A/N : I just wanted to quickly say thank you to everyone who has read this so far and left really positive remarks. It's helped a lot and kept me motivated! I never realized how hard it would actually be to write a fan fiction! I know the story is going a bit slow at the moment, I am just trying to work out where I am headed with this! I promise the next few chapters will be longer and the plot thickening so please stick with me! Thanks again for reading this and please continue with the comments! MG
The last few weeks of school should have been happy ones. This was the time that Landon had been dreaming about since he was old enough to know he wanted out of Beaufort. Instead he found himself wishing that time would stay still, that he could stay here forever.
After he had spoken with Reverend Sullivan that afternoon on the front porch, Landon walked home determined to make things right with his father. This one sided feud had gone on long enough.
As it turned out it was easier then he expected. His father was waiting for him in the front yard. They stood and stared at one another for a full minute before Landon bolted forward into his father's open arms. Old hurts were forgotten, and a new bond formed. There was no need for apologies or explanations; they were father and son again.
After the emotional day he had had Landon did not feel like going to school the next day but he knew he had to make things as normal as possible. The problem was things weren't normal anymore, Jamie wasn't around to make everything okay.
He was surprised to find Eric leaning against his locker before first period. Coming to a halt a full five feet away he considered just turning and walking away again. He did not think he could handle another confrontation with the guy he had considered his best friend since kindergarten.
Spotting him Eric straightened up and smiled. "Hey, man." He moved away from the front of Landon's locker so he could open it. "Listen," he said quietly, draping his wrist over the locker door and leaning in. "Jamie called me last night, explained everything. She even apologized for causing problems with our friendship."
He stopped and grinned "She's a cool girl, Landon. I wish I had seen that before you grabbed her up." Encouraged by getting a smile, if not an actual laugh he continued. "Anyway, she asked me to look out for you, you're going through a lot and you're going to need someone to talk to. So, just so you know, I'm here if you need me."
Having stared blindly into his locker during Eric's whole speech, Landon finally grabbed his Chemistry textbook and slammed his locker shut before he looked up. "Thanks, Eric"
It was simple, but Eric understood it meant everything was okay between them again. "I'm sorry about Jamie, too Landon, about what she's going through. I always thought she was a bit too nice, a fake. I realized talking to her last night, probably the first real conversation I ever really had with her, that she's real. She really is that nice. And that she really loves you."
"Now," he announced trying to lighten the mood as he threw his arm around Landon's neck and led him down the hallway, "since you already snagged the pick of the litter, maybe you can help me find the second best. I need me a prom date!"
Landon did not know how he felt about the announcement in his first period class that morning. The teacher, Mr. Brambly stood in front of the chalkboard and told the class that Jamie Sullivan would not be attending classes for the school year due to illness.
A girl in the front row stuck her hand up and the teacher nodded to her. "What kind of illness?"
Clearing his throat nervously Landon felt his gaze land briefly on him before he answered. "Jamie has problems with her heart. As I have understood it was something she was born with and dealt with her entire life. The staff here was aware of this but we respected Jamie's wishes to keep it quiet. She did not want to be treated any differently."
Maybe somehow realizing that Jamie was always treated differently anyway he cleared his throat again. "I think the important thing right now is for everyone to keep Jamie in their thoughts." Again his eyes sought out Landon, this time along with 30 other pairs.
He kept his eyes down cast, focussing on the top of his desk. It was real now, was all he could think. Now everyone knew what Jamie was going through. And that still didn't make it any easier.
Keeping his word to Jamie he stopped at her house after school. He came armed with his backpack full of letters and cards from people at school.
She was sitting on the porch swing; her legs folded under her, a book lay abandoned at her side. She had been waiting for him, he realized with a smile.
Sitting down beside her and wrapping his arm around her waist he handed her the bag. "Open it" he ordered.
She did without question. When she realized what it was her eyes began to shimmer with unshed tears. "Oh, Landon." She laughed "this is amazing, did you get all these people to write to me?"
He shook his head wishing he had thought of it himself. "I didn't have to. After everyone heard they just started coming up and asking me to give them to you, asking how you were." He gave her a squeeze. "A lot of people care about you, Jamie. Maybe they took you for granted for too long and only realized how much they cared when they heard that you were sick."
She knew he was not only just talking about the kids at school but about himself as well. She patted his hand as she reached for another note.
"You know, I was feeling sorry for myself all day. It's a bit boring sitting here by myself. But this makes me feel a lot better." She gestured at all the letters in the bag. "And you being here is even better!" She snuggled in next to him and they sat reading the notes together.