Hello dears!
Sorry for don't having updated last week. I was writing another fic (that will soon be on this site), and I needed to write all at once to don't lose the inspiration. Now, I've finished it, and I can continue this story.
This chapter was written by me with an idea given by Speisla. So, all credits go for both :D
We hope you like it!
…
- Where on this earth did you find it?
Jeanine sits on the bed beside Andrew. He has an object in his hands.
The object has the appearance of a book, but when Andrew called her saying he needed show her one thing, she knew it was something beyond that. Books were common things in their routines. He wouldn't talk about a book with so much enthusiasm. Jeanine soon realizes that the object is a photo album. An old photo album.
It is timeworn. The red cover is faded, and from the lateral, is possible to perceive that the pages are yellowed. But it is whole. Whole and full of memories.
- It was at the bottom of our wardrobe. - Andrew responds - It's one of the things that my parents left me when they died. In fact, I didn't remember that we had this, but I was happy when I found it.
Jeanine takes the album in her hands and runs the fingers through it, as if holding a treasure.
- I remember that your mother glued photos here. - She says - But I don't remember any.
- Let's go. - Encourages Andrew - Let us remember now.
They sit closer, with the album between them. Jeanine opens it, revealing the first photo.
They are in school, and they don't seems have more than seven years old. Andrew is sitting on the edge of the table with hands stained with inky and a scrawled paper in front of him, smiling at the camera. Jeanine is right next to him, with an open book in her lap. She have a bored look in her face, as if the photo was an inconvenience that interrupted her reading.
- You were reading in our recreation time. - Andrew says in a disbelief tone.
She shrugs.
- We could do what we wanted during recreation time. Anything that amused us.
- You had fun reading all the time?
- Of course. And besides, this is a kind of productive fun. A entertainment that will bring you something good in the future.
Andrew shakes his head in amused indignation.
- You're a goner.
He turns the page, where is the second photo.
They are sitting together at a study table. There are pencils, pens and books around them. In a corner of the table, there is a tray with toast and a juice jug.
- I remember that. - Andrew says - We were doing homework.
- Yes. - Jeanine agrees - And the toast that your mother did were wonderful. Even better than my mother's toast, although I have never told her that.
- I think you would hurt her feelings if you said.
They look the photo for more some time, immersed in nostalgia.
- Are you wearing glasses in this photo? - Andrew asks - But from what I remember, at twelve years old, your vision was perfect.
- I wear glasses since I was six years old, Andrew. I've always been a Erudite, after all.
Andrew narrows his eyes.
- You mean that I wasn't a Erudite?
- Before our Choosing Ceremony? No.
- Turn the page, Jeanine.
Jeanine smiles to realize that she had won the discussion, and passes to the next photo.
In it,the babies Andrew and Jeanine are sitting together on the floor. Andrew has wide eyes, as if the camera scared him. Jeanine isn't looking at the camera, because she is too busy playing with the clip that she had removed from her hair.
- You were an adorable baby, Andrew. You had dimples. I want to squeeze your cheeks.
Andrew starts laughing. First, because that wasn't a phrase that was heard from Jeanine Matthews every day. Second, by the way she said it. Fully cold and nonchalant. Embarrassed to show her feelings, as always.
- You were also a very cute baby. You had little curls, Jean.
- I don't remember having curls in my childhood.
- I also don't remember having eyes as big.
Andrew goes to the next photo.
It's Christmas.
Andrew and Jeanine are in front of a large Christmas tree. There are gifts under the tree. They seem somewhat annoyed, as if they had been interrupted from something more important than a photo.
- It was our first Christmas together. - Says Andrew - Well, the first Christmas that we were old enough to remember. And we were discussing about Santa Claus.
- Yes. - agrees Jeanine - We were in the middle of the discussion. Then my mother said: '' Hey children! Let's take a picture! '' We took the picture and continue discussing.
- And in the end, I won.
- Not really. Because he was just an ordinary person wearing a costume. And I'm getting tired of repeating this over the years.
They stay so over an hour, reviewing old photos and exchanging taunts. Each photo contains a different memory. It's as if they were back in time.
Finally, they reach the last photo, and their hearts are broken.
Are their parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Matthews have hands on Jeanine's shoulders, and Mr. and Mrs. Prior, on Andrew's shoulders. Everybody smiles. Even Jeanine.
- Our Initiation Ceremony. - Reminds Andrew - The day wherein we became officially Erudites members. They were so proud of us.
- I miss them.
Andrew nods.
- I also feel. But if there is something beyond this life, then they are happy to see us together.
Jeanine smiles a little.
- It was their secret desire which one day we have been married.
- Perhaps because parents usually know their sons well. - Andrew reflects - And maybe they already knew what we felt since we were kids.
Jeanine sighs.
- I'm sure yes. It was good to see these photos. It is amazing to realize how much things change over time.
- Not all. - Andrew says reflectively - Some things remain exactly the same, even with the passing of time.
Jeanine looks questioningly at her husband. He smiles.
- I love you. - He explains - That never changed.
Therewith, Jeanine is fully unarmed. Andrew always knows how to bring down her defenses.
- Maybe some things don't need to change, - She says, looking at him passionately - and I'm very happy for it.
- Mee too. - He says, and presses his lips to hers - I'm also very happy.
They look the old album on the table, and they are thinking exactly the same thing: All those memories are a proof of something that in fact they have always known. Something that has always been very clear to both: Their lives were twisted into a single strand. Their fate couldn't be separated.
Never.