Once Upon a Return...

Chapter 1

I left the airport with my backpack and headed in the direction I remembered home to be. A sigh escaped my lips as I realized all I'd grabbed from home was a change of clothes, a toothbrush, some deodorant, and spare money. I was totally screwed. My footsteps were the only noise on the quiet streets of my hometown. A smile appeared on my face as I remembered all the memories I had here, each store and landmark holding sentimental value. I brushed some hair out of my eyes and kept walking. Surely one of my old neighbors would know where my mom had washed up. She had been a special kind of business woman, and drank her pain away. But somehow I looked up to her. Even though she put herself through all that suffering, she managed to send child support every month, and birthday cards with one hundred dollars every year. She cared. I walked up to the house I used to call my mine and a smile appeared on my face.

"You," a man spoke from behind me. I turned to see if I recognized him.

"You... Used to live here, right?" He asked me.

"Yes, how did you know?" I slight blush creeped up his neck.

"Um... Just a guess. Are you moving back?"

"I want to, but I don't have any money for an apartment right now... I'm under aged anyways, so I'm trying to find my mom."

"Oh, well, if that's it I wouldn't mind if you stayed with me," I flinched.

"No way!" I screamed.

"You really don't remember me, huh? Makes sense, I've undergone quite the change..." I looked him over, trying to see if I recognized him. He had orange hair and two different colored eyes. He looked sort of like and alley cat. He loomed at least a foot or two over me.

"I'm sorry,"

"Well, you saved me," he smiled gently, "and, if you please, I'd like to return the favor,"

"Um, I never saved anyone,"

"I can explain, if you want, but in a more private setting perhaps?"

"Where might you have in mind?" I asked nervously. He pulled out a key and unlocked the door to my old house.

"Ladies first?" I was so excited to have the chance to return into my home that I forgot that I'd be going into a house alone with a man.

"Do you remember a small orange cat the day you left?" He asked.

"Oh, yeah, the poor little guy had a pretty nasty cut on his paw, I gave him some fish too," I smiled at the memory. He held up his left hand and I could see a scar on it. Was he trying to tell me something?

"The salmon was delicious," he recalled.

"No way," I giggled, "you're not seriously suggesting that you were that cat, are you?"

He pulled the beanie he'd been wearing from his head and pulled down his pants revealing two ears and a tail. My jaw dropped, "No way,"

"I am in debt to you, though I don't know your name," he bowed.

"I-I'm Jacqueline!" I blushed. This isn't real... Right?

"How'd you... Become human?" I asked.

"Love," he whispered. I looked up, surprised.

"How is that..."

"I was cursed by my mother when I was younger. To be unloved. The only way to break this curse and become human again was to fall in love... But because she doesn't love me back..." He clenched his fist and tears came to his eyes, "I'm only half human!"

"Hey! Why don't you tell her how you feel? I'm sure if you give her time she'll reciprocate your feelings," I smiled at him.

He wiped his eyes, "Maybe you're right... But I have a problem, see? I've already told her how I feel,"

"Oh, I'm sorry... Well she gave you one thing, right? She made you love her, and now you're halfway to being a human again, besides, who doesn't love cats?" He looked surprised.

"You are a very... Optimistic person, aren't you?" He smiled.

"I guess so..." I twiddled my thumbs, "hey... Can I still live here?" I asked.

"Huh?"

"Well, now that I know you're in love with someone, and since it is my old house..."

"Yes!" He smiled brightly, "Anything," he pushed a spare key into my hand, "I need to go buy some stuff to make dinner then, make sure to be back by then, okay?" He smiled and left. Wow... I wonder what dad would think about me moving in with a cat man? I smiled at that thought and left the house. Oh yeah, I should go to the high school nearby and sign up for some classes! I walked to the school and did so. What a bore! I trudged back towards my house and wondered if Elli, Chad, and Connor still lived in the same places. I missed them so much, I had trouble making friends in Michigan. Boys thought that hanging with girls was awkward unless we were dating, and girls wouldn't hang out with me because I wasn't like them. These guys were still my best friends, or at least I hope they are. I sighed, I really hope they all remember me.

"Excuse me?" A voice came from behind me, "Did you drop a key back there?" He turned the small silver key over in his hand.

"Oh my gosh, you're a life saver! I didn't realize I'd dropped it!" I exclaimed. I reached for the key. He pulled his hand back.

"Ah, ah, ah," he smirked, crap, "Why don't I walk you home?" He asked.

"Ok," I started heading back towards my house, "you coming?"

"You're pretty easy to persuade," he said.

"It's not my house, so, I don't particularly care if you know where it is," I shrugged.

"So, a pretty girl like you must have a boyfriend?" He put his hand on my back.

I slapped it off, "No, I have three boy-friends that I'm looking for, but you're not one of them!" I snapped. I looked at him. He had red hair on top and black underneath, with a whole side shaved off. His face resembled Chad's a little, but there's no way this douche bag is that little shy kid that I used to know. I sighed again.

"No way, you're not... No," he shook his head, "she moved, there's no way you're her," I looked at him skeptically. Moved? I moved... But, there's no way this is Chad, right?

"You... Um..." I looked at his face more closely. "No way! Chad!" I screamed with glee and hugged him tightly.

"Um, touching?" His face got red.

"It really is you!" I jumped excitedly. He peered at my face.

"You couldn't be... From Michigan?"

"I missed you," I smiled in response.

"Jackie! Little tomboy Jackie all grown up! What do you know?" He grinned broadly. "You never did stay in touch," he scolded.

"We'll, I never thought I'd be coming back," I smiled. He hugged me this time.

"Oh god, what will Connor and Elliot say?" He mumbled. "Our little princess has come back,"

"You're eighteen now!" I flipped out as I realized that.

"Yep, a full fledged adult," he smiled proudly.

"And you're not shy!" I gawked, "And your hair? What did you do?"

"I, uh, hit puberty," he smiled shyly. Aw, his shy little self is still in there. He got handsomer and taller too.

"You've changed," I smiled.

"So have you, wow, I might actually fall for you," he winked.

"Ha, as if!" We started walking again, talking about what's changed and my life in Michigan.

"We're here," I stopped in front of the house.

"Whoa, you even live in the same house? Wait, you said it wasn't your house, then who's is it?" I blushed and grabbed the key from him.

"A friend's," I opened the door quickly and stepped inside.

"Wait, you're not going to invite me in? We can get the gang back together," he smiled.

"I'll see you at school!" I closed the door on him.

Wow... Chad has changed that much, I can't even imagine what Elli and Connor are like now...