Living in the Past
Chapter 3- A cavern of memories.
Hey guys. Thanks for the wait. I'm trying to balance out updating my other story and this one so I'll probably d 2 chapters of this and then go back to the other one. I have also set up a blog with reports on my fanfics and other interesting crap ^^ a link is available near the top of my profile. Anyway let's get on with chapter 3. Please review and enjoy.
Angela said her goodbyes to Luke and made her way back to her farm to get ready for her date. She sat down on the edge of her rather damp and dusty bed and flung open her suitcase with gusto.
She carefully selected a pale green cocktail dress with a deep pink trim and dug around for a pair of pink stilettos to match before flying into the bathroom to change.
Once she had titivated a satisfactory amount, she grabbed her purse and headed out. She paused in her doorway looking up at the sky, she had forgotten how beautiful the sunsets were on the island.
It was so hard to see the sun in the city as the skyscrapers and large apartments blocked it out.
She could remember the way to Chase's house quite clearly as she spent enough of her time there as a child. She giggled out her nervous laughter as the butterflies battered around in the pit of her stomach, it had been a while since she'd felt that.
She stopped again by Maple Lake, her eyes running over the glistening water where the ducks paddled around and the water-lillys floated. A large shadow hung over the lake from Ben's Tree which stood proudly on the other side beside Toby, the fisherman's house.
She sighed as she reminisced on the larks she and the other children had had there all those years ago.
Flashback~
'No…Luke stop!' Angela screamed as the young, blue-haired boy slung her over his shoulder and began to march towards the waters edge. 'Please, put me down!' She yelled, beginning to giggle.
'Nah ah! Ya don't steal a dude's bandana and get away with it missy!' He teased.
'Chase…Chase help me!' She squealed over to the amateur chef in training who sat beneath the tree concentrating hard on some text book.
He glanced up at them for several moments, a grin spreading across his lips but before he could do anything the young farm girl flew into the lake with a loud 'SPLASH!'
Both boys waited anxiously for the time she spent under the water both waiting for the right moment to dive in and save her, but eventually she appeared above the surface coughing and spluttering.
Chase exhaled and shook his head as he returned to his book.
'Luke I…hate you!' She screeched as she paddled her way to the bank and hauled herself out.
'Now we're even!' Luke said sitting down beside her and brushing the hair out of her eyes.
Angela looked over at him pathetically, pond water dripping off her chin and nose.
'I'm sorry.' Luke said smiling sheepishly, slightly scared of what Angela might do to him.
'We are soooo not even!' he said in a threatening yet playful tone as she raised her hand and pushed him hard causing him to fall off the edge of the bank into the water.
Chase's laughter bellowed from behind.
'You show him Angie!' He said falling over onto his side and continuing to laugh.
When Luke's head appeared he was laughing.
'Alright…now we're even!' He said.
End of Flashback~
'It's pretty beautiful huh?' A familiar voice said from beside her.
Angela nodded glancing to her left her eyes locking with Chase's.
'It brings back memories.' She said, a smile gracing her lips.
Chase sniggered.
'Yea…it sure does.'
The two were silent for a short while as they looked out over the water.
Flashback~
'Have you…ever been in love Angela?' The 14 year old Chase said lifting a lilly out of the water and beginning to pluck the petals from its head letting them flutter onto the moss which surrounded them.
Angela watched the petals and shook her head.
'No…I don't think so. Have you?' She said meekly stretching her legs out in front of her.
Chase sighed looking up into her deep amethyst eyes and smiling.
'Not before I met you.' He said a pink hue settling on his cheeks.
Angela frowned tilting her head slightly to one side.
'Ch-Chase what are you saying? Do you…love me?' She said quietly leaning in slightly and placing one hand on top of his.
The peach-haired boy took a deep breath and shrugged his shoulders.
'I-I'm not sure…I don't know how to tell.'
Angela giggled placing her other hand on his cheek.
'Don't you think we're a little young to consider our messing around together to be love?' She said.
Their eyes locked once again. Chase began to slowly lean in until their lips met. Angela's eyes widened, a thousand thoughts rushing through her head at once.
What seemed like hours but what was in fact seconds, passed quickly as Chase pulled away opening his eyes slowly.
'We're gonna get married when we're older okay?' Angela said smiling sweetly.
Chase nodded.
'Sure.'
End of Flashback~
'We're gonna get married when we're older okay?' They both said smiling at each other.
'I wasn't joking when I said that you know.' Angela said weaving her fingers through his.
Chase smirked.
'I know, maybe I should have let you propose though. That might have been less embarrassing seeing as I definitely wouldn't have rejected you.'
Angela took a deep breath, her expression becoming troubled.
'Chase about that, I know I said I didn't love you and that I never wanted to see you again, I was young, I was scared. I just needed a break, I wasn't ready for such an intense relationship.'
The waiter smiled a smile that made the city girl weak at the knees.
'Hey, don't worry about it. This time it'll be different.'
He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers for a few seconds.
'Now come on, let's go inside.' He said leading her towards his quaint little cottage nestled neatly in beside the lake.
'Wow, it seems like ages since I've been in here. It hasn't changed a bit!' Angela said as she stood in the doorway looking around her. Chase shut the door behind them and slid past her into the kitchen. The whole house was open plan, a small kitchen in one corner and across from it a table beautifully decorated with a crisp white table cloth and expensive looking cutlery. To the left were a couple of sofas with a coffee table in between and beside that a small arch which led into the bedroom.
'It has been ages.' Chase replied 'It seems weird for you to be here.' He wiped his hands on a dish cloth and leaned up against the kitchen counter gazing over at Angela who still stood awkwardly by the door.
'Would you like me to go?' She said meekly her voice quiet and weak.
Chase raised an eyebrow and shook his head.
'It's a good weird, not at all weird like when I'm happily eating dinner in the evening and Maya is standing at my window with a basket of poisonous muffins or some sort of explosive cake that she's made with the best will in the world.'
Angela sniggered.
'Come on Chase. She's always had a crush on you…give her a break.' She said walking over to the extravagantly decorated table and sitting down hanging her purse over the back of her chair.
Chase turned back to his cooking and continued to stir the delicious smelling food that simmered in a large pot.
'Yolanda and Colleen have been trying to get us together ever since you left but it just…wasn't working.' He said sounding vexed.
Angela cleared her throat and began to twiddle her thumbs uneasily.
After about 5 more minutes of idle chat Chase finally sat down placing a bowl of exquisite smelling soup at each place setting.
'Thanks.' She said pleasantly as he poured each of them a glass of wine.
'To the future.' He said holding up his glass. Angela did the same, smiling sweetly as she clinked her glass off his and took a sip. 'I can't believe you came back.'
'Well, here I am. I guess it must have been really hard for you when I left, but believe me it was hard for me too.'
Chase shook his head peering down into his bowl mixing the liquid around with his spoon.
'Angela you have got no idea what I went through.'
Angela bit her lip dreading what was coming.
'Yolanda was getting so worried about me. I stayed in my house for days barely eating or drinking. I didn't speak to anybody, I didn't look at anybody, I guess I was just…depressed.'
Angela dropped her spoon and let her head fall into her hands.
'Goddess Chase I'm so sorry. I had no idea it would have that sort of effect on you.'
'Angela…do you have any idea of the feelings I had for you? It wasn't just some school kid crush…it was love!'
Angela took a deep breath and looked up at him, her face plastered with an apologetic expression.
'But please…let's just forget about it okay? You're back now and that's all that matters.' He said.
Angela who was lost for words nodded and continued to drink her soup in silence.
After dinner Angela sat in the living room whilst Chase tidied up.
'So what was life like in the city? Didn't the noise bother you?' He said occasionally glancing over at Angela who was sprawled out over one of the sofas twirling a few strands of hair around her finger.
'It took me a while to get used to but after a while I settled and things got better. My mom helped me a lot though. Without her I don't know what I would've done.'
Chase took off his apron and walked over towards her sitting down on the floor in front of the couch.
Angela lifted her hand and began playing with his hair.
'I do love you Chase you know that.' She whispered in his ear.
He nodded closing his eyes and letting his head fall back.
'So if I asked you to marry me again…what would you say?' He said opening one eye, the corners of his mouth turning up.
Angela sighed.
'What is it with you and marriage?' She said running her finger across his forehead and down his cheek.
'I've never felt like this before…and, even after 7 years my feelings for you are still just as strong. I don't want to let this go, I want to spend the rest of my life with you!' He said seriously sitting up and turning around to face her.
Angela sat still staring at him, desperately thinking of something to say. She didn't want to say no and hurt his feelings as she knew how delicate he was like that but by the same token she wasn't sure if getting married was what was best for her.
'Ch-Chase I-'
He reached into his back pocket and swiftly produced the blue feather he had offered her when she was 18.
'I have to go.' Angela said jumping up off the sofa pulling down her dress and prancing across the room to the table. She grabbed her purse off the back of the chair and headed for the door.
'Aw Angela come on!' Chase called after her standing up.
Angela turned to him closing her eyes and throwing her arms in the air.
'Please Chase. I just arrived today and I'm still trying to come to terms with being away from my family. My farm is a mess, I have barely any money…just let me settle in first okay? Then maybe…after a few months, we can have this conversation.' She turned away opening the door and heading out in the night leaving the chef standing speechless in his living room.
As Angela began to walk home she could feel her eyes filling with tears. She didn't want to be in that situation again after everything she'd been through.
She broke into a run tears rolling down her cheeks. She ran the whole way back to her house and flung open the door storming in and chucking her bag at the wall.
'Argh! I knew coming here was a bad idea!' She screamed falling onto her bed and kicking off her shoes.
…
She awoke the next morning, her eyes red and swollen after crying herself to sleep the night before.
She got out of bed quickly digging around in her bag for some oldish clothes she could wear. As she hunted she came across the small wooden box containing the necklace.
She took a deep breath as she opened the lid and peered in at the beautiful pink stone, her eyes full of sorrow. She lifted the delicate necklace out of the box and laid it across her palm. She then pulled a pair of shorts out of her bag and shoved the piece of jewellery into the pocket before pulling them on along with a green dress which sat out neatly over her hips.
There was only one person that could make her feel better in a situation like the one she was in and that was Luke. He had a way of cheering people up even in the worst of times.
She grabbed her bag and flew out the door making her way swiftly towards the carpenters.
Without any hesitations she pushed open the heavy door and went in. As she entered she was greeted by the warm, friendly smiles of Bo and Dale who stood by the counter clearly discussing business which Bo looked completely uninterested in.
'Angela!' The blond teen said with glee jumping up off his stool and catching her in a tight embrace. 'Luke said you were back but ever since you left he'd been having weird hallucinations so we didn't get our hopes up. It's so good to see you!'
Weird hallucinations huh? She thought as she wrapped her arms around the slender boy I guess Chase wasn't the only one who was pretty cut up.
At that moment Luke appeared in the kitchen doorway, his signature goofy grin plastered over his face.
'Mornin' Ange!' He said joyfully boy had I missed his happy-go-luckyness 'Yo boy, lay off my girl!' He snapped playfully marching towards us and swatting him away like a fly.
'Hi Luke.' Angela said leaning in and giving him a quick peck on the cheek.
'Woah woah woah!' Luke said holding up his hands and turning a deep crimson. 'You've got Chase for that.'
Angela could feel her own cheeks beginning to burn as embarrassment surged through her body.
Cringe…what was that for Angela? Are you purposely trying to make things awkward?
'Come on I want to show you something!' He continued almost as if he'd completely forgotten what had just happened. That's what she loved most about Luke, his ability to let things go almost as quickly as they happen, not a grudge holder at all.
Angela smiled.
''Kay.' She said timidly. He grabbed her hand and the two simultaneously headed back outside.
They began to walk in the Soufflé Farm direction the smell hitting them before it was even in sight.
'Where are we going?' She asked glancing around at her surroundings looking for something that had changed over the 7 years of her absence…but nothing had, not even a little.
'You'll see.' He simply said walking a little faster.
They wound round the narrow, paved path which led through the flower fields all the way through to Brownie Ranch.
On their way they came across Renee who was coming down the hill from the animal barns carrying a large basket of eggs. When she saw us she stopped hesitating before she spoke staring at Angela, practically rubbing her eyes in disbelief.
'A-Angie?' She said quietly. Angela nodded a smile creeping across her face. 'ANGIE!' Renee squealed dropping her basket and throwing herself at one of her childhood girlfriends. 'Oh I missed you so much!' She said pulling Angela in closer to her. Luke stood awkwardly to the side, nibbling on his lip and tapping his foot wondering how long it would be before he could have his Angela back to himself again.
'Oh I missed you too Ren, how are you?'
Renee took a step back her face beaming. She held up her left hand proudly showing of the glittering diamond ring which sat on her 4th finger accompanied by another small gold band.
Angela's jaw dropped open, her eyes almost filling with tears.
'I…I missed your wedding?' She sniffed grabbing Renee's hand and inspecting the rings carefully.
Renee nodded.
'It was horrible having to stand in that church without you honey, it almost gave me cold feet! Oh that's another thing.' She said moving Angela's hand down to her lower stomach and letting her feel the small bump which had formed.
Angela's eyes widened.
'You're pregnant too? Thank goddess I didn't miss that!' She said 'Oh Renee I'm so happy for you, your life is so perfect!'
Luke cleared his throat catching both the girls' attention.
Angela rolled her eyes.
'I gotta go. I'll see you later 'kay?'
Renee nodded.
'It's great to see you again sweetie.' Renee said picking up her basket and continuing on her way.
Luke took her hand once again and they carried on up the hill towards Alan's Tree.
'So how long ago did Renee and Toby get hitched?' Angela asked.
Luke shut one eye trying hard to remember.
'Hmm 'bout….2 years ago, I think. Calvin and Phoebe are married too and they have a kid called Heath.'
Angela shook her head.
'I've missed so much. Leaving here was a big mistake.'
Luke chuckled.
'And without even saying goodbye.' Luke said squeezing her hand slightly and catching her gaze as they strolled along.
Angela's expression froze.
'Oh Luke I'm sorry!' She said sounding rather frantic. 'I was in such a state, I wasn't speaking to anyone.'
Luke shook his head and smirked.
'Hey…don't worry about it, you know I'm not one to hold a grudge. Yea it was hard to hear that you'd gone but I figured you'd come back one day, and here you are.'
Angela smiled at him remembering why he was her bestest friend ever.
The pair stopped in front of Alan's Tree. Luke let go of Angela's hand and got down on his knees feeling around for something. It took Angela a minute but she quickly figured out what he was doing and grinned.
'Aha!' He said sitting up slightly with one end of a short piece of rope in his grasp. He stood up hauling open a small trap door and letting it fall back on itself. 'Remember this?' He said peering into the hole.
'How could I forget?' Angela said taking Luke's hand and jumping down into the darkness. Luke soon followed taking a lighter out of his back pocket and flicking it open lighting a small candle which sat on a table in the corner of the hideout.
The walls were covered with many photographs roughly pinned on here an there. Angela stared at them intently running her fingers over some.
'So many memories.' She whispered. Luke walked over and stood beside her studying the pictures just like she was doing.
'Hey remember this one?' He said pointing to a picture of both of them sitting in a tree when they were no more than 6 years of age. Angela's hair was down to her shoulders tied into two crooked pigtails and her grin was missing a few teeth. Luke had his arm around her grinning just as much, his two front teeth missing.
Angela giggled.
'Yea, and this one.' She said pointing to a different picture. It was of her, Luke and Chase when they were all 15. Angela was on Luke's shoulders, her fingers sporting the peace sign. Chase was lying on the ground in front of them, his head propped up on his hand.
Luke chuckled.
'So how was dinner last night?' He asked continuing to look at the pictures although not half as in depth as before.
Angela swallowed.
'It was…fine, I guess.'
Luke glanced round at her.
'Just fine? I thought your first date after 7 years with the love of your life would have been…riveting, and you know what I mean by that.' He said a smirk appearing on is face.
Angela wrinkled her nose and smacked Luke on the arm.
'No. It was very…civilised, none of that sort of stuff at all!' She emphasised.
Luke shook his head.
'Typical Chase. Well what the hell did you do then?'
Angela took a deep breath.
'He um…asked me to marry him…again.' She said nervously glancing over at Luke who had frozen, his brow furrowing.
He swallowed hard and caught her stare with his smouldering golden eyes full of disappointment.
After a long pause he forced a smile on his face.
'C-congratulations Mrs Chase. When's the ceremony? That lucky son of a bitch better make me his best man.'
Angela closed her eyes and shook her head.
'I said no Luke.' She said quietly taking a deep breath.
Luke paused again about ready to burst with happiness and relief.
'O-Oh.' He said trying his best to hold back a grin.
Angela nodded and walked over to the other side of the cavern placing her hand over another picture of her and Chase at prom.
Luke came up behind her putting his arm around her shoulder.
'You…really love him, don't you?' Luke said trying to understand what she was feeling inside.
A tear had somehow escaped Angela and rolled down her cheek. She quickly caught it with her finger and wiped it away.
'Hey hey hey, don't cry.' Luke said wrapping his arms around her from behind and pulling her tightly into his chest.
'I don't know what to do Luke.' She sobbed turning around in his arms and resting her head on his chest. 'Maybe I should just marry him, put him out of his misery.'
Luke looked up at the muddy roof of the hideout and bit his lip.
'What makes you happy dudette?' He said swaying back and forth slightly. Angela couldn't help but smile slightly, remembering back to their younger days when Luke permanently called her dudette.
'I kinda want to marry him.' She sniffed. That was not the answer Luke was hoping for at all. The carpenter sighed looking down at her and keeping her close wondering if it was going to be the last time he would ever get to hold her like that.
And that wraps up chapter 3. That was actually really hard to write because I prefer writing in 1st person. Anyway please review and I'll write more soon. Thanks.