Thanks To You!

It was the night of the reunion, I had just said goodnight to my mum and my beautiful little girl before I was walking out the door and heading to my little decent but semi beat up car.
Hopping in, I put the key into the ignition and turned it a few times before it started up. I sat in the driveway for a few minutes, waiting for the car to warm up, so it will be easier to drive. I started flicking through the radio channels until something sounded interesting.

I drove out my driveway and began to head towards the school, which was about a 40-minute drive from where we lived. The roads were snowy and the car was circulating a cold air in it before I turned the heat up.

I admired the view on my drive, the roads covered in a blanket of white, the trees covered with bits of green showing from the leaves. It reminded me of the time when I sat near the river, looking into the forest next to the school. I miss that place, it allowed me to think, it just was so peaceful.

Thinking about school, I hadn’t realized that I pulled up to those metal gates, the ones I first saw on my first day here. I smiled as I drove through, finding the car park and parking the car. Cutting the engine, I looked around, seeing all the different sorts of cars. Some looked very expensive, others were just like mine, but in better condition.

I exited my car and walked up the path, locking my car on the way. Once I heard it, I walked a bit faster, eager to see my friends, I haven’t seen in a very long time.

Reaching the auditorium, I pulled open on of the doors, revealing the room, which was crowd with a bunch of people. I smiled as I walked through, saying hello to everyone I knew before coming to stop when I found the drink table. I took a beer and opened it, throwing the cap away.

As I turned around, a really buff guy caught my attention, a smirk formed across my lips as I began walking in that direction. He was talking with a girl when I walked up, tapping Zack on the shoulder.

‘How are you doing?’ I said, making myself known. Zack turned his head to look at me. His realization was shown by a smile.

‘Alex! I haven’t seen you in ages!’ He said, turning around and embracing me in a hug. I tapped his back before pulling out and laughing slightly.

‘So, what have you been up to?’ I questioned.

‘Not too much, I mean, I went to college and got a degree in business, so now I have a work for GB global. What have you been up to?’ He replied.

‘I umm... have a four-year-old daughter, so I am a stay at home dad.’ I said. He frowned.

‘So, how did that happen?’ He asked.

‘Zack, you can’t just ask that.’ The girl said.

‘No, it’s fine, ugh, sorry, what is your name?’ I asked.

‘My name is Jasmine; I am Zack’s girlfriend.’ She answered.

‘Nice to meet you. Umm, okay, so I was with a girl back in the UK and I got her pregnant, she didn’t want anything to do with the baby and said it was my responsibility. I love my daughter and I wouldn’t want anything to change.’ I replied.

‘It’s been a while Gaskarth. Merrick.’ A voice behind me said. I turned around and saw Rian standing there, hands held with Cassadee.

We took turns sharing in hugs and introductions.

‘So, what do you do now?’ I asked Rian.

‘I happen to be a music producer and my beautiful girlfriend here, is going onto become a big singer.’ Rian replied.

‘Well, that’s very interesting. I am a stay at home dad.’ I replied.

‘Yeah, we heard you explain just before.’ He said.

‘It’s not the worst job I’ve had. I love it, being a father.’ I said to all.

As the others talked, I looked around, seeing who else I could go talk to and catch up with, well that was until I saw the door open and Jack walked in, hands held with Vic’s. That relationship never makes sense in my mind, no matter how much I try to find an explanation for it.

They walked over to the table before Zack got their attention. I kind of moved out of view, hiding behind Zack’s body.

‘Hey guys, how have you been?’ I heard Jack say. The others replied in their own time before Zack kind of moved, allowing me to be seen.

Vic’s eyes scrunched up as Jacks hand gripped tighter to Vic’s. They both looked tense but I smiled nicely to them, noting that they were here.

‘Hey Jack. Vic.’ I said, nodding my beer bottle at them. They both smiled and relaxed a bit before replying.

‘How have you been Alex? Been up to much?’ Vic asked.

‘Not that much, just a stay at home dad right now with a four-year-old girl. But really, it’s the best job I can have.’ I replied.

‘That’s lovely.’ Vic replied.

‘Well, how about you two? How did you two end up together?’ I asked, not really caring about their jobs, just how they seemed to magically get together after all that’s happened.

‘Well, when you left, I was allowed back into the school, because you were the only one with a problem with me. Jack was struggling with you leaving but seeing as my other dorm room was given to another student, I had to share with Jack. We hated each other for like a year but once we started talking, it was like before, but better. Because he was mine and I was his. We’ve been together ever since.’ Vic said.

‘Well, congratulations.’ I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes as I looked away.

‘So what about jobs?’ I questioned.

‘I work as a builder and Jack here, works with Zack at GB Global.’ Vic replied. I nodded my head and it got awkward fast. I excused myself, walking away from the situation.

I walked away, looking back seeing Jack looking back at me. I walked to the bin before throwing the empty body away. I walked out the doors and found my way to the back door, pushing it open before letting it close behind me. I found the dumpster and pushed it to the side, showing that the hole was fixed up.

I sighed and looked for another way over, that way being having to jump the fence. I climbed onto the dumpster before climbing the fence carefully. I dropped down, landing with a big thud. I looked out in front of me before I walked into the darkness.

As I walked along the path which was lightened by the moon in the sky, I looked into the trees, hearing the movement of the animals which called this place home. I smiled and kept walked until I stopped, looking at the fallen log once again.

The shape had changed, the water getting that little higher, decaying it away. I moved towards it and began to climb on it, realizing it was much easier as a teenager, being that little bit smaller. I sat down in the middle of the log and dangled my legs over it. My feet nearly touching the top of the water.

I heard footsteps after a while of quiet which made me turn my head. I saw a body appear out of the bush and a voice I really haven’t heard in a long time.

‘You had the same idea, hey?’ Jack said. I could just see his face due to the moon but I could tell he was smiling.

‘Yeah, I have missed this place. You can join me if you want.’ I replied.

I heard Jack shuffle and begin to walk up the log. Once he was next to me, he was still standing.

‘Do you mind holding these?’ He asked. I shook my head no, before looking up and taking the two beers out of his hands. I smiled as he sat down next to me, accepting the beer I handed to him.

‘Hope this one is for me.’ I said as I opened it. He nodded his head, opening his before taking a drink of it. I took a drink of mine before it became an awkward silence.

‘You know, I never thought I would see you again.’ Jack said, breaking the silence.

‘Well, if I remember clearly, and correct me if I am wrong, we didn’t want anything to do with each other.’ I said.

‘Well, you said that but yes, I agreed. I think it was a hit of a moment thing. I mean, you were my best friend.’ Jack said as he looked at me.

‘And you were my best friend. I haven’t been able to find anyone as good as you.’ I admitted.

‘Well, how long have you been in town?’ Jack questioned.

‘Um, four years.’ I replied.

‘Oh, that long huh?’ He said.

‘Yeah, well, with Melody, it was a bit hard to socialize.’ I said.

‘That’s fair enough. Well now that I know you are back in town, how about we become friends again. As long as you don’t have a problem with Vic, that is.’ He said.

‘Well, I don’t have a problem with him anymore. I hope he doesn’t have a problem with me because that would be hard for us to be friends.’ I said smiling to Jack. He smiled back before putting the bottle up and towards to me.

‘To being friends.’ He said.

‘To being friends.’ I replied, clinking my bottle with his. He both took a drink before it turned silent again.

‘Cute name by the way. Really suits you, Melody.’ Jack said. I laughed before shaking my head and taking another drink.

Notes

Jack is with Vic and Alex is going to become friends with Jack... again.
This is a good thing, right? RIGHT?