FROM FRANCE TO USA

Remember

The sharp ring of my phone jolted me awake, a sense of dread creeping into my heart even before I answered the call."Hello?" I croaked, my voice raspy from sleep.

I stepped out onto the balcony, careful not to wake Jessie, as Chris's voice on the other end delivered the news I had feared most. Stacy was gone.

The world tilted on its axis. I hung up the phone, tears streaming down my face, the weight of the loss crushing me. A quiet voice broke through the fog of my grief.

"Madi?" Kristie stood in the doorway, her eyes filled with concern.

"Hey," I sniffled, wiping my face with the back of my hand. "Sorry if I woke you."

"It's okay, I wasn't really asleep," she replied softly. "Mal's been kicking me all night. Is everything alright?"

I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. "Stacy... Chris's mom... she passed away last night."

Kristie's face paled, her hand flying to her mouth. She quickly crossed the room, wrapping me in a comforting side hug."Oh, Madi," she murmured. "I'm so sorry."

I buried my face in her shoulder, letting the tears flow freely. "I can't believe it. She was... she was so strong. I thought she was going to beat it."

Kristie didn't reply, just held me tighter, her presence a silent source of strength. We stood there for a long time, the pre-dawn sky a somber backdrop to our shared grief.

"She's up there now," I whispered, gazing at the stars. "Do you think she'll see my parents? Or Lydia?"

"I'm sure of it," Kristie said, her voice soft. "Knowing Stacy, she's probably already giving them an earful about all your accomplishments."

A small smile tugged at my lips. "You think so?"

"Definitely. Who knows, maybe they're all gossiping about us right now."

"Gossiping about us?" I chuckled, a flicker of warmth returning to my chest.

"Yeah. They're probably saying things like, 'Look at them, so close again. Who would have thought?'"

"Is that you talking, or them?" I teased.

"Maybe both," she replied with a shrug. "But seriously, what do you think they're saying?"

I pondered the question for a moment. "Well, Lydia would probably say, 'I always knew she was gay,'" I said, a small laugh escaping me. "And my parents... I like to think they're proud of me. As for Stacy... yeah, you're probably right.She's definitely gossiping about us up there."

The image of Stacy, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she grilled me about my love life, brought a genuine smile to my face. Even in the midst of sorrow, there was still room for laughter, for remembering the good times. And for that, I was grateful.

JESSIE'S POV:

I awoke in the middle of the night, the bed cold and empty beside me. Confused, I sat up, scanning the room for any sign of Madi. A soft murmur of voices floated in from the balcony, drawing my attention.

Madi and Kristie were out there, their silhouettes bathed in the moonlight. A pang of jealousy shot through me. What were they doing out there, alone, in the middle of the night?

Curiosity getting the better of me, I tiptoed closer, straining to hear their conversation.

"You know, she was the one who pushed me to confess my feelings for you," Madi said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Really?" Kristie sounded surprised.

Who were they talking about? My heart pounded in my chest.

"Yeah," Madi continued. "So imagine how she reacted when I told her about all the drama that followed..."

"She probably hated me," Kristie sighed.

My stomach churned. Was this some kind of "remembering lost love" session? I felt sick.

"No, she didn't hate you. She was hurt, sure, but she understood," Madi reassured her.

"I didn't even understand myself. How could she?" Kristie's voice was laced with regret.

"That's just how she was," Madi replied softly. "She always believed everything happened for a reason."

"You know, if it wasn't for Rachel, the two of us would..." Kristie's voice trailed off, leaving the sentence unfinished.

I couldn't take it anymore. I had to interrupt.

MADI'S POV:

Kristie and I were deep in conversation when Jessie's voice cut through the quiet night.

"Hey, babe," I said, lifting my head from Kristie's shoulder and turning towards Jessie. The two of us would be together? Was that what Kristie was trying to say?

"What's going on?" Jessie asked, her voice guarded.

"I'm going to head back to bed," Kristie said, sensing the tension. "You two talk."

"Goodnight, Kris. And thank you, really," I said sincerely.

She nodded and disappeared into the house.

"Goodnight, thank you," Jessie mimicked me, a hint of bitterness in her tone. "So, why am I finding you out here with Kristie in the middle of the night?"

"I got a call, and she was awake, so she kept me company," I explained. "Stacy... Chris's mom... she passed away."

Jessie's expression softened, the anger fading from her eyes. "Oh, Madi," she said, pulling me into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry."

I let myself crumble in her arms, the tears flowing freely once more. "It's okay," I choked out. "Can we just go back to bed?"

"Of course," she murmured, leading me back inside. As I lay down beside her, I couldn't help but wonder if things would ever be the same between Kristie and me. But for now, I was grateful for Jessie's warmth and the comforting rhythm of her heartbeat beside me.