The Way Back To You

(1) Homecoming ✨

Brielle Thomas hadn't planned on coming back. In fact, she had spent years avoiding the small town of Maplewood—the quiet streets, the faces she once knew, the memories of a life she had left behind. But life, as always, had other plans.

She leaned back in the driver's seat of her car, taking in the familiar sights as she passed the "Welcome to Maplewood" sign. The faded lettering, chipped and worn from years of weather, greeted her like an old friend she wasn't quite sure she wanted to see again. The smell of pine trees mixed with freshly cut grass wafted through the open window, a scent she hadn't realized she missed.

Brielle tightened her grip on the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white. "Just a weekend," she reminded herself. "In and out. No need to stir up old feelings."

But she knew better. There were ghosts here—memories waiting to resurface, and one in particular that her heart had never quite let go of.

The town hadn't changed much. The bakery on Elm still had the same yellow awning, and Mrs. Deal's flower shop stood proudly on the corner, its windows filled with autumn arrangements. Maplewood was trapped in time, as if it had never needed to catch up with the rest of the world.

As she drove past Maplewood High, the place where it had all begun, her stomach twisted. She could almost see herself there, laughing in the hallways with her friends, passing notes in class, and...Oakley.

She hadn't said his name aloud in years. Not since the day she had left for college, leaving behind the boy who had once been her best friend, her almost-everything. Oakley Stewart. The boy who had been her entire world, and the one she had never quite forgotten.

Brielle shook her head, forcing her thoughts away from him. The past was the past. Coming back to Maplewood didn't mean opening old wounds. This trip wasn't about him—it was about family, about her mom, about doing the right thing.

The town center came into view, with its quaint brick buildings and the giant oak tree that had stood in the middle of the square for as long as she could remember. Maplewood's Fall Festival was in full swing, with children running around in costumes and vendors selling caramel apples and warm cider. It was the same festival she'd grown up attending, the same one where she and Oakley had once played hide-and-seek behind the booths, their laughter echoing through the crisp October air.

Her phone buzzed in the cupholder, pulling her out of her thoughts. She glanced down to see her mother's name on the screen.

"Hey, Mom," Brielle answered, trying to inject some cheerfulness into her voice. "I'm almost there."

"Good," her mother replied, her voice warm but tired. "I can't wait to see you. The house feels too empty these days."

Brielle's heart ached at the thought. Her father had passed away a few months ago, and her mother had been alone ever since. That was the real reason she had come back, despite her reservations. Her mother needed her, and for once, Brielle couldn't hide behind the distance of the city.

"I'll be there soon," Brielle said softly. "I'm just passing through town now."

"Don't be a stranger, Bri," her mother added. "Maplewood misses you."

Brielle forced a smile, even though her mother couldn't see it. "Yeah... I miss it too."

They said their goodbyes, and Brielle pocketed her phone, her eyes lingering on the road ahead. She turned down Oak Street, the houses growing more familiar with every passing block. There was Mrs. Benitez white picket fence, still perfectly painted. And there was the old Stewart house—Oakley's house. The porch light was on, casting a warm glow over the yard. She tore her eyes away, trying not to think about who might be inside.

It had been ten years since she'd last seen Oakley. They hadn't kept in touch, hadn't tried to, even though she had thought about it more times than she cared to admit. Life had gotten in the way. Or maybe she had let it get in the way because it was easier than facing the truth—that what they had once shared had never really ended, just faded.

Brielle pulled into her mother's driveway, the familiar sight of the small two-story house easing some of the tension in her chest. The door opened before she even stepped out of the car, and her mother came out to greet her, arms wide open.

"You made it!" Her mother pulled her into a tight hug, and for a moment, Brielle let herself relax. Being here, in this familiar embrace, felt like coming home in more ways than she wanted to admit.

"I did," Brielle said, pulling back with a smile. "It feels strange, though. Like I never really left."

Her mother laughed, brushing a stray hair from Brielle's face. "That's because this place has a way of holding on to you. No matter how far you go, it's always here waiting."

Brielle swallowed the lump in her throat. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

They went inside, the smell of her mother's cooking filling the air, and for a while, everything felt normal. They chatted about her mother's friends, about how the house had been too quiet, about the Fall Festival happening in town. But all the while, Brielle's mind drifted back to Oakley. Was he still in Maplewood? Was he married? Happy? Did he think about her as much as she thought about him?

That evening, after dinner, Brielle found herself wandering down the street. The festival lights twinkled in the distance, drawing her closer, until she was standing in the town square, watching as children darted between booths and families gathered by the pumpkin patch.

And then she saw him.

Oakley.

He was standing near the old oak tree, talking to someone she didn't recognize, but there was no mistaking him. His hair was a little shorter, his shoulders broader, but the way he stood, the way he smiled, was exactly the same. Her heart pounded in her chest, her breath catching in her throat. She hadn't expected to see him, hadn't been ready for it.

Before she could stop herself, Brielle took a step forward. And then another. Her feet seemed to move on their own, drawing her toward him, until she was close enough to call his name.

But she didn't. She froze.

He hadn't seen her yet, and for a moment, she considered turning around, walking away before he noticed her. But then Oakley turned, his gaze sweeping the crowd until it landed on her.

For a heartbeat, neither of them moved. The noise of the festival faded into the background, and it was just the two of them, standing on opposite sides of a chasm that had formed over the past ten years.

"Brielle?" His voice was soft, almost disbelieving, but there was something else there too. A flicker of recognition, of something unfinished.

"Hi, Oakley," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

He smiled, and just like that, the years between them seemed to melt away.

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Author's Note 🩷

Hello! I hope you guys like this first chapter so far and I wanna thank all of you for supporting my story and reading it, it really makes me happy!

Stay tuned for more updates and more content coming soon ✨