"Reunion of Sorts"
Chapter 1:
An invitation came in the mail that afternoon in the small town of Harmony. It was addressed to Bethany Mariam Wallace at 5713 Creek Avenue, Harmony, Maine 90368.
Bethany, or Beth as she was called, received the mail later that day after work. Scanning through the pile, her eyes rested on that single postcard:
Harmony High School invites you to your 10 year high school reunion on August 24. Won't you join us to relive the memories created a decade ago? The party will be held in the Harmony High Gym next Friday 7pm sharp. R.S.V.P. by August 6. Be there or be square!
Beth dropped the postcard. Her mind went back in time to when she was a senior in high school. Deemed the most popular kid in that whole class, and having snagged the Queen slot at prom with her boyfriend Lius Lopez-Fitzgerald as King, Beth had a dreadful feeling that things were going too well for her. Boy was she right. Luis and her had separated shortly after graduation, something about him not being able to start a family of his own with her because he had to support his poor family.
She had never been the same after that. Neither had he, she supposed. Graduation had changed them. Beth had wanted to leave town, expand her horizons, while Luis had no choice but to postpone and then eventually cancel his college plans, so as to service his family which was in dire straits. So what was Beth to do?! She supported Luis's decision, assuming that eventually they would marry and build the life they had dreamt of. But that dream was never consummated into reality.
Luis had become a cop at the age of 19, supporting his family financially and the town in its need for safety. Things were going just fine between them. They still dated occasionally but talks of marriage didn't resurface.
Seven years passed, but Beth continued to wait. She vowed to herself that she would wait forever for this man. He loved her. She loved him. Time didn't matter for her because she knew that he was hers.
Only when Luis was hired to protect a certain rich blonde woman from dangerous Frenchman who wanted her dead, did Beth feel her grip on Luis come loose.
Some topics of conversation on their dates was about the stories of Luis and the blonde. He used to tell her how he had to live in such close quarters to her and how scared she would be. She wasn't the only one. Beth was scared too. She saw devotion and a spark of energy in Luis when he spoke of the blonde woman. Sheridan Crane. Beth was losing him. How? Why? She didn't know. She was no psychic. But it was a strong belief she held in her worrysome heart.
Thinking of how close a relationship he had with Beth, Luis didn't bother trying to hide touchy information about Sheridan and him being her 'bodyguard' from Beth. He thought she had nothing to worry about. He thought he had nothing to worry about. Until one day he realized that after working so hard to protect her from danger, he had gotten too involved, and had fallen in love with her.
That had been two years ago. Two years ago he had unceremoniously dumped his first love for another. It felt so right, being with Sheridan. After all, he was a man. And men liked to be in control of their woman - at least he did. And Sheridan, despite her rich socioeconomic ranking and socialite status, was a vulnerable little lady who got herself into one mess after another and needed protecting. Truthfully, he liked protecting her. Beth had never needed that; it wasn't in her nature. But Sheridan's was a different story, and it was one factor that played into the decision Luis made between the two women he loved.
Beth shook herself away from her little reverie. No use thinking about the past - it was done with. So why bother going to a little shindig where she would see all of her old friends, enemies, and classmates? What was the point anyway? It was like literally going back to high school, everyone smiling and talking to each other, but as soon as you so much as turned your back, they began gossiping. She didn't need that. She didn't want it.
Sighing, Beth put the postcard on her desk, thinking she would worry about it later. Right now, she was tired, having just come home from work. A nice, warm shower would do her good.
Peeling off her clothes, Beth proceeded into her medium-sized bathroom, getting inside and letting the warm water wash over her, like soft comfort. Only when she realized that her tears were soaking with the water, did she come to understand that going to this reunion would be good for her. After all, she was tired of being so sad about it, even to this day. She would face her past, with hopes of burying it behind her. At least she hoped.
{a/n: I hope you enjoyed this start. There is more to come. This chapter was one for background info about the past. The next chapter deals with the present and then later things spice up as an original character is thrown into the mix. Enjoy!}