You Can Never Go Home Again

Chapter Two
(Hey guys I have most of the chapters set I just don't reall
y know if anyones actually enjoying the story. Reviews would be awesome. Id love to know what you guys think and whether or not I should possibly post more of it. Thanks xoxo)

“So, did she ever drink it?”

“Nah, she didn’t. When I bumped into her we hadn’t counted on her beer pouring all over her new white tank top. She freaked and left cursing us on her way out. Jessie couldn’t control her giddiness and took it as a sign.”

“That’s all I really remember right now, I’m drawing a blank.”

“Abby, I’m sure this is hard for you, but it helps to talk about things.”

Of course I remembered everything as vividly as if it had happened yesterday. I wasn’t about to tell some quack about the things desperate girls are capable of imagining or doing. If anything I was doing what she would have wanted me to do. Keep quiet.

“Well Abby our time is up and I can see we have hit a real break through. I hope to see you next week around the same time.”

“Yah definitely.”

I had been seeing Dr. Weintraub for almost a month now. My boss recommended her to me and suggested I try to “work things out on my time.” Angela was a tough woman who believed men were some sort of anti-Christ put here solely to torture her. When the girls in the office have any male-related issues she reprimands them and demands composure. She also assumes all personal issues are related to men in some fashion. When Angela found out my change in behavior had nothing to do with the opposite sex, she was baffled. Following her choked out advice she handed me the number to Dr. Weintraub’s office. Apparently forced concern was part of her job description.

I have gone over the events from that night in my head over and over again for almost a month now. Ten years hasn’t put a dent in the images that constantly haunt my thoughts. Jessie’s plan was definitely a bit amateur at the time, but it paled in comparison to the plans she conjured up after that.

That night after Ally had left Jessie didn’t waste anytime warming up to Chance.
She wormed her way into the group of people he was entertaining with his latest game story. She listened intently and hung on his every word. She laughed uncontrollably at his awkward jokes and giggled at his corny lines. When the group had slowly dispersed she found herself all alone with the man of her dreams.

“So I heard you and Ally, huh?”

“Yah, no big deal… yah know?”
“So I hear you’re headed off to UConn?”

“Yah I leave tomorrow actually.”

“No going away party?”

“Well my boys got me drunk, and Hartford really isn’t far.”

“True.”

At that moment Jessie knew her dreams were going to come true. The way he was looking at her. The way he touched her arm when they laughed. The look she’d gotten so many times before. A gaze propelled by pure lust and desire. She waited impatiently for him to take her away. Anywhere but there, somewhere they could really be alone. She’d fantasized countless times of the things she’d say if this day ever came. All her planning and practicing seemed non-existent once he said her name. She was speechless and terrified.

“So hey you wanna go for a walk?”

“Sure.”

Chance took Jessie by the arm and led her into the unlit trail that led into the back of the golf course, a path she’d never traveled.

“I used to work here in the summer when I was a kid. I’d pick up the balls at the end of the day and get paid per bucket I collected. My dad knew the owner and thought it would build character.”

“So you probably know your way around here pretty well huh?”

“Yup.”

Chance led her into the sand dunes that edged the woods near Pine Cove. He sat next to her and stared at her for a minute. Jessie stared back trying to hold a sexy seductive look without giggling. When Chance made his move Jessie froze and felt her heart stop, she swore it was at least five seconds before it regained beating. He kissed her glossed lips softly as she clutched his shoulders. They rolled in the sand kissing for a good five minutes until Chance abruptly stood up.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothin Jess, I just gotta get out of here.”

“Ok.”

“It’s not you at all Jess, it’s just I gotta get home and do some shit before I leave tomorrow.”

“Anything I can help with?”

“Not tonight, but how about a raincheck?”

“Sure.”

“I’m having some people down next weekend, you should come.”

“Yeah, is it cool if I bring the girls?”

“The more the merrier.”

Chance had no intention of following through on anything with Jessie Nichols. She was known as a slut and a bit of a flake. He had done someone a favor and planned on collecting that night. When he felt his beeper vibrate in his pocket over and over he knew who he needed to go see.

“So you need a ride?”

“That’d be cool. Can you bring my friend Leah home too, is that okay?”

“Yah girl, no problem.”

Jessie was crushed. She knew she’d never the inside of Chance Pennington’s dorm. She would always have that kiss though, and nothing could change that. She replayed that moment in her head over and over until she fell asleep that night.

After Chance had dropped Jessie off that night he had promised her he would get Leah home safe. As soon as Jessie walked into the house Leah hopped into the front seat and gave Chance the signal to get out of there. They pulled into the back of the elementary school where they had secretly been seeing each other for four months now.
Chance turned off the car and grabbed Leah’s face.

“I’m gonna miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too.”

“I need to be with you.”

“Chance, you know now is not the time.”

“When is the time? I kissed your friend tonight, doesn’t that prove I’d do anything for you?”
“Oh yeah! Kissing a girl is practically like giving up an organ for me. Chance, come one! We’ve been over this a hundred times, I can’t do that to her.”

“You already have.”

“What she doesn’t know can’t hurt her. I can’t help how we feel, but I can protect her from that.”

“I broke up with Ally because I wanted to be with you. I haven’t been able to look at her in months now.”

“Well I never told you to break up with her.”

“But Leah, I did it for you.”

“Chance if you don’t shut up right now I am going home.”

Chance took the command and slid his hand behind Leah’s neck. Pulling her close he locked his lips on her and wouldn’t let go. They spent the next two hours in the backseat of his car caught up in the rapture of the night. Chance wanted to be with Leah forever. He had his eye on her for a while and convinced himself if he was persistent enough she’d be his and all the world would know.

When they were finished and composed they left the school parking lot and embarked on what Leah thought was the end of a simple secret affair. To Leah, Chance was a dirty little secret that she intended to take to the grave. To Chance, Leah was the object of his desire. He saw the world at her feet and wanted more than anything to take her away.

“Do you want to sleepover?”

“No Chance, I told you I can’t do that right now.”

“No one will ever know, I’ll sneak you in and out with not witnesses, scouts honor.”

“Call me when you get to school, I just can’t.”

Leah battled with herself whether or not to go home with Chance that night. She knew there was a very slim chance of her being seen and she did enjoy falling asleep in his arms. She had only slept over a few times due to circumstances surrounding their relationship. Although she regretted the affair she did feel a strong connection with Chance and if he were any other guy she’d be with him in a heartbeat. After a few minutes of mental anguish she agreed to spend the night with him.

Shortly after returning home Jessie had been trying to call Leah all night to fill her in on the juicy details of her and Chance’s “walk”. She intended to exaggerate the experience and add a few details of her own. When Leah didn’t answer Jessie thought she had just gone to bed. At first she was a bit annoyed with her friends absence, but eventually got over it and filled her diary with everything she’d bottled up that night.


When Jessie woke up that morning she called me. She was anxious to spill everything so I listened half heartedly while checking the paper for a part time job.
During the summer I had worked at the ice cream place in town, which closed after Labor Day.

“Oh my god Ab!! You will never ever believe what happened last night?”

She started her story off acting is if I hadn’t been there up until their departure into the woods.

“He told me I was the most beautiful girl there and that he couldn’t imagine not seeing me again.”

“So you guys have a date?”

“Nah, it’s just tentative.”

“Oh.”

“Ab, I know that sound and that means you don’t believe me.”

“It’s not that Jess, I just wouldn’t get my hopes up he’s leaving today.”

“I know and he wants me to visit this weekend. If you behave I’ll bring you to meet some of his hot roomies.”

“Okay, well anyways pick me up in twenty minutes and we’ll head to the mall.”

“Okay, but I think I’ll pick Leah up first.”

When Jessie hung up the phone she grabbed her purse and sunglasses and bolted out the door. She couldn’t wait to see Leah and brag about her kiss. As she rounded the corner to Leah’s street she saw Leah’s car parked out front. She banged on the door for almost five minutes to no avail. She figured Leah had to be in the shower so she let herself in and sat on her bed.

“So, you’ll call me?”

“You bet doll, and I can’t wait to see you again. I love you.”

“Chance, don’t say that if you don’t mean it.”
“I do mean it. I love you. I love you. I love you.”

“Stop, you’re only saying that because you’re leaving so you’re all emotional.”

Chance rounded the corner to Leah’s house and saw a small black car in the driveway.

“Who’s at your house?”

“No one, that I know of.”

As they approached Leah’s house her heart fell into her stomach. She froze and began to sweat.

“Turn around!”

“Where?”

“Hurry up get the fuck out of here!”

“Calm down who is it?”

“Jessie.”

Chance whipped his car around and sped down the adjacent side street. He was just as nervous as Leah was and he didn’t even know why.

“Okay, let me out here.”

“You sure?”

“Yah.”

After a goodbye kiss that lasted forever Leah jogged toward her house. She opened her front door and found Jessie in her room.

“Hey.”

“Hey, where were you?”

“I was…I was, walking.”

“In your clothes from last night?”

“Yah, I passed out in them and when I woke up I needed to clear my head so I just left.”

“ Is everything okay?”

“Yah, it’s totally fine. Just stressing about school and shit.”

“Okay, Abby is waiting for us to pick her up to go to the mall. Remember new outfits for tonight?”

“What’s tonight?”

“Our ritual end of summer BBQ my parents throw every year!”

“Oh gosh Jes, I don’t know where my mind is. Let me hop in the shower and I’ll be ready in five minutes, k?”

Leah got in the shower and turned the water as hot as she could handle. She scrubbed her arms and her neck until they hurt. She was terrified that Jessie would smell him on her. She had been so nervous. She was a terrible liar and everyone knew that, especially when she’s put on the spot like that. Her guilt was twisting her stomach into knots and her hands trembled as she rinsed out her hair. Leah couldn’t live with this guilt, she knew she had to stop seeing Chance. She hadn’t been able to come to grips with her feelings about him until then. Now that she knew that he was leaving she’d hoped it be easier to get over him. She made a promise to herself right there in the shower to never speak to Chance Pennington again.