66. Chapter 66
Charlotte
After a magical few days at Disney, I’m home waiting for Jake to come back from his away series.
Bella’s curled up on the sofa next to me in a new sweater Hannah made her—this one is pink with white stars on it. It’s super cute and she looks so sweet in it.
I’ve got the box of journals and letters Jake grabbed from my parents’ house. As he’s not here, I felt like it was a good time to go through them. I know they won’t cover our adult years, those are somewhere in the attic, but I can get a sense of what our friendship used to be like.
Opening the first journal, I start to read.
April 16th 2014
It’s my 16th birthday and I went on my first ever date.
If you can even call it that. Troy from the Lacrosse team asked me out and I said yes.
Why, I don’t know. He took me to Burger King!
I’m vegetarian!! When he dropped me home, he tried to kiss me, and I swerved.
His breath smelt like Cheetos and bad decisions.
I’m sure Jake will have a good laugh when he reads about it in my letter. If he tried to kiss me, I don’t think I would have swerved…
August 29th 2014
This day will stay with me forever. Receiving that letter from Jake telling me his dad had passed away made my heart break for him and his family.
I knew his dad was terminally ill, but this was quick and I don’t think Jake had fully come to terms with it.
I wish I could be there for him and offer him my shoulder.
Instead, I decided to record a song at school on the piano in the music room and send it to him…
Swiping at my eyes, I pick up the next one, and then the next.
February 14th 2016
Another valentine's alone. Nearly 18 and still never been kissed. I received a beautiful bouquet of pink dahlias from Jake though. It didn't say his name, but I’d recognize that chicken scratch anywhere. I bet he has a date lined up for tonight. Is it wrong I wish it was me…
I keep reading, unable to put them down. There are more letters than journals, as I didn’t start doing that until I got my first one at sixteen.
I find the first letter Jake ever sent to me.
Hi Charlotte
I’m Jake and I am 10 years old like you; my birthday is soon though. I was hoping you would be a boy, and we could talk about Hockey, but I read you love Harry Potter and that is even better because none of my friends like it.
What’s it like living in Portland? I bet it’s cool. I live in the city, so I don’t get to go to the beach a lot which sucks. Also, what Hogwarts house are you? I’m going to guess you’re a Hufflepuff? I am of course a Gryffindor.
You said you don’t have many friends, well now you have me.
Can I call you Lottie?
Jake
Recognition dawns on me. I remember receiving that letter. I remember sitting in class and Mrs. Snowden telling us about the pen pal program.
I was so excited to maybe have another friend other than Wren to talk to. Don’t get me wrong, I love Wren, but sometimes I felt like it would have been nice to have more than one friend.
I remember sitting at my desk writing my letter to this anonymous person, hoping it would lead to something special—and boy, did it. I remember telling them about my love of Harry Potter and how I had very few friends.
Tears stream down my face at the memory. Just as I’m swiping at my eyes, Jake walks in.
“Baby, what’s wrong?”