For the next seven months I did one simple thing: spend time with my friends ever second, in and out of school.

It was 2018 and technology rules the world so communication wouldn't exactly be a problem when I left but time was, which was the main reason I was stuck to my friends' side.

And besides, I know myself. I knew I would always come up with an excuse not to call them and that would end up in us drifting apart. So I decided to spend every minute I could with them. Sue me, what's a teenage girl to do?

A week before my mom and I left to Florida she convinced me to go talk to my dad.

I loved my dad then and I love my dad now, but with the divorce and all I had developed a little grudge against him. A grudge that had grown when he bailed on me on New Years. That makes me a selfish person, I know. He was visiting his mother when she was sick, of course she was his top priority but it still hurt.

I looked at the door, examining it. I thought about all the things I would say. How it felt like he was no longer my father ever since my mom and I left. How I felt betrayed when he went to Georgia and left me to start the year alone.

But then he opened the door.

One look at my dad and the words escaped my mouth. He was a mess. His hair was everywhere and his eyes were a little red, probably from crying. I mean, you have to respect a man who doesn't care to be seen crying, even if it's his daughter.

In that moment I realized, I was being selfish. He raised me, stood by me when I needed him. He always there for me and one little thing made me not talk to him for months. I was a horrible daughter.

He hugged me and held my tight. He didn't even bother to close the door, we just stood there in front of my old home.

It took a while before we finally let go, but when we did we were both a crying mess. We went inside to the living room and I saw that he hadn't changed anything since I was last there.

"Dad...I'm sorry I haven't talked to you in so long. I was just so mad, I didn't know how to react, I'm sorry." He said nothing. He just sighed and wrapped his arms around me.

"Can we go back to how we were before? I miss our cool father-daughter relationship." He nodded and smiled. "So speaking of relationships...your mother told me you have a boyfriend." I frowned. "You talked to mom?" His eyes widened. "You have a boyfriend?"

I laughed. "Yes, I have a boyfriend dad." He nodded. He was about to go all over protective dad in...

Three.

Two.

One.

"And who's the bastard that stole my little girl's heart? Do I know him? Is he a good kid? Is he older than you? Where does he live? What are his plans for the future? Do I need to get a weapon just in case?" I laughed and shook my head.

"Oh wow, and I thought I had a Latina mom for those questions. And it's Shawn." He frowned. "Becker? Who lives across the street? The one who came for the last family barbecue?" I nodded. He nodded too and looked out the window.

"Well kiddo, it looks like you're all grown up then."

"So you don't mind that I'm dating him?" He shook his head.

"You're a big girl now. You're almost eighteen; I just wished you would've told me sooner."

And I too wished I would've told him sooner. I wished it hadn't taken me so long to talk to him.

"Oh and I have some news. I'm selling the house." I looked at him in shock. "What? Where will you live then?" He gave me a sad smile. "With your grandmother in Georgia." My pulse quickened.

"She's not getting better, isn't she?" He shook his head. I sighed. "Maybe mom will let me drive there before I go back to school. You know, to spend time with you guys before..."

He shook his head and put his hand on my shoulder. "I don't think Karen will let you drive six hours on your own. But if she does I will welcome you with open arms." I nodded.

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I took it out to see what it was. "Dad, um, would you mind driving me to Crossberry Park to the farewell party?" My dad stood up from the couch. "Yes honey, of course I'll take you to the party. I am invited though, right?" I smiled. "Depends. Did my friends send you an invitation?" He shook his head. At that moment the doorbell rang.

We looked at each other and frowned. Both my dad and I headed to the door and opened it. It was Shawn.

My dad cleared his throat and the color once again disappeared from my boyfriend's face. "Hello Mr. Reynolds. Um, I'm not sure if Emma told you but we're having a farewell party for her and her mom and I wanted to invite you." Shawn's voice cracked at the very end of his sentence and I tried hard not to laugh. He was so nervous.

"Shawn, relax. He knows that we're dating and he doesn't mind. Besides...well it doesn't matter. Just, don't be scared, he wouldn't hurt a fly." After my small speech Shawn released the air that I'm pretty sure he was holding in since we opened the door.

My dad made a big deal out of making a decision on whether or not to go. I couldn't help but laugh at my dad's attempts to make Shawn nervous.

After a while my dad said, "Yeah. I'll go. Do you too want a ride Shawn?" He quickly shook his head. "No thank you. My family's going so we'll go as a family, because that's what we are. A family, a big one. And I'd offer you a ride but we barely fit in our car so...why am I so nervous?"

My dad laughed loudly. I'd never seen him enjoy so much to torture someone. "It's okay. It'll give me more time to spend with Emma." Shawn nodded.

Shawn breathed in loudly and said, "Well I'm going to go now. Oh and Emma? I really like your hair like that." He gave me a smile and turned around to leave.

My dad closed the door and looked at me. "You cut your hair?" I laughed and we started walking towards the garage. "Yeah. I lost a bet and had to cut it. Then it grew but I actually liked my hair short so I cut it again a few days ago."

My dad shook his head and laughed to himself. "The things kids do these days. In my days, when you lost a bet you didn't make someone cut their hair. We made them shave it or made run around the street in their underwear. But make them cut their hair? Pff." I stood there, shocked. "What kind of people did you hang out with in high school?" My dad suddenly had a sad look on his face. "Your mother."

I rubbed my dad's back as we got in the car. "Maybe you should try and reconcile with mom. It'll make things easier." I gave him a comforting smile. He nodded and started the car.

When we got to Crossberry Park...oh my. I don't think I can describe what I was seeing.

The whole park was full of baloons and a giant poster (that they somehow managed to hang on some trees) that said, "We'll miss you!"

Everyone my mom and I cared for were there. My friends, my friends' families, my mom's friends, my dad and James who'd somehow forged his way into our hearts.

My dad parked the car and I ran over to my friends. "You did all of this for us?" Tamara gave me a tight hug. "We'd do anything for you." She was about to let go when the rest of them joined in, creating possibly the worlds biggest bear hug.

We finally let go when Ashley yelled. "Oh my God, I'm wet!" James let go of the hug and laughed. "I know I'm hot and everything but you don't have to be like this in public." She glared at her boyfriend and sighed. "I meant that someone threw water at me."

Shawn laughed. "Hmm. I guess someone tried to defeat the witch." We all laughed in response. She just glared at him and tried getting the water out of her shirt.

Then, out of nowhere Steven came out with a bucket and said, "Yeah sorry about that. I was planning on hitting James or John who were an easier target but I kind of missed..."

Ashley's face turned a bright colored red, but instead of exploding like she usually would've done she walked over to Steven and grabbed a water balloon from the bucket. Steven looked at her with fear in his eyes while she balanced the balloon between her hands with a wicked smile on her face.

She was about to throw the balloon at Steven when instead she turned around and hit Kasey instead. Kasey's face lit up and she ran to where the bucket was. Minutes later there were water balloons flying everywhere. Well, everywhere except where the adults were. Kind of like a kids party.

Then I was tackled. At first I was confused, why would someone throw me to the floor in a water fight? But then I looked up and found Shawn's laughing face above me. He stood up with a knowing smirk. His right hand came from behind him with a blue balloon, possibly the biggest one they'd thrown.

I prepared myself for what I knew was coming. I put my hands on my head to protect my head and then I felt it. I'd been attacked.

Funny how a fun game can turn so violent.

Then I heard Shawn fall to the ground, laughing. It was a beautifull scene, even if I did feel like I was going to get a cold.

*

After the water fight finally ended and everyone had eaten the excessive amount of food they'd brought, I walked over to my mom who was (weirdly) talking to my dad. I couldn't hear anything they said, only one last phrase from my mom. "Until we meet again George, I hope we can remain friends." 

I smiled at the little piece of forgiveness I'd just witnessed. My mom saw me and hugged me tight. "Did you enjoy the party, sweetie?" I nodded. "I really did. Did you?" She let go of me and gave me a small smile. "Me too." 

I was giving my dad a goodbye hug when Shawn walked behind me. At first I didn't see him but I felt my dad stiffen and my mom laugh lightly. My dad released me and gave Shawn his deadliest glare. "Um, hi. I was wondering if I maybe could take Emma out one last time?" 

My mom shook her head no but I could see the humor in her eyes, she was hiding something. I tried hiding my disappointment in order to not seem desperate to be with Shawn more than I had already been with him for the past seven months, but I'm not really good at lying so...

Shawn gave me a sad face and quickly looked at my dad. I too looked at my dad and wondered why Shawn's face had slightly changed when he looked at him. He had an amused smile on his face. I frowned but shook it off, he was probably just happy to not let me go on the date.

"Sorry Shawn but we have to leave tomorrow in the morning and we need a good night sleep." He nodded in disappointment. "I understand Mrs. R."

I gave him a tight hug and said, "So I guess this is goodbye since tomorrow I'll be too asleep to even realize what's happening. You'll be at the airport, right?" We let go and he nodded. "I'll be there." He gave me a smile and walked to where his family's car was. I wonder if it was awkward for Tami's mom to be around Shawn's dad and his new family...

Half an hour later me and my mom were at home in our pajamas, binge watching How I Met Your Mother. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. My mom tried hiding her "knowing" smile but failed miserably. I stood up to open the door and was face to face with a very handsome young man in a tux. 

"I apologize for bothering at an hour like eight thirty but would you give me the pleasure of accompanying me to dinner?"

I never thought I'd get this attached to a book. I think the main reason it's been so hard for me to write is because I simply don't want it to end. But the end is near (and finished) and I really hope you have enjoyed reading this book as much as I have enjoyed writing it. I feel like I'm already saying goodbye! Haha

Also, pleaseeeee don't forget to vote if you liked this chapter❤️

Great, now I sound desperate. Let me try again.

If you liked this chapter, give it a vote! ❤️

Nope, that's worse. Now I sound like a youtuber. 

You know what? Screw it, vote if you want. It's your life, do whatever the heck you want. Byeeee😊❤️