Rose Garden :: MJ

Chapter 18 : Run

Run

Amanda's POV

1993

"Amanda, Amanda," the man's voice said in my ear quietly.

"Michael," I whispered.

I opened my eyes and looked around furiously. There was man I didn't even know leaning beside me, I was in a strange room, and to top it all off I had the worst headache.

"Amanda, I'm Daniel. You probably don't remember, but I almost ran over you with my car last night. I was going to take you to your house, but I got lost, so I brought you to mine. What were you thinking last night, running out into traffic," he said.

Not only was this man, Daniel, very good looking, but he seemed to be a very compassionate and loving guy.

I sat up and looked at him, "Well, thank you. I don't recall running into the street, but that figures, it was Friday night."

He looked confused, "Um, Friday night?"

"Yeah, I've had a hard life, let's just put that way. Friday night is my 'going to the bar night'," I said, rubbing my aching forehead, "That would explain my killer headache."

"Would you like some coffee?"

It didn't make sense that this guy was helping someone like me. He seemed sophisticated, rich, by the looks off his penthouse as he led me to the huge kitchen with stainless steel appliances. His place was modern, and no doubt very expense.

I sat down at the glass kitchen table, while he put on a pot of coffee.

He came and sat across from me, "Mind if I ask you one more question?"

I shook my head.

"Who's Michael?"

"Oh, I, um. It's a long story," I said, not wanting him to push the subject any further.

"Is he your boyfriend?"

Why did he ask me that? I sighed, "No, he's my ex."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry, but you kept saying his name," Daniel said getting up and pouring two mugs of coffee.

He gave one to me, then took his seat and sipped a little bit of his.

I sipped some of mine, the warmness soothing my scratchy throat, "Can ask you a question?"

He nodded and drank more of his coffee.

"Why are you helping me?"

He sighed, "Well, I figured since I almost ran over you, that I should at least take care of you. And you're too pretty to leave on the street."

I blushed and grinned, "Nobody has said that to me in a very long time."

"Well, it's true," he said sipping his coffee.

"You're not too shabby yourself. I mean you're really handsome. I haven't felt like this in a long time," I said.

"Like what?"

"To have someone care. I mean my friend cares, but she's engaged now, so I'm kind of feeling alone."

He grinned, "Well, I'm glad I make you happy."

He took both of our coffee mugs to the sink when we were done. He grabbed my hand and led me into the living room. We sat on the couch, close together. I haven't sat this close to anyone since, well that doesn't matter. Daniel leaned in and kissed me softly, he pulled away and looked deep into my eyes.

"Daniel, I think I might be starting to like you," I said out loud, whoops!

"Good, I was thinking the same thing," he said leaning in for a deeper kiss.

I think I had finally found someone else, someone who filled the whole that was left by me and Michael's relationship, and someone who could very well be the one.

1998

When I got back to the car, I was in full tears. It was over, it was all over. I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned around to face my now ex-husband.

"Amanda, I thought you loved me. I really did," he said. I saw the tears sparkling in his eyes.

I sighed, "I do love you, Daniel."

"Why did you cheat on me?"

"Daniel, I honestly thought that telling Michael about Tara would be a good thing, but all Michael wanted when he saw me again was to start back where we left off. I'm so confused right now. If you would've just given me a second chance..."

"Amanda, sometimes in life, you don't get a second chance," Daniel said angrily before walking away.

"I know," I said quietly to myself, and then I shouted when I realized that he had walked off, "Daniel!"

He shouted back, "Goodbye, Amanda! It's done!"

I sobbed harder as I climbed in the passenger seat of my black SUV. Michael was in the driver's seat looking at me curiously. His big brown doe-like eyes screamed, 'I want to help!'

"Are you alright?" His soft voice asked quietly.

"I'll be fine," I said, wiping my tears.

Michael started up the car and started driving. Tara was taking a short nap in the backseat. I looked back at her noticing the luggage in the trunk. I turned back to look out the front window, we had gotten on the interstate.

"Michael," I said quietly, "Where are we going?"

"We're going to a place we always should've been?"

I didn't quite know what Michael meant by that but I had a pretty good idea on where we were going. Exhausted from crying so much, I drifted off to sleep.

I woke up to the bright light of the morning sun. We were pulling into a McDonald's drive thru.

"Where are we?" I said, drowsily.

"Indianapolis," Michael said before rolling down the window to order.

After we got our breakfast, I looked back at Tara, "How are you sweetie?"

"Good, you've been asleep for a long time," she said taking a bite of her sausage biscuit.

When Michael was finished eating, he started driving again. We finally got to California, exactly where I suspected we were going, after sleeping in a hotel in two cities along the way.

We pulled into place that I swore I would never go back to and right now I was deathly afraid to get out of the car. Michael helped me out anyway and I looked around at the beautiful setting. I looked at the amusement park in the distance, the big trees, and vast gardens making it even more breathtaking than I had remembered it. I looked at the house, a place I should have been calling home all this time.

I took a deep, shaky breath, "Neverland."