The Comeback

Chapter 39 - Confession

Chapter 39 - Confession

I blink quickly, still surprised to see her here but at the same time so happy. I went to look for her and she’s here, waiting for me. How ironic? Maybe if I had stayed it would’ve been faster.

But it’s not that she’s here, wanting to talk to me what makes me the happiest; it’s the little smile on her lips. Not the usual smile she used to give me, but a more hesitant one yet lovely as usual. My heart races when I see her and it’s because of that that it takes me longer to answer her question.

“Of-of course. I was just… I just went to see if you were in your room. I had to give this back to you,” I say showing her the DVD box and her smile widens.

“Did you watch it?” she asks still smiling as she takes the box. She’s careful not to touch my fingers and I sigh as I notice that. Well, I guess I was too excited to see her here.

“Yeah and yes, I cried,” I admit and she giggles. “That episode is terrible but amazing. Hard to explain,” I carry on and she smiles.

“I told ya,” she laughs and I forget she didn’t want to touch my hands, I forget everything because when she laughs like that I can only smile and feel like everything is okay.

God, I missed her laughter so much, the way her eyes light up when she is happy, even a little bit. I remember my mum’s words when she said that Cassie’s smile could lift anyone’s spirit. It’s so true.

“Can we, uh… go somewhere else?” she asks and I remember she came here because she wanted to talk about something.

I nod and look around but I don’t want to just sit somewhere so instead I suggest, “let’s take a walk. The day is quite lovely.”

“That sounds good,” Cassie agrees and I turn around so we can start walking away from the building.

For a while we just walk side by side, no one saying a thing and although it’s a bit awkward I like it because she’s here. We’re spending time together and there’s something she wants to tell me. Even if it’s about Jake, she came looking for me. That makes me happy.

Talking about Jake… is he around?

Yes, he replies for the first time in days and I even stop for a few seconds, surprised. I was giving you space, after all what you’ve done.

I don’t reply out loud because I don’t want to startle Cassie or anything, but I nod and smile. I knew he wasn’t just gone. He wouldn’t just leave without saying something. I wonder if he’s okay.

I am… still got some memories. We are good, he replies and I sigh, realising I was actually worried for him. I knew she’d come to you, Liam.

And I’m surprised that he says that because I didn’t expect this, but then, he knows her better than I do. He knows her better than she knows herself so it’s not weird that he knew she’d come. But, does he know what she wants to tell me?

I have a fairly good idea, he replies and it’s funny that I haven’t uttered a single word but we’re still having a conversation. You’ll see, Jake adds and I nod one more time.

I focus again on Cassie and on how lovely she looks as we keep walking around campus, calmly, as if we had all the time in the world. Maybe we do, maybe we don’t, but we have now, don’t we? It’s something.

“So… how have you been?” she asks and I know she does that only because she doesn’t want to remain in silence.

For a second I think of telling her that I’ve been missing her, like a lovesick fool, but I stop before I open my mouth. “I’ve been well, how about you?”