The Great Gatsby (Retelling)

Part 3: Catching Up

Griffin's POV

We were finished with lunch soon afterwards and were now sitting outside in their backyard. "Griffin, would you like to take a walk with me?" Y/N stood up before walking down the steps in the direction of the garden, not giving me much of a choice. I got up, giving David and Jordan a small smile before following after her.

"How's life been treating you?" She looped her arm through mine as we walked. "It's been great. I hope I become rich soon so I can afford a house like yours. It's beautiful, Y/N," I complimented the estate. "Thank you, we lived in a smaller one while this one was being built. I came up with the idea and details of it myself," She beamed. "I always knew my best friend was a designer," I jokingly chuckled. She laughed with me before sighing. "I miss it back home, I haven't been there in five years," She muttered.

"I remember you disappearing with David soon after the war started. Why'd you run off?" I asked the question that had been on my mind all of this time. "I fell in love," She whispered, staring at her feet as she walked. "But let's not hold onto the past," She looked up and over at me. I nodded and decided to change the subject. "Something about you has changed. I can't seem to put my finger on it," I squinted at her. She smiled, "I've noticed a change in myself as well. But time continues to go on, so I shall too. Now let's talk about you. Have you found a girl yet?"

"No," I burst out in laughter. "I haven't been in the dating scene in years." "Then it's settled! You and Jordan shall date each other," Y/N clasped her hands together. "I don't know. She seems like the type of woman to already know exactly what she wants, and I haven't even been settled into a proper job yet," I shrugged. "I'm going to tell you a secret about us women, Griffin. We never know what we really want, we just take whatever men give us," She winked as if she was joking, but I sensed some kind of truth behind her words. I smiled at her instead of replying, not pressing on the subject as we continued our walk.

Your POV

I sat in the warm bath water, a cigarette in one hand and letters in another. I reread the words over and over again, the letter being the first one Rigo had somehow managed to sneak into the garden of my parents home five years ago where he knew I would find it. I let the tears slide down my cheeks as I thought about the day he left me years back.

I was only eighteen whereas he was twenty three. But I didn't care about the age difference, I loved him. I loved him with all of my heart, my soul, my body. But he left me, so I had to move on. I wasn't the type of girl to wait around, especially for a man, so I began dating David who I knew had fallen in love with me the moment he saw me. I had convinced myself I wouldn't wait for Rigo, but had ended up waiting for him, hoping he would come driving into my yard telling me he couldn't live without me another second. But it never happened. So I decided to disappear with David who saw the opportunity here even though we already had plenty of money. I sniffled a few times before I heard footsteps, quickly putting the letters back in the box and hiding them under my towel.

"Darling, why are you crying?" David opened the door to the bathroom. I sniffled once more as I looked up at him. "Tears of joy," I lied, giving him a small smile. "I'm just really happy you love me," I continued. He smiled back before walking to me. I put my cigarette out in the ashtray on the small stand beside the bathtub as David began taking off his shoes. "What are you doing?" I asked. David smirked as he took of his jacket. "David!" I exclaimed as he stepped into the tub with me, fully dressed. I laughed as he leaned down and captured my lips with his own. I wanted to love him like I loved Rigo, I wanted to so bad, but I couldn't. But I sure as hell was great at pretending I did.