Heart of Fire

Home

Hi there! This is a rewrite of the previous story that was here. If you don't like the new version, accept our apologies but it was needed. If you didn't read it and you're new here, Welcome! Please note some parts may not be accurate due to entertainment purposes/story flow. Ashley Purdy will only be mentioned briefly. And Juliet will be mentioned in this story but please also know we have nothing against her, this is all for entertainment. Enjoy!

I was finally heading home. After years away from civilization, I was returning to the USA. It wasn't a bad thing that I had been gone for so long—my parents had always done missionary work, so traveling was something I was used to. When it came time for me to decide, as I reached adulthood, whether to stay or go, I initially chose to go. I wanted to continue exploring the world. The hardest part was leaving my best friend Stacy behind. I had known her my entire life; she was like a sister to me. Our friendship began because our parents were friends, although Stacy's parents decided to stay in one place and only traveled occasionally for the same work my parents did. They believed it was best for their children to experience a stable, traditional school life. My parents tried that with me, but their love for being out in the world was too strong, and they felt it was more beneficial for me to see the world as well. My favorite times were when Stacy was on summer break—I'd fly home and spend the entire summer with her. But college made it harder to visit, and I couldn't go home as often, if at all. Still, Stacy and I made sure to stay in touch through daily texts, FaceTime, Skype, and any other way we could communicate. In a way, it was rewarding. I got to pursue my dreams in web design and photography, made many valuable connections, and those connections were one of the main reasons I was now coming back home.

Excitement buzzed through me, making sleep impossible on the plane. I reached into my bag and pulled out my ID, passport, and the directions to Stacy's new home. I glanced at my ID and couldn't help but feel like the photo captured a younger version of myself—almost like a child. The name on it, Kristen Layne Walker, seemed so plain and ordinary. The address listed wasn't even mine; it was Stacy's parents' house. They had kindly let us use it for identification purposes after my parents decided to sell our family home and travel the world.

As I studied the photo again, I began to wonder if it was time for a change. My hair, a deep, dark brunette, had always been long and straight. I'd kept it that way for years, maybe because it felt safe, a constant in a life that had seen a lot of change lately. But now, as I embarked on this new chapter, I found myself considering something different—a new style, a new me.

Shifting my focus, I looked at the address for Stacy's house. I knew that once I got settled, I'd need to update my address. Stacy had recently bought a house with her boyfriend, Jake. I'd seen pictures of Jake and knew a little about him—mainly that he played in a band called Black Veil Brides. I was so out of the loop with new music that I'd been clinging to the same bands I'd loved in high school. It was hard to let go of those classic emo bands; listening to them was like wrapping myself in a familiar, comforting blanket that reminded me of home. Stacy assured me that if I loved those bands, I'd probably love Jake's music too.

She had also mentioned that one of Jake's bandmates had moved into the house a few weeks before I arrived. The band's lead singer, Andy, had recently gone through a rough breakup and decided a change of scenery was just what he needed. Stacy reassured me that the house was big enough for all of us to live comfortably. Knowing her, she was probably already plotting to play matchmaker between Andy and me.

It had been a while since I'd dated anyone. My relationships were usually brief; most people found it difficult to keep up with someone who was constantly on the move. The only serious relationship I'd had was with Jesse. We'd known each other practically our whole lives, and though he was a great guy, I eventually realized he was more of a friend than anything else. We hadn't kept in touch much lately, but I planned to ask Stacy about him once I landed. It would be nice to reconnect and have another familiar face around.

Eventually, I leaned back and drifted off to sleep. The next thing I knew, the flight attendants were announcing our landing. Finally. As soon as I could, I grabbed my carry-on and hurried off the plane, making my way through the airport, scanning the crowd for Stacy.

"Kris! Kris!" I heard someone shouting my name. I looked up and saw Stacy running toward me, grinning like a kid on Christmas morning. I couldn't help but smile back and run toward her, and we collided in a big hug.

"I'm so glad to see you! And even happier to be off that plane!" I said with a sigh of relief.

"I'm so glad you're here! It's going to be great having you around all the time. The guys are excited to meet you, but I told them to give you some time to rest first. Dinner tonight should be fine, but if you're too tired, we can push it to tomorrow," she said, helping me with my bags as we walked through the airport.

"Dinner tonight works. That'll give me time to shower and take a quick nap. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone... though I'm a little nervous," I admitted. "Oh, by the way, did you happen to tell Jesse I'm back? I'd love to catch up with him, too."

"Yeah, I actually talked to him yesterday. He's out of town right now, clearing out his grandma's house since she's moving into a nursing home. But he said he'd love to see you once he's back. He's excited you're home too. And just wait until you meet Jake—you're going to love him! Oh, and Andy's room is right next to yours," she added with a mischievous smile.

I laughed. "Don't go playing matchmaker just yet! Let me meet everyone and settle in first."

"Fine, fine. But trust me, he's your type. Jake and I both think you two would hit it off," she said with a grin. I rolled my eyes as we continued to walk to her car. After a short drive, we pulled up to a stunning two-story white house on a large piece of land. The neighboring houses were spaced far apart, giving the place a peaceful, secluded feel. I was in awe—it was absolutely beautiful. Stacy pulled into the garage, and we both hopped out to unload my bags.

"Looks like the guys are still at the studio," she said, glancing around. "Let me show you to your room. It has its own bathroom, and you can make it your own. This is your home now, too," she added with a smile.

After helping me bring my bags upstairs, she left me to settle in. The room was perfect, and it was clear Stacy had put a lot of effort into making it feel welcoming. I dropped my suitcases in the walk-in closet, deciding to deal with unpacking later. Then, I took my toiletries to the bathroom, eager to shower.

The bathroom was spacious, with a deep soaking tub and a rainfall showerhead that hung from the ceiling. It was pure bliss.

After a long, hot shower, I slipped into my favorite sweats and T-shirt, crawled into bed, and quickly fell asleep, the soft hum of the TV lulling me into a peaceful nap.