Masquerade Preview

Hello everyone. It has been a while since I made a post so today I am thinking about posting the prologue, chapter one, chapter two, and half of chapter three. I hope you enjoy it.

 

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Prologue

Here I am on the last day in the city of my dreams surrounded by exclusive art. I’m in Venice, Italy at a masquerade ball standing in my beautiful new, emerald green, off the shoulder ball gown with an embroidered mask. My long blonde hair is left down in curls covering my fair skin. It’s fabulous. I am standing mesmerized in this elegant ballroom, still in shock of where I am.

The main chandelier on the lower floor is dripping with stunning crystals, making the light shimmer in all different directions. Black sheer silk drapes from the chandelier and extends to the back walls.

It is lining the ceiling with waves of silk. In the middle of the room is a dance floor. Along the sides are tables with white tablecloths and chairs covered with black cloth with a white tie back. The table has white lilies as the centerpiece.

I feel like a princess amongst all the elegance surrounding me. It also helps that my parents have made me feel this way the whole trip. They surprised me with this trip for my fifteenth birthday. It has been a fairytale ever since.

I often get made fun of because of my love for the arts, which started at a young age. My mother works at an art museum where I spend most of my summers. I have always been fascinated how art is a looking glass into the documentation of history. It’s an odd thing for a child, but it made me use my imagination to understand why art was done a certain way. I liked to come up with my own stories to accompany the pieces.

The first time I saw the painting “Ill Ridotto”—also called “The Ridotoo”—by Venice Pietro Longhi, I was intrigued by his paint strokes and the meaning behind the painting. The paining was special because it was in the museum on borrow to discuss the time period in which Venice, Italy became a wealthy country.

 It is painted with men and women at a ball with masks covering their eyes and noses. I was enchanted about why these people would want to cover their faces. What were they hiding? Now you have to understand how my brain works. I have always been a curious girl, and when I became curious, I researched.

When I got home that day after seeing this painting for the first time, I searched for the meaning and time period. I found out that is was painted in 1725 and was a depiction of how Venice was making its way in the year of 1162. That is when Venice won the Serenissima Republica against the Patriarch of Aquileia, Ulrico of Treven.

Basically because of this win, the citizens of Venice began dancing and celebrating. Venice became filled with very rich and prominent people. For the wealthy to be able to socialize with people of a lower class, people would wear these masks to hide themselves.

Of course history has a reputation of repeating itself, so the prominent times died out, although the masquerade balls didn’t succumb to the fall of the economy. Thus started the carnivals of Venice, which normally lasted two weeks and are still going strong to this day.

This carnival has been coordinated with all different kinds of events to celebrate. When you are here experiencing this all first hand, you feel as though you are thrown back into the time when it all began. I watch as men ask women they normally wouldn’t have the guts to ask to dance, and it still makes me wonder from what people are actually hiding. I mean, yes, from social status, but I feel it goes much deeper than that. Wearing a mask makes you feel that you can hide from anything you want.

Wearing a mask gives people the ability to pretend to be whom they’ve always wanted to be but have never had the nerve to pursue. During this time, you forget from where you come and live in a world of fantasy. It’s a life filled with lavish clothes, food, and music. You are in a world you choose to be in with a moment of living outside that box you normally wouldn’t step out of.

This one guy captures my attention for most of the night. I notice his movements between different women. He seems so sure of himself. I wonder if he is really as appealing as he seems or is just that way because he wears a mask. He is very flirtatious, making the women swoon over him. He is putting on quite a show.

He has to be in his twenties and looks well built. He catches me staring at him and winks at me as he starts walking my way.

“Would you care to dance?”

“I guess so.”

He captures my hand, pulling me towards him. I wrap my arm around his waist and follow his lead. He whips me all around the floor, making me feel like I am floating on air. The song ends, and he kisses my cheek, thanks me, and leaves.

All of a sudden the DJ makes an announcement for everyone to start making their way to the lavish garden in the back of the ballroom. The garden is filled with lilies, groomed bushes, and tall trees. It’s like it has been taken straight out of a picture from one of those architectural magazines. Everything has a place. It has a walkway winding in a curve pattern to the back of the garden with a fountain as the main centerpiece.

I hear the sound of a shooting rocket, and I look up into the sky to see the tail of a firework flying into the dark night. It erupts with the prettiest baby blue color. It looks like a flower blooming as it bursts open. I stand mesmerized by the rest of the fireworks until they are finished, and my parents find me to let me it’s time to leave.

On the taxi ride back to the hotel, I am still in awe of the events of not just the night but of the two weeks we have been here. The carnival decorations were all so beautiful, especially in the ballroom. I remember the masks while staring down at mine that I have taken off, and I wonder if we all, in some way or form, don’t always wear masks on purpose, or if they are put on us for a reason.

 

 

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Chapter One

I have just turned eighteen, and I’m going into my senior year of high school. Now I am back staring at the mask hanging from my wall and dreaming of my time in Italy, hoping to go back one day to revisit. It was the best time I had in my entire life. I sometimes put the mask on and dance around the room, remembering that magical night.

I’m still the art nerd I have always been, and I feel it’s in my blood. I am an only child, and my parents have always pushed me into doing what I love. I will be starting college in the fall to begin my art history degree. I can’t wait.

I put my hair in a messy bun and walk out the front door. I walk out and sit on the front porch to put on my running shoes. Once I am done lacing on my shoes, I get my phone out to bring up my running playlist. I run track at school. My parents think it’s a good idea for me to have some type of sport on my transcript, and it doesn’t hurt that I have always loved to run.

I pop my earbuds into my phone and look up to put one bud into my ear when I notice a guy I have never seen before taking boxes out of his truck. He sets them down, looks up and over at me, and smiles.

Dammit, I got caught staring. I look the other way and put the other earbud in. I stand up, turn my music up, and start my jog down the driveway. I turn the opposite way of the boy, so maybe I will not embarrass myself any more than I already have.

I start sprinting down the road, getting lost in my thoughts and music. Mrs. Colton lives in the house next door, but I have never seen this boy before. I hope nothing has happened to her. She has always been a sweet lady. I know she has been having a hard time since her husband passed. They were the cutest couple of the neighborhood. They were always hand in hand and looked at each other as they have just fallen in love.

I round the corner coming back towards my house. I hope that guy is gone, so I don’t have to face him after already getting caught staring at him. I continue running, lost in “Counting Stars” by One Republic, letting the cool air wash over my overheated body. When all of a sudden, I am running into what feels like a brick wall.

When I feel my feet come out from underneath me, I fall straight on my ass. I finally get my bearings together and look up to see the same guy from earlier staring down at me in horror.

He leans down to me. “Oh shit, are you okay? I am so sorry. I should have caught you.”

He gives me his hand to help pull me up. As soon as he touches me, I feel like I am going to fall again. What the hell is wrong with me?

I finally bring myself to stand back up. “It’s my fault. I should have been paying attention to where I was going.” I brush my butt off and realize that it is a little sore.

I finally look up at him, noticing his brown hair is coming out from under his baseball cap. I then look at his face to see his sculpted jaw and gorgeous ocean-blue eyes. Holy shit, this boy is hot.

He starts smiling at me, and he has dimples on both sides of his cheeks. “Are you sure you are okay?”

I’m standing there staring at him like a dork when I realize he just asked me a question. “Yeah. I am fine. Sorry for almost running you over. I should get going. Thanks again for the help.” I can feel my face turning even redder than it was while I was running.

I start walking away when I hear him say something. I turn around to face him. “Sorry, I didn’t hear you.”

“My name is Jason. Jason Colton.”

I smile. “I am Julia Falls. I live right over there.” I point to my house. “Are you related to Mrs. Colton?”

“Yeah. That is my grandmother. My parents sent me here to help her out since my grandfather has passed away. She isn’t doing so well.”

“Oh, I am so sorry. Well if you need anything, just let me know.”

“I will. Thanks, Julia.”

“Okay. Well I guess I will be seeing you. Bye.”

“I sure hope so.”

I turn and make a beeline for my house. I run in and straight into my room. I close my door and slide down onto the floor. I cannot believe the ass I just made of myself. I am such an idiot. I put my head in my hands, reliving every embarrassing moment. Feeling mortified, I get up to shower since sitting here isn’t solving too much.

After my shower, I put on a pair of shorts and a shirt. I start my way to the kitchen and m ready to eat. I sit down at the table when my dad comes up behind me and kisses the top of my head.

“Hey, sweetie. How was your day?”

“It was good, Daddy.”

My dad sits beside me at the head of the table when my mother brings in supper. She has made my favorite: spaghetti. I spoon some onto my plate and start digging in.

“Dear, slow down. You are going to choke. Are you even chewing it?” My mother has a look of horror on her face.

I smile. “Sorry, I guess I was hungrier than I thought.”

“Well slow down.” She looks at my dad. “Did you see Mrs. Colton’s grandson made it in today?”

My dad looks up at my mother. “No. I didn’t, but I am glad he is here with her. She really needs someone else at the house with her.”

“I agree with you. By the way, Julia, when you are done eating, can you run next door and give the Colton’s this cake I baked for them. I thought they might enjoy it.”

I start coughing. I drop my fork and grab my water, chugging it.

“See. I told you to slow down or you were going to choke.”

I finally get all my food down and coughing under control. “Why me?”

“Because I thought it would be nice for you to introduce yourself to him. He is new in town, and he is the same age as you, so maybe you can help him out at school tomorrow.”

I look down, knowing if I say no, I will get in trouble, so I mumble an okay.

Finishing my supper, I take my plate to the kitchen, dreading having to show my face to the hot boy next door. I grab the cake and decide I better just make a go of it and get it over with.

Once I am at the door, I knock softly. I hear somebody walking and before I know it, the door swings open.

“Hey, Julia.”

Feeling like I am going to drop the cake, I hand it to him. “Here you go. My mom made this for you and your grandmother. I hope you enjoy it.”

I start to walk off when I hear Mrs. Colton asking who is at the door. I turn my head to see that she has pushed herself in front of the door. “Hey, Julia. Did your mom make her famous twelve-layer chocolate cake?”

“Yes, ma’am. She did.”

“Please let her know how grateful I am for this. You are such a pretty girl. Have you met my grandson?”

Before I can say anything, Jason says, “Yeah, we ran into each other earlier today.”

I feel the red creeping back up my neck and face. Mrs. Colton turns and looks at me. “I am so happy to hear that. Now, sweetie, if you will excuse me, I need to go lie down. Don’t forget to tell your mama thank you.”

“I won’t, Mrs. Colton. I hope you enjoy the cake.”

She walks off, and I hear her saying, “She is such a sweet girl.”

I smile up at Jason, and he looks at me. “Thanks for the cake.”
“Anytime.”

I start to walk off, and he stops me. “Hey, Julia. I have a favor to ask.”

I turn around, “Okay, what is it?”

“I know earlier you said if I need anything to just ask, so I was wondering, do you want to take a walk with me?”

My stomach starts doing flips with excitement. “Umm, sure why not?”

Damn why is my voice higher than normal.

We begin walking down the sidewalk in our neighborhood. We live in an old town in Georgia called Georgetown. All the houses are still old looking but have been kept up to make it feel like you are still living in the day they were built.

I was born and raised in the same house where I live now. My parents inherited the house from my dad’s parents when they passed, along with their money. My grandparent’s parents are all from this same area. Actually, their ancestors started out in Georgetown and built it into the city it has become.

They were very influential with everything that happened in the city from politics to running several businesses. My parents sold the businesses when they inherited them, so they could do their own thing. My dad is a professor of history at Armstrong Atlantic State University while my mom is a curator at the local museum.

It’s great living where I do. The beach is not far away, and I am there every opportunity I can get. Not to mention we are not far from Savannah, and they have the best art expos there.

I turn to him and smile not knowing what the hell to say. He smiles back and continues to look at me. We are in an awkward silence before he begins to talk again.

“Can I ask you another favor?”

“Sure.”

“Tomorrow is my first day at school, and I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind showing me around.”

Smiling ear to ear, I say, “Yeah. I can. Do you want a ride to school?”

“That would be really nice of you.”

I am ginning when I realize he has stopped walking. I look up and around to see we have made it back to his grandmother’s house already.

“Thanks for taking a walk with me. I will see you tomorrow. Say at 7:00?” he says, eyeing me.

Looking down, I reply, “Yeah, 7:00 would be great.”

He walks slowly towards me, puts is hand on my chin, and lifts it up so that I am looking him in the eyes. He leans down like he is going to kiss me, and he does but on my cheek. Yep, my face is officially red now.

I turn and walk back to the house with my hand on my cheek, still feeling his lips burning on my skin.

 

 

Chapter Two

The next day I take Jason around school and show him where his classes are, the cafeteria, and the library. Those are the most important places to me. After school I gave him a ride home, and we spent the rest of the afternoon getting to know each other.

He tells me that he was living in Atlanta with his parents when his grandfather died. His grandmother started getting worse, and he wasn’t being on his best behavior, so his dad thought it would be good for him to live with Mrs. Colton. He said his dad hoped he may learn some responsibility.

Since Mr. Colton’s death, Mrs. Colton has basically given up according to Jason. Her well-being has been failing for years, although she was keeping herself in a lot better of health when her husband was alive. The day of his funeral is the day she gave up.

Mr. and Mrs. Colton had been married for years but acted as they had just fallen in love. I remember seeing them when I was younger walking around the neighborhood holding hands but never thought much of it till now.

Jason said she told him when he got here that she wouldn’t be here much longer. She knew that she would be joining her husband again. This time it would be for eternity.

Thinking about the love they shared would make any fairytale look like a horror story. They had the true love a person could only wish to find.

As far as Jason’s dad’s claims of his misbehaving, he never would go into detail of what happened while he was living in Atlanta with his parents. I never pressured him any to tell me although I was curious.

We talked about our families, our future, our love for music, and my love for art. He was so drawn to the fact that I loved art as much as I did. He asked me to show him some of my own work sometime.

After that day we became attached at the hip. Everyone thought we were dating, so I had girls giving me go-to-Hell eyes all the time. I would try to explain we were not seeing each other, but no one believed us.

It wasn’t until the summer after our senior year that I actually started to really like him. I mean, really, really like him. He kept eyeing me more and more too.

One day we decided to go the beach for the day. We packed up the car in the morning and left for Tybee Island Beach. It is only about a forty minute drive from where we live.

We had been at the beach all day and into the night. The locals were having a fire on the beach and invited us to stay. As it started getting cool with the breeze coming off the ocean, I stood there holding myself, trying to stay warm.

I am staring off into the fire when I feel somebody’s arms come around my waist. I start to turn my head when he whispers in my ear, “It’s just me. I’m trying to keep you warm.”

Beaming with his arms around me, I feel my body melting into his. He starts to snuggle into my neck, sighing.

I look over at him, so I can see his face. “You okay?”

“No. Not really. I need to tell you something.”

My heart just drops into my stomach. I’m so scared about what he is about to say. He has met a girl, and she doesn’t like me. Maybe he thinks I am getting too close?

He reaches up to hold my face. “Get that panicked look off your face. It’s nothing bad. At lease, I hope not.”

Shaking my head, I allow him to continue. “Okay. Please tell me. You are worrying me.”

He is still holding my face when he leans down, barely touching my lips with his. I lean forward, giving him permission to continue. He acknowledges that as a sign to deepen the kiss. He licks my upper lip, and I open my mouth to let him in. Our tongues swirl around together, exploring each other’s mouths.

He pulls back, ending the kiss and looks me in the eye. “That was better than I ever imagined it to be. I hope that was okay? I really want more from you than just our friendship. You mean so much to me. I never want to lose you.”

He keeps rambling, so I lean up to give him a quick kiss on the lips. He smirks. “So I take it that you are okay with that, and you feel the same way?”

I nod my head. “Yes.”

“So this means you’re mine and nobody else’s?”

“I will be as long as you promise to be mine and nobody else’s.”

He picks me up, swinging me around, still kissing me. Then he looks at me lovingly, and I think of how lucky I am to have my best friend as my boyfriend.

That night at the beach has always been one of the most magical nights we had together. I say one because he has made so many more for me. He has never once not treated me like a princess.

Our relationship was a love-whirlwind: two best friends in love with each other sharing everything. He was always there when I needed him.

One time I had gotten the flu the week before Christmas. I was out of school before school even left for the holidays. Jason was so sweet to me. Every day before and after school he was there with me. He would bring me chicken noodle soup with saltine crackers and made me eat even though I didn’t want to.

After school was out, he stayed with me twenty-four seven. He would come in the morning and cuddle with me or get me something when I needed it. He would go home in the evening only to sneak back over to stay with me all night.

I was still feeling shitty on Christmas Day, so he brought over a little, two foot, Charlie Brown Christmas tree. Its only decorations were a string of lights and a big ball ornament.

“Merry Christmas.”

I sit up in my bed smiling. “You brought me a tree.”

“I did.”

He sets it down on my nightstand and sits down with me on the bed. “Why is there only one ornament? Could you not put any more on it without it sagging?” I say, giggling.

“Okay, smart ass. It only has one because it is special. Look at it.”

I take the ornament off, looking at it to see that it has a charm inside. I open it up and pull it out to get a better look. It is a masquerade ball charm attached to a necklace.

Tears saturate my eyes. “Oh my goodness. This is gorgeous. Thank you so much. I love it.”

“Turn around, so I can put it on you.”

I do as I’m told in awe of how he remembered all our talks about Venice, art, masks, and all my other nerd-loving stuff.

 

 

It’s nearing the end of summer with only a few weeks until we will be off to college, so we’ve been spending as much time together as possible.

It was a weekend late in July when my parents went out of town for a conference for my father’s job. I decided that it was time to finally give everything to Jason. We have fooled around but never have gone all the way, so tonight is that night.

Jason had been out of town, going back to Atlanta to see his family and taking care of some business his dad needed help with, so he promised Saturday night was just going to be me and him. I prepared all day for his arrival back home.

He texts me at 5:30 telling me he is only 30 minutes away. I finish up with my makeup and get dressed. By the time I am done, I hear a car pulling up in the driveway.

I run outside and jump into his arms as soon as he rounds his car. I am kissing him all over his face, and he is laughing. “Did you miss me?”

 I jump out of his arms. “Yes, I did.”

He kisses me one more time and slaps my ass. “Come on. Let’s go eat, so we can come back, and I can hold you.”

I lock up the house, and we are off to eat. He takes me to this little Italian restaurant in the middle of town I truly adore. We eat and talk about his trip, or really, what I had been up to, which was much of nothing.

The waitress brings the check and sits it down for whenever we are ready to go. Jason seems off tonight, like something is bothering him. “You okay?”

“Yeah, baby. I guess I am just more tired than what I thought I was. You ready to go?” He throws some cash into the billfold and lays it back down on the table.

I shake my head yes, and he walks around the table, grabbing my hand and walking me to the door. We get in the car and start back to my house. For some reason I have become really nervous. I haven’t told him that I was ready. I am hoping to surprise him.

Once we are back at the house, I pop a movie in the DVD player and sit down on the couch. He reaches over, grabs me, and holds me tightly.

“You sure everything is okay?”

“Yeah, baby, I’m sure,” he says with a smile.

I look up at him, rub my hand on the side of his face, turn my head, and start kissing him causally. He in turn puts his hands in my hair, pulling me in deeper to the kiss. I moan in his mouth while our tongues are examining every part of each other’s mouths.

He stands up, never breaking the kiss, and lays me down on the couch, so he can lie on top of me. He pulls back from the kiss and strokes my face. “You are gorgeous, you know that?”

I nod my head. “Yes, you tell me that often. I am going to get a big head one day.”

He starts trailing kisses down my jaw to my neck. He slips his hand up under my shirt, rubbing my stomach with light strokes. He makes his way up to my breast, caressing it until he finds my nipple through my bra and teases it until it comes to a firm peek.

Making his way back up to my mouth, he tells me, “I love you so much.”

“I love you too, Jason.”

When I don’t try to stop him, he continues on rubbing and moving his hands all over my body.

He stands up and picks me up off the couch, carrying me down the hall to my bedroom. He walks in and closes the door with his foot. He stands me up to take his shirt off.

I can’t stop looking at his chest and stomach. Holy hell. I mean, this isn’t the first time I have seen him with his shirt off, but right in this moment, he is even more attractive than usual. I look back up at his face to see him smirking at me.

He walks towards me, putting his hand around the back of my neck and kissing me deeply. His other hand starts to pull up my shirt. He gets it up over one arm before he pulls back to take it off completely. He takes my bra off and stands back, staring at my breasts. I have a big chest for my age. I have always had big boobs, but right now, my full C-cups feel like they are on display for him, and I couldn’t be prouder.

He leans me down onto the bed, kissing down to my chest. He finds my nipple and sucks it in his mouth, hard and fast. It feels so intense, and if he keeps it up, I am going to explode.

His other hand makes its way down to the top of my jeans. He works with the button till it pops open, and he grasps the zipper, pulling it down. He makes his way over to my other nipple while I lift my hips, so he can pull my jeans off.

Once they are off, he stands up and groans as he looks down at me with no bra and a black lacy thong. He takes his jeans and boxers off deliberately while I look, licking my lips.

Like I said before, we have done stuff, but it has always stopped before things got too far. I have seen his penis before in the dark, so seeing it now in all its glory has got my pussy aching.

He starts kissing my thighs, making his way back up to my mouth. “Are you positive you want to do this?”

I grab his head, bringing it to my face. “I have never been more positive. I love you.”

He kisses my lips then kisses down my chin to my neck until he is on my belly, giving me delicate kisses right above my panties. He then slides them off slowly.

He comes back up my body, opening my thighs, so he can get settled in between them. He looks at me, and all I can see is his love for me all over his face.

“Baby, I am going to go slow because I don’t want to hurt you, okay.”

I can’t say anything, so I just nod my head.

He gradually guides his cock into my pussy. He pushes farther until he sees the look on my face and stops.

“Tell me when to keep going.”

I lie there and get used to the head of his dick in my pussy. “Okay, go ahead.”

He moves slowly, stopping every few inches as he puts it in me. Once he is fully in me, he lets my pussy accommodate to his cock.

“I need you to move, baby. It doesn’t hurt.”

He starts gently pulling in and out of me. It starts feeling so good. I wrap my legs around him, and he starts pumping faster.

“Baby, I’m not going to last long. You feel so damn good. Can you come for me?”

As soon as he asks, I throw my head back, screaming his name. I hear him groan, and then he falls on top of me with his breathing heavy.

We lie there catching our breaths, and I rub his back. “That was . . . great.”

He looks up at me and kisses me quickly on my lips. “Baby, that was more than great. You felt so damn good.”

“Is that a good thing?” I ask, blushing.

“More than you will ever know.” He kisses the top of my head. “I have something for you.”

“Really? What is it?”

He hands be a ring box. I open it up to see a charm. It’s a mask, but a masculine one. “It is my mask,” he tells me.

“I love it.” I reach over, grabbing his face, kissing him deeply.

“Damn. I will buy you more stuff for that reaction.”

We both get up, get dressed, and go back to the movie we started watching. From that day forth, we can’t keep our hands off of each other. Although the first time was fast, he made up for it many times after.

 

                                                                                          Chapter Three

Our summer has come to a close, and we have both planned on going to Georgia State in Atlanta. I can’t wait. We have spent some great days and nights together. It couldn’t have been any better. Something has felt off the last couple of weeks though.

I would ask if he was okay, and all I would get was that his dad was on his ass, but he would never go into detail. I hated seeing him like this. I hated more that he wouldn’t let me in on what was going on. We had actually gotten into a big fight the night before I was to go to my friend’s house.

“Please tell me what is going on with you.”

“Nothing, Julia. Leave it alone.”

“Dammit. I can’t. Why won’t you let me in?”

“Because it’s none of your fucking business.”

“Really? It’s none of my business when it involves you being an asshole towards me. Please just tell me what the fuck your problem is.”

He sighs loudly. “I am not an asshole. I am not telling you shit because it doesn’t fucking matter. Leave. Me. Alone.”

“Fine. I will. Now fucking leave.”

He storms out of the house, and I don’t talk to him the rest of the night. I text him several times while I am at Shelly’s, but I never receive anything back.

I have just gotten home from swimming. I pull in the driveway and walk over to see if Jason is at home. I walk up to the house and knock on the door several times.

I hear the doorknob rattle, and it swings open. “Hey, Julia.”

I look behind her to see a few boxes lined up and down the hallway. “Hi, Mrs. Colton. Is Jason here?”

“Sweetie, he has left. He went with his dad out of the country for a while. I am sending the rest of his things to him soon,” she says as she points at the boxes.

“What?”

“He didn’t tell you? I figured he would. You two seemed like such good friends.”

I start walking backwards away from the door. “Mrs. Colton, are you sure he is gone?”

“Yes, sweetie, his plane left last night about 11:00. I don’t know why they insisted on leaving so late,” she says, shrugging her shoulders.

Tears well up in my eyes. “Thanks.”

I take off running and jump back into my car. I start it, throw it in reverse, and haul ass out of the driveway. I don’t know where I am going, but I can’t stay here. I have been in the car for four hours now, and that is when I notice I’m coming into Atlanta.

I Google his address, so I can find out where he went for real. He wouldn’t just leave me. I turn my navigation on and start following the directions it tells me. Before I know it, I’m turning into a driveway, making my way down the path of it. I see a huge house come into view.

I park my car and jump out to run to the door. I ring the doorbell and wait. Finally, I hear someone come towards the door. “Can I help you?”

“Yes. I am looking for Jason.”

“He’s not here. He left the country with his dad for a while.”

I feel tears about to fall. “Do you know why?”

“He has been planning this trip for a year. Did he not tell you? And by the way, who are you?”

“I am Julia, and no, he never told me this.” I can’t seem to control my shaking.

She shrugs her shoulders. “Well then, I guess there was a reason. Now, if you will excuse me, but I need to be going.”

She slams the door, and tears rush down my face. Why the hell didn’t he tell me he was leaving? He is gone.