Oh my goodness... *gapes*

Is this...the end?

...So this is how it feels like to complete a book...

I can't believe it! I finished my first book without deleting it! Thank you so much for reading this book!! It has been an honour to entertain you, if you came this far (if I entertained you, that is. I hope it is!).

Thank you for getting this book to #695 in Mystery-Thriller!! Seriously, I do not know how we got there, but we did! And I'm forever in your gratitude <3

I'm not going to write anything sappy, not because I don't want to, but because (ironically), I don't know what to say. I am really glad that you (as the reader) read my book and I wish I could find a better way of expressing my gratitude instead of say in 'Thank you'.

I'll think of something.

As we conclude the book, do you have any questions?

Comment them here and I'll be sure to reply to them at a separate chapter <3

Have an awesome day, and for what it's worth, Happy Early Christmas!! :)

•

              “YOU MAY NOW kiss the bride,” The priest announced, with a warm and radiant smile on his face.

               The bride lifted her veil from her face to reveal Perez, who was grinning from ear to ear. Johnson mirrored her expression. One hand was on her waist and the other was behind her hair before he leaned down to place a kiss on her lips.

              The whole church burst into cheers and applause. Dawn was on her feet, along with Jace, Parker and Jack, clapping her hands. A whistle came from Jack and Jace hooted while Parker actually smiled.

               Nearly four months had passed since Bailey's arrest and the rescue of the hostages from D.A.B. After a lot of persuading from Dawn, Johnson finally asked Perez out and one thing led to another.

              Even though Dawn was joyous, she was a little down because Bailey wasn't with her. After months of being mistreated by Madison and being abandoned, they finally had a mother and a father. Dawn believed with all her heart that Johnson and Perez would fit in very well into their new roles as parents.

              Dawn wished that Bailey was there with her, during Perez's and Johnson's. The ceremony was wonderful. Dawn was a flower girl and she walked with Johnson down the aisle to give him away, since she was the closest family he had.

               His parents, as well as Perez's, attended the ceremony, ecstatic that their son was finally getting married. They knew about Johnson's views about women, so when they received the invitation about his wedding, they flew into the state to see who was the lady who captured his heart.

               Perez's parents approved of Johnson. He was strong, had a stable job and trustworthy in their eyes, making him perfect for their daughter. They treated him like a son, just like the way Johnson's parents treat Perez like a daughter.

               Jack, Jace and Parker were guests that Dawn personally invited. Jack would have come anyway, because his parents insisted on coming for Johnson's wedding. After rescuing their son, Jack's parents grew fond of Perez and Johnson and claimed that they were forever in their debt for saving Jack.

              Also on the topic of being in debt to someone, Dawn grew closer to Jack after he helped them take down D.A.B. Their relationship also developed into something much more, but Dawn still found that she had feelings for Jace as well.

               The three are currently in a love triangle — the beauteous blonde, the quarterback and the Prime Minister's son because Dawn couldn't choose who she preferred to date. That suited the boys fine because at least they would get to date her and she got to date them both individually.

               It didn't matter who Dawn was dating to Johnson, however. He would still be harsh towards them, only caring about his daughter. Perez would often tease Dawn about her relationship, happy for Dawn, even though it was a strange, dysfunctional relationship.

             Jack, Dawn and Jace made it work, though. Aside from each other, the three would go out with other people on the side from time to time, but their relationship with each other is their main one.

              After the conclusion of the wedding, everyone left the church to go for the after party. The after party was on the beach, requested by Perez, where there was an open tent for the guests to sit, as well as the buffet and music. Everyone had kicked off their shoes to enjoy the soft sand between their toes and the salty scent of the ocean.

             As they all lined up to serve something to eat, Dawn found herself next to Parker.

           “Hey Parker,” She greeted.

           Parker turned to look at her, before a ghost of a smile appeared on his face. “Blondie,”

          “What? No sunshine?”

            Parker rarely addressed Dawn by her actual name. He would call her names which he found fitting to her, such as ‘Blondie’ because of the colour of her hair or ‘Sunshine’ because her name was Dawn.

              “Not today,” He took two plates, one for himself and Dawn, before he began to serve.

              “How are you doing?”

              “Better,”

              “Do you still think about her?”

               Parker's expression hardened slightly. “Yes, but not as much as I used to,”

               Dawn was one of the few people who knew about Parker's crush on Bailey. Even after he was kidnapped, he still cared about her, but the feelings started to fade away with time as he was tortured more and more by D.A.B. In addition, it was months seen he had seen Bailey or heard her voice.

             “I should be asking you that question,” He turned to look at the beauteous blonde. “Do you still think about her?”

               “She's my twin sister. Of course, I do. She's a part of me,” Dawn let out a sigh. “I just wish she was here to see this,”

                Parker didn't reply. He bit his lip as he placed a hand on Dawn's shoulder. Dawn looked up at him with a sad smile.

               His hand left her shoulder, as strands of her hair passed through his fingers. “Hey, your hair is growing back,”

            Her blue eyes lightened up. “It is? Yes! That's great news! I miss my long hair,”

            Parker chuckled.

            “So what's going to happen to you, Parking Lot?” Dawn asked, grinning. “How is your story going to turn?” Dawn really pondered over a nickname for Parker. She tried shortening his name to ‘Park’, but somehow, it turned into ‘Parking Lot’.

               Parker scowled at the nickname. “I think I'll stick with the lone wolf act. Thanks. Somehow, I think being mysterious, moody and quiet is working for me. Girls seem to love it,” He shrugged, smirking down at the blonde.

             “I think you've been hanging around Jack too much. He's starting to rub off of you,” Dawn laughed, shaking her head.

             “The idiot loves me. I try to stay away from him but he's like a mosquito,”

            “You also love him. Don't even think about lying to me. I think he also likes your lone wolf act. Nice job, Parking Lot. You not attract girls, but somehow you've managed to put Jack under your hypnotic spell,”

             Parker failed to contain his snort mixed with a laugh. The two rejoined Jace and Jack at their table inside the open tent. As they ate, they engaged in numerous stories as well as sharing anecdotes.

              After what had happened to the four, the four were happy to laugh and joke around again. Things had returned to normal, well, almost normal. There were still moments where the four would reflect back on the past events that happened earlier that year, still haunted and traumatised by them, but they refused to let Bailey take the happiness and comfort that they found in each other.

             After a toast from Johnson, everyone finished up rhwor meals and people started to dance on the beach. The older adults remained in the tent, talking with one another.

              The gang broke up, with Jack off flirting with the other girls on the beach, dragging Parker along with him. Jace and Dawn were walking on the beach. Jace's arm was around Dawn's waist and the beauteous blonde leaned her head instinctively on his shoulder, her hand wrapping around his waist.

             The two were teasing with each other. Before, Dawn had noticed that instead of listening to what she was saying, Jace's attention was on a brunette in her bathing suit. Thus, she pushed him.

              She had intended for him to move a few feet to his left, towards the water. Dawn wasn't angry, because there were times where Dawn would do the same to Jace and he'd get jealous.

             However, since he was distracted, Jace toppled into the water head first, his clothes drenched in salty water.

              Bursting into laughter, Dawn held up the edges of her dress and began to run, knowing that Jace was going to run after her. She was right. He jumped to his feet and he began to chase her. After a couple of seconds, he was able to catch her by grabbing her waist.

             She let out a squeal as he pulled her towards him, making her dress also get wet. He laughed, before wrapping his hand around her waist and she wrapped her hand around his. Her head rested on his shoulder and she was well aware that her hair was ruined, after hours of preparation.

             However, she didn't mind.

             “Dawn, your jealousy always seems to astound me,” His grin grew even larger.

             “Sometimes I feel like you flirt with other girls just to get a reaction out of me, Jace,”

            “You may just be on to something there,”

             At that moment, Jace's laughter had subsided and a comfortable silence fell between the two.

            “Dawn?” Jace spoke up after about a minute.

            “Yes, Jace?”

           “Do you think we'll ever have what Johnson and Perez have?”

           “Of course, we will. Even if it's not with each other. As long as we don't overthink it,”

          “Right,” Jace nodded, before he placed his head on top of Dawn's. “Let's savour the moments between you and I,”

           “Now you've got it right,”

          “Speaking of which, that bastard Jack has been hijacking our dates for the past two weeks. I think a date with you is overdue,”

            “And why should I go out with you?”

             “Because through that statement, I can see that you're considering the idea,”

            “Good point,”

            “Hey Jace!” Jack's voice interrupted the two of them. “Johnson told me to call you. Your father is on the phone. He wants to know what time you'll be home,”

            The quarterback groaned. “I'll be right back,” He pulled Dawn close to him to place a kiss on Dawn's forehead before he removed his arm from her shoulder and he was off, heading for the tent.

             When Jace was out of an earshot, Jack grabbed Dawn's hand and he pulled her away from Jace's view. Dawn chuckled as they meandered through people and umbrellas on the beach. They went behind a snack bar and Jack poked his head behind them, to ensure no one was following them.

               “Finally, he's out of the picture. I didn't think Jace would buy it,” Jack smirked, looking at the beauteous blonde.

              “You lied to Jace,” Dawn feigned surprise. The reason why she faked it was because this was something Jack did often.

              “But I did it for a reason. Now we are alone together,” He placed his hand on the wall, beside Dawn's left ear.

              Dawn's hands were behind her. “Jace is going to be furious once he figures it out,”

              “I can live with that. The boy is so gullible. What do you even see in him?”

             “The same thing I see in you,”

               Jack scowled. “I'm just ignore what you've said because it is a day full of celebrations and joy. Speaking of celebrations, we should celebrate the marriage of your parents,”

              He placed his hand on his hip. “What do you say, doll? Tonight. You, me and a crazy night full of adventure,”

             “What about the reception?”

            “They won't even notice that we are gone. We'll slip in much later, when the drinks are done and people can't get themselves more intoxicated than they already are,”

            “My parents are cops, idiot. They are bound to notice,”

           “In case you didn't notice, I'm a little bit of a rebel,” He smirked.

            “My father will never like you if you did that,”

             “He doesn't like Jace either, even though he's practically golden boy. Very stupid and absent minded most of the time but still a golden boy compared to me. Your father can't keep me away from you. Or should I say, he can't keep you away from me? You care about me too much that a day without me will kill you,”

               “Shut up, Jack,”

               “I'll take that as a yes to my offer,”

               “No!” Jace's voice cut through the conversation.

               Jack let out a string of profanities, as he laid his head on Dawn's shoulder. He removed his hand from the wall and placed them on Dawn's waist. “What do you want now, Jace? Can't you see I'm busy here?”

              “Gee, I hadn't noticed,” Jace said, dryly. “There was no phone call from my father,”

              “Really? I didn't know,” Jack mumbled as he buried his nose on the crook of Dawn's neck.

             Dawn was trying her hardest not to laugh at the sarcasm in both their voices.

              “I bet you also don't know what's coming to you,” Jace pulled Jack away from Dawn, before punching him in the jaw.

             Jack held his jaw, nursing it in his hands. His eyes narrowed into slits. “You're going to pay for that!”

             Jace took off running on the beach with Jack following, closely behind. Dawn chuckled as she walked behind them.

           Her dress was blowing through the wind, along with her hair. Parker was right. It had grown from her shoulders down to the upper half of her back.

             Speaking of Parker, Dawn found him lying on a beach towel, listening to a blonde girl speak. Well, he appeared as if he was listening. When his eyes landed on Dawn, he smiled at her, signalling for him to rescue her.

             She shook her head no, smiling deviously and continued on her way. She knew that Parker would get her back on that. But that was to happen on another day, another time.

              At that point, Dawn felt content with her life. She was still attending Melrose Academy, doing very well in school. Her best friend was now Parker who would insult her every now and then but that was what their friendship was built on. He would look out for her just as she looked for him.

             She had two boyfriends - one very attractive and kind, while the other one was very irresistible and charming. Both would often get distracted with other girls, however, she would be there to straighten them out, just like the way she would get distracted with other boys and they would be there to straighten her out. She cared about both of them dearly.

               To top that off, she finally had parents that she could call her own who loved and cherished her. Johnson was quite different compared to her late father. He was more strict and protective, but Dawn knew it was because he was looking out for her. Perez was kind and caring, the complete opposite of Madison. Perez and Johnson were a perfect couple and Dawn believed that it was because they were polar opposites. Their different personalities completed and complimented each other.

              As for the male investigator, he had never been happier. He had a wife and a daughter...a family, which was something he had wanted for the longest time. He loved them both with all his heart because Perez and Dawn were the one of the most important people in his life.

             It was a different story for Bailey, though. Johnson, Perez and Dawn went to visit her twice after her arrest, but both visits didn't last for more than ten minutes. Both times the juvenile guard had to take Bailey away, before she could inflict any harm to Johnson, Dawn or Perez.

             The same couldn't be said for Madison, though. The Johnson's visited her at least three times. Her near death experience had changed her and even though, she, too, was imprisoned because of Mr Harris's murder, she had become a better person in general. In the future, this was what led to the shortening of her sentence.

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