Waiting on You

Chapter 17

"Dear Aurora,
I know it has been a while since I saw your face, you probably wouldn't even recognize my voice. But I wanted to let you know that I am not as far away as you think, not as gone as I seem. I think about you every day, I hope you think about me. Don't stop dreaming, you won't have to much longer, because answers will be coming your way.
Love, J"

Bel had read the letter so many times that I was sure I could recite it without looking at the words.

"Woah," Juliette breaths, grabbing the letter from Bel, who looks completely dazed.

"You got that right," she says, running her hands through her chestnut hair. "Is the only letter he has sent?"

I nod. "Well, besides the box, yeah."

The three of us had planned to go look at the Christmas lights, but the snow was falling so heavily that we couldn't even find our way there. Now we were sitting on the floor of my bedroom, huddled around the letter like it was a campfire.

Juliette shrugs. "I have to say, this letter isn't as impressive. No rhyming or anything? I feel like this is just for dramatic effect," she sips her hot chocolate. "Kinda cheesy if you ask me."

My best friend had never been a huge fan of Jacob. She had never said it, but I got the hint through the nicknames she made up for him, like "pretty boy" or "wannabe Abercrombie model".

Bel's brown eyes go wide. "Jules!" She looks over at me. "I think it's beautiful. I wish a boy would write poetry for me."

I give her the biggest smile I can manage, which is still pretty small. "Yeah. I just wish he would give me more," I toss the letter up in the air. "This is driving me crazy."

I notice that Juliette is quieter than usual, which scares me slightly. "Jules? You okay?"

She snaps her fingers. "Shut up, I'm thinking."

I hold up my hands. "Sorry, sorry."

"I'm thinking," she tells me. "What if he never left? He could be in the area, just with a different number. I mean, besides being totally self centered, why would he try to lead you to him if he didn't think anything would happen?"

The room is silent besides the light sound of snow sprinkling the windows.

"I think you are a genius," I laugh, squeezing her hand.

Bel laughs along with me, and together we look completely insane, but we don't care. There is no one to sit here and judge us, besides Juliette, but now it wouldn't matter because she is laughing with us.

"Our lives are so messed up," I cry, trying to hold back more laughter.

Juliette shakes her head, making her crazy hair fly around her head like fire. "No, my friend, your life is messed up."

This sends us all into another fit of hysterical, completely inappropriate, sad laughter.

"Merry Christmas!" Bel chimes in, and even though it's a horrible joke, Jules and I still laugh, because it is the only thing we have left to do.

--------------------

"Hi, Mrs. Bale," I greet the familiar short, red haired woman as she opens the door.

"Hi, Rory," she pulls me into a hug.

When I free myself from her grip I set my hand on my hip, my other hand holding a dress. "I was forced to come here by your daughter."

Mrs. Bale only blinks. "Of course, I get that a lot. She's back in her room with Bel."

I smile, but inside I am dying. "Thanks Mrs. B."