You Again (Completed) ✔️

20.

Cole pulls the car into the driveway and parks it before pulling the keys out of the ignition. "Your Mom is going to be happy that I'm here. Every time we ask her to make pizza, I help her."

It was one of my favourite meals to make with her, too. She makes the base from scratch before adding the rest of the ingredients.

Cole steps out of the car. "I'll get your door." He walks around the car and opens it for me.

I pick my bag off the floor before I step out of the car. "Thanks, Cole." Walking past him, I head to the front door and open it. When I get to the kitchen, I see my family sitting around the table.

Mom looks behind me. "Where's Cole?"

"He's on his way." Turning around, I look at the door, waiting for him to enter the room. He walks through the door, and I say. "I didn't kill him..." whispering I say. "This time."

Veronica laughs, and everyone turns their attention to her. "What?" she asks.

Liam pulls her into his side. "What were you laughing at?"

She looked at me before shrugging. "Nothing, Mrs. Harrison. I heard you make the best pizzas around. Is there any chance you can show me how to make it?"

Mom looks at me. "If Julia is okay with it, I'll let you help."

I haven't been home in a while, so I shouldn't be that surprised that my mother finds other people to replace me when it comes to cooking.

Looking at Veronica, I say. "It's fine. I'm going to go for a walk. Can someone call me when dinner is ready?" I don't wait for a reply and grab my phone before leaving the house.

When I get to the driveway, I see Dad pulling in. he climbs out of the car and walks over. "Julia, where are you going?"

"For a walk." Looking back at the house. "Mom has replaced me in the kitchen with the guy I hate and my best friends. There's no room for me to make my favourite meal with Mom as other people want to make it too."

Dad pulls me into his arms. "Things have changed since you left, Julia. You can't expect everything to return to normal because you're home. Embrace the changes, sweetheart. Because nothing is as bad as you think they are."

A smile spreads across my face. "You used to tell me that growing up, Dad. I'll also try to get used to the changes, but don't expect it to happen overnight."

He looks at the house. "I heard you talked with Cole today. How did that go?"

"He's here, isn't he?" I sigh. "I told him something I never thought I would share with him in a million years, but talking to him about it felt good."

"What was that?"

I grab Dad's hand, and we walk down the street. "After the Tsunami hit, my life flashed before my eyes, and I saw all the good things I've done in my life, but there's also a hole where something else should be."

Dad smiles. "A family of your own?"

"Yes, I didn't just come home because I needed a change from the Island. I also need something to fulfil my needs, and starting a family is for me. I've been looking into IVF, and I think that's the only way to get what I want."

He stops walking and turns towards me. "That's not the only way to get the family you want. I know someone who's been in love with you for a long time and would be willing to help you."

He's probably going to say Cole.

"Cole," Dad's quiet for a moment before saying. "While you were gone, he always looked at your pictures in the house and looked sad every time he saw them. Eventually, you're mother, and I decided to put them away so he wouldn't continue to torture himself because you left. I don't think he stopped it when he got home. I was over at his house once and saw him flipping through the yearbook, and he left it open in your picture. It had tear drops on the page that day. Also, there were a bunch of letters with your name on them." He pulls a letter out of his pocket and gives it to me. "Cole gave this to me last week. He said when I see you, give it to you."

I take his letter. "Thanks, Dad." I hug him.

He kisses the top of my head. "I'll leave you alone with the letter. Come home after you've read the letter."

Looking up, I see that we stopped at the park down the road from the house. "Okay," I say, opening the envelope and pulling the letter out. "Bye, Dad." I walk over to the chair and sit down.

November 27th 2008

Dearest Julia,
           Today is Thanksgiving Day, and I thought you were going to ignore me and come home to celebrate this holiday with your family. However, when I didn't see you go into town, I realised my threat to you was taken to heart.

I'm sorry that I did that to you, and every day since, I have been hoping to see the happy, bubbly, beautiful girl walk back into town without a care in the world. When that didn't happen, I knew I screwed up royally with you.

I wish I could go back in time and change the words that came out of my mouth that day, but we both know that's impossible. I hope someday when you come home, we can talk, and I can apologise to you face to face. We both know that writing an apology is just words, like when it comes out of your mouth.

I'll have to prove it to you, not by words but by action. Please know I'm genuinely sorry, Julia.

Love

Cole

A tear falls down my face as I finish his words. Looking at the sky, I say. "What should I do?"

A girl around my age walks over to me and sits next to me. "Well, well, if it isn't Julia Harrison. Does our friend Cole Mason know you're in town? If he doesn't, I can't wait to see his reaction."

Looking closely at her, I see that it's my ex-best friend. "Well, if it isn't the snake. She becomes friends with you only to run when the most horrible guy in school wants to hurt a girl he has feelings for."

She frowns. "How do you know Cole had feelings for you?"

I stand up. "If you've been in tune with the gossip, you'd have heard that Cole spends time with my family, and right now, he's in my kitchen helping Mom cook her famous homemade pizza." Looking at my phone, I say. "I have to get home for dinner. It was nice seeing you again, Georgie, but that would be a lie." With that, I walk away.