Chad come home
Grandpa is sitting at his old wobbly desk going over some
of the temple's finances. He mumbles to himself about dry
cleaning expenses and how his granddaughter should just iron
herself. He hears the door to his office creak open and a shy
male voice coughs to draw attention.
"Come in Chad. Don't just stand there like a ninny"
Grandpa is a kind old man, but he isn't exactly the greatest in
social aspects.
"Uh. Hi Grandpa. Hey, the temple's really doing great
isn't it. I mean, you hardly even need me right now...right?"
Chad's voice betrays his cool composer. It's wobbling with what
sounds like a mixture of fear and pain. Grandpa looks over the
rim of his glasses. He stares at Chad and thinks he can almost
see a start of a tear in his eye.
"So you're leaving us are you Chad? Why? Aren't you happy
here? Do you want a raise? I think I can fit it in to the
budget. You're so perfect for the job. Why?" Now it's Grandpa's
turn to have his voice betray him. Over the past year Chad was
there he had grown to love him like a grandson.
"It's not permanent, Grandpa. I just want to go up to the
ski lodge for a while to..figure things out. I'll be back by the
end of summer. That should only be about three months." Grandpa
nodded not knowing if Chad saw or not. He felt a bit betrayed.
'What could he have to figure out? And why does he have to
leave the temple to do it? This is the most serene spot in all
of Tokyo after all.' "Fine but you'll have to tell Raye. I'm not
going to listen to her belly aching about your share of chores."
Grandpa saw Chad flinch at Raye's name. 'Ah, so that's the
problem. Well, in that case this trip should be good for both of
them. Maybe that twit granddaughter of mine will finally realize
how much she cares when he's gone.' An evil smile played upon
Grandpa's lips. Chad didn't noticed. He was to busy worrying
about Raye's reaction. He was going to get another ear ache for
sure. He hated it when Raye yelled at him. It made the inside of
him feel like he had just stepped on a land mine. Her harsh
words stung his heart like no one else's could.
The next day Raye was sitting outside on the temple steps
with the rest of the girls. The five of them were just enjoying
the silence and eating poppcicles. Chad didn't think Raye would
go AS ballistic while her friends were around. Then again, this
is Raye.
"Excuse me, Raye." Chad said more to the ground than to
Raye.
"What is it Chad! Can't you see I'm busy?" Raye said
hotly. Yet after she said it Serena noticed a bit of pain in her
eyes. Almost regret.
"Raye, I know you're going to be mad when I tell you this,
but I have no choice."
"What is it?" There was a hint of worry in Raye's tone.
This time all the girls picked up on it.
"Raye, I'm kinda, sorta going away for a while. Up to the
ski resort. I have some things I need to sort out. I'm sorry.
When I come back at the end of the summer I'll do all your
chores for three months to make up for it." Chad looked up at
Raye for the first time. To his surprise she looked more hurt
than mad. Why?
"You're going away? For three months? But..but..well, I
guess if you need to." Raye was fighting back tears. This was
clear to anyone within a mile of her.
'Why are you crying? Don't you want me to go? Raye I'm
going because of you! I can't stand to be here and try so hard
to impress you, when it will never get me anywhere. I need time
to think! Does this mean...' Raye's voice interrupted his
thought.
"When are you leaving?" Her voice was now wobbling. None
of the other girls dare say anything in fear she would break
into histerics.
"My flight is in a half an hour. Here." He handed her a
piece of paper. It was folded into a neat little square. "I have
to go now. Good-bye, Raye. Ladies." He turned and ran not
looking back. He didn't want anyone to see the tears running
down his cheeks. The girls huddled around Raye, who was now
crying as hard as Chad.
"Why?" That was all she could manage to say between
sobs. She had told the girls all about her feelings for Chad.
They new how she didn't really think she could make it a week
let alone a three months without him. She was so afraid of
feeling the hurt that her father had felt when her mom died,
that she kept pushing him away. Further and further. But it
still hurt. Had she pushed him away to far?
"Raye?" Asked Mina in a soft melodic voice. "What was the
paper he have you?" Raye slowly unfolded the paper. On it was
written an address. There was a note under that.
Raye, I know you probably don't have time, but if you would ever
want to write me I would love to hear from you. I will always
write back the very moment after I read it. Good-bye for now.
Chad
"I will write you, Chad. For my own sake if nothing more."
Raye's crying had subsided. Maybe it was good that Chad was
going away. This would give her a chance to sort things out. But
oh, how she'd miss him.
Serena gave Raye a supportive squeeze on the arm. Raye
looked up and mouthed a thank you. Just then Grandpa came out of
the temple. He looked at Raye's tear stained face, but didn't
say anything. Instead he just walked up to her and gave her a
quick hug. That night, before Raye went to bed, she sat down and
wrote Chad a letter. Several, actually. But it seemed the
garbage can was receiving more letters than Chad would. Finally
Raye was satisfied. It was nothing fancy. Just kinda a "hi"
letter.
Chad, We miss you here already. It's been kinda hard adjusting
to the quietness of the place. I never thought I'd actually miss
your singing. The chores haven't been that bad. Serena and the
girls are helping out a lot. I hope things are good there, and
you're accomplishing whatever it is you went to do. I miss you
terribly.
Raye
The next morning Chad went out to the mailbox just in case
Raye had written. He highly doubted it, but what the heck. He
trudged out to the snow covered box (remember he's in the
mountains) and pulled out a little white envelope.
"What no way! Raye wrote me! Already! I can't believe it."
Chad ran as fast as he could back into the house. He sat down in
his favorite recliner and tore open the letter. He read it five
times over before it finally sank in on who the sender was.
Chad's first reaction was bliss. He was on cloud nine. Then he
started thinking.
'I don't understand it. She always acts like she hates me.
But every once in a while it seems like, well maybe that's just
a cover up or something. I just don't get it. Raye, why are you
doing this to me?' After his little chat with himself Chad
started his own letter. He wasn't quite sure how to reply to
this.
Raye had gotten a new schedule down pat. She wakes up
thinks of Chad. Has breakfast thinking about Chad. Then she does
her chores, then Chad's, thinking about Chad. Raye then usually
does something with her friends in the afternoon, finally
forgetting about Chad, until one of them asks if he wrote. Which
of course he always had. They had been exchanging letters for
the past three weeks, when Chad left. After a full day Raye goes
to bed. Stays up half the night thinking of Chad, then falls
asleep dreaming about...you get the picture. She was so scared.
Her mother had died giving birth to Raye. Ever since then her
father hadn't been much of the family man.
Raye's father was a lawyer. A good one, too. He spent all
his time at work. Raye new that he resented her for her mother's
death. He loved Raye, he really did, but it hurt too much. Raye
saw the pain in her father's eyes. She new that he could never
be the same. He loved her mom. She was his soul mate. Raye used
to blame herself for her mom's death, but Grandpa rid her of
that thought almost as soon as it was put into her head. It
scared her to think of losing her soul mate. So she just tried
not to find him.
But her mother's death wasn't the only thing that scared
Raye. She saw the pain Serena went through to get Darien back
for good. But Serena had told her so many times that it was
worth every battle, every heart break, every tear. Would it be
worth it to Raye?
Chad was laying in his bed. Looking out the window. He had
to tell her why he was here. He had to let her know how he felt.
Well, o.k, maybe not that, but he had to tell her something to
gain her respect for him. He would write a letter. He would tell
how much she hurt him. He would not tell her about his love for
her, though. At least not until she sees him as something other
that a toasted rockstar.
It had been a long day. Sailor Mars was a very busy scout
today. So were the other scouts. Right now all they wanted to do
was lay there on Lita's couch and veg out. Raye's mind once
again wondered to Chad. Ever since he left she had found herself
thinking about him differently. True, he was a slacker, but now
that she thought about it, he did work pretty hard. She had been
doing his chores and found herself needing the girl's help for
some of the jobs requiring more muscle. Maybe he wasn't a
slacker. 'I wonder if he has a lot of muscles.' Raye let a long
sigh slip out of her. The other four girls looked at her smiles
creeping up on their faces.
"Alert! Alert! Raye has fallen in the black hole of love.
Never to be seen as a an available teenage girl again." Serena
said in her usual teasing voice.
"What's that suppose to mean?" This time Mina spoke up and
said.
"Ever since Chad left you've been in your own world."
"I know, I can't help it. I can't stop thinking about him.
What does this mean?"
"You figure it out."
"I love him."
Raye received Chad's letters everyday. But once day four
weeks after he had left a special letter came.
Raye, every day I miss you more. I can't come back yet,
though. I know you probably want to know like why I am here.
Well, I don't want to make you feel guilty, but this is
something I've just got to say. I think you are a wonderful
person, Raye, but I can't stand being put down every day by you.
It hurts me so much to hear you harsh words. Ya know? I don't
understand why you push me away. When you and I are just talking
and laughing there is no other person in the world I would
rather be with, but when you yell at me, and hit me with brooms,
and insult me, and make me feel like I'm a ten year old child
that needs you to scold them, I just want to bury my head. Do
you understand? Raye, please don't take this the wrong way. I
have never met a more caring person in my life. You see
potential and goodness in everybody that possesses it. But your
temper is a fire that makes the underworld itself look like
Alaska. Please think about what I've said.
Your friend forever,
Chad
"OH, GAWD!. You guys what do I do? I've
pushed him away too far! He HATES ME!"
"Cut the hysterics!...I've always wanted to say that to
you." said Serena. Raye looked at her watery eyed.
"Listen Raye," added Lita "Chad doesn't hate you. If you
want my opinion he sounds like he's in pain. It seems to me that
he feels the same way about you as you feel about him. I think
that he thinks that you hate him. Or maybe he's confused and
messed up inside and needs to tell you, but he doesn't have the
courage. Did you ever think that he went away to think things
over about you and him?"
"Ya think so? Maybe your right." Raye suddenly perked up
and got a devilish smile on her face. "You know what I'm going
to do?"
"What" every body said in unison.
"I'm going to write him a letter. And I'm going to tell
him everything. I won't hold anything back. If love is as good
as you guys make it sound, I think it will be worth the risk.
Raye started the letter that night. She finished it three
nights later. In between she had written 23 1/2 copies that were
rejected. When she was done she sprayed the envelope with her
best perfume and sent it to Chad.
It had been three days since Raye had last wrote. 'She
must have gotten my letter and be really ticked' Thought Chad.
He looked out the window as the mailman was just pulling up. Him
and the mailman had made good friends.(since Chad had been
waiting by the mailbox for the passed four 1/2 weeks.) Chad told
him all about his problem with Raye. When she hadn't written to
him the mailman seemed almost as sad as Chad. Hey, this was the
only excitement he got all day. Chad ran out to greet Steve.
(the mailman)
"Anything?" Chad looked up to see Steve with a sad look on
his face.
"Welp, sorry bud. But the only things I have for you are
two bills annnnnnnd a letter from a certain temple covered in
perfume!" Steve got out of his mail truck and started doing a
victory dance around Chad, who was still to stunned to reply.
"Huh? You're kidden'. Give me it!" Chad ripped that
paper out of Steve's hand, who just continued to dance. Chad ran
in the house.
"Hey, I want to know what it says."
"I'll tell you tomorrow." Chad ran in tore off his coat
and sat down by the fire. He slowly began to read the note.
Chad, I thought a lot about what you said. I'm sorry it
took me so long to reply, but I didn't know what to say. I feel
like such a jerk. You are the greatest guy I know, Chad. I never
in a million years wanted you to feel that way about me. I now
know what way I do want you to feel about me, though. Ever since
you left I couldn't get my mind off of you. I miss every little
thing about you. I will always be your friend Chad, but I don't
want to stop at that. I realize now that I love you. I've tried
to ignore it, push it away, blame it on lack of sleep, but the
truth is that I love you, Chad. I want you to love me back so
badly. I'm sorry if I've hurt you, but that was because I was so
afraid. I didn't want to end up like my father. Crippled with
the pain of losing someone that they love. But I realize now
that you have to take those chances or life will never be
complete. Please don't hurt me Chad, and I won't hurt you. No
more yelling. That's a promise. Chad, come home. This is your
home, with me. Forever.
With Love,
Raye
'She loves me. She always has. She loves me.' Chad thought
as he put down the letter. He didn't know what to do or say.
Raye Hino loved him. Chad got up and burst open the windows. He
yelled out as loud as he could. "SHE LOVES ME!" Neighbors
walking by the house stopped and stared at him in the window. He
didn't care. Steve, who was now delivering mail on the other
side of the street, started laughing.
"Then why are you still here?" Steve yelled to Chad in a
giddy voice. Chad rushed inside the manor and threw all his
clothes into the suitcase. He sat on it to make everything fit
then ran out the door to catch the next train home. 'Home, the
place where I belong. The place where Raye is. The girl I love
and who loves me in return. With Grandpa, how I miss the old
guy, and all the girls, I can't wait to hear the constant sound
of giggling again, and all the guys, their boyfriends. No longer
do I have to watch as they make googly eyes at each other. I can
just look at Raye. Whoa, do I sound corny or what. But it's
true.
Raye was waiting outside on the steps by her mailbox. Her
four best friends walked up to see her sitting there nervously.
She was biting her nails and cursing the mailman.
"Raye, I'm guessing you sent the letter yesterday and your
waiting for a response."
"Good guess Einstein...Sorry, I'm just so nervous. What
if he never comes back just because he wants to avoid me. Why
did I write that letter?"
"Because you are in love. Writing that letter was the
smartest thing you've ever done and you know it. Chad won't hurt
you. Have you looked in his eyes when he sees you. I'm sure Chad
feels the same way. Now the only question is, is he man enough
to commit and admit his feelings." Mina was off again on one of
her love lectures. But the truth was that it was helping Raye.
"Mina, thank you. I know everything will work out. I just
hope they work out the way I want them to." Just then the
mailman pulled up and handed all the mail to Raye. She searched
eagerly through the bills and catalogs, but found no letter from
Chad.
"That's it he hates me. MY LIFE IS OVER!" Raye was
screaming at the top of her lungs and was about to get slapped
over the head by Serena. But then Raye just calmed down and
sobbed heavily. "Please just leave me. I just want to be alone
for a while."
"But Raye.."
"Please."
The girls all trudged away, not sure what to do. Raye sat
on those steps for and hour. She wept, then thought, then
repeated over and over again. In mid sob she felt a strong arm
fall over her shoulder. It pulled her over against a firm chest
and held her closely. Raye hardly noticed until a deep voice
whispered into her hear.
"I hope I wasn't the cause of this pain." Raye gasped and
looked up into a pair of deep chestnut eyes. These were the eyes
of her soul mate.
"Chad, you came home."
"I got your letter and hopped on the first train back
here. I guess I should have wrote or called to say I was coming.
So did you really write that letter, or was that all one big
wongo dream." Raye giggled at Chad's usual surfer boy lingo.
" I meant ever word. Chad?"
"Hmmm"
"Is there any way possible that you could love me back?"
"I'd say that there is a 100 percent chance. Because Raye,
I have loved you from the first time I layed eyes on you.
Nothing in this world could change that. When I read that note
there were no words to discribe the way I felt. Just ask the
mailman.
"The mailman?"
"I'll explain later. But, Raye I'm home now. I'm with you.
Thank you for giving me such a great home to come back to."
Chad gave Raye's somewhat limp body a little squeeze and
she in return flung her arms around Chad's neck and gave him a
peck on the lips.
"No point in waisting any more time right?" Chad nodded
very taken back, but he agreed whole heartedly. With one quick
motion he swept Raye up into his arms and into him lap. Chad
dipped the swooned girl supporting her head with his hand and
gave her a kiss like that of a man starving for love. She felt
his slightly opened lips press harder against hers. She herself
wasn't about to hold back after waiting this long. Raye parted
her lips and let in a rush of pure passion. She could feel
Chad's stubble of a beard brush against her chin. As Chad pulled
away Raye looked up at him dreamily. He kissed Raye's cheek and
nose then gave her a quick kiss on the mouth again before he
picked her up and carried her up the Temple stairs and into the
main room. She giggled the whole way. Chad reluctantly put her
down and took both her hands in his own.
"Raye I want you to understand that I don't want a two
month fling. I want something more, something special. I love
you so incredibly much and I couldn't stand to have you here
with me saying that you love me too, and then you dumping me for
a cuter guy. I couldn't take having all that snatched out from
under me. It's like a pauper living the life of a prince then
having to go back to life on the street. Do you understand?"
"Perfectly Chad. And I don't want to be hurt anymore than
you. So I guess the only solution to that is to stay together
for ever. Besides, there are no cuter guys."
"Ya know what, I like that solution. And you can just go
on thinking that there are no cuter guys than me for a long
time, my love." Suddenly there was a coughing sound from behind
them. They turned to see Grandpa standing in the corner trying
with all his might (yet failing) to put on a stern face.
"Grandpa I'm sorry, I know you said I can't date until I'm
sixteen, but I'm fifteen now, and and and well I LOVE CHAD."
Raye braced herself for an explosion. But instead she heard a
giggle. She looked up to see Grandpa with a huge grin on his
face.
"Oh.. well it's about time." With that he left the room.
Raye and Chad looked at each other in total shock. Then Chad
took the opportunity to spring a surprise attack. He leapt on
Raye and started tickling her. They laughed so hard that they
fell off the couch. Raye "accidentally" fell on Chad. When she
tried to get up he wrapped his arms around her and held her in
that position. She leaned down and kissed him.
'It's amazing what each day will bring. Yesterday I was
going out of my mind with loneliness, and today well here I am,
with the love of my life.'