Chapter 44

I bit my lip in anticipation. I knew this was too much, I knew it. Maybe it wasn't too late to go up and change? I tried to read his facial expression but the look he had plastered across his face could mean a number of things. His eyes were fixed on me, moving slowly up and down. His lips were parted slightly.

I tried to distract myself by looking at what he was wearing. Wes looked super cute in his suit jacket and tie, he was even wearing dress shoes. After standing there for what seemed like hours he finally said something.

"Avery..." I looked up so I was gazing directly into his eyes. "You look incredible." He said. He still had the same expression, but there was a new look in his eyes. Much to my relief he now looked awestruck. I saw Adrianna on the other side of the foyer give me a thumbs up. She gave me this look that said: I told you looked hot. I couldn't help it I smiled at her and directed my attention back to my awesome boyfriend who then held out his arm for me.

"Wesley Trent Stromberg, you clean up nice." I said as he opened the car door for me. I heard him laugh before walking over to his door.

"How did you know my middle name?" He smirked "Please don't tell me my mom pulled out the photo album or something." The fact that he looked a little scared that I had seen him in his awkward stage made me laugh.

"Nah, Keaton told me." I replied and a look of relief passed over his face. Just to play with him a little I added, "But there were pictures involved." I smiled.

"I'm going to kill that kid, I really am." He said shaking his head from side to side. I could tell he wasn't actually mad though because he kept trying to bite his smile back. "Speaking of nice," He said, "you don't look too bad yourself." He took his right hand off the wheel to pinch my arm.

"Really? It's not too much? All this stuff is Adrianna's and she insisted on doing my hair and my make up, and letting me borrow her shoes..." I rambled.

"No seriously, you look amazing." He told me. "And tonight, you're all mine." He added with his little half smirk.

When we pulled up to the restaurant the valet took our car and we were seated immediately. "Stromberg, party of two?" I heard the hostess say as we entered the establishment. Wes nodded and we were led to a table in a quiet corner at the back of the restaurant.

The night progressed nicely, but the air was dripping with tension. We both knew that we had to talk about us. Where we would go from here, whether or not there would even be an us. After dinner when he started walking me to the door I had to say something. "Wesley..." I began, but he cut me off.

"Avery, please. I can't talk about it, I just can't." He looked down at his hand and started playing with his jacket.

"I don't want to either. But Wes, we have to." I said tears pooling in the corners of my eyes. I managed to hold it in and blink them back, but I still felt so empty inside. When I got on that plane tomorrow I would be leaving a part of myself behind.

"What am I supposed to say?" He asked, his voice stronger than it was before. "Am I supposed to be supportive of this? Am I not supposed to be upset that the girl that I'm in love with is moving 3000 miles away, and I might never see her again?" I don't know what caught me more off guard, the fact that Wes just told me that he loved me or the fact that he was actually starting to cry too. I was too shocked to actually speak but I managed to choke out,

"What?"

"Avery, I love everything about you. The way you always try to skate in front of me when we race, how you bite your lip whenever you're thinking about something." He said and I stopped biting my bottom lip. I was surprised that there was actually someone paying attention to me. He continued, "The way you look after Keaton like he's your own brother, how you love to surf as much as I do... The fact that you're an amazing singer but you refuse to acknowledge it. You make me feel like the luckiest guy in the entire world because you're so honest and humble and you never stop believing in me no matter what I do." 

No one has ever said anything like that to me, ever. I could literally hear my heart shattering in my chest. The fact that I would have to leave him completely broke me. That was it, the tears started to fall. Wes wrapped me in his arms and pulled me to his chest. I clutched on to his shirt and continued to cry as he held me.

We sat down on the bench and I curled up into his shoulder. I kicked off my shoes and we just sat there on the deck, watching the stars.

"You're the biggest inspiration to me Wes, you never abandon your dreams. You're an honorable guy, you're so talented and sweet, and you never ever give up on your friends and family. You're the first guy that actually likes me for me, and that's why I love you." I said. I couldn't believe that I just said it that easily, I love you. The words flew out of my mouth like a waterfall. I told Wes that I loved him, and I meant it.

I tilted my face up and saw Wesley smiling like a complete idiot. Then again, his smile was contagious and before I knew it I was smiling like an idiot too. "I love you Averanda- wait. I don't know your middle name." He said poking me on the cheek with his finger.

"Haha, no way! I'm not telling!" I said laughing. He shrugged his shoulders.

"Okay that's cool, I could just text your dad." He said daringly.

"You're joking. You don't even have his number." I said cautiously. Apparently he took this as a dare and he pulled up Rick's contact info.

"You wouldn't dare." I said on the verge of grinning, but I didn't want to let him know that he won just yet.

"Oh I would." He smirked and pushed call.

"Okay, Okay! Just hang up! I'll tell you!" I tried reaching for the call end button, but Wes held the phone above my head. "Wesleyyyy!!!! I'll tell you!" He laughed and pushed end before my dad had the chance to pick up.

"My full name is Averanda Luciana Bianchi. When my dad left, my mom switched back to her maiden name, Brayden and Sam and I did the same." I said. He grinned at me.

"Wow that's very... Italian?" Wes guessed.

"Well my middle and last names are Italian, my first name my mother came up with. I'm actually pretty sure she just made it up." I laughed.

"Haha, I like it. It's very sexy." He said shooting me another grin. I punched him in the shoulder but couldn't help smiling.

"Anyway, my dad is one hundred percent Italian. He moved with his family to the states when he was around 15." I said retelling the parts that I actually remembered about my dad's family history.

"But his first name is Rick?"

"Ricardo. After he left I vowed to cut out all the Italian parts of my name, which meant going by Avery Brayden."  I said intertwining my fingers with Wesley's.

"That's why you changed your name? Because of your dad?" He asked.

"Yeah, well that and the fact that you can't find the name Averanda on a keychain." I joked. I loved how I could just tell him anything. Wesley never judged me, he just listened. The thing I was going to miss most was having someone to talk to, someone who understands me like Wes does.

"I wish we could stay out here forever." Wes said.

"Same. The stars are so beautiful out here, you can always see them at night, no matter how many city lights are shining." I said in awe.

"Hey babe, look! It's a shooting star!" Wes pointed his finger up at the sky. I looked where he was pointing.

"That's a plane Wes." I said laughing.

"No, over there." And sure enough a star was zooming across the sky. "Make a wish." He said stroking my cheek with his thumb. I had no idea what to wish for, should I wish to stay? I almost did, but then I decided that would be too selfish. At last I settled on a wish. When the star passed I wished that Wesley's wish would come true. He's done so much for me; he deserves to have his wish come true.

"Did you make a wish?" I asked him and he nodded.

"Yep." He said happily.

"Okay, well don't tell me because then it won't come true." I warned him.

"I know the rules Aves." He said grinning. "Besides, this wish is too important. I need it to come true."

I knew I had made the right choice wishing for Wesley's wish to come true. If his wish was this important, then I'm glad I helped him out.

"So, it's only 9:30." I said, "What do you want to do?"

"We can get everyone together at my place. I know Keats and Drew will want to see you before you go." He said pulling out his phone. "Okay, I'll grab Adrianna. I'm gonna go change." I told him opening the front door. We both strolled in and Wes plopped down on the couch. I started up the stairs and heard Wes call my name.

"Yeah?" I responded.

"Drew wants to know if he should get anything." Wes said hinting at alcohol.

"Yeah." I said peeking through the stair railing. "I'm about to leave some of the best people that I have ever met. I'm going to need it." 

I came back down the stairs in new clothes with Adrianna behind me. She was holding a bottle of tequila in her left hand.

"Where'd you manage to find that?" Wes laughed.

"I swiped it from Owen's stash." She said slipping it into her bag. "I would invite him to come, but he's out with his new girlfriend." Adrianna started laughing and I bit my lip so nothing would slip out. Wes gave us a weird look and when he turned his back I hit her on the arm. That just made her laugh harder, and finally I couldn't take it and exploded.

"What's up with you two?" Wes asked pulling his suit jacket back on and reaching for the doorknob.

"Nothing." She said. "Savannah's a keeper. That's all." I giggled again. Wes just grinned at us, happy to see we were laughing under the circumstances. My smile faded as I was reminded that I was to be boarding a plane in a few hours. I tried to smile though, for my friends' sake.

"Ladies." Wesley said holding his arms out for the both of us. I grinned for real and linked my arm through his as Adrianna did the same. Together, the three of us walked to Wes's car. As we strutted across the lawn I looked over at my two friends and realized that I wouldn't want to be with anybody else.

Ahh! We're almost nearing the end :( What do you guys think? Btw, because I love you guys I'm posting this chapter a day early :) Hope you guys like it!