A/N: Hey guys! I have finally come around to update this story as I'd really love to continue it! Thank you to Accidentally The Whole Fanfic for your suggestions. You didn't sound too nitpicky, any advice is greatly appreciated! And thank you to Nightmare Shadow and arcticzydrate. Hope you enjoy this next chapter!
The sea seemed to go on and on, just like Jack thought his depression would. He quickly shook that thought away and laughed a bit at how cliche his thought was. Laughter always helped him in times like this. The Captain looked at Jack like he was crazy, for just a couple of minutes ago Jack was sobbing at the other end of the boat. He really did wonder if this depression would go away. It wasn't going away while he was in the city studying. Night after night, he tried ever so hard to study but he simply wasn't retaining the information. Day after day, he would flunk tests, become unresponsive to friends and professors, and walk around like he was in some type of daze. He picked at his food and wasn't able to sleep much at night. It's a shame because it was his last semester in college. He was going to graduate with a degree in business, just like his father wanted him to. He never really wanted to study business so maybe it's a good thing he's not finishing his degree right now. There's always a bright side when something bad happens, right? Maybe Grandpa's death was a sign that business wasn't right for Jack. Maybe, since it was Grandpa's dying wish, that Jack's fate rested in the countryside.
The boat's horn cried out awaking Jack from his thoughts. Jack gathered up his two suitcases and made his way towards the side of the boat where he was to exit. The Captain anchored the boat onto the shore and walked over to Jack, his only passenger.
"You sure you didn't need a round-trip ticket? Most folks who's comes here, only come to visit relatives for a day or two then go straight back to the city."
"No I'm fine, thanks for the ride," said Jack.
"Alright, good luck, kid."
The Captain lifted the latch of the boat door and Jack made his exit out. The boat began to pull out as Jack took a good, long look at the beach. He remembered playing here with Karen when he was just a little kid. Karen had written to him, of course, was the first one to tell him the news of his Grandpa's death. Jack and Karen had kept in touch over the years. The two felt that they had grown up together, even though they never saw each other, the words on the paper were enough for them. Of course it was awhile before they wrote letters to each other, Jack and Karen first had to learn to properly read and write. And when Karen did, Sasha encouraged her daughter to write a letter to the darling boy that Karen had spent her fifth summer with. Karen had always remembered Jack and was so excited that she could finally talk to him again.
When Jack received the letter, he, of course, remembered little Karen, with her dirty blonde hair and the twinkle of fire in her eyes. He enthusiastically returned her letter and the chain didn't stop since. Karen wrote all about the antics she got into with Ann and her improving dancing skills. Jack told Karen all about the big city that he lived in: playing basketball with his friends, going to museums and shows, and going with his Dad to work in his law office. Karen fell in love with the big city, like her mother did once, and decided that she would move there one day.
Years passed and that day never came, the responsibilities that she had at the vineyard kept her stagnant, but she never gave up on her big city dream.
Jack began to make his way up the hill, two suitcases in either hand, when he heard a familiar female voice.
"Jack?"
The voice came from a rather good-looking girl who wore a purple vest and jeans tucked into brown work boots. Dirty blonde hair reached down to her waist and two green eyes that hid fire sat upon her face, it was Karen, and she now stood a couple of feet in front of him.
"Karen?"
Karen gave Jack a one-over. She smiled at the backwards blue cap that rested upon his head.
"Are you still wearing the same blue cap? Your head didn't grow any bigger?" Karen teased.
Jack laughed. "I got it resized."
A giggle escaped from Karen's mouth but then her face became blue. "I'm sorry about your Grandfather. He was a great man."
Tears began to well up in his eyes but he held them back as much as he could. "Thank you."
Karen hugged Jack and then he couldn't hold the tears in, he let them go, soaking up the backside of Karen's vest. Karen didn't mind, for she shed a couple of tears too. They stood like that for a couple of minutes until Jack realized the mess he made of her vest.
"Sorry, Karen, your vest…" Jack said breaking apart from Karen's grasp.
"It's okay, it's just a vest," Karen said smiling at Jack with her eyes still wet with tears. She wiped them away. "Ready to go to the farm?"
Jack nodded his head and to the farm they went.
A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed it! Again, tell me what you liked and what could be improved upon! Thanks! Oh and Happy New Year!