The Allure of Love

Chapter 5

As the months passed in their whirlwind romance, Anastasia couldn't deny that a small seed of doubt had started to take root about her future with Jack. His wanderlust and need for constant novelty were as intoxicating as they were concerning.

They had just returned to Chicago from an elaborate two-week climbing expedition in Nepal, something that had been at the very top of Jack's bucket list. As they hauled their dusty backpacks and gear into Anastasia's apartment, she couldn't help but eye the collection of mail and askew picture frames with a pang - this was the closest thing to a home she had right now. Everywhere she looked, she was surrounded by reminders of the life and plans she had once dreamed of building.

"Can you believe we actually scaled Ama Dablam?" Jack crowed, still riding the high of their thrilling adventure as he squeezed her shoulders from behind. "You were incredible out there, Annie. I've never seen someone take to high altitudes like that before."

Anastasia managed a tight smile at his praise, relieved they had returned safely after hearing about the tour group that'd had a terrifying rock slide just days before them. As always, Jack's need to push boundaries and seek out the next level of extreme was both terrifying and magnetic. She certainly hadn't pictured herself as the mountain climbing type before he had opened her eyes to new experiences.

"I'm just glad we made it back to civilization in one piece," she teased, giving his wind-burned cheek an affectionate peck. Dropping her pack with a groan, Anastasia began rummaging through the neglected pile of mail and newspapers on the counter.

Unpacking her reserves of little energy left after their trek, she halfheartedly began sorting through the deluge of bills, advertisements, and weekly circulars - some normalcy from their pre-climbing life. Jack had already wandered into the bedroom, tossing his gear haphazardly before she heard the shower kick on. Knowing he'd likely let the hot water run for the next 30 minutes at least in that entitled way of his, Anastasia rolled her eyes and went back to clean up mode for them both.

That's when a sturdy envelope from her alma mater, Central State, caught her eye. Curious, she slit it open - it was an invitation to their upcoming 5-year reunion in a few months. Suddenly, memories of crowded keg parties in dingy apartments, trudging across campus in the sleeting rain for 8 am classes, and most of all, those first sparks of her crush on Chris came flooding back in full force. Chris...

In all the exotic locales and thrills Jack had swept her off to experience over these past months, he had effectively allowed her to push thoughts of Chris to the back of her mind, for the most part. Sometimes it was easier that way - the sadness and guilt were still so potent over how that situation had tragically imploded. How she yearned for the chance to go back and handle it all differently, to prevent her friendship with one of her favorite people on the planet from imploding. But the harsh reality was, no amount of longing or regrets would change the permanence of the fracture in their relationship.

Suddenly exhausted down to her bones, Anastasia collapsed onto the couch, the reunion invite tumbling to the floor as she struggled to process the wave of competing emotions washing over her. As excited as she still felt to resume their nomadic adventures with Jack, she couldn't deny the nagging feelings of homesickness and longing for roots that were taking hold. Those alma mater memories of diving study sessions at the library with Chris, sipping spiked cider in his apartment's ramshackle kitchen while a Joni Mitchell album crooned, tailgating at football games with their friend group - it all came rushing back in full force. There was something about the comfort and sense of home she had felt back then that was severely lacking in her current vagabond lifestyle.

Was this restlessness just a passing itch from nostalgia for her college days...or a more persistent inner voice hinting at a deeper hunger for stability and settle-down partnership that her adventurous partner couldn't provide?

Suddenly drained, Anastasia barely registered Jack pad out of the bathroom wearing just a towel until he flopped down onto the couch beside her. He gave her calf a playful squeeze, still glowing from their Nepalese summit.

"Hey, where'd you go just now?" he asked with a teasing lilt, taking in her pensive expression. "Don't tell me you already have wanderlust for our next big trip? Because I was thinking we should take a few weeks off before our Patagonia hike to let our knees recover from that killer mountain."

Anastasia blinked slowly, plastering on a half-convincing smile. Hefting the reunion announcement, she handed it to him.

"CSU is having their alumni weekend over Memorial Day," she said, keeping her voice careful neutral. "I...got the invite earlier. Figured it could be something fun to do this year, if we're around that is."

Jack pursed his lips as he scanned the shiny pamphlet's details, throat bobbing in thought.

"Huh, well that's something," he said at last, meeting her gaze. "Getting the old crew back together for a trip down memory lane at Central State. Can you even imagine?" His nose crinkled in playful distaste - for Jack, the thought of revisiting his collegiate past seemed like the definition of torture.

Anastasia felt an immediate flare of irritation - was it so blasphemous to want to revisit her roots for a brief weekend? To catch up with old friends and cherish the bond of their whole alumni community...