Disclaimer: I'm in college and living off of top ramen. Nowhere close to owning "The Famous Jett Jackson."
Note: Maybe I should have mentioned it earlier. It's probably a good idea to read Opportunity first before
continuing with this story.
-----------------------------------
Her heels clicked against the waxed tiles of the gym's foyer. They echoed so loud because she was
alone and she didn't feel any reassured by the fact. The rest of the night stretched out before her like a
mystery. Would it be like that short encounter with Mr. Dupree, a pleasant surprise, some polite small
talk, hurrying away to the next person she hadn't thought about for years.
((Why do you care so much? It's a high school reunion, everyone's nervous. You're not any different.))
The thoughts battled to convince her but she knew better.
True, she hadn't completely transformed from her high school days. She was still an artist. Her ability
had developed and matured and brought her a satisfying career. It was what she loved and getting paid
was a nice bonus. Art was her life, as cliche as it sounded.
Maybe that's why post-high school turned out completely different from what she expected. She imagined
herself becoming an art teacher and staying in Wilted forever. Kayla wasn't stupid. Art didn't offer many
options toward a stable profession. The farm would always be nearby and she'd be able to help her
parents whenever they needed it. Then the end of senior year rolled around and she was offered a
chance of a lifetime.
Her parents encouraged her to take the scholarship. It was admittedly more what they alone could afford
to pay for a college education. And deep inside, she knew she really wanted it. There was the
recognition, the financial support, and the possibility to travel.
New York City. It was music to her ears, brought stars to her eyes, every corny saying you could think of.
There she'd be able to meet a lot more people just like her. Be a part of something she could never find
in Wilsted. Going there that one time with JB and Jett was just a teasing taste of it.
But Jett. The look on his face when he heard was...hard to read. She tried telling him delicately because
she knew what he wanted after high school. He'd enroll part time in North Carolina University and fly to
Los Angeles or whatever location whenever he got a job. If that's what it took to stay close to his family
and friends, he was going to do it. "For you, I'd do anything." The words brought such a warmth that she
knew any future winters would feel like a breezy walk in the park.
That's why his reaction was difficult for her.
"New York? You're going to college in New York?" His voice cracked, immediately followed by a clearing
of his throat.
"Yeah--well no. I'm not sure yet. I mean, the scholarship is really good and it'll cover my entire time there.
But you know..."
He knew. They both knew. A year and a half wasn't enough for them. That's how long they'd been
together since that night in the library. Not after they had liked each other since day one of his return to
Wilsted. Not after getting over their silly shyness and refusal to accept their true feelings. They'd only just
discovered that being best friends and boyfriend and girlfriend weren't too far apart from one another.
They were in love.
Nevertheless, Jett managed to muster up the words days later. "Take it. It's your dream to be an artist.
Nothing should stand in your way of being one."
Now, about to enter the gymnasium, Kayla felt her last few memories of WHS rushing back. The
messiness of it all. The abrupt goodbyes.
"That's it. Enough overanalyzing, West. Just go in there. And if you see him..."
She didn't finish her little pep talk because the gym door suddenly swung wide open.
Note: Maybe I should have mentioned it earlier. It's probably a good idea to read Opportunity first before
continuing with this story.
-----------------------------------
Her heels clicked against the waxed tiles of the gym's foyer. They echoed so loud because she was
alone and she didn't feel any reassured by the fact. The rest of the night stretched out before her like a
mystery. Would it be like that short encounter with Mr. Dupree, a pleasant surprise, some polite small
talk, hurrying away to the next person she hadn't thought about for years.
((Why do you care so much? It's a high school reunion, everyone's nervous. You're not any different.))
The thoughts battled to convince her but she knew better.
True, she hadn't completely transformed from her high school days. She was still an artist. Her ability
had developed and matured and brought her a satisfying career. It was what she loved and getting paid
was a nice bonus. Art was her life, as cliche as it sounded.
Maybe that's why post-high school turned out completely different from what she expected. She imagined
herself becoming an art teacher and staying in Wilted forever. Kayla wasn't stupid. Art didn't offer many
options toward a stable profession. The farm would always be nearby and she'd be able to help her
parents whenever they needed it. Then the end of senior year rolled around and she was offered a
chance of a lifetime.
Her parents encouraged her to take the scholarship. It was admittedly more what they alone could afford
to pay for a college education. And deep inside, she knew she really wanted it. There was the
recognition, the financial support, and the possibility to travel.
New York City. It was music to her ears, brought stars to her eyes, every corny saying you could think of.
There she'd be able to meet a lot more people just like her. Be a part of something she could never find
in Wilsted. Going there that one time with JB and Jett was just a teasing taste of it.
But Jett. The look on his face when he heard was...hard to read. She tried telling him delicately because
she knew what he wanted after high school. He'd enroll part time in North Carolina University and fly to
Los Angeles or whatever location whenever he got a job. If that's what it took to stay close to his family
and friends, he was going to do it. "For you, I'd do anything." The words brought such a warmth that she
knew any future winters would feel like a breezy walk in the park.
That's why his reaction was difficult for her.
"New York? You're going to college in New York?" His voice cracked, immediately followed by a clearing
of his throat.
"Yeah--well no. I'm not sure yet. I mean, the scholarship is really good and it'll cover my entire time there.
But you know..."
He knew. They both knew. A year and a half wasn't enough for them. That's how long they'd been
together since that night in the library. Not after they had liked each other since day one of his return to
Wilsted. Not after getting over their silly shyness and refusal to accept their true feelings. They'd only just
discovered that being best friends and boyfriend and girlfriend weren't too far apart from one another.
They were in love.
Nevertheless, Jett managed to muster up the words days later. "Take it. It's your dream to be an artist.
Nothing should stand in your way of being one."
Now, about to enter the gymnasium, Kayla felt her last few memories of WHS rushing back. The
messiness of it all. The abrupt goodbyes.
"That's it. Enough overanalyzing, West. Just go in there. And if you see him..."
She didn't finish her little pep talk because the gym door suddenly swung wide open.