Lost Love (Editing)

Chapter 4

Trinity School, number one ranked school in NY, I graduated at the top of my class with a 4.0 GPA, as a straight-A student, and received valedictorian. After finishing 8th grade being homeschooled, my cousin got me into the high school she attended to give me the best opportunities. I fit right in; I didn't have any issue making friends and quickly forgot everything and everyone from Bellpass, including my sister who I have only spoken to once or twice since I moved up here because she decided she didn't want to keep In contact even with my many attempts. I studied a plethora of languages, took up art, and culinary. 

During next fall, I plan to attend the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, to double major in food science and pastries. But first to enjoy my summer, the first day after graduation I check with my group of friends, and most of them are sleeping in with how busy yesterday was. Looking at my watch it's 9:38 am and I want to get to the beach before it gets too crowded. I rush to get ready, putting on a cute bikini and a pair of shorts with and breezy top. Grabbing my book bag and a beach blanket and towel. I jump in my car and head to the beach. I look around at the beautiful ocean and the white sand, hardly anyone is here, and no one is here close enough to notice me playing around. I crank up my speaker and get into the water dancing and soaking up the sun enjoying my 'me time'. I spent a couple of hours tanning and reading after messing around in the water, still playing my music, just not as loud.  

After my splendid day at the beach a few weeks later, I go back and enjoy more alone time. Waking up around 10, I get there. It's been about two weeks since I graduated and I've been staying as busy as possible, visiting the library nearly every day and spending most weekends baking and trying new techniques and recipes. Today once again the beach is nearly empty and I turn up my music and go for a swim in the water. Dancing around and just enjoying the summer, I finally felt tired as I wrap myself in a towel and grab a snack. I reach for my recent book, Me Before You By Jojo Moyes,  a beautiful romance novel. 

"Hey Clark', he said.' Tell me something good'. I stared out of the window at the bright-blue Swiss sky and I told him a story of two people. Two people who shouldn't have met, and who didn't like each other much when they did, but who found they were the only two people in the world who could possibly have understood each other. And I told him of the adventures they had, the places they had gone, and the things I had seen that I had never expected to. I conjured for him electric skies and iridescent seas and evenings full of laughter and silly jokes. I drew a world for him, a world far from a Swiss industrial estate, a world in which he was still somehow the person he had wanted to be. I drew the world he had created for me, full of wonder and possibility."
― Jojo Moyes, Me Before You  

I slightly turn over and look around, still always feeling the anxiousness as if someone is coming for me. I notice someone who I end up locking eyes with and he smiles as I quickly sit up and pack my things up. He gets closer as I feel my heart racing, looking around hoping that someone is close enough to see if anything were to happen. He pauses for a moment, smiles, and walks up to me about to hug me as I fall to the ground pulling myself into a ball terrified of what could happen unable to say anything or do anything else just frozen in fear shaking. He looks down at me kneels and slowly wraps his arms around me the same way hunter used to hug me. "bunny?" That name brings back all the painful memories and suddenly it feels like my body is covered in those fresh bruises and scars. I pull away quickly to be sure it's him. "Hunter?" He nods and smiles. "bunny... It's you, I never thought I'd see you again." I stare not being able to hug him, feeling the agonizing pain from the scars and bruises that once made it hard to even go to sleep.  "Do you really not remember me?" he sounds hurt and disappointed. I slowly nod, "no, no I do r-remember you" I stutter trying to get rid of the phantom pain. "there is so much we need to catch up on" he smiles attempting to change the subject to avoid making me feel uncomfortable. " so what really happened to you, Ashlee? I waited for you, I waited for you for months" I sit down on the blanket and he sits on the sand near me. "There is so much that happened that has nothing to do with you. It came down to my own personal safety and avoiding other people getting involved in my situation. I didn't want to bring you into because I knew you would try to protect me. Everything that happened is in the past now but it still haunts me every day of my life. Honestly, I wasn't expecting to see anyone from that small town again." I explain as he watches me with content. "They would have hurt you, I would never want to see that happen. And it was just easier to leave without the pain of saying goodbye. I didn't tell anyone I was leaving I left my mother a note and she didn't even attempt to contact me." I continue. Hunter cuts me off " Who is they? And you really thought I'd be easier to leave saying nothing? Of course, I would have protected you, You are my best friend Ashlee" In attempts to avoid conflict or confrontation I stand up and start to collect my things saying nothing else. "Ash... what the hell?" He stares at me "Ash" he repeats. I fold my blanket and sigh softly "bunny.. please" I freeze in my tracks. " bunny, please just talk. I just need to know why you left me. I mean... Why you just left in general." I turn to him. "you want to come over? My cousin has been wanting to meet you. I didn't think she'd have the chance to, now she does. " he smiles "let's go" I walk off smiling and we get to my car and he walks to the driver side and opens the door for me as I get in he closes it and walks around getting in. "I can open my own doors but thank you" we don't talk during the car ride. The silence was broken after he laughed. "why does your cousin know about me?" I shrug and keep my eyes on the road.