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Chapter18
I just got off the bus and can see Bryson standing outside McDonald's. So far he seems to be alone but I scan the area to make sure. He spots me and waves before starting to walk towards me. I take a few deep breaths and plaster a small smile on my face. "He Matty...lida... sorry old habit. Want to get some lunch?" Bryson asks. "Hey, Bry how bout calling me Tilly for now? As for lunch umm something cheap 'cause I get to watch what I spend sorry" I reply. "Tilly it is and I'm not letting my baby cousin pay so let's go to the sushi train you used to love that" Bryson rushed out. You could tell he was just as nervous as me. "Bry we don't have to do this you know. I know it's weird so we can just forget it, it's fine" I say. "No no no. I want to get to know you but I don't want to push you and make you uncomfortable. It's so fucken weird. I mean we were close cause well we were the youngest but I don't know you anymore. I feel like I fucked up. Like you were hurt so much by your family and I didn't know. We weren't allowed near you and I didn't know why. I'm so sorry I couldn't help Tilly" he said.
I didn't blame Bryson he was like 14 when this all went down. There was nothing he could have done even if he wanted to. I nodded and said, "Right how about we get to know each other?" Bryson smiled and agreed before taking me to the sushi train for lunch. While we had lunch he told me about himself. He was studying at the same university I was going to be attending. He had just finished his first year of a marketing degree. He was meeting his friends for a big night out for his 19th birthday in 2 weeks and wished I was 18 so I could come too. I laughed at that. He told me they were going to do a family BBQ on Sunday if I wanted to come but I didn't want to agree because I wasn't ready. I told him I would never step foot in the family home again because of all the bad memories from there. I told him I was going on my first date on Friday and that I would be starting my law degree next year. I didn't tell him I would be at the same uni because I didn't want it to get back to my family. I wasn't ready for them to know just yet. I knew I had to tell them because my father was going to cover the cost but for right now I could keep that from them.
Bryson didn't push to know which uni either. He asked about my date and who it was with. He seemed genuinely interested in getting to know me for who I am. We ate way too much food and laughed but he also wanted to know how juvie was. I told him about my nightmares and PTSD and showed him my scar from being stabbed. He was mortified that a bunch of girls would act like that, but girls are ruthless and when you lock them together there is going to be chaos. He was not impressed that I snapped the chick's wrist but that's how it is inside you do what you got to do to survive. Finally, we headed down for a swim.
We put our stuff down in between the flags. I stood on the water's edge watching the water. I grew up at the beach but it had been over 4 years since I had been in the ocean and I wasn't sure if I could do it. Bryson stood beside me looking out at the water before asking "Whatcha thinking about?". "Not sure I will be able to do this. It's been over four years and I'm worried I won't remember how to swim" I replied. Bryson nodded and said it's like riding a bike and besides I'm with you, you won't drown" Before he laughed and took off into the surf. I took a deep breath and headed into the water diving under the waves crashing on the shore. I smiled a genuine smile when I came up and started bobbing in the waves. I was happy, water was always my happy place. I felt free and relaxed and rejuvenated all in one go. Bryon came next to me and said "You look genuinely happy Tilly, I'm glad. You now always look like you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, but in this moment you look like a normal teenage kid". He leaned over and kissed my head before pushing me under the water. I came up coughing and laughing at the same time. Here I thought he was going to be nice, instead, he dunked me. I jumped on his back and tried to get him under water but it didn't work he was way too big haha.
We spent a few hours at the beach and by now it was close to five so I was going to head back to the Addison. Bryson was walking me up trying to convince me to let him drive me back to where I was staying but I didn't want him to know where I lived. As we walked up to the bus stop Bryson was stopped by some of his mates to catch up. I had 2 minutes till my bus came so I excused myself and said bye to Bryson and that I'd see him again soon and headed to the bus stop. I genuinely had a good day today and hadn't thought about the call at all. I made it back to the Addison at about 5.20 pm and was greeted by Levi and Harley. I told them I was going to have a shower and I would meet them in the dining room when I was done.