Here's another update!
Random fact of the day: Every chapter title is actually a song title. In a way, each song is kind of the theme of the chapter. If you ever want to know the artists, just let me know!
Thank you to everyone who read the story. I appreciate you all:)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Chapter 2 - This Is Home
It still seemed like a dream, the fact that he was here with her. After all their whirlwind summer romance, they would finally be together. Ronnie couldn't keep herself from smiling. That seemed to be her permanent expression since he had shown up while she was practicing earlier that day. The feeling of butterflies in her stomach literally made her lose her appetite, but it didn't seem to be of much importance. What mattered was that he was there, in living, breathing existence.
He had allowed her to finish practicing, sitting in the front row, his eyes closed and absorbing the notes that flowed around him. Her nerves caught up with her, and she made uncharacteristic mistakes on a piece that had come so easily to her. When her two hours were up, she packed the sheet music back into her bag. Hand in hand, they strode out of the building and onto the busy sidewalk, teeming with New Yorkers. Will was taken aback at the numbers of people walking along the streets; the noise of the city was absolutely deafening to him. Instinctively, he drew Ronnie closer to him, as if to protect her from the crushing swarms of pedestrians. "Where do you want to go?" she asked, her face glowing.
"Doesn't matter. I have no other plans for the day, so wherever you would like," he told her, watching her expression brighten even more. She looked even lovelier than he had ever seen her.
"Really? You did that?"
"Yeah, I want to spend time with you, Ronnie. I want to hear how your life is going, if Jonah is doing okay, how you are getting along with your mom."
"That's going to take awhile," she told him. He stopped her right in the middle of the crowd.
"I've got all the time in the world for you." Her eyes met his, and he could see the depth of sadness that clouded them.
"You won't leave?" she posed the question to him, as if daring him to say yes.
"Nope. You're stuck with me. I know how much that's going to cramp your style, but you'll learn how to deal." His teasing lightened the suddenly somber mood, and that exhilarated look graced her face again. They continued to wander the streets.
"Are you hungry?" she asked. "We could go eat or something."
"Sure," he agreed. "Just as long as it's not seafood. I've had about all I can handle of marine life for today."
"Oh man, I didn't even think about it! What's your program all about?"
"Well, I'm going for an environmental science major, but Columbia has a master's program in marine biology. That's my goal."
"I know you'll do great," she declared.
"What about you? You're in Julliard!"
"Not yet," she corrected him. "I have my audition soon. The director said I have a good chance of getting in."
"That's great, Ronnie! I'm happy for you," he said, giving her hand a squeeze. "I know you'll make it." She led him into a small café that was only five blocks away from Julliard.
"This is one of my favorite places. They have a great veggie wrap."
"Do they serve meat too?" he asked, dubiously eyeing the menu.
"You and your carnivorous ways. Yeah, I think so. Look on the next page." He sighed with exaggerated relief when he found some meat dishes.
"At last. Real food." She rolled her eyes at him.
"You're so full of it!" Ronnie laughed. He flicked some of the water from his glass into her face. She gasped in shock and was about to retaliate when the waitress came and interrupted their banter. After she left, Will turned to Ronnie with a serious expression.
"How are things really going, Ronnie?" His question was like the breaking of the dam.
"It's hard. Really hard. Sometimes, I want to turn back time and go back to the ocean. I wish I could go back to when my parents were together. So my dad and I could have had more time together before….Anyways, I have good days and bad ones. Jonah is having a hard time. I try to be there for him, but he's so young; it's hard for him to express how he feels. I've taken him out to the park, to the harbor, over half of New York, but every day, he seems to withdraw even more."
"And talking to him doesn't help at all?"
"Not really. I don't know what to do with him. He's hurting so bad, Will. It hurts to see him. His grades have slipped and he's been more aggressive towards other kids at school. It's not like him at all."
"What about your mom? Has she been able to talk to him?"
"No, not really. She's been super busy with her job. I'm not around nearly as much as I used to be because of my practicing. Maybe if I were, then he would talk to me." She looked guilty about the fact.
"You can't blame yourself for everything," he told her gently, yet firmly. "Do you think it's your fault that Jonah's having trouble? Don't put that pressure on yourself. There's only so much you can do."
"I know," she said quietly. "It doesn't make it any better."
"When Mikey died, I was so angry because I blamed myself. It took time, a lot of time before I could come to terms with the fact that I couldn't have changed anything." Will's brow creased at the memory. "I don't want that for you, Ronnie." The food arrived, but the couple barely noticed.
"I need time," she said, playing with her napkin. She turned towards the window, absently watching the people walk by. Will grasped her hand.
"If you need to me to leave, I can do that. I can leave right now if you need me to."
"No," she was mortified. "I don't want you to go. I didn't mean it like that. You've been my rock through all of this. I need you."
"I haven't always been around for you." Regret colored his face. "I'm sorry you had to go through this all alone."
"Will, you did what you thought was right. I'll admit that at first I was hurt, but it was what I needed, even though I didn't know it at the time. Those last few weeks with Dad. There are no words I could use to express all the feelings that I experienced. Those are the moments I'm going to treasure forever." Ronnie was almost crying by this point, and she sniffled loudly. Will offered her his napkin, which she took with a loud hiccup. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "I seem to do this a lot lately."
"Don't apologize. There's nothing to be sorry for."
"You move all the way to New York City to be with a girl whom you had a summer fling with. Said girl is a complete wreck, and yet you still put up with her. What kind of a guy are you?"
"A guy who fell in love with a mysterious girl with a purple streak in her hair. She's completely different than any girl he ever knew, independent, vivacious, and stubborn as a mule. And, she can handle a flaky boy who's still trying to figure out life."
"Whatever. You're the good one. I'm the screwup."
"I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. You're not a screwup. Don't think of yourself like that. You're the girl who I want to be with."
"How do you know we're going to make it?" The dreaded question was out.
"I don't know what the future's going to bring, but if you're willing, I want to find out. With you." He sounded so earnest and sincere that Ronnie felt bad for questioning his motives.
"I just can't believe you're here. I am so glad that you came."
"So am I."
"I'm sorry for doubting you."
"Don't apologize, Ronnie. I know it's been really hard for you."
"Some days are so bad I just want to lie in bed and sleep the whole day. There's no motivation to get up. It's like I'm at sea with no direction."
"Let me help you," his plea was soft, gentle.
"I don't know how."
"We'll figure it out together," he pressed her.
"Okay," she agreed, sniffing again. The attention of the other customers caused her to blush. "Can we leave?"
"Sure," he said. "You can come see my amazingly expensive apartment that's the size of a truck stop bathroom." His comment made her burst into laughter.
"Let's go." They paid and left the restaurant. Will halfheartedly tried to hail a cab and watched as several dove right past him. "You have to be a little more assertive," Ronnie smiled again. She stepped out, almost into the street and threw up her arm. A cab skidded to a halt in front of her. Will felt slightly out of his element. What was he getting himself into, coming from his small island community to this city teeming with so many people? He gave the taxi driver directions to his apartment and leaned back onto the seat.
"This is going to take some getting used to," he admitted. "I don't know if the city life is for me."
"You just need a little practice," she said encouragingly.
"It's so different from what I'm used to."
"This is what I grew up with. I would fall asleep at night to the sounds of cars driving past."
"And when I was young, I spent all my summers sleeping out under the stars on the beach listening to the sound of the waves," he reminisced. "Now, I wear earplugs because I get to sleep to the sounds of horns honking and people shouting all hours." After paying the driver what seemed to be the proverbial arm and a leg, Will helped Ronnie get out of the car at his apartment building. "Well, this is it," he said, sweeping his arm broadly towards the brick building.
"It's better than many of the apartments I've seen."
"Yeah, it's not that bad. My parents wanted to make sure I was in an area away from all the muggers and creeps that they hear about on TV. To them, New York is the pinnacle of violence."
"Depends on where you go," Ronnie laughed as she followed him up the stairs. "If they come to visit, just take them to the nice parts of town."
"Here it is," he unlocked the door and let her inside. The apartment was small, not as small as she had thought, but it was definitely cozy. In fact, the living room was the same space as the dining area, with a small kitchen squished into the corner. Will's bedroom barely fit a twin-sized bed. It was a far cry from the much roomier home he had moved from.
"Well, it's snug. And your heating bill won't be too high," she pointed out.
"You don't have to be all polite. I know it's tiny." He wasn't exactly a giant, but his head was brushing the light fixture that hung in the dining area.
"It's nice, really."
"I might get a roommate later on," he said. "It costs a little more to live than at Vanderbilt." Ronnie peered around the small apartment.
"Uh, where exactly would he sleep?" Her question prompted him to burst out laughing.
"Not here, that's for sure. We'd probably get a new place."
"Oh, okay," she laughed, realizing her mistake. She sat on the tiny couch. "I still can't believe it. You came." He sat down next to her.
"How could I not? You're amazing, Ronnie. I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Why not Vanderbilt?"
"It's a great school, but my dream is and has always been Columbia. The program wasn't bad, but my heart really wasn't into it. It was as if I was trying to force myself to like the school. I talked it over with my parents, and they said that I should study something I enjoy, not be at a school just because I feel obligated."
"You never liked big cities."
"I know, but it just feels right. Being here. Being with you." He leaned closer. "All the pieces fell into place."
"And you're here. Just like that."
"This time I followed my heart, not my head. And that led me here." His voice, low and soft, gave her chills. He reached over and brushed the bracelet securely fastened around her wrist. "You're still wearing it."
"And it's going to stay that way." She paused and studied his face. "I still can't believe you're here, so far away from your home and everything familiar."
"You know that saying, 'Home is where the heart is?'" he asked. She nodded, waiting for him to continue. "Well, my heart's with you. Coming to New York wasn't a mistake. You're here, so this is my home." Ronnie felt like she could burst with the joy that coursed through her at his words. As he leaned over to kiss her, she found herself inwardly agreeing. You're right, Will. You are my home.
Well, that's all for now. Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think.