and it was perfect

Chapter 25

                                      - Seattle -

Then there it was: the weekend I had been dreading since moving here: my Dad's 55th birthday. Of course I was looking forward to seeing him and Mum. We had made up weeks ago and she had stopped talking about Nate ever since. But the thought of going back to Seattle and being so close to him made me sick. Aiden hat been the most amazing distraction from him, but being eight states away from my favourite roommate ... was a lot. Not even Zoe or Evelyn would join me - it was going to be a big party, but flying there was too expensive. I only did it as my parents paid for it - I was their daughter, after all.

"You're gonna be okay." Aiden stroke my back and gave me a comforting smile. We were laying in my bed, a few hours before my alarm would wake me. I sighed and followed the contours of his face with my fingertips. "I hope so." He raised a brow. "Don't give anyone that much power of you, J. I know it's easier said than done. But you're doing this for your family. And family's more important than any relationship could ever be." I swallowed, he was right. "And you know, there's always phone sex if you're really desperate ..." It made me laugh and he draped the cover over our heads and made sure I wouldn't think about Nate for the rest of that night at least.

I hadn't been brave enough to ask him to drive me to the airport, but let Zack drop me off instead. I'd been rather quiet all the way there, and he sensed my mood immediately. "I also hated coming home after breaking up with Lisa. But it wasn't as bad as you might think. You ex is not even gonna be there, is he?" I swallowed and shook my head. "I hope not. At least he wasn't invited. I hope he's not creepy enough to just show up unannounced." He squeezed my hand. "Oh come on, he can't be that bad." If only he knew.

As soon as I entered the plane I started the book I had been desperate to read since the release a couple of weeks ago, but hadn't permitted myself to yet. It was a great book, but I couldn't help but drift off every other page. Finally, we had reached SEATAC. And - surprise - the rain came down in sheets. My parents both awaited me at the gate and I could feel the tears immediately shoot into my eyes.

I ran the last couple of metres and fell into their arms. "God, I've missed you guys. Happy Birthday, Dad." I buried my face in my Dad's broad shoulders and my Mum's blonde curls. Their familiar scent and voices made me forget all my worries about coming here. This trip was about them, not Nate. "We've missed you too, sweetie." - "It's about time you finally came here." I quietly laughed and they helped me carry my luggage towards their parked car. I sighed when I saw the old Volvo - the first car Nate and I had ever made out in. They kept bombarding me with questions all the way home while I kept staring out of the window. The landscape, the interstate, the skyscrapers and suburbs - everything was so familiar yet it felt like a lifetime away.

The lump in my throat kept growing the closer we came to our house. We passed the street of my former high school, the supermarket I had worked at with sixteen, the old pair of swings on the playground where Nate had told me loved me for the first time. Everything still looked the same. Finally, we reached our house. The light blue two story home I spent my last teenage year in. I forced myself to think about the good memories at this place. I loved our house. As soon as we walked in I was buried in jobs for the upcoming party. I didn't mind, I wanted to stay away from my room as long and far as possible.

I looked around in our kitchen while stirring the pot of chilli and couldn't help but smile. The small room with its old hardwood floor and white counters had always been my favourite place. Dad joined me shortly after and mindlessly pressed the buttons of our stereo - immediately John Fogerty blasted out of the speakers. We looked at each other and grinned. Then we started belting along. I couldn't help but think about Aiden during our session. I even shot a little video I'd send him later of my Dad dancing to Fortunate Son. I wished he was here to join us.