The Distance of Love

Chapter 12: 1 year to change

The day came that I was waiting for the annual cabin fever party hosted by Matthew's parents and grand parents. It is an hour and a half drive to where the party is being held but it's worth it if I get to see Matt in person. I have been wanting to see him in person for so long now at this point it has been over a year since I have seen him and I was really starting to get some seperation anxiety. When we were 1/2 way to the party my nerves started to get the better of me. I had a slight panic attack on the way there. I was not happy with myself I thought this party was going to go like it did last year good up until the end which yes the party ended well in mine and Matt's point of view I don't think it ended well in his parents point of view.I was so wising to myself praying to the gods that his parents would see it different this year and just with my luck they did.

Now I have no idea what happened to cause the sudden change all I knew was that they seemed happy to see us which was awkward but a good kind of awkward. This year everyone seemed happier. As soon as our red chevy pick-up pulled into the drive way Matthew at first didn't know it was us and as soon as my father stepped out of the truck Matthew had a smile on his face from ear to ear I have never seen him happier.I was cramped in to the last seat of the truck and from dislocating my knee a month before hand It was throbbing like no tomorrow .I then got out of the truck and tried to walk it off while partically falling out of balance. Matthew walked over to me hugged me a I belive he kissed my neck that part was a little blurry to me because it happened so fast. We both said to each other "I've missed you so much". He lead me in to the garage and he had 2 matching yellow sun chairs set out for us which were more comfortable then the bench we sat on together last year.

This is where the party begins first as we are getting food he compleiments me on my pearl necklace that I decied to wear being it was special occasion only this year I did not wear the earings that he made me. He then for some reason I forgot what we were talking about but Matthew said "I have something that would fix that."Then he hands me a necklace shaped like a pokeball with our first intials on the back of it saying C+M . I was very suprised that he puut my intial first because I normlly put his first no matter what the situation.We went and sat for a little bit and then he introduced me to the newest member of family Doug the rabbit who is a lion head lop who is tri-colored or as they say in the rabbit world he is broken colored.

My bunny may not be cute in other peoples eyes but my baby bunny will always be a baby bunny in my eyes no matter how old he is . Although there is one thing I did not tell Matthew and that is Doug's middle name that I am going to suprise him with it . I gave him my gifts t him that I had been holding onto for a year which was chopsticks,a chinese fan along with the bracelet that matches mine even though I made it a tad bit to short for his wrist. A heart plush made from a pair of my jeans with a bow from my keepsake box and,little pikachu and eevee figurines that I had made from polymere clay. Matt also gave me a little purple bear key chain that I carry in my coat pocket because I do not have a key ring to keep it in and also a T-shirt with an out line of pikachu on it.

Me and Matthew were just sitting in our chairs laughing and then all the sudden my mom snaps a photo and me and Matthew both come out with " Are you serious ?!" We each are not all the time a fan of having our picture taken. We were both happy to see both of our parents to be getting along so well we thought this was never going to happen. A little while later my mother wanted another photo and my mom said "Get closer together for this photo." We said alright and it took my mother and Matthew saying look at the camera to actually get me to look at the camera.Matthew put his arm around me and his mother then said " I can't even get that close to him and he is actually smiling what makes you so special ?"I just replied with I don't know.I was hoping he forgot about my sister last year saying "At band camp" when ever I stated a sentance with one time. Then I leaned my head back and I leaned it back a little to far because I hit my head off the garage door . Then after that Matthew proceeded to pat me on the head.By this time it was 3:00 p.m. the food was done so I went out to get something to eat even though for some reason I had lost my appitite. Which was not normal of me.I laughed so hard that my laugh was almost silent. Matthew then did the same thing he did last year he just rubbed my upper back with his hand it felt nice.

Not to long after that my sister Sabrina said why don't we just take Piper home with us and we can let her have Caitlin's room in a joking way. Matthew then replied "I wouldn't be against it ".I of course loved this but I knew it would never happen.Then me and Matthew were sitting down in a little bit more comfortable chairs. Then my parents asked me to ask Matthew where he was going to collage and what he was going for and he told me he is going for culinary arts at suny adirondack my heart just about melted because I am going for baking and pastry arts when I graduate high school. At this point we have to leave beccause we have to pick up my sisters rabbit in Queensbury . I hug Matthew first knowing that this is going to be another hard goodbye. We are in each others embrace and my head is practically buried in his chest .He just says hey to me and I think he knew what he wanted he wanted a kiss from me like we did at the end of last years cabin fever party.But I refused because we were around so many people and his brother was watching us I belived and honestly I will say this I did not want to leave one bit I started to miss him not to long after we finished our hug. I asked his mother if I could give her a hug and she said"As long as it's alright with my son." And I gave her a hug .After that I went out side following my parents who were talking to Matthew's father and I go around the other way and I accidently hit a man with the rabbit cage I was carrying .And I started apoligizing histaricallly .And he said you'll do fine and don't beat up the rabbit like you did me. I think Matthew found my apoligining to be cute. I hugged Matthew's father and he said "Goodbye Cait." That was the end of the party and as we drove away Matthew waved to us as he normally does.