On Friday I stayed home and helped my mom pack up our house. On Saturday my mom bought the house in Oregon. On Sunday I talked to Shiloh about Oregon. Shiloh told me to say hi to her old home. Today was Monday.
I walked out the door and got in my car. My mom wasn't home today because she had to work a 14 hour shift last night. I drove myself into school and when I parked I found Shiloh sitting waiting for me on a park bench.
None of our friends were here yet so we sat on the park bench and waited for them.
"Carter, remember Jessica?" Shiloh asked.
"Yes. Why are you bringing her up?" I turned to her.
"Isn't that her?" Shiloh pointed to a girl waltzing into the school.
I looked up at Jessica. The past couple of times I had seen her, she had seemed miserable. She was always sleeping or looked like she was on the brink of sleeping. Here she was in front of us looking like that had never happened. Her hair was newly dyed to a Platinum Blonde and it was brushed and curled to the point where it looked like it belonged on a magazine.
She was back. Something happened and now she was back.
Jessica was looking around the courtyard and her eyes landed on me. She smiled at me and her teeth seemed to glisten in the sunshine. There was something wrong with the way she looked, it didn't seem natural to me. Of course, none of it was actually natural.
Jessica started walking over to us and I tensed as she drew closer.
"Carter! Long time no see." She exclaimed as she sat down in between Shiloh and I.
"Yeah, I haven't seen you in a while." I acknowledged.
"I missed you!" she wrapped her arms around me.
What is going on?
"What are you doing here?" I asked her.
"I need to come clean about something Carter." Jessica bit her lip.
Well, that's certainly not what I expected.
"These past few months haven't been the greatest for me, in case you didn't notice. I did something that I really regret."
I didn't answer her and so she continued.
"I know I haven't been the greatest to you but you are the only real thing in my life and I couldn't imagine telling anyone else this besides you."
She rolled up her long sleeves and revealed her arms to me.
"I-" She started but then seemed to notice that Shiloh was there. "I'm sorry, can you scram? I'm kind of having a personal moment with Carter."
"Yep, sorry. I'll leave." Shiloh got up off the bench.
"No, Shiloh, you don't have to leave." I tried to ask her to stay with my facial expressions and she either didn't understand or didn't want to stay.
"Thanks, you're a doll." Jessica winked at her.
"As I was saying. I did something I regret." She showed me her arms that were covered in long pale scars.
"No" I trailed off.
"I did. I was in a really dark period of time. Thinking of you got me through it. I've thought about it a lot and I hate the person I was. I was mean and cruel and manipulative. I took advantage of your trust and I'm sorry Noah. I came here to tell you I've changed. I'm going to start making amends. The first one is to you. I'm sorry for how I hurt you Noah. I just want you to know that I never stopped loving you." Jessica leaned in and kissed me lightly.
YOU ARE READING
The Grace in the Fall
Romance"Shiloh." I held her chin in my hand so she would have to look at me. Shiloh flinched and it reminded me of the first time I had talked to her. Slowly rain began to fall but I could hardly feel their cold bites. She was looking up at me and I was f...
