A Ghost of A Smile

Chapter 11: Bad Feeling

September 9, 2001. Almost one year later...

"Do you really have to go?" I whined. Jason smiled, and took my hand. We were sitting at our lunch table. The next day, Jason would be leaving a family reunion in New York.

"Yes I have to go. Everyone's dying to hear about you." I blushed as he kissed my cheek.

"He's only gonna be gone for a few days." Lori said, while not taking her eyes off of Travis, her first steady boyfriend.

"Three, to be exact. I'm flying home on our anniversary and I'll be back early enough for us to celebrate." Jason said, kissing the tip of my nose.

"Promise?" I asked. He grinned.

"I promise."

Later that night I was lying on Jason's bed, watching him run around his room doing last minute packing.

"You're cute when you're rushing." I joked. He was too overwhelmed to notice.

"Ok, where'd I put that shirt..." He mumbled.

"This one?" I stood up and tugged on his sleeve. His mom had made his entire family bright blue t-shirts that said "Barlow Family Reunion 2001". He looked down.

"Yeah..." I laughed.

"You need to relax, it's only eight, you're almost done." He turned and caught me in a surprise hug.

"I know, I just have a bad feeling about this trip." I looked up.

"Why? It's a family reunion. The worst that can happen is that you fall off the Empire State Building." He rolled his eyes.

"I'm serious Trin, there's just this tight feeling in my stomach." I sighed.

"Jason, you're going to go on that vacation, have an amazing time in New York, and then you're going to come back here and celebrate our anniversary with me by showing me all those pictures of you and your thousand and one cousins in the Big Apple. Okay?" Before he could answer I kissed him, he kissed me back but hesitantly.

"I don't know." He sighed. I frowned and sat him down next to me.

"If you're that worried about it then stay with me." He was shaking his head before I finished.

"My mom would kill me." I put both my hands on the side of his face and made him look me straight in the eye.

"Jason, I love you more than anything. All I care about is your happiness. Do what makes you happy." I kissed his forehead and looked at my watch.

"Curfew?" He asked. I nodded grimly and stood up.

"I'll see in three days. No matter how much you love it there, you have to come back. Swear?" He crossed his heart. I bent down to kiss him one more time. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me tight to his chest.

"I waited for twelve years for us to happen. I've lost all patience. I can't spend more than three days away from you. I'll be back." He kissed the top of my head. I sighed, and started walking to the door. I turned one last time to wave to him.

"Love you." I said. He grinned.

"Love you too."

I hadn't known it then, but those were the last words I would ever say to him in person.

Tonight would be the last time I ever saw him alive.