Wildfire

Chapter 39: The Reunion

Part 4: A New Life

"Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads."

Dr, Emmett Brown, Back to the Future

Monday, November 8th

It smelled of roasted brew and new hope.

Bluejay's. The little coffee shop near the boardwalk, which once doubled as our getaway from all our problems. The place to crash, drink coffee, and introduce Mark properly to my friends.

Jeffrey smiled and gawked at Mark as if they were old buddies. "Any friend of Heath is a friend of ours!" Soon after, Mark felt comfortable enough to drop a few jokes. Jeffrey laughed and leaned towards me. "Funny guy!"

"Thanks, Jeffrey!" I delivered a smile.

We sat on the booth behind the wide window at the array of white sand, colored towels, and foamy waves. Jeffrey sat next to Jennifer. And I sat beside Mark. I felt a slight heave of blush when Mark slid his arm across and cupped my opposite shoulder. Two guys in love, happily hanging out with their best friends without a single care in the world. Just like it should be.

Our coffees got delivered along with a smile from a waitress I have never seen before. Jennifer beforehand was well informed of how I met Mark, plus all we went through. It was Jeffrey who was curious about Mark. None of them looked bothered when Mark revealed that he was 21. We are all adults here, Jeffrey dismissed. And that small talk finally led to the reason why Mark and I decided to gather them all here.

Both Jennifer and Jeffrey held their breaths.

"Mark and I have been checking out a cabin offered by Oregon Parks, free of rent. For both of us to live." I looked Jennifer in her eyes with softness. "We decided to leave California." She nodded sternly. If she was hiding her disappointment, her furrowed eyebrows gave her away. Jennifer was readable. After so many years of us making love and kissing, it is easy to detect what each of her mannerisms means.

"You decided to move then?" Jennifer asked.

"Yes. It wasn't irrational. I had to think it through. So much so, that Mark was given five months since his early resignment to find a cabin of his choice" I gave a brief pause. "We are leaving this week.

Jennifer twitched. An indicator of surprise. "For real?"

We both nodded. "It was hard for Heath to choose to leave California," Mark spoke intelligently. "Not only because of his father, but also because he had so many memories of you guys." His eyes landed on Jennifer. They both shone from the evening sun above the salty waters. "I know you're probably tired of hearing this, but I cannot thank you enough for supporting Heath. Not many girls would have done what you did, stand up for someone in need." A generous smile came out from him. "Heath kept calling his previous life a lie. We argued about it before when I told him over and over. 'You know well it was never a lie. Your friend's feelings. The memories you have created. Even though you were pretending to be something else, everything else was true. Especially your friend's loyalty.' Tell me I'm wrong." 

The whole table went silent. Everyone was perplexed and amused, especially Jeffrey. "Whoa. I never knew you were a philosopher. I mean, what you said, that's true! We would never abandon Heath." Jeffrey cheered. A light in his eyes, and mine. "Me and you, we go way back! Even though your pop had told ya not to hang out with a black guy, you still did anyway. I ain't never going to leave you behind for who you like."

"Aw, quit it!" I extended my hand and did one of our "bro handshakes." One gesture I would not trade for anything. "You know I would never hear my Dad's nonsense. Pals for life, right?"

"For sho'!"

After releasing him, Jennifer leaned over her latte with caution. "I will admit, Heath. Even after everything that has happened between us, I'll still love you, no matter what. And most importantly," Jennifer's eyes were starting to glisten, until she wiped with her backhand, smearing tears above her freckled cheeks. "I'm going to miss you. A lot!"

"Jen." My hand carefully reached to touch hers. These hands I've touched and touched me for years. Only now it feels right. "I'm going to miss you too. But we will call each other. Unless there is no cable over the cabin, in that case, I'll write you a letter."

Jennifer stared with determination and bravery. The motor that kept me going all these years, even during my dark days.

We swiftly retracted back to our conversation about the location of the cabin and everyone's plans by the end of the year. Jennifer rejected her Colombia University offer to study what she previously wanted: social worker. She wanted time to figure out if being a baker was her new niche. Jeffrey intended to continue his major here in California, as well as apply for the winter football league— with a fully paid scholarship, which makes him the first member of his family to enter university. Lisa would visit him once she finished her cheerleading tryouts, studying alongside him in the meantime, not giving Jeffrey a minute of solitude once she completes the season. Those two are just as lovey-dovey since our high school days. I guess their magic is still alive and trotting.

Mark said— and this was new to me as well— that he intended to work somewhere in the ranger field. Not as a Firewatch, but as an actual forest ranger. Like the one on Yogi the Bear, only less grumpy.

And me? Right now, I'll let this go smooth sailing from here. Mark is having fun with my best friends in a warm environment. A place for bookworms, skaters, surfers, and locals to enjoy. Mark Reyes was all I needed at the moment.

My best friend. My boyfriend.