Chapter 103: Chapter 103

Chapter 103 Beautiful

I had yet to tell Colton the exciting news. I guess we both got too caught up in each other yesterday that it slipped my mind. Now that I had recalled the previous events, though, I couldn't wait to inform him.

I arose that Saturday morning, wearing my famous white whale pajamas with a cup of hot coffee at my lips as I sat on the couch, watching the morning news waiting for Colton to wake up. Pancakes that were still warm were stacked atop the counter, the smell lingering around the home sweetly.

I wondered how he would react, though, I am a bit nervous about accepting the offer. Life as I know it would change drastically, the simplicity gone as well as the daily struggles of finance. Is this something that I really want? To chase my dream yet be bombarded by fame, my privacy stripped away or disregarded?

I think I'm ready, but is it really what I want?

I thought for a bit, thinking about all the different things I could do with money if I had lots of it. I could buy a nice home, settle down and relax. I think it's what I deserve, I think it's what Colton deserves.

I could even use the money to help Colton get back on his feet again.

If I do this, I'm only going to do this if I take some of my money and put them towards good causes.

Planning out your future is exciting, especially when you do have the money to make those dreams blossom into reality.

With a newfound excitement, I presented Colton with a smile on my face when he walked out of his room. He stretched and yawned, mouth wide open and eyes squinting as he did so. Hair was a ruffled mass on his head and he scratched his belly. He wore black and red plaid pajama bottoms and a plain white muscle tank which showed off all his scars and few tattoos he had.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" He asks, raising an eyebrow with a quizzical look on his face.

I shrug. "I-I have some news.....good news this time, that I forgot to tell you about yesterday because of what happened." I said.

"Good news?" He hums, "I could use some good news for once." He sits down on the recliner across from me, elbows on knees and his face resting in his hands as he stares at me with eagerness.

My heart pounds in my chest because I don't know for sure how he will react. Will he want publicity drawn to him? Will the possibility of fame be too much for him to handle and would he leave me?

But at the same time I'm excited. Too many possibilities that I've yet to explore lie in wait.

"Well, as you know I had a performance the other day at work. Everyone was there, Dagger was there as usual and what I didn't know all this time was that he actually works at a record label company.....and by works there I mean he practically owns the place." I tell him.

Colton raises both of his eyebrows and sticks out his bottom lip, as if he's either surprised or thinking.

"Well, he called his brother as well as a few colleagues that he works with there and told them about me. Apparently, he was quite impressed with my voice, so much so, in fact, that he wanted other people's opinions on it. He invited them over and they liked me, too and.....they offered me a deal."

".....A deal, Colton, can you believe it? My dream could actually become true!" I let my excitement get the best of me towards the end and I clear my throat to help reign in my composure, "I-I mean, what do you think? I don't want to jump into this too quickly and drag you into something like this if you don't want to-"

"No, no, I'm thrilled for you, Lily. That's incredible and I'm happy for you and I think you deserve this after everything and all the hard work you've put into." He says, looking at me with a certain happiness I don't get to see too often.

"Thank you."

"I-I wish that I could've been there with you to support you that night. But I'm proud of you, I-I look up at you for pushing through all the worst days and finding your path again. I wish I could do that." He says, smile fading from his face.

"Hey, what's the matter? Talk to me, I can tell something is on your mind."

He sighs, shaking his head. "It's nothing, really."

"I'm really happy for you, this is the happiest I've felt for awhile but it's just that.....I see everyone getting back on their feet again - even my damn father has found a relatively better way to live his life and he's a monster, Lily. A monster. I feel like no matter what I do that I'll always end up at square one again-"

I lay my hand on his shoulder. "I'm where I'm at now because of my hard work and dedication. Do you know how many times I've been kicked down along the way before you came into my life?" I ask him.

He shakes his head.

"Many. And I can tell you that many times I found myself in the midst of giving up. My own thoughts would turn on me, my emotions would be everywhere, I couldn't even sleep and I came to a point where I just wanted to die. I was such a wreck after I escaped those pimps and I was convinced that I'd never be good enough, but I listened to that small still voice inside of me that told me to keep surviving."

"......I worked hard, so hard to get where I'm at today and Colton, you can do that too. You may feel hopeless but a little effort can go a long way. There's always a wall it seems at some point in a struggle, a mental block that seems to be stronger than the rest that seems impossible to climb. Don't let it discourage you, push through it and you'll find that you're stronger than you initially thought. I'll help you get there in any way I can, we succeed together, remember?" I ask him, hope glistening in my eyes as I watch his reaction.

He thinks for a moment, really thinks. He nods his head in agreement and even shrugs. "Okay, you're right.....you're right which doesn't come as a surprise," He says with a hint of amusement in his voice, "I guess I'm just a really depressing person."

"You're not, you're just going through a rough time because you're going through a mental tug-o-war. I mean, it makes sense because it's not like you've ever lived a normal life but you got this, you're strong."

He runs a hand down his face and sighs. "That's exactly what it's like, thank you for understanding me when I can't even understand myself half the time."

"I only understand because you and I both went through the same thing, just at different age."

He nods his head. "Enough about me, let's celebrate your accomplishment that will change your life." He says, smirking.

"Celebrate?" I chuckle humorously, "And what exactly do you have in mind?"

"Go look what is in your room. I layed it out for you on your bed." He says.

"Ohhh, what is it?" I ask excitedly.

"It's a surprise, just go look." He replies.

I don't hesitate to run into my room, my eyes widening in surprise when I see a pretty dress sitting on my bed. It goes to the knee and it is flowy, the fabric soft and silky. It's a light blue color, white lace decorates the fitted waist and neck of the dress. The skirt part of the dress fades into a darker blue as it nears the bottom.

It's beautiful.