The Letters To Her Heart

Chapter 10: New Adventures

October 2016

It's been a month since I moved down here to South Carolina. I didn't keep up with my promises, I hadn't talked to Cole since I left. I thought maybe it would just be better to start fresh. It was the best decision I have made so far. I met someone else. I just don't have the heart to tell Cole there's someone else.

Just eight months until I finally graduate and get to travel the world with my significant other, Jax Raider. I met Jax in studyhall my first week at my new school. He sat at my table and offered to help me with my math homework and I willingly said yes of course, his baby blue eyes and dark ruffled hair had me in. It was like love at first sight, he took my breath away with his beauty.

"Hey what're ya thinking about?" Jax hovered over my shoulders. I jumped, my papers flying out of my hands.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." He laughed.

"It's fine, I was just thinking." I felt my heart rate pick up. I have to stop doing that!

"I was just zoning out." I laughed, picking the papers off the ground and putting them into my folder.

"Ha okay, I was thinking. Want to go to this festival down at the pier today?" He asked and suddenly it was like deja vu. Cole asked me to go to the festival the day I left. Was this a sign? Did I have a type? Did all the boys I like, like to take me to fall festivals? I laughed at myself at the silly thought.

"What's so funny?" Jax asked.

"Nothing, I'd love to go." I smiled, standing up from the cafeteria table.

"Good, I'll pick you up at seven, yeah?" 

"Sounds perfect." I kissed him goodbye and went to my next class.

I walked home from school today because Aunt Darlene and Uncle Chuck live down the street from the school. I started running once I was closer because I remembered I hadn't opened up today's letter.

Once I was inside, I tossed my bag on the floor and went up to my room. I opened up the drawer from my desk and picked up letter number thirty. I took a deep breath and opened it:

Marissa,

I'm proud of the young woman you're becoming. Change is good but you'll eventually know what you want. Do what makes you happy. Love you endlessly.

Love,

Mom

I scanned the letter twice before I put it away. What did she mean by that? Change is good but you'll eventually know what you want.

"Hey Aunt Dar." I came around the corner in the kitchen then.

"Yes dear?" She looked up from the magazine she was looking at.

"I have a date tonight at seven with Jax, is that okay?" I asked, this unusual feeling settling in my stomach.

"You don't have to ask baby doll, you've been dating since you got here!" She chuckled and flipped a page in the magazine.

"Yeah, sorry." I shook my head and excused myself to the living room. I probably sound like such an idiot right now.

~~~~~

Jax picked me up right at seven to take me to the fall festival. We strolled the pier, hand in hand like we've been a couple for years. It felt like I've known Jax in another life. It was strange and was always on my mind. 

"Want a snow cone babe?" Jax snapped me out of my zoning out session, once again.

"Yeah, sure. I'll go get us one." I stopped him at a bench and he handed me a ten.

"You sure you want to go alone?" Jax raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah I got it." I smiled weakly and walked to the snow cone stand.

I ordered a red one for me and a blue one for Jax. I kept getting flashbacks from a month ago and I know this was a sign telling my heart something. I ran back over to Jax and gave him his snow cone.

"Jax, I got to go home." I rushed out, dumping my snow cone in the garbage.

"Why? What's wrong? Are you feeling okay?" He dumped his as well and stood up from the bench.

"I don't know." My mind was swirling with thoughts, I just wanted to be in my bed right now.

"Okay, deep breaths. I'll walk you home." He wrapped his arm around my waist and slowly walked me home.

When we got to my front steps, I stood in front of the door.

"What, I can't come in?" He asked.

"Jax..." I started, closing my eyes.

"Don't, please don't." He begged, holding my hands in his.

"Jax something doesn't feel right. Every time I with you, I get this feeling that just isn't right." I gulped hard.

"You're breaking up with me." It was more of a statement than question.

"Yes." A tear rolled down my face then and Aunt Dar came out to see what was going on.

"Marissa? What's going on?" She eyed up Jax very carefully.

"Nothing. Absoultely nothing is going on. Goodbye Mrs. Swanson." Jax's voice cracked and he waved goodbye to the both of us.

I turned and hugged Aunt Dar. I sobbed into her shoulder and I spent the rest of the evening in her arms on the sofa watching chick flicks.

"Dar? Marissa?" Uncle Chuck walked in the house then, coming home from work.

"In here." Aunt Darlene yelled from the living room.

"I uh, I have some good/bad news to announce." Uncle Chuck removed his boots and walked into the living room, causing me to perk up.

"What is it?" Aunt Dar asked, suddenly very worried.

"The company's moving." Uncle Chuck said with such relief in his voice.

"To where?" I had this little surge inside of me that needed to know the answer.

Uncle Chuck looked at the carpet and then back up at me, laughing.

"Home." He smiled and a happy tear rolled down my cheek then.

"Thank you." I ran up and hugged Uncle Chuck, crying into his shirt.

"Thank the company." He laughed, rubbing my back.

"Aunt Dar, I'm going back!" I cheered excitedly, hugging her.

"I'm so happy for you baby girl, I really am." She said.

"So when do we leave?" I asked.

"Tomorrow." 

And that's when I knew everything was going to be okay. My breakup with Jax was suppose to happen. This was all suppose to happen. I'm a firm believer everything happens for a reason. That's what my mom meant in the letter. I know what I want and that's North Carolina. It's where I belong, it's my niche.