot and noticed Anthony's and Cassidy's car. I didn't see Jayce's truck yet.

I texted him throughout the day and he was supposed to meet us here. He was probably dealing with Bear. He did get a little hyper around this time.

We walked waited in the line and then we walked inside the packed room. Hailey spotted our friends and no surprise, Cassidy already had our drinks ready for us.

"Everyone's doing a shot!" She yelled over the music.

We each grabbed the little glass cup and took a shot. The liquor burned my throat as it slid down.

I sat beside Cassidy and I told her about switching my major to dancing and joining the dance team. She was happy for me and we would still go to every game together. She was still going to cheer.

"You bitch! You're gonna leave me with those hoes!" She said.

"I would say sorry but I'm not."

She smiled. "You shouldn't. I'm happy for you."

Alexandria stood up. "Let's go dance!" She told us, yanking Hunter up and pulling him to the dance floor.

We followed her and I was the only one dancing by myself because Jayce still wasn't here yet.

Should I be worried?

If something did happen, he would've called or texted me, right?

Unless he got into a car accident. My mind came up with.

Great now that was stuck in my head and I stopped dancing. I was about to check my phone but arms wrapped around my waist from behind me and he pulled me against him.

"Why did you stop dancing?" He asked.

My whole body relaxed.

"I thought you got into a car accident or something." I told him, turning my head so I could see him.

He grinned. "Nothing could stop me from seeing you dance."

"I guess it's a good thing, I'll be on the dance team this year, huh?"

"Are you really?"

I nodded. "Yeah. My mom told me earlier and everything is settled."

"That's incredible."

We danced for awhile until we all went to go seat down. We enjoyed our night together making the most of it. We stayed at the club for another two hours or so before we decided to leave.

I told Hailey I was riding with Jayce and they left a couple of minutes later.

"Did they leave you?" Cass asked.

I shook my head. "No. I told them I was riding with Jayce."

She smirked. "It's gonna be that kinda night, is it?"

I rolled my eyes. "No. I don't know...maybe."

"It is." She said. "Have fun."

She got into her car and I walked over to Jayce's truck.

"Are you tired?"

"No. Are you?" I asked.

He shook his head. "I'm wide awake."

He drove us to the park I waited for him all those months ago. He didn't turn his truck off when he got out. I stepped out the truck and stared out the lake. It was so peaceful and a beautiful night.

We leaned against the hood of the trunk in comfortable silence. It stayed like that for a few minutes before Jayce spoke.

"Isn't this your song?"

I listened to what was playing and immediately started smiling.

"Yes!" I told him. "But I love your version better."

He pushed himself off the trunk and held his hand out for me take. I placed my hand in his and he closed his hand. He walked backward, moving me with him.

We danced to the song and I smiled the whole time because it was unlike Jayce. I never saw him dance with another girl to her favorite song or put out much effort into their relationship. He changed so much and I was the happiest girl on the planet.

"In case you didn't know, you had my heart a long, long time ago." He sang.

When the song ended, we didn't pulled apart. Instead he brought me closer to him and kissed me.

"I have a question."

"What is it?"

"Do you remember that day when Arianna was yelling at you in the parking lot at Landon's football game?"

"I try not to remember any moments I had with her but yeah I do. Why?" He asked, confused.

"Well you didn't say anything to her but whenever I yell at you, you always say something. I was wondering why you didn't say anything to her?"

"Because I didn't care what she was saying. I didn't care about her. But with you, it's different. I do care. Our love might've started off like an avalanche but now it's stronger and better than it was."

I frowned. "An avalanche?"

He smiled. "Yeah an avalanche. Because we crashed before it even had a chance to start. Our unspoken feelings were what started the avalanche and everything after that crashed down."

"But we survived it."

"Yeah we did."

Love might've been the reason why we had a war but it was also love that brought us together. So even though we did crash, something entirely better was created because of that crash.

As I said ten months ago, from that moment on nothing would ever be the same again and look I was right.