happi reading! comments are encouraged =)
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That's What You Did
Summer. The best part of the whole year. Isabelle yawned and woke up as the Californian sunlight streamed throught her curtains. She looked at the clock. 8:30am. She groaned and sat up in bed. Today was the first day of volunteer work at a local community centre. As much as she loved sleeping in, 8:30am was still kind of early for her. Rubbing her eyes, Isabelle got up and went to get ready.
She parked her car in the community centre's parking lot 15 minutes later. Her job for a month was to lead games and activities for a group of kids. Not that she wasn't a kid however. Being 18, she still had her immature side, and she loved it! She walked into the centre and signed in. The centre was empty, except for the receptionist and a guy, whom she didn't pay much attention to. "What can I do for you, miss?" the receptionist asked. "Oh, I'm here to volunteer for the kid's day camp," Isabelle replied. "Alright! You'll be with another leader so you don't have to do all the work yourself. He should be here right now, see him?" the receptionist pointed him out. It was the other guy. "Hey, you must be Isabelle," the guy said, putting his hand forward. "That's me! Nice to meet you, what's your name?" she asked as she took his hand. "Jeffry," he replied. "But you can call me Jeff!" "Alright then Jeff!" Isabelle laughed. "Let's get going!"
There were a total of 20 kids aged 8-12 in our group. They came in all shapes and sizes. They played duck duck goose, capture the flag, tag, and other childhood games. After wards, Jeff and Isabelle went to grab ice cream cones at a nearby Dairy Queen because the scorching summer heat was too much, let alone the hours of cooping with hyper kids. "So, how old are you?" Jeff asked Isabelle, after they'd sat down. "18!" she replied, wondering how old he would be. He seemed like he was over 20 years old. His hair was long, not long enough to cover his eyes though, and man, he was buff too. "I'm 18 too!" he laughed. "You don't seem 18!" she exclaimed. "Well of course I don't, I'm much too macho and hot to be 18!" he snickered. "Ewwww!" she said and playfully punched him. Obviously, there was some flirting going on, but Isabelle knew how to keep her distance. She'd dated a few boys before, but they we're only infatuated datings. Nothing big. "Where are you from?" Isabelle asked. "Washington," Jeff replied. "Oh! So far away!" she said, surprised. "Not really!" he chuckled. "I originally came here to visit my cousins, but I also wanted a summer job, so I was like 'Why not get one here?' so yeah." "Ooooh I see," she said. They left a moment after.
Jeff was pretty interesting, Isabelle thought, when she got home. I'd definitely look forward to seeing him again. The next day, Isabelle went to volunteer again and was delighted when she saw Jeff. They went for ice cream again after volunteer. "So, let me ask you a personal question," Jeff said, smiling. "Uh, sure!" she replied cautiously. "Don't worry, it's just that you're so pretty and everything, not trying to creep you out by the way," he laughed. "Just wondering, are you in a relationship right now?" "Nope," she said, her cheeks feeling hot for some reason. "Thanks for your comment though! Are you?" "Nope haha, had a few before, but they were nothing big," he replied. "Well, hope you find a 'big' one soon!" she said, not knowing what else to say. "Thanks, you too!" he smiled, showing his white teeth.
When Isabelle got home later that day, all she could think of was Jeff. Uhhh, what's wrong with me! You've only just met the guy! she screamed in her head. Don't let this go out of control, he lives far away and it's best to be friends. voice told her. She sighed.
Everyday for the next 2 weeks, Isabelle and Jeff would get ice cream together after volunteering. They talked and talked and talked. Isabelle felt herself getting attached to Jeff, but she tried her best to fight it. "When are you leaving to go home?" she asked one day. "In about a month," he answered. "Why? Miss me already?" he joked. "No, you fool!" Isabelle giggled and punched him playfully. The truth was, she had already started to develop feelings for him, and she would defiantly miss him when he left. "You wanna hit the beach?" Jeff suddenly asked. "Now?! The sun's going down!" Isabelle exclaimed. "Well, I never really get to see sunsets in Washington, too much pollution," he said. "Oh um, sure I'll take you to the beach!" she said. "Great!" he smiled. "You don't know how much this means to me, Isabelle." She nodded, feeling her heart flutter.
"Wow, that is so pretty!" Jeff breathed as they walked towards the sandy beach. "Yeah it is, but you get used to it after living here for 18 years," I laughed. "Are you kidding me? I've been wanting to see a Californian sunset my whole like!" he laughed with me. Turning to Isabelle, his smile got bigger and brighter. "I don't know how to thank you, thank you so much Isabelle!" Jeff yelled and gave her a hug. From the moment he put her arms around her, Isabelle knew she had lost. She was in love and there was no denying it.
A week later, Jeff started to flirt with Isabelle more and more, which of course made Isabelle really happy. Who cares if we live far away? Love knows no distance. she thought to herself. If only Jeff would feel the same way...he wasn't like the other guys she'd dated. There was something different about him... "Hey Isabelle?" Jeff asked suddenly. "Huh?! What?" Isabelle shook her head as she was awoken from her fantasies. "Wanna go to the beach again? There's something I have to do." he asked with an uncertain smile. "Sure! Why not?" she answered cheerfully. And off they went.
Once they were at the beach, Jeff suddenly stopped walking and stood facing her. "Isabelle..." he started. Isabelle's heart pounded. This couldn't be...could it? her mind said. "Isabelle..." Jeff started again. "What's up? Are you ok?" she asked. He was teetering and fidgiting. "Yeah, um Isabelle, I would like to ask you a question" Jeff said. "Go for it!" I smiled. "Ok um, for the past week, after I've gotten to know you more, I feel like I'm starting to fall for you, and I think you are too, with me. So I wanted to know...if you would like to be my girlfriend?" he sputtered out. Isabelle gasped, her cheek flaming red. Omgosh omgosh omgosh!! "Y-yes of course I would!! And you're right, I am falling for you," Isabelle stammered out. Immediately, Jeff pulled her into his arms and gave her a big hug.
For the next couple of days, the new couple spent every second together, when they weren't volunteering. Isabelle felt like she was in heaven, she loved everything about him. She wanted to know how she felt, so she decided tell him she loved him. "Jeff," she said. "Hmmm?" he replied, taking her hand. "I...I love you," she stammered. He replied by giving her a hug. Why didn't he say it back? Is it because he doesn't feel the same way? But he hugged me...maybe that's how he shows his love! Isabelle thought he was just scared and let the thought go.
A few days later, the thought came back. All he does is hug and hold hands with me. Does that really show his love for me? She thought. Why doesn't he tell me that he loves me? I know he does... She sighed into her pillow. The next day, at the beach, Isabelle faced Jeff and asked, "Jeff, you know I love you right?" He nodded, surprised at her sudden question. "Well, how about you?" she prodded. "I do too, but I've been thinking, what if you won't like me anymore, after this summer when I go back home?" he confessed. "Of course I'll still love you!" she cried and hugged him.
Later that day, she thought about her relationship with Jeff. Before they were together, they would still have the same kind of conversations as they had now. All that was added was a little intimacy, hugging and holding hands. Isabelle pushed these thoughts away and convinced herself that Jeff did love her, he didn't want to make it seem like he was infatuated.
The next few weeks passed by in a blink of an eye. Isabelle and Jeff stood at his gate, waiting for his plane to arrive. "I'll miss you so much!" she cried as she hugged him. "Don't be sad," he said as he briefly hugged her too. A shock of pain shot through her heart. Why didn't he say he'll miss me too? The dreaded moment came and Jeff boarded his flight after a final hug with Isabelle.
She waited for him to call her the next day. And the next day. Why hasn't he called me yet? she asked herself. It's been 2 days...I hope nothing happened to him! She picked up the phone and dialed. "Hello?" a female voice asked, his sister. "Oh hi, I was wondering if Jeff is there?" Isabelle asked. "Oh yea, hold on," she said and went to get Jeff. "Hello?" he said. Hearing his voice made Isabelle's heart beat faster. "Jeff, it's me," she breathed. "Oh hey Isabelle! What's up?" Jeff replied, happily. What's up? You haven't called me in two days, and when I call all you say is 'What's up?' Isabelle wanted to say. "Uh, nothing, just wanted to check to see if you got home safely. "Oh yea, I got home ok, been staying inside since I got home though," he chuckled. Then why didn't you call me!!! she wanted to scream. However, Isabelle pushed all these bad feelings under her and changed the subject. Jeff didn't say anything about missing her or loving her when she said 'I miss you' and 'I love you'. After they'd both hung up, Isabelle felt a bit hurt, but glad that he got home safely and that they were still together.
A month went by and school was starting soon. Isabelle and Jeff didn't really have much to say in their conversations anymore. It was all like, 'So what did you do today? Oh I see.' Jeff showed no signs of love toward Isabelle, and she was slowly dying inside.
One day, while talking to Jeff on the phone, her heart was aching and she wanted to let her repressed feelings out. "Jeff," she took a deep breath. "Do you not like me anymore?" There was a pause. "It's not that I don't like you, Isabelle...it's just that...I like you as a friend..." he sighed. Her heart broke. All the feelings she'd pushed away came rushing at her. "Has it always been that way?" she whispered. "No," he answered. "I did like you as more than a friend, but now that I'm back home...we live far away from each other and all...I think my feelings changed because of distance...I'm sorry..." he said, quietly. Tears started to run from Isabelle's eyes. "Is that why you never showed any sign of affection towards me?" she sobbed. "It's because I didn't want to get too close to you...or you'll be so much more hurt..." he said. She couldn't talk anymore. Her sobs turned into chokes. "Isabelle...we're still friends, right? Don't be so sad..." he pleaded. "Yeah...at least we're still friends," she choked. "Well...I have to go now...take care Isabelle, I hope you find the one you deserve one day." Jeff said, and hung up.
-3 years later-
Isabelle was sitting on the beach, tanning in the summer sunlight. Her boyfriend, Mark, sat beside her, one hand hugging her waist. She'd finally gotten over Jeff a year ago and was happy with the boy she had now. Jeff and her still talked once in awhile with jokes and laughter here and there. Life was good. A pair of sandles suddenly appeared in front of her. "Isabelle?" a familiar voice asked. She looked up. "Jeff?!" she exclaimed, not believing her eyes. It was the first time she'd seen Jeff again ever since he left 3 years ago. "Oh it is you! Hey! I was gonna call you, but I lost your number. Wow I can't believe I found you!" he said happily. "You're back!! I can't believe it!" Isabelle said in awe. Noticing Mark glance wearily at Jeff, she said, "Oh sorry! Forgot to introduce. Jeff, this is my boyfriend Mark, and Mark, this is my friend Jeff." The two guys smiled and nodded at each other. "Wanna go for dinner with us tonight Jeff?" I asked. "Oh sure! I'd love to! I haven't been back in 3 years, can't wait to see how this place changed!" Jeff said, accepting my invitation.
A few hours later, Isabelle was getting ready for the dinner when Mark suddenly phoned up and dropped out of the dinner because of a stomach flu from lunch. "Awww baby, get well soon ok?" she said, worried. "Of course I will," he said, grimacing. "Have fun tonight honey!" "Ok I will! Gotta go now, talk to you later baby, love you!" she said. "Love you too hun, see ya!" Mark said. Isabelle hung up, happy that her boyfriend told me he loved her.
Dinner was entertaining. Jeff and Isabelle chatted through the whole night, reliving old memories. "Remember when I first showed you the beach years ago?" she asked. "Of course!!!" he exclaimed. "How could I forget?" he said, closing his eyes and smiling. She closed my eyes too, remembering that evening when the sun was setting behind them. That was when Isabelle knew that she had fallen in love with Jeff. Remembering her past feelings for him, she quickly opened her eyes to see Jeff looking at her. "What?" she asked, defensively. "Hmm...want to go back to that beach?" he asked. "Right now?" she asked. "Yeah!! Why not!" he said. "Alright then!" Isabelle replied and off they went.
The beach was empty and the sun was just beginning to set. Funny how the timings worked out. Jeff walked ahead of her, running in the sand like a little kid. Sweet memories overflowed Isabelle as she took more and more steps towards the water. She wondered if Jeff remembered them too. "Hey Jeff?" she asked. "Yeah?" he replied, still smiling a crazy smile. "Can I ask you something?" "Shoot!" he yelled. "Ok. So if you had a girlfriend that lived in your town, but she moved away to another state, what would you do?" Isabelle asked, playfully. "Nothing," he said, confused. "Nothing?" she asked, confused as well. "Well yea, I'd phone her and stuff, and I'd miss her tons, and I know she'll visit me when she's not busy." he replied with a confused look. "Oh," she said, not understanding at all. "Would you break up with her then?" she forced out. "No, of course not!!! Breaking up is the worst way to go!" he replied in awe. The taped up pieces of my heart started breaking again. "What would you do then?" she barely whispered. "Save up, get a good job after school, move to be with her?" he answered. Tears started forming in her eyes, but she had to keep them down. "I don't believe that breaking up because of distance is a good reason to break up. Love knows no distance!" he exclaimed, smiling at the ocean. The lump in her throat built up. "So breaking up wouldn't be an option for you?" Isabelle asked, trying to keep her voice level. "Of course I wouldn't choose the break up! But then again..." he said, his smile fading. "If either of us falls in love with someone else...then yeah..." Big fat tears were forming at the corners of her eyes. "Why are you asking anyways?" he said, finally turning around to look at her. "Because," Isabelle whispered, tears running down her face as her heart shattered into a million pieces. "That's what you did to me..."
