The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller(29)

Kaeleb leashes his sorrow, collecting himself before continuing. “Some would say that I really haven’t dealt with that anger. That I haven’t forgiven myself for leaving her with them. Some might even say that I use women to help alleviate some of that guilt, to take some of that pain away and forget, even if it’s only for a night. But regardless of what I do, it always remains.”
I nod because I know this pain. We all do. And in this moment we become forever bonded by it.
Quinn steps back into his embrace, as I rise. I walk over to where they stand and wrap my arms around the both of them. We hold onto one another closely, silently reflecting on our own sordid pasts. Each of us lost in our own darkness, trying to find our way to a lighter place.
We stay like that for a long while, until sniffles subside and breathing returns to normal.
Kaeleb eventually clears his throat. “Well, I guess sharing time is over?”
Quinn and I give each other a small smile before releasing our hold, breaking our circle. As we step away, I dry my face while Kaeleb and Quinn do the same.
Once we’re composed, I look over at Kaeleb who’s slinging his jacket over his shoulder, obviously very done with sharing time. “Kaeleb?”
“Hmmm?” he hums.
“Um, you might want to talk to Palmer. You know, before your dick falls off.” Quinn snorts from behind me and I can’t help but grin.
He returns my smile and adds a wink. “Sunshine, I always protect the Hulk. No need to worry about that.” Shaking my head, I watch him as he strides to our door. Just as his fingers touch the knob, he turns and with solemn eyes offers, “You’d be the exception, you know. With you, it would be real, not an escape.”
I continue to eye him, struck silent by his words as he pivots back around and leaves the room, quietly shutting the door behind him.
Slowly, I turn back to Quinn, who is wearing a huge grin of her own.
“See?” She giggles. “You two are totally getting married!”
Sigh.
My poor, dear friend.
Quinn bounces away, skipping happily as she heads into the bathroom. Once the door shuts behind her, I make my way over to the bed and sit on the very edge. As I wait for Linda, a new excitement building in my body.
Maybe it’s the fact that I’m about to finally see her after months of not realizing how much I’ve missed her.
Maybe it’s the moment I just shared with my two best friends, a moment that I know has officially solidified our three-way bond into a lifelong promise.
Or maybe, just maybe, it’s the fact the Kaeleb’s parting words have ignited something in me that I never knew existed. Or wanted.
Regardless, I know that my life has forever been altered, and for the first time in ten years, I’ve finally found my way onto a new path.
One that isn’t completely saturated with darkness and fear, but dimly lit with newfound courage and optimism.
And as I cautiously take that first step, a splinter of hope ignites in my heart.

Chapter Fourteen

The rest of my freshman year happened so quickly, it’s hard to gather everything of importance into one list. But, that being said, there were many moments that happen that will forever stay etched in my mind. So many firsts that should be noted:
The first time I laughed so hard I nearly peed my pants. There’s just something about trying to remain quiet in the library that fuels the need for an outlandish fit of laughter when you catch a random case of the giggles. Kaeleb and Quinn were absolutely no help.
The first time I got drunk, unabashedly, in the company of my friends.
The first time I attempted The Robot, which unsurprisingly accompanied the above listed first.
The first time I gave in and ate my first burger in months. Best. Burger. Ever. Definitely wasn’t the last.
The first time that Kaeleb lasted a whole week without a lady friend. And then a month. And then the rest of freshman year. I’m pretty sure he had a raging case of blue balls.
The first time that Quinn allowed herself the simple freedom of eating a piece of chocolate cake at an impromptu celebration for Kaeleb’s nineteenth birthday. We cheered her on in the privacy of the corner booth of a local restaurant.
The first (and only) time that I took the Leap of Faith in Palmer’s trust class. Plunging to my possible death from three stories in the air once was enough for me, thank you very much. Kaeleb, however, did it twice.
The first time I ever achieved the Dean’s List, and with a solid 3.9 GPA.
The first time I skated, actually skated, at the infamous death trap known as Skate Place. I fell a lot, of course, but Kaeleb was there to help. No chins were busted this time around in case you’re wondering.
The first time that I allowed Kaeleb to hold my hand for longer than a second. But he kind of had to. Again, please see above listed first.
But most importantly, there were a string of firsts that served to remind me of how far I came my freshman year. Remembering my first day at Titan, there’s an insurmountable amount of pride that I found the strength within myself to finally…giggle with my peers, walk arm-in-arm with my best friend and hand-in-hand with the possible love of my life, and to just allow a contented smile to cross my face.

Sophmore Year


Chapter Fifteen

“Hmmm…” Quinn hums.
“Errrr…” Kaeleb sputters.
I, however, have no such riveting commentary to offer as we all congregate in my bathroom with all of our heads angled in the same direction, staring at my reflection in the mirror. Kaeleb and Quinn sit opposite each other on the countertop with me right in between them on a bar stool.