The Avenue [JaDine Fanfiction] #BigChange #FanFicFriday

That One Place

She stared at her reflection in the mirror. She imagined herself seven years ago. The teenager she was, blind for that guy. The guy that broke her heart.

She admired herself. She's changed. She's moved on. Moved on from the guy that left her. The guy who she thought was her first and last.

Richelle was now twenty two years old. She wasn't the same open minded girl she was before. She thanked him for breaking her heart. For making her stronger.

She remembered the day too well.

The sound of sirens filled the air as dozens of trucks, ambulances, and cars were scattered throughout the avenue. The fire was no longer there but the smoke remained, filling the sky.

She looked up at all the houses. Tears were in her eyes as she stared at the burnt houses. Ashes lay everywhere, burnt furniture and smoke filled the neighborhood. She looked back as a thought of Luca came across her mind.

"Luca." she said to herself.

She dropped all her stuff and ran towards his place.

A tear ran down her face as she arrived at the sight. The whole house was dead. Furniture was eaten by the fire, the walls were no longer standing. Nothing was left there. Not even Luca.

The sound of a taxi brought her back to reality.

She questioned if what she was going to do was right. She closed her eyes and recalled the memories she had. The memories she had there.

"Here we are." the taxi driver started as he slowly made it to a stop. Richelle smiled and thanked the driver, giving him his pay.

She stepped out of the taxi and admired the place.

The place where it all started.

A wan smile formed across her face. She embraced the feeling. Being back here again. She admired the new houses that were rebuild over time.

She walked down the street, glancing at the people, the structure, the happiness the neighborhood shared, like it did since she lived here.

She came to a certain point where she had to stop. She glared at the street pole, sliding her hand around it. "This is where I first saw him." she thought to herself. She recalled that time. Hiding behind the pole, seeing the new kid. A smile formed on her face.

She embraced the moment, until a voice suddenly interrupted.

"Richelle?" a voice stuttered, causing her to turn around. Her eyes widened as she faced him. Him.

"Luca." she stared right into his eyes. She was speechless. She didn't know what to feel, or what to say. Her face was blank as he stared at the man in front of her. She was about to run until his hand grabbed her arm. The warmth of his touch made her tingle as she looked at his hand.

"Richelle." he repeated, smiling. She made eye contact with him. She felt herself fall for him again the way she did years ago.

But she was able to catch herself. She wasn't the same fifteen year old girl she was before. She's changed. Her heart has changed.

"You don't know how long I've waited to see you." she looked at him into his eyes and noticed the corners of his eyes starting to water.

Nothing but hatred laid in her heart for the man. She remembered the promise that he made during the incident. The promise that he broke.

"You wouldn't have to wait if you didn't leave me." was the only thing that came out of her.

She automatically regretted her words as the expression of excitement quickly turned to loneliness on his face. The same expression he had before she gave him that bracelet. 

Her eyes widened when a flash of neon yellow caught the corner of her eye on his wrist. The bracelet. Still wrapped around his wrist. She clenched her jaw as she started to feel affection for him.

He was upset. He didn't know that this would be her reaction.

"I came back for you." he looked into her eyes. He closed his eyes, recalling the moment. "After the fire, I had to go back to Australia. My uncle moved there so we moved there with him as my mom recovered from the accident." he looked down as he confessed his actions.

"I came back here but you were gone. I didn't know where to find you." She didn't know what to say as all this information came down to her.

"Until I saw you. Hugging a guy. I knew I hurt you and that you deserved someone better, so I went back to Australia." she looked straight up at him as he said his last sentence.

"I never dated anyone since you." she shook her head. She looked down as she recalled the moment. "The only guy I've hugged was my cousin when he left going to Japan." she looked up at him in guilt. It was her mistake. Her hatred that she carried. Her fault for hating him over nothing.

She thought she changed but she didn't. Maybe her appearance changed, but not her feelings for him. She glared at him as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Luca, I still love you. Nothing has ever changed." she admitted.

He stared at her with a blank face.

"Daddy?" the voice of a five year old interrupted the two.

"It was nice seeing you, Richelle."

That one place.

The one place where destiny met its fate.

Changed destiny into a stranger.