Jenna had been best friends with Everett for years. One morning, he leaves her house after one of their weekend sleepovers and she doesn't hear from him for months.
After worrying and worrying, a letter shows up.
Jenna, now alone has to discover wha...
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"Jenna? More vacation time?" Megan asked, "just three more days added to my Christmas break, something came up." I begged. Megan sighed, "when will you start taking work seriously again? All you seem to be focused on is that friend you said went on a trip."
"This is so important, something that I let stay under me for way too long. Please, I'm only asking for three more days."
"Jenna, I really can't right now. We're so busy, business is really taking off."
"Fine, I quit."
"Jenna! That's not necessary." She said.
"It is, I needed those three days, I never really felt for the business stuff anyways, I'll be a teacher. It was my backup after all."
I walked away, "Jenna who even are you?" I pictured Everett saying.
"The new Jenna," I said getting in my car.
I put my head on the top of the steering wheel, I couldn't believe I went and said the things I said. This was all for Everett, it would be worth it. It would be.
I had bought my ticket for New York and I was leaving tomorrow. I had to find Everett, just had to. I couldn't give up now, and I wouldn't.
Never.
I went to my parents house, the largest house on a suburban street. I brought Noel in, she sniffed my parents shoes. "You got a dog?" Mom asked. "Ohmygoodnessit'sabeagle." She said so fast. It made me laugh. "Yes, her name's Noel." I carried her up the stairs so my mom could pet her. I never had a dog growing up, but my grandparents on my dads side had dogs and I loved hanging out with each of them.
"She's such a sweetheart," Mom smiled. "Sure is, my little companion."
"Everett's not back from his trip yet?"
"No, that's why I came for a visit, I'm really sorry Mom but I won't be here for Christmas."
"What why?"
"I have to uh, meet up with Everett. It's really important."
"Oh, I see." She says.
"Rob! Jenna's here and she brought a dog!" Mom shouted.
My Dad came downstairs from their bedroom, he was still wearing his pjs at one in the afternoon, he was enjoying his new retirement. "You don't have clothes on yet?" Mom asked. "I was resting until you hollered at me," Dad said.
"This is Noel," I said gesturing to Noel who was sitting at my feet. I had interrupted their argument so it wouldn't turn into this huge bickering fest as usual. "Nice a beagle, now if I could convince your mother to get on we'd be set." Dad huffed.
"We aren't getting a dog," Mom said. "Well actually, you are, for a little bit. While I'm gone on my little trip, I would like you to watch Noel for me."
"Yes,"
"No,"
Mom and Dad said at the same exact time. "Please Mom, I don't have anyone else." I put my two hands together and begged with puppydog eyes, I imagined Noel was doing the same thing. "Alright, fine. For how long?" She asked. "About a week, I'll come home and take her right back from you." I said. "promise."
Dad seemed overjoyed as I got Noel's stuff, he took her leash and examined it, he examined everything. "How's work going?' he asked once I gave him everything. I cringed, "Um, I think I'm going to apply to be a sub for the middle school." I smiled.
"Oh good god, what did you do?" Mom asked, "I asked for three extended days of vacation time and my boss said no. I needed those days Mom, I didn't really enjoy it there anyway."
Dad chuckled, "I would do the same." Mom turned and glared at him before turning to me, "I always told you you'd make a good teacher." And she smiled as she said it.
"Thanks Mom."
She petted Noel, "you're welcome."
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I found myself in New York City, I knew he was here, I had a feeling. Or maybe he had just been here. Everett. I found myself running around streets going crazy but I let my heart lead me, I just couldn't stop running, I had left our small town for the first time to figure out where he had went. His shop, full of maps that all led to each location he wanted to see and on this day, he had to be here in New York, it was what he planned.
Then, I ran into someone, "where are you going running like that?" The voice, when you hear it you just know it right away. He was right here. I hugged him and looked up at him, Everett. He laughed. "You found me." And then, he sort of just started to fade and the airplane came back into view, was this whole thing a mistake?
