AN: Sorry for such the long delay between updates. Class and work is really keeping me super busy. Thank you Wolfihood, Grace, Fett012000, 26RH, countrystrong '89, IHeartJensen, JohnnyStormsGirl, Kat229 and LilliAnn Jackson for your lovely reviews. Your feedback and advice truly makes me elated and helps improve my writing.
It was two days after Elena's welcome back dinner and she was tightening up the kitchen when she saw the big bottle of liquor on the table.
"Is this from the Bondurant's?" Elena asked her mother who was preparing lunch for the family.
Her mom, Susannah, nodded. "It is. Your papa enjoys the moonshine that the boys sell. I don't understand how he can stomach it. It's quite awful but I guess it's more of an acquired taste," she said, her warm brown eyes crinkling.
Elena nodded. Lorraine had filled her in about the bootlegging business that the Bondurant's ran. Apparently, they had just started it a year ago. Elena was not entirely shocked by this because the Bondurant brothers had never followed many rules. They made their own. However, she knew the bootlegging business was ruthless and she was a bit worried for them and their safety.
Lorraine had told her that their parents didn't seem to mind that the boys ran a dangerous business. Her parents had never the type to judge. They were kind, hard-working and tough folks. They avoided looking down upon or discriminating against anyone. Both of her parent's families had worked hard to achieve their success. Her father was a devout believer in hard work and he valued the ambition that the Bondurant's possessed.
Her father was a serious, quiet and hardy man. He had met and pursued her mother when he was twenty-one and she was eighteen. They had married shortly after that.
At first, many people had looked down at her father for marrying a woman who was half Native-American; including her father's parents. However, he had always stuck to his guns. He was in love with her mother and he was a man of integrity. Elena always respected and admired her father for his determination and perseverance. He would protect and honor his family with every breath in his body. Her parents had been married for 24 years now.
Elena opened the bottle and smelt the potent liquor. The fumes were harsh and stung her nose.
"It does smell awful but it was nice of them to bring it by."
Susannah nodded, cutting up an onion for the cooking.
"It was definitely nice to see them. They are good boys, men actually. They always have been. Forrest and Jack always look out for Charlie. Their parents we're wonderful as well, so I'm not surprised." Susannah said.
The Bondurant's parents had passed away from a flu epidemic ten years prior so the boys had to raise themselves from an early age. Howard was the sole provider of the family at age 16, left to raise his 12 and 8-year-old brother. Due to this, Forrest had always been like a little man. He was responsible, strong and calm. He had always been the calming influence on his brothers.
Elena nodded, spacing out. "They are good boys. I missed them when I was away."
Susannah nodded, "They missed you as well. You all were so close, especially with Forest. The first few years that boy was always itching to hear any scrap of news of you."
Elena stopped sweeping the floor to look up at her mom.
"I missed him too, ma. He was my best friend." She said as she continued sweeping.
Susannah looked up at her. "I know you both have grown and changed but there's never any harm in regaining that friendship. I was happy to see both of you together the other night. I swear that boy was drinking you in the whole night," she said chuckling.
This was news to Elena. She was usually pretty perceptive but she had not noticed this.
"He hardly came near me that night. He was always talking to someone else," she said, sounding to herself like a petulant child.
"His eyes said otherwise, my dear. He's never struck me as the type of man who likes to talk about his feelings but he definitely was aware of you the whole night. How could he not?" She smiled at her daughter. "Both of my daughters are so intelligent, spicy compassionate and beautiful. I'm so proud of you."
Elena returned her mother's smile. It was so nice to hear that.
"I love you mama." She said, embracing her and appreciating the advice. She hadn't realized how much she missed and adored her mother and family until she arrived home. They were so supportive and caring.
She had wanted to ask so many questions when she saw him two nights ago. They had eaten for most of the evening and the rest of the time she had spent talking to guests.
She had spoken to Jack the longest. She was happy to see that he was still his cheerful and optimistic self. He still liked to joke and his naïveté was refreshing. She had talked to Howard a little bit as well but he talked to Lorraine for most of the night. She always thought that Howard had a soft spot for Lorraine. He always enjoyed teasing her and getting under her skin.
Forrest spent most of the night chatting with her father and spending time with her little brother. Charlie followed him around everywhere and had been talking about the Bondurant boys nonstop. Apparently, they had taught him how to fish and to shoot tin cans. Elena was both
extremely elated and a little somber about their interactions. She was glad that they were so caring and sweet to her brother. Another part of her was saddened and a bit envious that they had spent more time with her brother than she had. She had missed such a large chunk of his childhood.
When Forrest wasn't speaking to her brother he was talking to her father. After dinner, they smoked cigars and sat on the porch. They had always gotten along well most likely due to their similarities. They were extremely faithful, calm and tough as nails. Elena was amused that half the time they were together they didn't talk. They just sat next to each other. A part of Elena's heart was warmed to see them still like this.
Elena wanted to catch up with Forrest but she knew this was neither the time nor the place. She had so many questions for him but she knew that Forrest only ever opened up if they talked one on one.
Elena remembered the last time she saw Forrest before she was about to leave. It was in the late afternoon, almost around twilight. It was the day before she was to board the train that would take her to New York. She was sitting cross legged, with her shoes kicked off. Elena knew that sitting like that was unladylike, especially for a girl of 14 but she didn't care. Forrest never judged or belittled her and she always felt free and herself around him.
He sat next to her, still as a leaf as he watched the sun set. His face looked relaxed but Elena could tell he was anything but. His back was rigid and his eyes were thoughtful and pained.
Elena remembered how handsome he looked that afternoon. She and Forrest had always been close but for the past six months or so she found herself being attracted to almost every aspect of him, it was an odd, unfamiliar feeling that she was embarrassed by and couldn't contain. She didn't understand it and she was worried that he didn't feel the same about her. However, she did often notice his lingering gaze on her when he thought she wasn't looking. His soft looks at her made her insides feel warm and wonderful.
"I'll write as much as I can." She finally said softly breaking the silence.
He just nodded without looking at her, his eyes straight ahead.
"I'm going to really miss all of you." Elena tried again and he still didn't turn to her or acknowledge that she had spoken.
Elena felt herself growing angry at his disinterest and coldness to her.
"Is this how we're going to spend our last afternoon? Pouting and not acknowledging that I'm not talking to you? Do you honestly think I want to leave Forrest? Do you want me to leave?" She barked at him angrily.
He finally turned to her and frowned deeply. "O' course I don't."
Elena looked upon him, angrily. "Well, you sure act like you do. Sometimes, you're so infuriating. I'm trying to tell you that I'm going to miss all of you." She said fervently, her expression wild. Elena's foot began to bob nervously as she was about to make her confession.
She lowered her voice. "I want to spend time with you on my last day. I'm going to miss you, Forrest. More than anyone else in the world." She said, noticing his gaze softened.
"You can't even say it back. Do you even care?" She asked quietly, doubting herself. She thought that Forrest cared for her but he seldom ever expressed himself.
He looked taken aback and upset by her questions.
"You know I care, Elena. I always have and will." he cleared his throat before turning back to her.
"I'll miss you more than ya ever know." Forrest said and he looked at her with such conviction that her heart restricted inner chest.
Elena's eyes watered up. She didn't want him to see her cry but she was so emotional about all of the changes that were happening to her.
She wrapped her arms around him, and she felt him tense up in surprise. They had hugged before but she had never clung to him like this. She could practically feel the desperation rolling off of her but she didn't care. She felt Forrest slowly start to pat her back soothingly as her salty tears spilled onto his shoulder and chest.
They sat like that for a while until Elena pulled away, slightly bashful as she wiped her eyes hastily.
Forrest tilted her head up and wiped away the remaining wetness from underneath her eyes. She shivered at the intimacy of his actions.
"Do you think you'll come back?" He asked tentatively, his eyes wide as he stared into her eyes. She hadn't seen him look soup sure and fragile since his parents had died.
Elena nodded, her big, brown eyes locked at his. "I will come back." She sniffed, "I promise," she said her voice cracking.
Forrest just nodded and Elena's heart started to pound loudly at how close his face was to hers. He still had her face cradled into his palms and his expression was hard to read. She had envisioned kissing Forrest a few times during the past. She was anxious to see what he would do.
Forrest simply tucked a strand of hair behind her ears and pulled away from her as if he was uncertain about their close proximity. Elena looked down, feeling foolish about her silly desire for him to kiss her. Forrest muttered something under his breath, looking frustrated. He had been quiet and tense almost the whole day. Forrest was not one to express his emotions and he was usually always composed and in control. However, when the cool collectedness sloped from his grasp he became tense and closed off.
He closed his tired eyes for a few seconds, running a hand over his smooth face. Elena felt bad for her friend. She had been selfish to think that she was the only one agitated about her leaving. She tentatively stretched out her hand and put it over his hand. Slowly, she felt his fingers squeeze and clasp her own. She was pleasantly surprised at how warm and strong her hand felt in his.
He brought his hand up to his lips and he kissed her palm. Elena let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding in and she saw that his face had relaxed, his eyes twinkling a bit.
"Best be getting you home so your parents aren't worried." He said as he gently helped her up. Elena nodded, knowing that they would not want her to be out late the evening before she left.
They walked the few minutes in silence, both of their minds preoccupied. Elena didn't even notice when they stopped next to the old, large tree that faced the side of her house.
She sighed deeply, hating good-byes. She didn't know what to say and she rocked back on her heels, nervously.
"Forrest, I..." she said but before she could finish she felt his full lips on hers. She jerked, startled but she soon marveled at how soft and cool his lips were as they pressed against hers. The kiss was chaste but sweet and he pulled away looking at her, the tips of his ears pink.
Elena's hands we're shaking as she looked up at him from underneath her lashes, shyly. Forrest slowly reached out to her and clasped her trembling, small hands to his chest, she could feel his heartbeat. It was as quick and erratic as hers at the moment.
"Don't forget me." he said, his eyes almost pleading and she shook her head no, wondering why he would ever think that.
"Never." She said clearly as she looked into his eyes with fierce determination.
And she never did. She thought about him all that night and on the way up to New York. Forrest was stubborn, grumpy, serious and tough. Yet, he was also loyal, kind, generous and compassionate. Even now, six years later it was difficult for her to focus without thinking of him. Forrest Bondurant was not a man that one could simply forget.
You will see more of Forrest in the next chapter when they meet up again. This story will resemble both the film and the novel. However, it will relate more closely to the film. Please review and I will try to update in a more timely fashion.
Until then,
-Almond