JeffMads Modern AU | Year 1 {Complete}

Hope

//small disclaimer, two chapters ago, I referred to Dolley as "Dolley Todd." Her maiden name is actually Payne. Todd is the surname of her first husband. I apologize for any confusion, but I have changed it for future readers//

Nothing had changed. Nothing at all. Thomas and Maria ignored me. It hurt, but I understood, I guess. 

Dolley had gone back to Virginia two weeks ago. We talked on the phone every single day. She cried when she had to get on her plane at the airport and leave me. 

I was in my room packing for the week at Dolley's parent's house when there was a knock at the door. It couldn't have been Samuel, he had already left for the U.K. the day before. 

I opened the door to reveal the one and only Maria Lewis. 

She stared down at me. 

"Hello." I was shaking in my skin. I hoped she wouldn't yell at me. 

"James." She pursed her lips.

"Yes?" 

"We need to talk." 

"Okay. Come in." 

She walked in, eyeing my backpack stuffed with my things. "Where are you going?" 

"Uh... Virginia." 

"Nice." She slid onto the coffee table. 

Why was she here? What was she planning? I saw the gears turning in her head. 

"What'd you want to talk about?" 

"I'm sorry." 

Oh? 

"For what?" 

"For yelling at you when you broke up with Thomas--" 

"I didn't break up with him--" 

"Shut up. Just let me talk. I did some investigating and I found out what happened. By investigating, I mean, I talked to Seabury's sister. So, that was great, I shared the news with Thomas, he was thrilled. Then, I see a post of you from a girl named Dolley's Instagram, with the caption "boyfriend goals." Just when I thought you weren't a douchebag." 

"You don't understand--" 

"I didn't even know you liked girls! Neither did Thomas! You broke his heart again, by how fast you moved on." 

"I don't like girls!" 

She raised her eyebrows. "Oh really? Explain." 

"Yes, I dated Dolley in highschool. It wasn't real boyfriend-girlfriend love, she knows that, but her parents loved me. She wants to get away from the small town we grew up in and her parents would never let her, unless they knew she would have someone there to look out for her." 

"So it's fake? You're not actually dating?" 

I shook my head. "I don't think I could date anyone else unless it was Thomas," I said it quieter. 

Her faced cracked into a grin. "He's going to be so happy! When are you leaving? How long are you staying?" 

"In an hour or so, actually. I'm staying for the whole week."  

"He'll have to catch you quickly then!" She hugged me before running out of the door. 

Hope swelled in my chest. I kept grinning as I finished my packing. 

Only 15 minutes left until I should leave. 

No Thomas. 

10 minutes. 

I had to go. I couldn't miss my flight. 

I looked for him everywhere as I walked to where my Uber was picking me up. 

He wasn't anywhere. 

It was okay. I'd see him when I got back. It'd give me something to look forward to. 

The airport wasn't far from campus and it wasn't overly busy. In 30 minutes I was almost up to the TSA agent who would scan me into security. 

"James! James!" 

I turned around.

There he was. 

I returned his smile.

"Sir, you're next." There was a tap at my shoulder. 

I gave him a sympathetic look. 

"I love you!" 

I kept my head peeked over my shoulder, as I smiled at him. No way this was happening. A little over an hour ago I had been thinking we'd never even speak to each other again. 

"I'll call you!" I shouted before going through the awful process of security with all the hope in the world.

###

Two hours of sitting on a plane. 

Two hours of my anxiety going through the roof.

I sighed in relief as I stepped off the plane. 

I instantly spotted Dolley and her mother. 

When Dolley saw me, her face lit up and she bounded over to me. I scooped her up, dropping my bag, and kissing her lightly. We had planned how this was going to happen. 

She grabbed my hand and my bag, leading me to her mother. 

"Hello, Mrs. Payne." 

"Hi, James. And, please, call me Mary." She held out her hand. 

I shook it.

"So sorry we couldn't get you the first-class tickets, it was all taken. We'll have to be ahead of our game next time." 

"Oh, no, it was perfect. Thank you for letting me come out here." 

"Of course! I'm sure our Dolley would've cried all break if we didn't fly you out." 

Dolley winked at me and it took all I had not to laugh.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get out of here. Are you starving, James? We can get some Panera before we leave the city." 

"Excellent idea, mother," Dolley mused. 

"Actually is okay if use the restroom first?" I asked. 

They both nodded. 

I ran off into the bathroom, calling Thomas. 

He picked up on the third ring.

"James?" 

"Hi!" 

"Listen, I'm so sorry. I didn't know the full story and I didn't give you the chance to tell it." 

"It's okay." 

"You get back in a week, right?" 

"Yeah."

"I want to take you to my favorite place." 

"Okay." I covered my mouth so the old guy that was washing his hands wouldn't see my idiotic grin.

"Is that okay?" 

"It sounds wonderful." 

I wanted to scream screams of pure joy. Finally. We were going to fix things, together. 

Thomas and I. 

My Thomas.