Between Two Worlds

CHAPTER 4 - Unexpected Encounters

Time seemed to race by, and before I knew it, I would be packing bags to head back home for vacation-time back in Willow Creek. There was certainly excitement building inside of me at the prospect of just being back around familiar places again, but even more than that, at the prospect of seeing Ava again. Though I had tried to move on in Grandview, some part of me still longed for what we once had.

Stepping into Willow Creek was like stepping into a dream. The air was cool, and scents of pine and earth filled my senses, touched with a nostalgia about carefree days spent under the old oak tree. Nostalgia began to really wash over me while driving through town. There's nothing I wanted more than to talk and catch up with Ava, all the changes she was going through with her art, and of course be able to share my experiences.

That afternoon I decided to go for a stroll around town, so that I would aimlessly stray and get my thoughts going. When I passed by that well-known café, the surrounding laughter awakened me to the presence of Ava and her friends. They were sitting at a table outside; my heart skipped a beat when I saw Ava.

But she wasn't alone. My heart sank as I saw a boy move closer toward her, laughing softly and playfully nudging her on the shoulder in a way that seemed almost intimate. A shock of jealousy ran through my chest. I stepped back, taking a breath.

The boy pushed a strand of hair behind Ava's ear, and she let out a laugh sparkling through her. It was a laughter so familiar that now sounded like it was coming from another room. Seeing them together was bittersweet, reminding me of those feelings I'd worked so hard to suppress.

"Mia? You okay?"
Jess's voice pierced my thoughts as she approached me from the sidewalk. She had come on vacation too, excited to see the town I'd told her so much about.
"Yeah, just. caught a glimpse of someone," I replied, attempting to sound lighthearted. But Jess followed my gaze, her expression shifting as she locked eyes with Ava and the boy.

"Looks like Ava's having fun," she said softly, looking back at me. "You still care about her, don't you?"

I nodded, the lump in my throat growing. "I do. But seeing her with someone else... it stings."

She had placed a soothing hand on my shoulder. "You've come so far, Mia," she reminded me. "You can feel what you feel, but maybe this is a message for you to go and talk to her. Straighten things out?"

"I don't even know if she wants to hear from me," I admitted, my heart weighted down with doubts. "What if she's happy without me?

Then you'll know and can start healing, Jess said softly. But you won't know unless you try.

Seated beside Ava as she laughed again with the boy, something within me burst into determination. Jess was right; I needed to be brave and find out where we stood.

"Okay," I said, taking a deep breath. "I'm going to talk to her.".

With newfound hope, I walked toward the café, heart racing in my chest. Ava's laughter floated through the air and instantly made my mixed emotions of hope and anxiety resurface.

"Ava!" I called out, trying my best not to be nervous. Her eyes shot wide as she spun around to see who was talking. A boy next to her shifted uncomfortably on the couch, his bright-eyed smile fluttering away from his face as he mumbled a hasty apology.

"Mia! I didn't know you were back!" Ava exclaimed, her voice brightening. But there was a flicker of something in her eyes that I couldn't quite place—was it joy, or was it surprise mixed with something else?

"Yeah, I just got in," I said, trying to sound casual, but the nerves danced in my stomach. "I saw you here and thought I'd say hi.".

"I'm glad you did!" she said, her smile genuine but her gaze flickering toward the space the boy had just occupied. "This is... uh, Jake," she introduced him, and my heart sank at the name. "He's new in town. We've been hanging out a bit."

"Nice to meet you," I said awkwardly, smiling and holding out my hand to Jake. He took it, but I could feel the tension in my grip.

"Ava was just telling me about her paintings," he said lightly. "You're the musician she talked about, right?"

"Yeah, that's me," I said to myself, my heart pounding. "I actually wrote a song about this place-about us."

I could see the questions swirling in her head. Ava's eyes opened wide. "Really? I'd love to hear it sometime."

"Maybe we can set something up? Just us," I proposed, my heart racing as I held onto her gaze. "Catch up."

Ava shook her head slowly, then glanced over to Jake before nodding. "Yeah, that sounds good.".

We sat there for a few more minutes, trying to keep our conversation light. All this while, inside me were emotions bursting but not being expressed at all. I wanted to know whether she also felt the same pull I did, and if there was any chance between us. But all these words were hushed up in my throat while Jake was there.

As we said our goodbyes, I left with Jess, not having shaken off the suspense hanging over us.

"Good job, I think it went okay," Jess said, trying to make light of the situation. "You finally made the first move!"

"Yeah, but now what do I do?" I sighed. "I need to know that she still has feelings for me, but I don't want to make things complicated.".

"Just give it time," Jess encouraged. "You've made a step forward. Now just hold on and enjoy the holidays, and let things follow their course."

As we drove back down the roads of Willow Creek where everything was recognizable and old, I felt hope and fear at the same time. Ava finally returned the calls to me, but a new friendship with Jake stood at the back of my mind.

Would this trip clear things up or muddy the waters? Only time could tell, but I do know one thing: I was sick of letting fear keep me in check for so long. It was time to put an end to the separation between our worlds, no matter how scary it seemed.

I managed to persuade Jess to go out with me that evening to grab a bite of diner food; yes, one of our favorite diner hangouts. Seated in a booth, familiar faces surrounded me: People I had grown up with were filling the air with laughter and chatter, yet my mind kept returning to Ava.

"What's going through your head?" Jess quizzed, breaking into the silence as she slid the plate of fries toward me.

I leaned my chin on my hand and sighed. "It's just Ava and how everything's changed."

Jess raised an eyebrow. "Do you think she's happy with Jake?"

I thought for a beat. "I don't know. I keep hoping she is, and yet I feel like I'm losing her all over again."

"Have you ever considered talking to her more about it? Maybe she feels the same way you do," Jess said, encouragingly.

"Yeah, but what if she doesn't? What if this is it for us?" I said, frustration creeping up into my voice.

"Well, then you'll know, and you can start moving forward," she repeated softly. "But if you don't ask, you'll always wonder."

"True," I whispered, taking a sip of my drink. "I just wish it were easier."

Life never is," Jess said, her voice softly raising. "But you're strong, Mia. You have come so far already. Just take it all one step at a time."

I nodded, feeling a flicker of determination re-ignite within me. "You're right. I can't let fear dictate my life. I have to be brave enough to reach out to her.".

As the night aged on, Jess and I were relating stories, laughing, and making plans for the days ahead. I could feel myself lighten, or so it seemed, as uncertainty's weight started to gradually lift. The more I spoke about my life at university and the music I was working on, the more I understood that I was indeed strong enough to face my emotions.

We walked towards the park and the old oak tree after dinner. The sun set out of sight and soon the clear appearance of the stars in the sky. I felt that pull in my heart once more, this time wanting that bond with Ava.