Once Bitten
Written by Ceara Ivory
Summary: On his 21st Birthday, Doug makes a move that surprises no one, expect for a certain blonde. However, he is met with rejection and a broken heart. As a result, he leaves Bluffington to start a new life for himself. Almost ten years later, he returns and ends up unintentionally pulled back into those memories and the pain that he'd left behind.
AN: This story is a serious drama-fic. Soap Opera-type drama to be exact. Doug always seemed like a very sensitive character with a very deep altruistic soul, however, even he can only take so much.
Chapter One
In his brand new, sage green, four-door Lexus sedan, a well-dressed gentleman drove through the familiar streets of his old neighborhood. Rain coated the windshield making it difficult to see, even with his wipers going at maximum speed.
That suited him just fine. It went well with how he was feeling inside. It helped him consider what he was doing.
He tried to put it out of his mind, focusing instead on the neighborhood itself. Nothing ever seemed to change, he noted. This was an average small town where everyone knew everyone.
21 Jumbo Street soon came into view. The daylight blue house was just as he remembered, right down to the igloo-doghouse sitting near the porch.
He sighed. His beloved dog had passed away years before. He wished his companion could have been with him during the hard long years he'd faced.
Slowly he pulled into the driveway and parked. He got out of the vehicle and went to the trunk where he pulled out a small suitcase and a couple of briefcases. Carefully he made his way up the walk.
Before he even made it to the stairs, the front door slammed open and a blur glomped onto him. He swayed a little, the new weight against him threatening to send him to the ground.
"Doug, big brother, you're here, you're here!" his teenaged-little sister said. "I knew you'd come. Judy said you probably wouldn't, but I knew you'd come, I just knew it."
Doug gently returned his sister's hug and pried her arms loose so that he could breathe again. "Hey Dirtbike. You really grew up."
"Yep, I'm almost eighteen now you know. And I graduate on Saturday. I'm just so glad you came." she reached for one of his bags. "Here, let me help you."
"No no, I've got it. Really." He pulled the luggage out of reach. "Let's get out of this rain."
He allowed Cleopatra "Dirtbike" lead him inside. He looked around with his eyes. Again, not much seemed to have changed. His pictures from his childhood were still hanging up in between his sisters'. He took a deep breath.
Theda and Phil were waiting inside. Theda appeared to be restraining herself from something, tears running down her cheeks and a relieved smile adorned her expression.
"Hey Mom, Dad…" Doug waited. "I'm here."
Theda came forward and hugged her son carefully. "Oh, Doug, it's so good to have you home."
"It's good to be home, Mom." he whispered. "I've really missed you." It was true, he had. But really, he'd give anything to be anywhere but there. It just brought back too many memories.
AN: I'm ending Chapter One there. Hopefully chapter two will be much longer.