Come Back To Me (chapters 1-9) by Paige569 (top 100 books of all time checklist .txt) 📖

left within the next half hour I would be making perfect timing. My bags were already packed and placed in the compact fitting of my 1987' Volvo all ready to go.

The only thing that wasn't ready was me.

I knew I needed to leave, but there were reasons I wanted to stay; my family and home for one. I had no idea where I was going or what I was going to do, but one thing outweighed any resolve I had in staying and that was Dylan. Who knew how long their visit may be and I couldn't bear to stand by and witness their love when it was crushing me with a weight so heavy I couldn't breathe.

Dylan and Vanessa, Vanessa and Dylan, their names together in the same sentence no matter which way transfigured felt like someone ripping a band aid off a cut that had started to scab; painful.

I wound my hands around one another and rubbed my thumbs in circular motions on the back of my palms.

Things sure hadn't turned out like I had expected them too.

I had been naïve in thinking I would have my fairy tale, my happily ever after and Emerald City at the end of the yellow brick road. Life just wasn't like that. I sure wasn't Dorothy and the last time I checked there was no fairy god mother to make my wishes come true.

Despite all of it, I still loved him like any foolish girl still would.

How could I not?

How did you break away from something you have been so sure of your entire life?

Even now, knowing Dylan was getting married, I was surer then ever of my feelings towards him.

They were stronger, sharper and stung my heart like someone pouring salt over an open wound. The heart ache was more distinct then any amount of pain I had ever felt and a reassurance that my love was real.

Yes, I was foolishly in love and like so many other people in this world I was in love on my own. I was the girl on the side lines watching another girls dream come true and it just wasn't fair.

I had never wanted something so much in my entire life as much as I wanted Dylan. I would walk over hot burning coals and sky dive from the tallest tower if only he could be mine based on such relevancies. In the past four years I don't think a night went by where I hadn't thought of him. Where I didn't close my eyes and picture his smile or remember the soft feel of his lips when he had kissed me back that oh so distant night that seemed like a million years ago and the way things had turned out it might as well be.

My eyes burned at the memory.

No, Kate I told myself.

I wouldn't cry, not anymore.

I grasped the handle to my shiny black wheeled carry on and stood up. I hadn't used this suitcase since the day I decided to return home and leave school and it was strange to be using it again so soon.

I had written my parents a short letter, explaining I would call them from the road. They wouldn't be happy; well my mother wouldn't be happy, my father would probably wish me luck on a new and exciting adventure.

I taped it outside their door and as quietly as possible descended the stairs. The house still held the mid morning silence and the only audible sound was the creaking of the staircase and the wheels from my suitcase rolling across the hardwood floor.

I grabbed some snacks from the cupboards and a few bottles of water from the fridge before sneaking a handful of my mother's sugar cookies and stuffing them into bag.

After I thought I had a decent amount of food packed, I looked around the kitchen at the tin pans that dangled from the ceiling and reminded me of every dinner cooked and eaten together as a family at the round wooden table. My father always sat at the head and me and my sister to his left. My mother was always on his right. My dad called her his better half, always saying he didn't like his right side as much as his left so that was where she came in, evening out his surface.

My dad barely ever made any sense.

The clock on the stove said a quarter to four and I knew it was time to leave. I set my key down on the kitchen counter and headed towards the door.

The air was warm outside and I wasn't surprised. The summers here were always nice even in the early morning and it felt nice and soothing against my skin.

I shut the door and was startled by a firm grasp on my shoulder. I gasped and fumbled backwards into the arms of what I assumed was a burglar or worse some kind of murderer or rapist. I elbowed the culprit hard in the abdomen and pushed my way out of his grasp.

"Kate, it's me," said a wincing Dylan who was now lying on the porch.

"Oh my god Dylan," I said rushing to his side and kneeling over him.

It took only a second to forget that he was injured; on my accord I might add and to get lost into the swirling depths of his dark chocolate eyes.

Was nothing about this night going to be easy?

Couldn't I just leave unseen, unheard, just the way I wanted it to be.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

God I don't even know where it came from, even with the tiny jabs of pain that still shot through my entire body, I somehow managed to smile and found it difficult not to laugh.

"Yeah I'm alright," said Dylan who was also smiling. Before either of us knew it we were both laughing and I sat down next to him.

"Might I ask what you're doing on my porch at this hour of the morning?" I asked folding my legs Indian style.

It amazed me that no matter what somewhere inside this entire mess he was still my Dylan, my friend... well at least for the few spare moments before I left anyway.

His face became serious and he looked down at his hand before catching my eyes. In the moonlight his face looked both familiar and strange to me. Everything about him had only gotten better, but it was the old familiarities I searched for.; the warm eyes, slight smile and shaggy hair that was now lying on some Barber's floor.

"You're leaving?" he said looking out into the morning sky that was turning a light faint shade of grey.

"Yeah, I just thought... well Rachel's been asking me to visit for a while now," I muttered.

It wasn't exactly true and wasn't what I had really intended to do until right now.

"How did you know I was leaving?" I asked trying to ignore the heavy thrumming coming from my heart.

"I saw you packing up your car," he said running a hand over his head.

"Oh," I said amercing a small smile.

"Katie...?" he asked.

He sounded so unsure, like he didn't know what he was doing on my porch

"Yeah," I answered.

He didn't say anything; he stood up and leaned over me offering me his hand. I noticed then that he was still wearing the same suit from last night minus the tie and jacket. His shirt was sloppily tucked in and he wore sandals instead of loafers.


I hesitated.

I could feel the unsteadiness of my breathing as the air fought its way out my lungs as I stared at him and his offering.

Slowly I took his hand in mine as he helped me up to my feet and I found myself standing right in front of him. We were close, oh so very close and just like back at his house I felt the urge to kiss whatever part of him that would be appropriate.

What was worse than that was the way his eyes were drawing me in like a hypnotizing spell that made it impossible to avert my eyes any other place then his.

A few minutes passed and he still hadn't let go of my hand and maybe I was only hoping or it was a part of my imagination, but I swear I could feel his pulse beating through his hand just as fast as mine was.

"Dylan?" I prompted.

"What?"

"No, you were going to say something... before remember," I reminded him arching a single brow.

He let my hand drop and took a step backwards, "I just wanted to say it was nice seeing you... and... I wasn't lying when I said I missed you Katie." His eyes told me it was the truth.

It was an understatement to say I was disappointed. Of course he had missed Little Kate his childhood friend.

"I better get going," I told him picking up my bag and walking over to my car.

I rolled down my window and fought the tears that desperately wanted to break way. If anything this only made me realize how strongly I needed to leave. If I didn't I would never get over him and then I wouldn't even have the friendship that we shared or what little was left of it.

"Bye Dylan," I said as I started my car.

He leaned over and I thought maybe he was going to kiss me, but his lips only pecked the top of my head and he patted the side of my car.

And then I drove off leaving Dylan standing in my driveway.

As soon as I was around the corner I cried.

I must have been driving for only forty five minutes when I heard a loud pop and my car began to shake.

Kill me now, seriously a flat tire?

Life was really bearing down on me and someone was trying to teach me a lesson for some horrible crime I wasn't aware I had committed.

I was making horrible timing, the sun was out and it must be about six O' clock in the morning. If I was ever going to make it to Rachel's house it would take me a week at this rate.

I pulled out my cell and dialed information asking them to send the nearest tow truck to highway 401W.

I couldn't stop thinking about Dylan and how strange it was for him to be there when I had left when a giant tow truck titled J's Towing pulled up to the side of the road.

A tall guy wearing a baseball cap and a one suit mechanics jumper hopped out of the driver's seat and began walking over to my car.

"Kate?"

Well shit.

"Hey Jared." ''

I glanced at the small writing on the side of his rig. It was a web site entitled Jared's towing company.

Well of course it was.


chapter 6


My car was hitched to the back of Jared's tow truck and the ride was relatively quiet considering I had made no