Hello Again (Sequel)

Unexpected Encounter

Hikaru's P.O.V

"These job fairs are so stupid," Kaoru scoffed as we roamed the school's campus. It was almost the end of our last fall semester; graduation would be here soon. After that, Kaoru was going to America. He had been offered a part in a movie. I...I don't know what I was going to do. I had studied interior design and fashion, probably destined to follow in the footsteps of my mother. I wondered if A.J. would have pushed me to do something else; maybe she would have talked me into finding something I loved and pursuing a career in that field. I often found myself thinking about her. Where she was, how she was doing. I let my gaze drop to the ground with disappointment as we walked into the parking lot. I hoped I would walk out to my car one day and she would be sitting on the hood, her ash-brown hair tossed over her shoulder carelessly, one hand fidgeting with her lip piercing-- or maybe the stud in her nose-- and the other holding a cigarette, smiling eagerly as she waited for me. But those days never came. "Earth to Hikaru! What do you want for lunch?" Kaoru snapped his fingers in my face, dragging me away from my fantasies. I shrugged and threw my bag in the back seat, plopping in the passenger seat as the engine purred quietly. The car was a high school graduation gift from Mom, of course we shared it. I leaned my head against the window and closed my eyes, thinking back to the last memory I had of her...

*flashback*
"Hikaru! What are you doing here?" Jeanie had asked when she opened the door. I sighed and had to lean against the door frame for support. Kaoru said he would be leaving in an hour if I still wanted to go. We were moving on campus today, about an hour away. I had ran all the way to A.J.'s, so there went forty-five minutes. "A-Ad-Adrienne," I panted. She opened the door wider and pointed toward her niece's room. I thought she would have been mad at me, but Jeanie only looked sad. I nodded and pushed off of the door frame with all the strength I had left, jogging to her room. I burst in through the door and everything looked so bare. There was a small pile of luggage in the corner, all full of A.J.'s stuff. The door to the balcony was open and there she was: her hair was pulled back in a messy bun and she was in a black hoodie and a pair of sweatpants. She didn't realize I was there until I was standing right behind her. "What are you doing here, Hikaru?" she whispered, not even turning to look at me as she took a drag off her cigarette. I moved so that I was standing next to her, staring at the city below. I saw her make a sour face and flick the entire cigarette over the rail. "I-I wanted to say I'm sorry," I stammered. I hadn't talked to her since graduation, when I broke up with her. She let out a ragged laugh and shook her head, a few stray hairs falling around her face. I wanted nothing but to tuck those locks behind her ear and pull her into my arms. "You broke up with me two months ago. I haven't seen or heard from you since. And now you want to apologize?" she scoffed. Her words were not filled with malice or resentment, only hurt. "I'm leaving today," I murmured, "but I don't want to. I would stay, if you wanted me to." She ran a hand through her hair and sighed. She looked like she had aged years, not months, and it was my fault. "Hikaru, you were right. You can't just put your life on hold for me. You want to see the world, make something of yourself. You can't do that with me," she said. She was trembling now, and I was afraid that if I said anything more, she would just shatter completely. Who was I to destroy and crush this innocent girl? This girl that I loved with all my heart. "I love you, but you need to go. I was stupid and wrong, and you were right. No one finds their soulmate in high school," she chuckled darkly, all traces of emotion gone. "You go live your life, and I'll go live mine. I'm going back to America this weekend. It's...easier that way." Numb and brokenhearted, I turned around and left. I was too late. No more late night texts and phone calls, no more at-home picnics or weekend trips out of town, no more reaching out at night and wrapping my arms around her, no more of those big hazel eyes gleaming as I leaned in for a kiss. No more 'I love you'. It really was goodbye.
*flashback ends*