The Resurrection of Aubrey Mill

Senior Year


Chapter Thirty-Five

I shiver in my coat, the cold air whipping around us as Quinn and I attempt to eat in the courtyard outside the cafeteria. The sky is grey as winter makes its presence known. I don’t think the sun has shined once during the last week.
“Quinn, it’s f*cking cold. Why are we eating out here again?” I sip my soup, trying to spread its warmth through my freezing body.
“Because I haven’t seen the light of day in weeks. I’m sick to death of being cooped up in my room, or the apartment, or the library. Finals are finally over with and I intend to enjoy the outside air for the next twenty-minutes or so. Deal with it,” she ends with a humor-filled smile as she takes a bite of her sandwich.
My head jerks at her snarkiness and my eyes widen. “Damn, Quinn. You do need to get out,” I say on a laugh.
She nods and continues to chew.
Once she swallows, she asks, “Speaking of finals, how were yours? You’re done now right?”
“Yeah, Pharmacology was surprisingly easy.”
Quinn smiles as I take another sip. “It’s like it was meant to be. Have you heard anything back yet?”
“No, not yet. I forwarded all my mail to Kaeleb’s address though. Who knows the last time he checked.”
Quinn’s grin spreads widely and her eyes fill with excited anticipation. “Oh my God! I can’t believe you’re moving in with him. And I can’t believe Tommy will be here next semester. We will both officially be living in sin.”
I crinkle my nose and shake my head. “I know. Weird, right?”
Quinn sighs. “Not really. You just know when it’s right, you know?”
“Yeah.” I sigh as I spot Kaeleb heading toward the table with a grin on his face. The sight of him still makes my heart race. “You do.”
Quinn notices my distracted gaze and turns over her shoulder, giggling as she twists back to face me. She waggles her eyebrows and I shake my head. “You’re ridiculous.”
Another giggle. “I’m not. I’m romantic. And I like to see you happy.”
She winks at me as Kaeleb takes his seat, setting his backpack on the ground. He smiles at both of us as we fall silent. “Interrupting something?”
“Not really,” I respond.
“We were talking about mail,” Quinn interjects, obviously impatient for my letter. “Have you checked yours lately?”
Kaeleb belts out a laugh and bends toward his backpack, unzipping the front pocket. “I have, in fact.” An envelope flies across the table and lands right beside my soup, Midwestern University College of Medicine stamped on the corner.
My eyes grow wide and I swallow forcefully as I stare at it. Raising my head, I’m met with one pair of green eyes brimming with uncontainable glee and a set of hazel-brown ones full of reassurance. Kaeleb tightens his gaze. “You’ve got this, Bree. Open it.” He dips his head in the direction of the letter.
My hands tremble as I reach down and pick it up. Slipping my finger underneath the flap, I slide it slowly along the seal until it pops open, the typed contents on the inside of the paper screaming at me to remove it. I glance to Quinn, and then Kaeleb, before reaching inside and extracting the letter. I open it, and read the first two lines:
“Dear Ms. Miller,
Thank you for your submission. We have reviewed your application and are pleased to inform you of your acceptance…”
“Oh my God!” My head jerks up. “Oh my God!”
I bound off my seat and shout, “OH MY GOD!”
Kaeleb smiles widely as he stands, and I shuffle along the cement bench until I’m free, jumping into his arms and wrapping my legs around his waist. He catches me, squeezing tightly as he laughs, “I told you there was nothing to worry about.”
I squeeze my hold around his neck. “Kaeleb! I’m going to med school!”
He chuckles. “I know, babe, you are. And I’m going with you.”
I gasp and press away from him, as I inquire, “What? Did you get yours today too?”
He nods, placing me on my feet before retrieving his own letter. “Midwestern University Physical Therapy Program, baby!”
“AHHHHH!!!!” Quinn shouts as she jumps up from the table, running over and circling us both with her arms. “I’m so happy! I think I’m about to cry!”
Kaeleb kisses us both on the top of the head before releasing us from our embrace.
Quinn looks at Kaeleb and me, pride in her eyes. “Well, I guess this is as good a time as any to tell you both I’ve picked a major. Finally.”
“Really?” I shout, excitement still coursing through my voice. With her extended absence from school, she’ll technically be a junior next semester. I know she’s been debating a few options and honestly, I can’t wait to see what she’s landed on.
“I know it’s no acceptance letter, but I’ve finally made the decision.” She looks at both of us. “I’ve decided that I want to major in Sociology so I can become a social worker. I want to try to help whoever I can.” Her expression becomes shy. “I mean, so much of my life has been wasted on things that don’t really even matter, you know? I feel as though I can atone for that by making a difference in other people’s lives.”
I place my hand on her shoulder and give her a smile full of knowing and admiration. “I completely understand, Quinn. More than you realize.”
She grins back at me as Kaeleb adds, “Quinn, you’re going to make a difference no matter what you do. It’s your most innate quality.” Her cheeks redden as he pulls her snug into his waist. “You’ll make a terrific social worker.”
As she embraces him, I watch the exchange with a grin on my face. The two most important people in my life are standing in front of me on what is quite possibly the biggest day of my life. I wouldn’t have it any other way. It feels…complete.
Still smiling, we all take our original seats, the bitter cold no longer noticeable with our excitement.
“Wow. It’s a big day, huh,” I say.
Kaeleb glances at me with a hint of mischief in his eyes. “Indeed it is.”
He places his elbows on the table and leans forward. “I’ve got something else for you.”
My brows furrow in question as he looks to Quinn. “I figured you of all people would want to be present for this.”
Quinn’s eyes triple in size as she slowly slides them in my direction, and I meet her stunned expression with one of my own. We stare at each other, speechless, as the sound of the zipper on Kaeleb’s backpack breaks the silence around us.
Hairs lift all over my body as he rises, making his way to my side while Quinn forcefully jerks her head, indicating that I should perhaps be looking at Kaeleb instead of her.
Yeah, she’s probably right.
I clear my throat and shift my body to the right, facing him as he gets down on one knee in front of me. A crowd has somehow formed around us in the past five seconds, but I couldn’t care less about the onlookers as Kaeleb presents me with a black velvet-covered box.
He swallows deeply and clears his throat.
“Bree. I lost you once when we were eight years old. I didn’t even realize that my heart had been searching for yours through all the years since, until that one day when I walked into my Boarding Buddy’s room.” He breaks his speech to grin at Quinn before looking back to me. “And even though you didn’t know it at the time, I knew I had finally found you. My soul breathed for the first time in ten years. That’s how I knew it was you. It was always you.”
A lump forms in my throat and tears begin to roll down my cheeks.
“I lost you again soon after. I allowed you to disappear into your darkness. But I always knew you were still in there somewhere. You see, we’re intertwined. Tethered. Bound. And even while you thought you were alone, you weren’t. I had a strong hold on that cord connecting us and there was no way in hell I was letting you go. I will always be your anchor, Bree.”
His eyes narrow as he gestures between us. “These ties can’t be broken. Our bonds are secure.”
Quinn sniffles beside me, but my eyes remain trained on Kaeleb.
“But I couldn’t tell you that, because this time around, it wasn’t about my search for you. It was about you finding yourself. Your courage. Your strength. Your love. All the amazing things that make you, you. And somehow, you managed to do it. You worked your way back up, pull by painstaking pull, until you rose up and finally found your way back to me.”
His eyes shine as he finishes his proposal. “And I guess what I’m asking is now that you’ve found your way home” he gives me a crooked smile, “would you like to continue this journey through life together, as my wife?”
He flips open the box and I cover my mouth.
Inside is a perfectly cut, round, canary diamond. It’s outlined with a single crescent shape filled with tiny clear diamonds of its own. I smile to myself, and my heart leaps at the thought of wearing a constant reminder of Kaeleb’s love.
I remain mesmerized by the sight as he says, “You have always been and will always be, my sunshine.”
“The sun and the moon,” I whisper in response, my eyes still trained on the ring.
“Naturally,” he responds, as murmurs and gasps fill the crowd around us.
My eyes land on his just as someone from the surrounding horde yells, “ANSWER HIM!”
A smile breaks across my face as I nod vigorously. “Yes!”
Rising up off his knee, Kaeleb whisks the ring out of the box. He takes my hand into his, leaning forward and brushing his lips against mine. “I love you, Bree.”
“I love you too, Kaeleb.” He pulls back and holds the ring in my direct line of sight, tilting it so I can see the inscription on the inside of the band.
Shine bright. Shine always.
I release a sob and once again face Kaeleb. My eyes latch onto his as I whisper back, “Always.”
He nods and slides the ring onto my finger before placing another kiss on my lips. The crowd hoots and hollers around us, causing us to break apart. My face reddens as I hurriedly take my seat across from Quinn. Kaeleb, however, bows to the crowd, eliciting an eruption of more cheers.
Quinn bounds off her seat, clapping. “You guys are getting married! I told you! I knew it!”
I roll my eyes and shake my head, then grin.
Yep.
That boy is all mine.
For the rest of our lives.
Thirty minutes later, after we’ve finished lunch, we all grab our backpacks and head to the parking lot. Passing through another horde gathered for some student function, Quinn leads the way as Kaeleb and I walk hand-in-hand behind her. I glance up to him, smiling widely. He grins back and leans into me, brushing his lips against my forehead.
We’re so lost in our bubble of love that we run right into the back of Quinn, who has stopped unexpectedly. “Quinn!” I laugh. “What’s wrong with you?”
Pulling Kaeleb behind me, I step beside her as a nasty, evil, malicious snicker rises above the murmurs of the crowd around us.
My eyes break away from Quinn, and I turn to see Sabrina standing there with a contorted leer on her face, eyeing us like she just stepped in dog shit. I narrow my eyes at her and can feel Kaeleb’s seething anger beating against the back of my neck.
“Oh. My. Gawd,” she begins, thrusting her huge purse over her shoulder while smacking her gum. “Look. It’s the freak and the freak lover, getting married,” she scoffs as her eyes land on my hand. “I can’t wait to see the monstrosities you spit out of your body, Raven. I’m sure you’ll have a household of freaks at your disposal.”
“It’s Aubrey,” I reply calmly. Kaeleb’s body tenses against the back of mine, so I reach behind me to keep him still.
“Whatever, Aubrey. A tiger can’t change its stripes, no matter how much dye it uses to cover them up. Once a freak, always a freak.”
And for the second time today, we find ourselves surrounded by a mass of curious people, most likely drawn by Sabrina’s threatening tone.
Quinn steps directly in front of us, placing her tiny body protectively in front of mine and Kaeleb’s. I try really hard not to smile, but I find it damn near impossible. Kaeleb doesn’t even bother as the warmth of his laughter hits the shell of my ear.
“Get the f*ck out of here, Sabrina. No one wants to hear the hateful shit that comes out of your mouth,” Quinn spits. And just as Sabrina opens said mouth, Quinn’s voice strengthens and she yells, “Do you?” She gestures to the people around us. “Does ANYONE want to hear ANYTHING that she has to say?”
There’s a collective “no” amongst the herd. Someone adds, “Yeah, you’re a bitch!” while another person throws in, “Go away, Sabrina!” just before a squeaky, timid voice from the back somewhere shouts, “You’re an awful person!”
That one makes me smile.
Quinn looks around and a grin crosses her face in appreciation for the comments. Sabrina, however, winces with each one as her face blushes beet red.
But Quinn’s not done yet.
“Where’s Josh? Oooooh! That’s right. He’s with Candace now. They’re engaged, yes?” Quinn asks as her face falls serious. “Sucks, doesn’t it? That explains why you no longer have any friends.” She glances back at me and Kaeleb. “Well, I do. I’ve been waiting four long years for this day and I refuse to let you ruin it for me.” She pauses. “Or for them. Sorry guys.” She throws over her shoulder in a low, apologetic tone.
“It’s okay,” I yell-whisper back to her.
She looks back to Sabrina. “So, go. Get out of here. No one wants you here,” Quinn adds, shooing her away with her hands. The crowd erupts with clapping and cheering when Sabrina hesitantly turns away, clearly embarrassed as she trudges her way down the sidewalk.
The smile finally breaks free from my reins as I relax my body into Kaeleb’s. He wraps his arms around my shoulders, his body shaking with laughter. “Damn. Just when I thought this day couldn’t get any better.”
“Right?” I respond as his lips find my ear.
Quinn turns around with a beaming smile, clapping as she bounces up and down. “That was so awesome!”
I laugh. “Hell yeah, it was!”
I extend my arms and she rushes into them. Kaeleb releases me and steps to my side, ruffling her hair. “Damn, girl. Remind me not to piss you off.”
She giggles in my arms and I release her, tightening my gaze in confusion. “How did you know all of that stuff about Josh and Candace?”
She answers with a shrug of her shoulders. “My therapist told me I needed to work on letting go of what happened. So one day I called Josh and he apologized. Like, a sincere apology. I could tell.” She lifts her eyebrows and nods her head as though trying to convince me, but I have no doubt it was.
Sabrina is a virus, feeding off of people and infecting them with her evil as she manipulates their minds in the process. Not that I will ever condone what happened with Josh, but if his apology was enough for Quinn, it’s enough for me.
“It only took a week or so after what happened at the club for her to turn that maliciousness on to both him and Candace. I guess with me out of the picture, she had to find some other people to attack.” She sighs. “He broke it off with her shortly after, and even tried to get in contact with me to tell me how sorry he was. He’s not a bad person, and evidently, neither is Candace.”
She shrugs her shoulders and releases a long breath. “It’s no surprise to me that Sabrina bullied them into doing things that weren’t really indicative of who they are as people. Because a bully is all she is. All she ever will be. It’s sad really, when you think about it,” Quinn states sincerely with a sad smile on her face.
Leave it to Quinn to be able to forgive like that. Another reason why she is an amazing person.
“I let go of that a long time ago. But there was no way I was going to let her ruin today. For any of us,” she adds with a giggle before glancing down at my hand and reaching for it. “Speaking of which…let me see that ring again!”
I lift my hand and she oohs and aahs appropriately. My eyes land on Kaeleb, and his sexy, confident half-smile makes my chest flutter like crazy.
As soon as my heart takes flight, the clouds break and the first appearance of the sun in over a week can be felt as the heat of its rays bounce off my back.
Coincidence? I think not.
I turn away from him and shield my eyes, looking up into the single beam as it covers us. Absorbing its warmth, I feel the love of Linda as she sends me her message of approval. I allow her essence to flood me, knowing she’s happy now and that she will always remain ever-present as she guides me through this life.
Kaeleb gives me credit for pulling my way out of the darkness, but as I feel her permeate my being, I know she was always right behind me, in both life and death, pushing with all her might until I found my way.
Until I navigated my way right to this very moment.
And as I drop my hand from my face, I give her a silent thank you before twisting my body to face Kaeleb. With his eyes gentle, full of adoration and caring, I know without a doubt that she’s helped steer me right where I need to be.
Home.