Cliché Love

#15 Leap of Love

She stared at the scribbling of a sixteen year old and smiled. If only she had know that none of her dreams would come true.

But didn't she deserve better, didn't they deserve a second chance?
She was taking some office documents when her diary had fallen to the ground with a thud, she was about to put it back when her bucket list made an appearance.

Her eyes watered ever so slightly as she counted the number of times his name was mentioned in the list containing sixteen points- she found four less than twenty. Her obsession over him at that period of time had reached it's ultimate peak, everything seemed perfect.

Life soon got to both of them and they separated ways but looking at the dreams of her younger self she couldn't help but wonder, what if?

What if she went over to his place right now and demanded an explanation for him to stay away for so long, treat her this way. She had contemplated many a times the outcome of that trip since the time their common friend had mentioned his return to his apartment.

She had pushed back any thoughts of him and everytime her past caught up with her, she'd bury herself in work.
But right now, staring at the adventurous things she had jotted down and now was even legal to perform them, she was far too tempted to finish the job.

They deserved a second chance in her mind, even if that means her giving into the cold war they had started a couple of years back. It's time, time to put their mistakes behind and recall the things that made them- them.

She remembered a time when she was stuck in detention and he had called the teacher out so she could sneak out of the window. They had shared a packet of skittles near the lake after.

Her mind drifted off to the time he had officially met her parents and had them falling in love with him almost immediately.

All those memories were the ones fueling her to pick up the car keys and drive a few miles to his place and demand an apology for not sticking to his promises.

She drove the familiar streets and parked below his apartment building.
She was quick enough to slip in after an old lady instead of having to ruin the element of surprise by letting him buzz herself in.

Her hand clenched the piece of paper like it was her last living hope.
She had permanently plastered his apartment number in her mind for some reason which seemed to be fruitful on this unexpected occasion.
She rang a bell, wiping her sweaty hands on her jeans and fixing her hair.

The door opened with her wishing she had gotten the numbers messed up. But all her hopes vanished as she recognised his face immediately.
He stood there in a grey wife beater and black sweats with a box of Cheerios in his hand- which fell to the ground as he stood their flabbergasted.

"J-Jane?" He stuttered out.
"Who will complete this?" She mentally patted her back at her capability to form coherent sentences.
She opened the crumbled page and showed it to him.

He looked back and forth between her and the sheet of paper, still shocked to see standing there.
He had a little to over ten times visited her building- both office and home- in hopes of getting in contact with her. But every time he got close enough, he backed out. It was after all him who started the unspoken break up.

"Jane. What are you doing here?"

"Why? Is it a bad time, my bad. Should've called." Jane felt no remorse of coming over though her ego had taken quite a blow.

"No, no. Please come in." Ethan motioned for her to enter.

She took cautioned steps to the living room where she frozen in the corner.
The room was filled with pictures of them, all framed and placed on the wall with pictures of his parents.

"It helps me with the pain." Jane jumped a little, startled by the closeness of Ethan's voice.

"Pain from what?" She asked in a hurried whisper.
"Pain from being away from you."

She didn't speak for a while, continuing to stare at the pictures that hung on the wall.

"Would you like to drink something?" Ethan questioned, not knowing how to fill the uncomfortable silence.
"No." She stated. Jane was beyond shocked. Her back was to him as she scrutinised the photos.

She heard ruffling of paper but her mind was occupied with thoughts of the past.

"Build a sandman with Ethan? Jane, only you can think of these." She closed her eyes as she heard him chuckle, how she missed that sound. His low laughs filled the room and a soft smile played on her lips.

"Send Ethan to buy tampons. Wow. Thanks, Jane." He continued to find ones that were embarrassing and laughed his heart out. Jane couldn't help but embrace his voice, the feel of his presence she had missed so much.

"Jane?" He called out, making her turn to face him.

He came close to her and she didn't back out. He placed a hand on her neck and pulled her into a kiss.
She was taken aback, but the feel of his lips had never left her mind, and now that she could experience it again, she gave her all.

They both poured their emotions out in that one minute, longing, love, pain and so much more.

But soon they broke apart.

"Though it's crossed out, I thought we could do them all from start?" He gave her a boyish girn and she wiped her tears.

Not being able to take the distance between them anymore Ethan pulled her into a hug.

"I missed you so much, Jane. I'm so sorry for my foolish behaviour. I love you, always have. There is no one else but you in my life, no one. You are the only one I want to be with."

"That's all I needed you to say."

And they lived happily ever after.

*****
Sucker for those. Hey! We are talking about Cliché here. There is no cliché without a happily ever after.

Love, Rojesta.