Author's Note: I own nothing. Enjoy!
"The truth is you don't know what is going to happen tomorrow. Life is a crazy ride, and nothing is guaranteed."-Eminem
Chapter One: We Meet Again
James Ford tightened the strap to his duffle bag on his shoulder as he navigated his way through the Llainview Airport. James could not believe he had even decided to venture down this road again. It had been nearly over a decade since he last stepped foot in the small town of Llainview, Pennsylvania as a young boy who was running from a troubled past and looking for a better life. He remembered the day as if we're yesterday.
"James! James!" James turned to his left at the sound of a familiar female voice. He smiled as he walked in the direction of Jessica Buchanan. She raised on her tippy toes placing her arms around his neck pulling him into a hug. "We better getting going. The graduation ceremony will be started soon." Jessica said as she pulled away from him. James nodded in agreement before following behind her exiting the airport in silence. "I can't believe Ryder's going to middle school next year. It seemed like just yesterday he was a baby and now he's graduating from the 5th grade." Jessica remarks breaking the silence when they were in her SUV driving to the elementary school.
"Yeah time has really flown by," James replied looking towards the blonde. Jessica had changed a lot since their first encounter during her days as Tess. After Bobby's death, she moved to London to live with some family so she could get her life together and be a mother to her kids. That time away from Llainview payed off and she returned a couple years ago to be with her parents again. Despite things changing, Jessica still made sure Ryder developed a relationship with his uncles and grandma which James was very happy about. "Thanks for including us in on this day. I just wished Nate and mom could've came too. I know Ryder doesn't get to see us often." He suggested as the vehicle came to a halt in the parking lot.
"You don't have to thank me," Jessica suggested as they stepped out of the car. "You're family and you have every right to be with Ryder on his special day." She said as they walked into the school. The blonde waved at a fellow parent before taking her seat next to Kelly Cramer-Buchanan. James took the seat next to Jessica at the very end of the row. The two women chatted for a while before the ceremony. "James, when they call his name I want you to jump up and cheer with me. Ryder knows where I'm sitting so he'll be looking for me but he didn't think you were coming. He'll be so surprised and happy to see you." Jessica explained in whisper leaning towards James. She leaned away from him as the ceremony started.
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Starr Manning slid her sunglasses off as she snuck into the graduation ceremony at Llainview High School taking a seat next to her sister Danielle. Today Sam was graduating from high school and he would be giving the valedictorian speech. The other members of her family that were occupying the rest of the row looked in her direction before turning back toward Sam who had just started his speech. After Sam finished his speech, the rest of the ceremony went through quickly. When they called his name, the entire family got to their feet clamping and soon afterwards it was over.
"So why were you late coming to the ceremony," Dani asked Starr with a wine glass in her hand as she walked towards her sister in the living room at LaBoulaie. The rest of their family was engulfed in various conversations with other relatives. They were having a graduation party for Sam. This was Starr's aunt Dorian's idea.
"The jet had to take off later than expected," Starr answered wiggling her wine glass between her hands. Dani sipped her glass of wine looking confused at her sister. "I had to meet Darren at the studio before I left LA. He wanted to talk about studio times to work on the new album." She suggested walking away from Dani towards the door. "I leave tomorrow." Starr finished sitting down on the step.
"Why am I not surprised?" Dani replied following her sister stopping to sit next to her on the staircase. "You haven't been home in years Starr and you just got done with tour. Of course we shouldn't expect you to stay long enough to have a proper visit with your family," Dani suggested pausing to pull her plum purple dress down before standing up. "Call me crazy but it seems like you use your career as an excuse to not come home because you don't know how to tell us that you don't want to be here." Dani added walking away from Starr towards the kitchen.
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Jessica was right. Ryder was so surprised and happy to see James that after the ceremony was over, he ran into his uncle's arms. The boy talked to James the entire way to Llainfair about sports, cars, and his upcoming voyage to summer camp with his cousins Drew and Liam. They sat in the back seat while Jessica was coaching teenage Bree who was driving the car. She hit a couple of bumps, but overall the girl did pretty good. After lunch at Llainfair, James took Ryder to the park to grab some ice cream. The two were now finishing up their ice cream cones and decided to play some football.
"Okay Ry," James yelled running away from Ryder. He stopped a few feet away. "You throw and I'll go long. Okay buddy." He said patting his knees. Ryder nodded before throwing the football in his uncle's direction. James ran back arms open to catch the ball. As James jumped to grab the ball, he bumped into a woman in sunglasses knocking her to the ground. "I'm sorry about that miss. My nephew and I were playing catch. Here let me help you up," James said reaching his hand out to the women with blonde hair and dark brown tips at the end. Starr took his hand in hesitation. It might've been years but she recognized that voice anywhere.
"Its okay James. Accidents happen," Starr replied brushing the grass off her navy blue dress and then pulled her sunglasses off. His facial expression shifted slightly as he realized who he had knocked down. "We should talk." Starr blurted out walking towards a nearby picnic table with a tree next to it. James took a seat on top of the table. "So tell me. What have you been up to these last few years?" She asked folding her arms on the table titling her slightly examining him. James hadn't changed much. His hair was longer hanging slightly below his eyebrows and he had grown a beard.
"Traveling," James answered rolling up the sleeves of his dark grey button down. "Mom, Nate, and I moved to New York after Bobby's funeral. Nate got into this great acting school and I decided to be a legal mechanic this time." James suggested grinning. Starr laughed at his use of sarcasm. "After getting my degree, I've been doing some overseas work in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq, and Australia as a maintenance mechanic. I'm in town for Ryder's graduation." He added looking into the distance at Ryder who was nearby tossing the football with some friend from school. "What about you? How's life as a big time artist Twinkle?" James asked with a smile on his face turning his torso towards Starr to look at her. Against her better judgement, she made eye contact with him.
"Busy and lonely," Starr answered rather quickly looking away from him. "I really should be going now." She said getting up from the table. James did the same. "It was great being back in this spot talking without you being on the run and my allergies acting up." Starr added looking up at him. James laughed at her reference to the first time they met. She leaned forward joining him in a laughing fit. "Goodbye James," She said when their laughter faded touching his shoulder. Starr wanted to hug him but thought this gesture was more appropriate.
"Take care Twinkle," James whispered as she turned slowly to walk away. Starr Manning was once again out of his life.
