American Sweethearts

Chapter 6

Six years later, what seems not long felt like a decade to the young pair. After four years of working at the paint shop Justice studied a year at an art college in Newark. She finally moved out of her dad’s house where he and Bridget still lived. Justice moved into a small studio down town where half of the space was used for her art work. She didn’t talk to her dad or Bridget after an argument that had happened between them all. Justice had turned vegetarian, she mostly listened to loud rave music and her hair was longer. Apart from that she was the same girl, not to mention she was engaged. But we’ll talk about that later.

After Sunny’s mother moved away to Miami, he managed to work three jobs and scratch up enough money to afford a truck where he’d go round collecting scrap metal. He moved down south to Florida where he dated a poker player. Together the couple moved to Vegas but just after a few months it ended. Sunny moved into a small apartment where he worked as a card player in a casino. He smoked a lot of cigars, drank a lot of straight vodka and somewhat became a ladies man. Women adored him, his dark blonde hair, his big blue eyes and his chilled personality.

Women would come and go but one particular woman who was close was Aurora Bane. A sweet Spanish girl who was devoted to Sunny, if Justice hadn’t have ever been in Sunny’s life, maybe he could love her just as much. Sunny one day got a phone call from his aunt in Newark telling him his uncle had died from a heart attack. They were the only family that ever accepted Sunny and was distraught when he heard the news and flew right over.

His aunt stood stunned at the sight of the man standing in her doorway who she remembered as a young boy. He was only 25 but he had facial hair his hair was swept back with gel. He still had his laid back style of tight jeans with a baggy jumper and leather brown back pack She dived into his arms and burst into tears as she explained the funeral plans.

Sunny was also blown away at how different his aunt looked; she looked fragile and somehow shorter. It reminded him of his mother; he had flown out to Miami a year before and spent the last days with her by her bedside. By the end she could no longer speak or move and the only way he knew something was by looking at her tired eyes.

His aunt slowly sat down at the table and poured them both some tea and grinned. Rubbing his hand.

“So tell me, any special girl in your life?” she asked

Sunny laughed and looked down, sipping his tea.

“I’m afraid not. I mean I’ve had love interests but none worthy of the ring! “He laughed

His aunt rolled her eyes and leaned closer, “What about that girl, who used to live over there?” she asked, pointing out the window.

Sunny turned and in the distance noticed Justice’s old house. His head drowning with memories he turned and looked up.

“Surely that’s a trick question. D’you know if she lives here anymore?” he asked

She sighed and dropped three cubes of sugar into her mug.

“She was a sweet girl wasn’t she…”

Sunny placed his hand over his aunts, “Have you seen her?” he asked

She looked up and anxiously rubbed her hands together, “I don’t think you should go and disturb her life Sunny, you were both so young.”

Sunny leaned back and laughed, “Really, I thought you were the one person who accepted us!”

She leaned forward, “Sunny, I did! You were young and thought you were in love, she’s got her own life now…”

Sunny shook his head and stood up, “No, you’re wrong. We did love each other, it wasn’t pretend.”