Always Be My Baby
It had been close to two years since Reggie had been back home to Ocean Shores. There she was sitting on the dilapidated halfpipe her brother had built all those years ago. The same one they and their friends had spent countless afternoons shredding. Reggie had missed home.
Her life in New York was everything she expected it to be: riveting, exciting, and rather fast paced but that was good for a professional writer. Or at least that's what she told herself when the small town California girl found herself overwhelmed which happened more often than she cared to admit.
"Reg?" an almost too familiar voice said snapping her out of her thoughts.
Twister. One of her oldest friends in the world and her ex boyfriend stood before her. She hadn't seen him since she left for the big apple and the two had seldom spoken in the last few years. Last she heard of him he was in L.A. trying to make it as a director. Given the lack of updates from her brother she assumed it wasn't going great so far. But then again they purposely avoided discussing him knowing it would be a sore topic for her.
"It's been a while…" She said not sure how to begin a conversation with him anymore. What do you say to the man whose heart you broke years ago.
"I didn't think I'd run into you today." He said awkwardly.
"Surprise!" Reggie said trying to further break the ice. Twister didn't find her comment particularly amusing but he pressed forward with their conversation.
"Are you back in town to visit?" he asked.
"Yeah I had a few days to spare and figured I'd drop in on Raymundo and Noelani. You?" She asked out of genuine curiosity of how the redhead was doing nowadays.
"Yeah I thought I'd spend some with my parents before I go on location."
"Location?"
"Yeah I'm the AD for this movie." Twister said humbly.
"Twister that's amazing! You've been wanting this since you were a kid!" She said jumping up and giving him a celebratory hug. She suddenly remembered herself and pulled away just as quickly as she had sprung into action. They were particularly strangers now. Nevertheless a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
"It's definitely the break I've been waiting for. But hey what about you? How's the writing thing working out?" He asked as he flashed her a smile. She had forgotten how comforting Twister's smile could be.
"Oh yeah that." The reason I left you. She thought. "It's going really well. I have a weekly column in the New York Star now."
"That's so cool Rocket Girl." It had been a while since she heard the old nickname. She smiled at the nostalgic feelings overtaking her.
"Thanks. I guess we both got what we always wanted."
"I guess you can say that...Look my mom probably has dinner on the table I should go but it was great running into you."
"Yeah. Let's keep in touch this time around."
"I'd like that." And with that he turned and headed back across the cul de sac towards his parents' house.
She wondered if he would call this time. He'd be spending the next few months on set working sixteen hour days he'd probably be too exhausted to think of her. Too busy handling actors and trying to make his artistic vision come to life. No, he won't have time for her. Why did she care at all? It had been her decision to leave him. Normally she would shake the thoughts of him away but in this moment she wanted him on her mind.
He was her first everything. He was her first kiss. He was her first boyfriend. He was the first man to tell her he loved her. She smiled remembering the late night conversations and soft kisses. The walks on the beach hand and hand. The time they had been simply sharing an order of fries at the shack and he told her he wanted to be with her forever. At the time it really felt like they would last forever. Things between them were perfect. Well almost perfect.
There was always that nagging feeling that there was something more out there for her beyond Ocean Shores. There was a world Reggie wanted to experience. It felt silly to expect the universe to introduce her to her soulmate while they were both still in diapers. She had a choice to make: the world or the man that felt like her world. She chose the world.
A part of her knew that deep down she'd always care for him. Maybe even love him. You can't simply erase a feeling that strong. And yet she threw it all away to chase her dream. She couldn't even say it was the wrong decision considering the fact she loved her life in New York and was very proud of her career. And if they stayed together and stayed in Ocean Shores neither of them would have achieved their goals.
I guess you can't have your cake and eat it too. She thought to herself as she walked into the house. She took one final look behind her. He was gone.
A/N: Uh-oh somewhat sad ending. I doubt any future stories will get the same treatment. I just wanted to try out some angst. If it makes you feel better you can pretend they get together at a later date. And yes the New York Star is the fictional newspaper Carrie Bradshaw wrote for. In my head Reggie took over her column. That's not important but it's important to me that y'all know that. This song is Always Be My Baby by Mariah Carey. Don't forget to review.