Once Was Happy

Chapter 3

This is Jacey's best friend, Megan
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I carefully drove my car into the driveway, my aunt parking her car on the curb, and got out of the car. I never locked the doors, I didn't keep anything valuable in my car, and besides with all the security around the house, I doubted any would try to hijack my car. I walked towards the front door, my aunt following closely behind. I set my hand on the doorknob, I hesitated then plodded through the door. Megan must of heard my car pull up, because when I opened the door she was standing in the entryway with her arms crossed and tapping her foot, trying to look stern.

"Do you have any idea how worried I was? You, Missy, are in big trouble!" Megan greeted us, trying not to smile. We entered and closed the door. "Where's your dad?" she asked as her expression changed from joking to concerned.

"H-he's not coming home." I said, finally starting to cry.

"Oh, Jacey! I am so sorry." She said, embracing me in a tight hug.

My aunt cleared her throat, "Hello, I'm Eileen, Jacey's aunt, you can call me Aunt Eileen if you want."

Megan smiled sadly, "I'm Megan, Jacey's friend."

"I'm going upstairs to my bedroom, make yourself at home, the guestroom is up the stairs, down the hall, second door on the left." I mumbled as I plodded up the stairs.

"Jacey wait! We have to talk..."

"I don't want to talk. I'm going to my room." I started cutting her off, "We'll talk later." I trudged up the stairs observing the pictures lining the walls. There were pictures of everything me and my dad did together. Disneyland, camping, hiking, practicing soccer, hiking and so many more.

"Jacey..." Megan said quietly, shot an apologetic look to my aunt and followed me up the stairs.

I paused at a picture of us at our first school dance when were were freshmen. Megan wore a stunning, red, off-the-shoulder dress and I wore a white and black short sleeved, aztec designed, short dress. Megan stopped and stared at the picture with me.

"We were so young" she commented. I nodded, reliving that day. We went to Chipotle and got ready for the dance at my house and my dad took a bunch of pictures, documenting everything.

We entered my room and I sat on my bed while she went and sat in the hanging chair, resting the corner of my bedroom.

We sat in silence for a few minutes until Megan finally spoke up, "I am really sorry. I have no idea how you must be feeling."

*two weeks later*

I fiddled with the hem of my knee-length black dress. I glanced over at my aunt, who was sitting in the back seat beside me, she was wearing a long, black, sleeveless dress with black heels. We drove through town, past stores that brought back memories.

The La Patisserie bakery where my dad and I went to get doughnuts every Saturday morning. He always got a maple bar with coffee and I would get a bearpaw with a hot chocolate, or a coffee.

Chicago Burger, the burger joint where we always went when he didn't want to make dinner. He always liked to go to Chicago Burger if his work was piling up and he wanted to get out of the house.

Starbucks, where we went all the time with my mom before they dropped me off at school. I loved the Frappuccinos, even in the below freezing winter.

Possum Park, where we used to take long walks and he would push me on the swings as high as it would go when I was younger. We celebrated my tenth birthday at that park, and my dad barbequed hamburgers while my friends and I had a water fight.