The Day We Met (SLOW UPDATES)

Prologue

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"To burn with desire and keep quiet
about it is the greatest punishment
we can bring upon ourselves."
- Unknown
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Jessica Grace Anderson waves one last goodbye to her parents as Bryant starts the car and slowly pulls away from her childhood home. Jess would've rather had her parents and Bryant be her ride, but they had an important business dinner to attend at the same time she needed to be there. The ride to the airport is what made Melanie realize how nervous she really was.

"Everything ok?" Bryant asked as he glanced over at her from the driver's seat. "Just nervous about the flight that's all.." she tried.

He wasn't buying it. "Jess, c'mon you and I both know how much you love flying, don't stress about this new school alright? You'll be fine," He insisted. "You don't know that, what if I flunk all my classes because they're too hard for me, what if I can't make any new friends because I don't fit in there, or what if I-," but she silenced as she felt him rest his hand over hers and he began to speak. "Listen to me alright?" He focused on the road, "I've known you since the day you were born, I know you," he gave her hand a light squeeze. "Every doubt you're having is so far from the truth.. you're going to do great. And you will make new friends, amazing ones. I promise, I know you can do it." He released her hand from his grip. "Thanks, Bryant... I needed that," she smiled. "Always. And if you get there and you need anything, give me a call and I will help in whatever way I can, ok?" She nodded.

Within the next twenty minuts they had finally reached Richmond International Airport.

Jess took in a deep breath and released it soon after as they rolled to a stop in front of the entrance. "Well I guess this it huh?" she asked. "Guess so.. Jeez where has the time gone, Jess? It seems like yesterday I was babysitting you when you were just a little toddler," Bryant joked. Jess grinned softly as she unbuckled her seatbelt saying, "I'm gonna miss you, Bryant. Who am I gonna talk to about random stuff now?" He slightly chuckled, "Still me, we'll talk over the phone whenever you need to." Over all 18 years of her life, Jessica was never really able to find a girl best friend, not one she was looking for anyways. So it'd always been Bryant that she reached out to. She was hoping that this fresh start at college would help her find the girl friend that she needed.

"You know it won't be the same," she softly stated. He just responded with a simple, "Yeah... let's go get your bags out of the trunk before we forget." They both got out and Jess stood as he pulled her last suitcase from the back. He set it down and looked to her once again, focusing on her features. It wasn't until she was standing in front of him, about to leave for three months, that Bryant realized the amazing and beautiful young woman that she had become.

Jess looked up after counting all of her bags. He stood, admiring her. Their eyes met and he took in their color, they matched the shade of the chocolate you would see cascading down a chocolate fountain, dark and sweet. She had warm, copper brown hair that flowed down to the middle of her back and natural tanned skin which made her beautiful, pink lips stand out. Her cheeks were rouged and she was dressed in a pair of black skinny jeans and a simple, grey v-neck with white Chuck Taylor's on her feet. Playing lacrosse all of her life allowed her to be quite fit, leaving her in great physical shape. The woman that stood before him was nothing compared to the little girl he'd always seen her as, but he kept telling himself he was admiring her in a fatherly perspective. Proud of the now young woman he'd had a part in raising.

Oddly enough, Jess was doing the exactly same thing. Observing every last feature that Bryant portrayed.

Jess always thought of Bryant as handsome, but not to imply that she her self was attracted to him. But no single feature makes Bryant so handsome, though his eyes come close. People often speak of the color of eyes, as if that were of importance, yet his would be delightful in any shade, though they were a deep and sultry tint of brown. To Jess, his eyes had a certain intensity, an honesty, and a gentleness to them. He's a fair few inches taller than her, standing at 6' 2", Bryant is slim, muscular, and has an almost perfectly symmetrical face. He wasn't one to smile too often, but when he did, those pearly whites of his could light up a whole room; He had one of those contagious smiles that affected everyone who was around him. And to top off all of his features, his sculpted jawline was discretely hidden underneath a generous layer of stubble. Now that she thought about it, Bryant was pretty good looking for a 34-year-old. And as each new year passes, the lines will deepen upon his face, but he will be more handsome still, as if his wonderful soul shines through his skin.

It was saddening to have to leave him for so long, she thought. The two of them saw eachother almost, if not every weekend. Wether it was an evening dinner with her parents, or a weekend trip to the beach, Bryant was there. But it wasn't because of Jessica, Bryant was her fathers' childhood best friend, practically a part of their family of three. Though, over the years she'd gotten to know him almost as well as her father did. The bond the both of them shared was unbreakable. Many would assume that the two of them are siblings aside from their small differences in facial features.

Bryant cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence. Following with, "Alright kiddo, your parents would kill me if I let you miss your flight," he exclaimed. She giggled, "Yeah no kidding.."

He rested a hand on her shoulder, drawing her attention to him once more. "Remember what I said alright? You're gonna do great, trust me. Now come here," He said holding out his arms. She sank into his embrace, "I'm gonna miss you, B." Jess was really the only one who referred to him as that, it was something he personally cherished.

He lightly patted against her back, "I'm gonna miss you too kiddo, but I'll see you again at Thanksgiving in no time and we can talk about anything you want for as long as you feel like talking." Bryant could feel her smile form against his chest as a slight chuckle escaped her mouth. "Well I'll be looking forward to that," she responded.

They separated and as Jessica gathered her bags he grinned at her with pride. "Love you, Jess."

"Love ya too, B. Don't miss me too much," she joked. "Nah, you'll miss me way more. Don't party too hard down there, just because you're going to Clemson doesn't mean you have to party like them," he playfully responded. Jess smiled, "Oh yes, because it's so like me to go get drunk and go to parties." Her wit is something that Bryant would definitely miss. "Sure is," he joked, "alright now you don't want to miss that flight." She softly smiled and turned to walk in the airport. He'd wait for her to turn around for another glance, but Bryant knew she wouldn't. That wasn't the type of person Jessica Grace was. She was too independent for something so cliché. He made his way back into his car and tried pushing away the thoughts that were running through his mind as he drove home.