Sorry I missed yesterday, I was sick. This chapters set when Jesse's 19 and Rachel's 17. R&R please!
Rachel stood by the doorway, watching Jesse with sad eyes. Jesse picked up his rucksack, checking the zip before finally turning to Rachel. He looked at her for a minute, longing to take her in his arms, but he didn't know if this would make her feel better or worse.
"Christmas in England." Rachel eventually broke the silence. "Sounds like something out of a fairy tale." Jesse sighed.
"Our anniversary is Christmas day Jesse." Rachel told him. "And we've only had a week together, we barely had time to celebrate my birthday and you're already off, and I won't see you again until Spring Break in March."
"That's less than four months away." Jesse replied, checking his watch. "We should go. I'll miss my flight…"
Rachel pushed herself off the wall and silently led the way downstairs. They were at Jesse's uncles, him having gone for a flying visit before going to England for Christmas with his parents.
Jesse's uncle was driving him and Rachel to the airport, but he would sit in the car until Rachel returned, then drive her home. Jesse's case was already in the car; all that was left was for Jesse himself to get in.
"Rachel." Jesse couldn't take it anymore. He extended his arms and she fell into them, and he held her close to his chest.
"It's over three months Jesse." Rachel mumbled, shutting her eyes.
"I know." Jesse said, pressing his lips to her hair. "But we'll be together the whole of Spring Break. And we can keep together by calling, texting, emailing. It's not like we'll completely lose contact."
Rachel nodded, stepping backwards but taking his hand. She knew she had to try and remain strong, although every time he left just hurt her that little bit more, especially as they were going to be apart for their first anniversary.
They went to the car, getting in the back seat together, and Jesse slid an arm around Rachel.
"That everything?" Jesse's uncle asked, knowing his nephew was reluctant not only to leave his girlfriend but to do anything that involved his parents.
"Yep, this is the last bag." Jesse replied, holding up his rucksack.
Jesse's uncle nodded and reversed the car out the drive. Rachel and Jesse sat in silence for the whole journey, playing with each other's hands or just gently pressing kisses to the other. Their relationship was usually heated, but the journey to the airport showed the deeper connection between the pair, the more intimate side.
They arrived at the airport, and Jesse's uncle helped get his bags out of the car. Once they were loaded onto a trolley, he offered his nephew his hand.
"Until next time you get fed up of your parents." He said, shaking Jesse's hand. Jesse smiled.
"Until next time." He replied. His uncle patted his shoulder.
Jesse nodded at his uncle once more before turning to Rachel and offering her his hand. She took it with a small smile, and Jesse put a hand onto the luggage trolley, guiding it in front of them.
They went to check in, before going to grab a cup of coffee. They drunk their drinks in near silence, both just staring at each other, wanting to remember each others face's in their final minutes together for months. Eventually Jesse's flight is called to go through security and they stand up, clinging to each other.
When they near the gate, Jesse turns to face Rachel.
"I don't want any tears Rach." He murmurs. "Don't make this harder." He begged.
Rachel took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. Her eyes were brimming with tears and it took all the acting skills she had to hold them in.
"Okay Jess." She said quietly. "I'll try." She gave him a weak smile.
Jesse smiled and softly pressed a kiss to her lips, and she returned the kiss. He pulled away when he felt her tears, smiling slightly.
"I thought you said you weren't going to cry?" He said, reaching down to wipe the tears off her face.
"I'm sorry." She whispered, and he bent down for another salty kiss.
They pulled away, shuffling along in the line. Jesse pulled Rachel into a hug, whispering into her ear. She sobbed quietly, trying to stop but she kept thinking about the next four months without him, and what precious little time they'd had together.
Jesse got to second in the queue. He extracted Rachel from his arms, and looked into her teary eyes.
"I guess this is goodbye." He muttered quietly.
"I guess so." Rachel said, staring up at him.
"I love you Rachel." Jesse told her, gently stroking her cheek. "I'll call you every day, and I know there won't be a minute that will go by where I wont think about you. That's what's been happening the past year…"
"Every time it gets harder." Rachel whispered, her eyes pained.
"I know." Jesse said, staring back at her.
"I love you Jesse." She threw her arms around him.
Jesse hugged her close for a moment, closing his eyes and wishing it could last forever. The man in front of them moved on, and Jesse moved forward to the front of the queue. He released Rachel, maintaining a loose grip on her hand. He handed over his paperwork, staring at Rachel whilst the woman checked it. Jesse pulled her in for one last hug as the woman handed back his documents.
"I love you." He whispered in her ear, squeezing her tightly.
"I love you too." Rachel replied as he pulled back, and he began to walk through, dropping their hands as he did so. Jesse raised a hand, waving to Rachel, and she managed to give him a watery smile in return as she waved back. Then Jesse turned and was lost in the crowd, and Rachel stood for a moment before turning and walking away, trying to blink the tears out of her eyes.
Jesse awoke in his bedroom in his parent's country estate on Christmas day and just lay there for a bit. He couldn't be excited- he knew he'd hate all his presents and that the day would be as boring as any other. He checked the time. 10am. It would only be 5am in Ohio… Jesse groaned and closed his eyes again. He'd wait until Rachel contacted him before doing anything.
At half past, after half an hour of Jesse staring at his phone and willing it to ring, Jesse's father knocked on his door.
"Up you get son." He said, entering his son's bedroom. "It's Christmas day; it's a time for family."
Jesse glanced up at his father. Although his words seemed innocent enough, he could tell from the look in his eyes that his father was trying to control him. He saw the challenge in the eyes so similar to his; so curious to see if the boy was willing to be punished for defying him like he had longed to for so long.
The two people, so similar in looks, and even in personality, stared at each other for a moment before Jesse bowed his head.
"I'll be right down." He told his father, who gave him a malicious smile.
"Good. And Merry Christmas son." Jesse's father said with a smirk, before sweeping out of the room.
Jesse groaned and grabbed his phone again. He dialled Rachel's number, hoping her phone was off so it wouldn't wake her. He smiled when it went through to voicemail. He began to sing.
Try to imagine
A house that's not a home
Try to imagine
A Christmas all alone
That's where I'll be
Since you left me
My tears could melt the snow
What can I do without you?
I got no place, no place to go
Without you to hold
This Christmas
It'll be lonely this Christmas
Without you to hold
It'll be lonely this Christmas
Lonely and cold
It'll be cold, so cold
Without you to hold
This Christmas
Each time I remember
The day you went away
and how I would listen
to the things you had to say
I just break down
as I look around
and the only things I see
are loneliness and emptiness
and an unlit Christmas tree
It'll be lonely this Christmas
Without you to hold
It'll be lonely this Christmas
Lonely and cold
It'll be cold, so cold
Without you to hold
This Christmas
So it'll be so lonely this Christmas
Without you to hold
It'll be so very lonely
Lonely and cold
It'll be lonely this Christmas
Without you to hold
It'll be lonely this Christmas
Lonely and cold
It'll be cold, so cold
It'll be cold, so cold
Without you to hold
This Christmas
Merry Christmas, Darling
Wherever you are
"Merry Christmas Rachel, and happy anniversary to you. I love you."
Rachel awoke at 7:30am, and immediately checked her phone. She sat on her bed, crying, listening to the message. She mouthed the lyrics along, marvelling at his voice. When it finished, she listened to it again.
"I love you too Jesse." She whispered to herself, a huge smile on her face. She then played the message again. And again.
I hope you enjoyed that! It was a little sad, but I'm sure there's enough fluff in this to keep you all cheerful. :3 Reviews and prompts please!
