Chapter 39

Timing is everything in life. It determines everyone's life. From the moment a child is born it's life begins with one single fact. The time and date it was born. And when that child begins to grow up timing begins to play a bigger part. The time it was in the same spot in its soon to be best friend. The time they graduate from elementary school. The time they met their new friends. The time they were in the same spot as their soulmate. The time I was at the park the same time as Spencer.

And timing certainly has been playing a huge part in my life lately. Especially when it comes to soccer. But don't forget the fortune of Coraline Sarafian.

"There will be a series of exactly three events within the next decade. They are the three most important moments in that time, like a parade. One will be a accident, such a shame, and things will never be the same. Another will be a game, that will lead to a persons certain fame. One will be a kiss, that leaves you so bliss, with someone who rarely speaks your name."

  Because that game, will have to be exactly on my birthday. The last day possible. The day marking a decade since we went as a family to her. And went back to her as two orphans, a torn different family.

But the real question is, who is that person that will gain fame from the game? The game that will supposedly be one of the three most important moments in my life from when I was eight until I was eighteen.

"Oh my gosh," I say with a blank face, yet I show many signs of shock, but none of them are a grin or smile. "Really?"

I still think of Coraline Sarafian's fortune. The one that must conclude that this game that will happen on my birthday and will signify something great. A persons fame. But that could also be something not so great, I guess I will just have to find out. And so will whoever this person is.

"You don't seem happy." Spencer scans my face as he drops his hand from my cheek.

"Oh no I am!" I break into giant smile, ignoring Spencer's suspicious look as I grin over at the team. He knows somethings off, and not just because he can tell my smile was fake at the beginning.

But really, I'm ecstatic for the game. It's not only going to start up on my 18th birthday, the day I become an adult, but that means that we will continue playing soccer more and more together until we all graduate. And according to the fortune teller that game may also start off someone's fame and maybe career as a soccer player.

They all grin back at me.

"So how exactly did it come about that it would be on my birthday?" I turn to ask them after I hug them all.

"I guess it was just luck." Dominic shrugs. "Coach said that it would start up anytime around April, and it just so happened to be scheduled on your birthday."

"Well, that's awesome!" I reply, nudging him in the shoulder. "And you better keep out all those shots that day..... Just for me." I give our goalie a pleading pout.

"And you better not flirt with him..... Just for me." Spencer grumbles to me and lightly grabs my arm, dragging me away from him.

I look behind me to see Dominic grinning as I roll my eyes at Spencer's antics. "I was just joking around babe."

Spencer stops a few feet away from them and looks down at me, his eyes slightly softening. "Bye boys, get on with your lives!" He yells over his shoulder to the team, not breaking eye contact with me.

  I watch as the whole team just scatters, with various going together back to the jock table, and many going to other random groups. I absolutely adore the fact that we are all different. And not just because we all hang out with different people.

I go back to sit down with our own group, but Spencer stops me by grabbing my hand.

"What are you doing?" I whisper quickly to him.

"Let's go for a walk." Is all Spencer says, grabbing the brand new, custom made soccer ball he got me for Valentine's Day.

I look back to Emma, Parker, Nova, and Brian with mer look of confusion, and they all return the look with shrugs.

  I hold in my laughter as Emma claps her hands back and forth grinning ear to ear as we leave the cafeteria. Either she's the biggest fangirl I know and Mrs. Gold has got some serious competition, or she just secretly hates us and wanted us to leave. I think it's just the first one.

"I'm not one to complain about having you all to myself," I begin to pester him in to talking. "But what are we doing?"

Spencer stops in the middle of the empty hallway, dropping the soccer ball on the floor. "I know you would never tell me why you aren't all unicorns and happy rainbows right now, because of the game being on your birthday, so I'm just going to make you tell me."

I hide my feeling of surprise, making an annoyed expression instead. "So what are you going to do? Kick the soccer ball at me a million times, in the middle of classes might I add, until I tell you?"

Spencer blank stares back at me, as if not knowing me at all. "Well aren't you confident. I guess I've  kinda helped there."

"Too bad I didn't return the favour and make you a perky person." I grin back at him evilly.

"Anyways," Spencer tucks my hair back. "I'm not going to kick a soccer ball at you a million times, that's just abuse, for both you and I."

"Then what are you going to do?" My voice goes into barely a whisper as I lean forward.

"I'm challenging you to a game of numbers." Spencer starts running down the hallway dribbling the ball, leaving me in complete and utter shock.

I blink slowly then snap out of it and dart after him. "You're so lucky everyone is in class or the cafeteria right now!" I yell after him as I begin catching up to him.

  Spencer looks back at me and waits for me to get closer to him. I abruptly stop and stand less than a foot in front of him, making sure I don't collide with him.

  I stare back intensely at his perfect green eyes as he stares back at me, my eyes move down following his finger as he slowly places it on my lips.

"Just because they're not in the halls doesn't mean you can yell after me kitten." I sigh in deeply as Spencer replaces his finger with his lips, planting a sweet gentle kiss. "People really like to snoop, especially when it comes to us."

"You've got that right." I giggle as my eyes flutter open to look at him.

"Let's go." He turns around, offering me a piggyback ride. I of course, will not fuss.

As soon as I hop on his back and he makes sure he's got me, Spencer darts down, the hallway. I watch as he dribbles the soccer ball as well, clearly not bothered by the fact that a 120 pound girl is on his back.

I laugh as he almost loses his footing, but gasp as he pretends to drop me. "That's not funny."

"Yes it is." I can practically hear him smirking. "And so am I."

I make an unattractive laugh. "Yes you are funny..... Funny looking."

As I continue to bark out laughing as he doesn't reply.

"Take that back right now." I hear him basically command me as I struggle to breath over all the laughing.

"I'm just kidding." I rest my head against his back and bring my hands up to his heart. "Remember when we argued over how I thought Josh Hutcherson and Ansel Elgort were hot and you thought you were hotter?"

Spencer laughs, obviously replay that moment in his head, the moment that felt like decades ago. "And I'm hotter than Dylan O' whatever his face is too."

I grin remembering he said that exact line months ago, and he was playing with my hair, something he will always do. Somethings will never change. Except somethings do change, including how at the time I would deny it but this time I don't. "Yea you are."

But instead of Spencer jumping up and down in victory like he would've done months ago, he just tilts his head down and kisses my hand.

  And with that we continue walking down the hallway, well Spencer walks down the hallway with his crazy girlfriend on his back. But we really are one crazy couple.

"Why were you not instantly happy when you found out the soccer game will be held on your birthday?" Spencer suddenly asks me with a soft tone as soon as we stop at the end of the hallway and he lets me get off.

I exhale as I lean my back slightly, copying his actions. "It's not that I was sad or not happy.... It's that I was surprised...."

"But that was a different kind of surprised." Spencer turns his head to look at me. "Kitten, when you get surprised in the good way your whole face lights up and you make that beautiful big grin. This was your different surprised look. The look where I could practically see the wheels turning in your head."

  I'm not even shocked that he can read my expressions that easily, and he already knows what I'm feeling before I even know what I'm feeling myself sometimes. That's because I can do the exact same for him.

"It was a different feeling, at first." I confess as I twiddle his fingers in his closest hand with my own hand. "I was thinking so much about something, I realized something. The fortune."

I peer up at him, noticing his eyes spark with remembrance. "The soccer game, it's the last of the three important moments in your life in the past decade."

I bop my head up and down confirming his realizations. "And it just so happens to be on my 18th birthday."

"So does that mean that your whole family went to the fair on your 8th birthday?" Spencer asks.

"Maybe, I don't really remember. But it could also mean be on that day because I went shortly after I turned eight, meaning it wasn't a full decade of three moments exactly." I think out loud to him.

"But it's certain that it's that game. And you were just thinking about how it will be that game?"

I open my mouth to speak, and tell him not just that, but the bell abruptly rings, signalling the end of lunch.

"We have to get our stuff from the lunch table!" I worriedly rush out as we turn around to go back to the cafeteria. There was too much stuff for everyone else to get it for us, with their own presents.

"We are gonna talk about this later." Spencer serious stares at me for a second.

I nod my head quickly, not thinking. I was too preoccupied with not being later to gym class.

And I was saved by the bell.

Except now I'll have to tell him later.
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"How many times do these two dudes die? Like seriously is that all the people on this show do?"

I shut Spencer up by shoving a handful of popcorn in his mouth, as I continue to stare at the television is deep focus. Dean in Supernatural just died..... Again. And I probably say this every time, but I swear I will scream if he doesn't come back to life.

After we finish that episode Spencer decides for us to watch something else, since it was just my turn.

"So are you going to tell me the rest now?" Spencer says to me, obviously talking about earlier today. It's now just after school.

I stay silent for a few seconds, pretending I'm totally into whatever this show is.

"Hey!" I bark out as Spencer begins tickling me.

"Tell me!" Spencer laughs evilly as his fingers tickle my stomach and sides.

"I wasn't just thinking about the game being the last fortune!" I cry out as I gasp for air.

Spencer stops and look down at me from where he sits on the coach beside me, as I glance up at him from my laying down position. He doesn't say anything, wanting me to continue.

"I was thinking about what the fortune is. Another moment will be a game, that leads to a persons certain fame. Who will that person be?" I lift myself up to sit beside Spencer.

"Are you thinking it will be you?" Spencer gets out in whisper. He studies my face.

I look at him with all seriousness. "I'm thinking it will be you."

His eyebrows shot up in surprise, and I notice he can't seem to reply.

We sit there in silence, neither of us wanting to say it.

"And here comes the take of the future." Spencer makes a grim look.

"What are we gonna talk about?" I stand up. "The fact that barely any couples make it through university? Or the fact that you'll probably get some soccer scholarship and I'll get nothing?"

Spencer stands up frowning, not looking me directly in the eyes. "But you'll get a scholarship. You're the one who needs it the most."

We've never talked about anything like this before. And all of sudden it just pops out of nowhere. The whole college and university talk. The one where we either try to make it work or we let it go and go to different schools, maybe even across the country. Spencer and I have always tried to live in the moment, and not worry about the past or future. When it comes to drama, leave it behind. When it comes to graduation, leave it ahead.

But now we will have to. With Spencer most likely being that certain person who will rise to fame, things will have to be discussed. Fame. That one word could mean a million things. The fame to get him to university, or the fame that will get him above university and into a major league. The fame that will keep him with me or the fame that will make him leave me.

And we've never talked about the fact that I'm losing money every month on spendings, but not gaining it back.

"But that's beside the point. The point is we have to talk about what we are going to do after graduation." I mumble and look away from his searching eyes.

"Well I obviously know you enough to know that you want to go to some amazing university, and get an amazing job." Spencer tilts my chin lightly, making me look him in his eyes.

"We've also never talked about what universities we both want to go to." I softly say, then change my tone. "And you better not say that you want to follow me wherever I want to go."

"But I like being cliche." Spencer whines in a joking way.

"No you don't." I give him a flat look. "I've already applied to many universities in the area."

"You applied to universities without even telling me?" Spencer looks at me with a small spark of hurt. "And let me guess, they are all in New York City?"

"Oh don't act like you didn't do the same." I snap at him. "Your mom told me awhile ago. I found out that you applied from not you, but your mom. And yes, they are in New York City. She said your's are too."

Spencer looks at me in surprise, not expecting me to bark at him. But he challenges me. "Well then, what ones did you apply for?"

I think for a couple of seconds, making a mental list of them. "Columbia University, Fordham University, Pace University, New York University, St. John's University, and Hunter College."

Spencer stares at me with an emotion I've never seen before. "You applied to five universities and one college."

I firmly nod my head. "Just in case."

Spencer rolls his eyes, giving me a look of disgust. I've never seen him act this way to me before. Sure at the beginning, but that was jokingly. This isn't. "Well of course you're gonna get into all of them, you basically have a flawless GPA, you can play on a boys soccer team, and you're Georgia State Genius."

I blush and look down, even though I know he isn't trying to compliment me. "What universities did you apply for?"

He widens his eyes a bit. "I only applied to two universities Jess. NYU and Fordham. The rest were colleges."

I blink slowly, being stunned. "But you would probably get in... And you could go to a university with me and then we could go g-"

I get cut off by Spencer and stare at him in astonishment as he snaps in distress. "You don't get it! I'm not as smart as you! I'm just average, I can't get into the best university in all of New York City!"

  I take a step forward, trying to grab his hand but Spencer moves his arm away from me. I drop my hand down in defeat.

"Don't try to make me feel better, because it won't work." Spencer ignores my sad expressions. "Sure, we can try to get into the same universities, and that Hunter College together, but what if we don't? You are better off going to a university anyways. And even if we do stay together do you know how hard it will be for us, and Lily, where is she going to go?"

My heart practically stops as I think about the girl who has never left my side since the day she was born, my sister. "Nathan is graduating college this year. He will watch her." I try to tell both myself and Spencer.

"But what if he doesn't want to raise her, with that new girl that will probably be his girlfriend? What will happen then?" Spencer looks at me expectingly, knowing I will reply and add to the igniting flame. 

"He will Spence, we are a family. And you and will stick together though all of it, because that is what we do." I gain back my voice, knowing exactly what to say. "And so what if we don't want to go to the same university or college? It's not like it's a long distance relationship staying in the same city. We can both decide what we want in life."

"I need some air." Spencer's words break. They break both of us.

"Don't leave Spence." I look at him painfully.

"I'm not leaving this relationship kitten, I'm leaving this argument."

"Don't let this fight end like this." I slightly beg as he begins watching out of my living room. "We can fix this fight."

"You trust me kitten." He looks behind at me, asking a question that's not really a question, and he already knows the answer.

"Yes." I speak without a second of doubt.

"Then you know I will be back."

And he left. He left me alone all night, making me worry out of my mind.

This is our first real fight, and hopefully our last. February 14th. Valentine's Day, the day of love and happiness. But it was definitely one of the hardest things I've ever had to face. All of this came so suddenly, the talk of Spencer's future, the talk of my future, and the talk of our future together. And all of these universities and colleges. And Lily.

  That's not the only thing though about Lily tonight. Because little did I know that during our first fight she was right there the whole time, listening. And when Spencer left me Lily came.

But I just hope that he comes back. That's all I have. Hope.
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"Wake up Jess!"

I groan and grumble as I feel a small body jumping up and down on my bed. I squint open my eyes, wishing all of that was a horrible, horrible nightmare.

I slump back down in my bed, and pull the covers back over my head defeatedly, wanting to disappear under the covers forever.

"We are gonna be later for school!" Lily wipes the covers right off me.

I jump up and look at the time. Oh my fudgesicles. I have less than five minutes to get ready before we have to leave.

I flip my head over to my five year old sister, and thankfully she is already ready. "Go collect your things for school and I'll meet you at the car."

I quickly change into some random jeans, a baggy sweater and uggs. My winter coat is downstairs anyways. I contemplate tackling my hair right now, but decide I'll just fix it in the car when Lily is exiting.

I collect the rest of my school necessities and grab a granola bar for a quick snack. I will never call that a breakfast. But I guess I'll have to settle on that for now if I want to get to school on time, I refuse to lose my practically perfect record. Especially when it comes to being a dramatic, broken girlfriend.

I couldn't sleep at all last night, getting a total of four hours of sleep. But I know I wasn't the only one, my special neighbour had his lights on basically on night. Yet, I'm not complaining because then I know that Spencer is still there.

"Let's go." I look into the backseat where Lily sits. She giggles as soon as she sees me. I'm too rushed to even look in the yard beside me, although I already know that certain person stands there in their driveway. Watching me.

I would scold her to not laugh at my current appearance but I don't have enough time, and she already stopped. Most likely because she remember why I'm like this. But I refuse to act like one of those pathetic girls who dies the moment she fights with her boyfriend. Even if it was just a average fight, like the one that occurred approximately 12 hours ago.

"You and your prince will make up." Lily says as she opens the car door before she goes into school.

"I hope so." I try my best to make my smile to her real. "I love you little flower."

"I love you too Jess." She grins and closes the car door.

I quickly comb my hair and through it up into a tight bun, succeeding in not making a classic messy bun.

I then speed off to my own school.

"I trust him." I say to myself. "I trust him so much that we will make this okay."

With my last pep talk I exit my car, grabbing my backpack and walking, more like running, off inside.

I try my best to not get blown away by the huge blasts of snow coming down. It never snows this much. I'm surprised it's not a snow day. Sure, it snows here all the time. But I just wish for once that we get a snow day.

I trudge through the pile of snow that the school board failed miserably to clear out of the parking lot. Or it just snowed that much in the past hour.

I eventually make it to class victorious. I manage to sit down right before the bell rang. But I ignore the looks of fellow classmates, my guess is they would never expect the Georgia State Genius to be even close to being late to a class.

My eyes close, as I try to calm myself down. I can feel Spencer's intense stare on my back. I take a deep breath before opening my eyes to listen to the lesson.

  I look over at Emma who sits beside me for all of a second and she gives me a confused expression. I wait for it to sink in, and for her to remember what I told her last might when I called her two hours after Spencer left. I need to be to myself in between when I put Lily to bed and when I called Emma and Nova.

She gives me an encouraging smile before looking back at the board.

Today will also be a long day I guess.
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"You know I hate not talking to you even for a couple of hours, don't even get me started on 16 and a half hours."

I mindlessly pick at my salad, ignoring the pleading tone.

"Please talk to me kitten." Spencer places his hand on mine and I flinch.

"I would've talk to you the minute after you left me Spencer." I peer up at him with a hard stare. "But I think waiting 16 and a half hours is a little excessive, don't you think guys?" I glare at Spencer as I ask our friends for their opinions.

  I look back down at my salad, not even having to watch to know that Emma, Parker, Nova, and Brian are all uncomfortable.

"Wait so what's going on?" Brian asks definitely confused. "I didn't get called by either of them like you all were."

Yea, there is no way that Spencer would ever come crying to Breakfast Club. Only Parker. And it would be weird for me to call him. So I just called Nova and Emma.

"They got in a fight." I hear Nova awkwardly whisper to them, lame job might I add. "About the future."

"It was barely a fight." Spencer denies. "Simply an argument."

"An argument that you couldn't handle, so you needed some air." I squint my eyes at him as I stab a piece of lettuce.

Spencer widens his eyes. "I'm sorry kitten, please forgive me."

I make him wait almost a minute in silence as I swallow one last piece of lettuce. "Fine." I could never stay mad at him. Especially over something that petty.

  Spencer smashes his lips on mine and it's my turn to widen my eyes. I kiss back and happily close my eyes.

It may have only been 16 and a half hours it felt like forever.

Spencer and I both smile as our friends joke around and make grossed out faces.

"Oh but you all love us." Spencer chuckles.

"Yea we do." Emma grins.

We all begin talking about random things, jumping from topic to topic.

"By the way you two," I look over at Nova and Brian. "Emma and I have finally decided our ship name for you guys."

Brian looks absolutely terrified and Nova looks plain old annoyed. She should know by now that we are fangirls for everything.

"Drum roll please..." Emma turns to Spencer and Parker.

The boys begin banging their hands on the table.

"Nian!" Emma and I happily cheer, clapping like maniacs.

Nova scrunches up her face in disgust. And Brian still looks horrified.

"What you guys don't like it?" My smile fades.

"Sorry to break it to you," Brian begins as Emma and I frown. "But according to Chinese Mythology a Nian is a beast that lives under the seas or in the mountains. Once each spring it comes out of hiding to attack people, and prefers children."

Well, I guess that's the end of Nian. But just the beginning of their relationship.

But what the funniest thing of all was that it was almost springtime then.
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And now springtime is only 16 and a half days away.

"Why did you tell me to pack a suitcase?" I ask Spencer for the hundredth time. I stumble down a step when Spencer doesn't help me. "Not funny."

"You know, I really like when you can't see. Gives me an advantage to do this." Spencer jokes about me wearing the blindfold. Supposedly he has a surprise to show me. The only clue he gave me was to pack for a 2 day trip.

  I listened to him not only because I trust him, but because I've lately been loving these surprises. And lately things have been pretty boring, but I'm not complaining because just a few weeks ago that boredom wasn't existing when we fought.

  Things have been smooth ever since, and quite frankly I think Spencer and I gotten even closer if that's still possible.

"Ahhh no tickling babe!" I squeal as we walk down his driveway.

"Just because you called me babe." I feel him kiss the top of my head.

"So are you going tell me?" I pester him as I hear shuffling.

"You seriously had to blindfold her? What are we? Kidnappers?" I hear my saviour.

"Mrs. Gold!" I cheer. "Tell me what we are doing, please!"

"Don't mom! She will freak out." Spencer pleads his magnificent mother. "I wanna tell her. That's why I blindfolded her. Kitten here certainly loves surprises."

"You do too." I quickly add. "So are we just gonna stand here and wait for the snow to eat us alive.... Or are you gonna tell me why I needed to pack a suitcase and get Nathan to watch Lily for the weekend?"

  All I hear for about a half a minute is silence, and I assume they are probably shooting facial expressions back and forth, tying to agree on whether  or not they should tell me.

I feel Spencer take my blindfold off, and the first thing I see is Mrs. Gold's car parked on the side of street in front of where we stand.

"We are going to New York City."

And that's when I see Spencer wearing a I love New York t-shirt.

Time for me to freak out.

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Hey perfect people!

I have to admit that is probably one of  the biggest cliffhangers I have ever written!

Anyways, what did you think of this chapter? Excited to read all the New York scenes? And are Nova and Brian officially dating yet, maybe? Will there only be scenes where they are touring universities, or will there be more? Will Mrs. Gold play a major role? Let me know in the comment section! Please don't be a silent reader!

Bye for now my lovely bookworms,
                                                                   Ashley🌸