Brings Me Home
World Famous.
I sit on the back porch of my parents’ house in Thunder Bay, watching my mom and Leah talk about something relating to the wedding. We had come over this morning right after breakfast and she had dove right into work. Every now and again, Leah turns around and smiles at me.
My mind is drawn back to that night years ago. The night I found Leah again, at the club.
******
[i]Leah sat across from me in a small, 24 hour coffeehouse. We had left the club almost directly after I had approached Leah and had agreed upon early morning coffee to talk over.
She took a sip from her mug before setting it down and looking up at me. A smile tweaked at her lips.
“You seem…happy.”
“I am,” I assure her. “You seem…happy.”
We laughed for a moment and I can’t help but notice how quickly we’ve fallen into old habits. Our similarities were still there, our inside jokes still used. I felt a pain in my chest whenever I looked at her, but it wasn’t one that hurt me. It was just a reminder that the girl I was in love with was sitting back in front of me.
“I am,” Leah said. “I think we’re both pretty happy. I mean, we’re both doing what we’ve always dreamed of.”
I nod and appraise the girl- woman, rather- sitting in front of me. Her bright smile was still there and her eyes were still familiar. I couldn’t help but notice the few stress lines that creased her forehead, most likely the cause of college and writing two novels.
“You look good,” I nodded.
Leah smiles. “Are we only going to try and state assumptions tonight? Or are we actually going to catch up?”
“Are you going back to Thunder Bay this summer?” I blurted. It was a question that had been on my mind for a long while.
“I think so,” she said. “I don’t think I have any appearances.”
“Appearances,” I shook my head. “I can’t get over the fact that you’re a world famous author.”
“I don’t know if I would say world famous,” she blushed.
“They’re amazing, you know,” I said. “The books. You’re dreams came true.”
“It looks like you’ve already achieved one of yours,” she said. “God, why are we talking like this?”
I shook my head and laughed. “Your guess is probably better than mine, you know. It always was.”
“I missed you, Jordy,” Leah said. “I really have.”
“I’ve missed you two Li-Li,” I smiled. “How long are you in town?”
“I’m supposed to leave tomorrow,” she said slowly and I could feel my face fall. “But I think I can swing a few extra days.”
“You’re staying with me!” I said loudly. The few patrons in the shop stare.
Giggling, Leah smiled into her coffee cup. “Think you can get me a ticket to the first home game?”
I looked at her like she was stupid. “First playoff game’s in four days. Think you can stay ‘till then?”
“I think so,” Leah nodded. “But I have to go back to the hotel tonight so that I can get my things and tell my agent I wasn’t kidnapped or anything.”
“Like I would do that,” I rolled my eyes. Actually, if it meant keeping her with me, I would kidnap her.
“I know,” she smiled. “I’ve always felt safe around you.”[/i]
My mind is drawn back to that night years ago. The night I found Leah again, at the club.
******
[i]Leah sat across from me in a small, 24 hour coffeehouse. We had left the club almost directly after I had approached Leah and had agreed upon early morning coffee to talk over.
She took a sip from her mug before setting it down and looking up at me. A smile tweaked at her lips.
“You seem…happy.”
“I am,” I assure her. “You seem…happy.”
We laughed for a moment and I can’t help but notice how quickly we’ve fallen into old habits. Our similarities were still there, our inside jokes still used. I felt a pain in my chest whenever I looked at her, but it wasn’t one that hurt me. It was just a reminder that the girl I was in love with was sitting back in front of me.
“I am,” Leah said. “I think we’re both pretty happy. I mean, we’re both doing what we’ve always dreamed of.”
I nod and appraise the girl- woman, rather- sitting in front of me. Her bright smile was still there and her eyes were still familiar. I couldn’t help but notice the few stress lines that creased her forehead, most likely the cause of college and writing two novels.
“You look good,” I nodded.
Leah smiles. “Are we only going to try and state assumptions tonight? Or are we actually going to catch up?”
“Are you going back to Thunder Bay this summer?” I blurted. It was a question that had been on my mind for a long while.
“I think so,” she said. “I don’t think I have any appearances.”
“Appearances,” I shook my head. “I can’t get over the fact that you’re a world famous author.”
“I don’t know if I would say world famous,” she blushed.
“They’re amazing, you know,” I said. “The books. You’re dreams came true.”
“It looks like you’ve already achieved one of yours,” she said. “God, why are we talking like this?”
I shook my head and laughed. “Your guess is probably better than mine, you know. It always was.”
“I missed you, Jordy,” Leah said. “I really have.”
“I’ve missed you two Li-Li,” I smiled. “How long are you in town?”
“I’m supposed to leave tomorrow,” she said slowly and I could feel my face fall. “But I think I can swing a few extra days.”
“You’re staying with me!” I said loudly. The few patrons in the shop stare.
Giggling, Leah smiled into her coffee cup. “Think you can get me a ticket to the first home game?”
I looked at her like she was stupid. “First playoff game’s in four days. Think you can stay ‘till then?”
“I think so,” Leah nodded. “But I have to go back to the hotel tonight so that I can get my things and tell my agent I wasn’t kidnapped or anything.”
“Like I would do that,” I rolled my eyes. Actually, if it meant keeping her with me, I would kidnap her.
“I know,” she smiled. “I’ve always felt safe around you.”[/i]
Notes
So, it's obvious that there isn't much drama between them. But I kind of like writing a story where it's more about the good than anything else. If that makes sense. Oh well.Let me know what's on your minds, lovelies!
