Chapter 10- I Caught Fire
By the time my plane had landed in California it was ten thirty, and I made a mad dash for the baggage claim to get my stuff. I wasn't sure what my game plan was at this point, so I reached into my purse and pulled out my car keys, knowing my car was sitting in one of the spots in the parking lot. I stood waiting for my bag for another fifteen minutes, begging the carousel to move faster. I wanted to get home before midnight, just so I could say I was with Brian on his birthday. Once I grabbed my duffle off the luggage carousel I quickly turned in my spot and began heading towards the door, but before I could get much farther I was met with two familiar faces standing ten feet away from me.
"Did you really think we were gonna let you have all the fun?"
I was still so surprised that it hadn't completely dawned on me that Amy and Trish were standing in front of me.
"What are you guys?" I started. "How did you guys?"
"Well, apparently there's another plane that gets you there in half the time." Amy chuckled.
"What about work?"
"Shane saw you leave," Trish said. "And after we explained the entire scenario to him he basically told us to go with you, and not to worry he'd deal with his father."
"So I'm golden then, hu?"
"Yup, seems like it." She said.
"Alright then, I need to get out of this god forsaken airport and get home."
"Isn't Brian at his house though?" Amy asked.
"Yea, home is home." I smiled. "So light a fire under your cute little asses and move."
With no other words said between us, the three us of darted out of the airport and ran towards where I parked the car last month when I left. I threw all the bags into the trunk and quickly started the car while Amy and Trish jumped it.
"Amy you ride shotgun, she scares the hell out of me when she drives all crazy." Trish laughed.
"Just get in the car, I need to get out of here!"
I sped in and out of different lanes on PCH, hurrying to get to Brian's house before midnight. It was now eleven fifteen and I was nearly there. I would make it with a half hour to spare, and enough time to wish him a happy birthday. When I finally turned off PCH and onto one of the residential streets I could feel the excitement bubble up inside of me, threatening to spill over at any given moment.
"Breath hun." Amy said as I turned onto Brian's street, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
"You did the right thing." Trish said, suddenly surprising the hell out of me.
"I know, I'm just really excited." I smiled, bringing the car to a stop in his driveway.
When I got out of the car I noticed everyone else was still here, and I let an ever bigger smile cross my face.
I grabbed the key Brian had given me out of my bag and walked up the porch and to the front door with the girls following me. I put my hand on the doorknob and checked to see if it was unlocked. It was locked, so I put the key in and turned, suddenly coming face to face with the house I had spent countless days in while I was home. The only difference now is that it was absolutely silent inside. Silent until I heard someone yelling outside on the back porch.
"They're outside," I said, motioning to the back door. "I'm gonna…"
"Hun, just go, we'll wait in here for a while." Trish said, smiling.
I sent them both a quick smile before walking through the living room and into the kitchen, stopping at the sliding glass doors. Everyone was sitting around the fire pit near the pool, and I could see Zacky waving his arms around and yelling at who I assumed was my brother which didn't surprise me in the least. I quietly opened the door and stepped outside, before shutting it and walking towards everyone.
"You're still an asshole!" Zacky yelled.
"I didn't mean it man, it slipped!" He defended.
"The whole bottle of jack just slipped out of your hands?" Matt groaned.
"Johnny, didn't anyone ever tell you it's not nice to play with other people's liquor?" I asked, listening as the entire group got silent at once.
Everyone's heads snapped up in the direction of my voice, and Val let out the loudest of shrieks I had ever heard in my life.
"Gina?" Johnny asked.
"No, Santa Clause" I chuckled. "Now, who started the party without me?"
Brian immediately jumped up and ran over to me, scooping me up in his arms and pulling me flush against his body. I wrapped my legs around his waist for support and buried my head in his shoulder, inhaling the familiar scent of cigarettes and axe; it was my Brian.
"How the hell are you here right now?" He said, fighting back the tears that were threatening to fall.
"I left right after my match," I said, pulling my head up to look at him for a moment. "Why are you crying?"
"I can't believe your really here right now." He smiled.
"I'm here, and I'm not leaving you, so relax." I said, wiping away the lone tear that fell from his eye.
"Thank you." He smiled, leaning in to kiss me for the first time since I had returned. I immediately deepened the kiss and pulled him closer to me, tangling my fingers in his hair.
"Happy birthday!" I smiled back, hugging him close to me again. "Now I need a drink, but apparently we have no jack."
"Thank your brother!" Jimmy shouted, glaring daggers at Johnny.
"Johnny, what am I gonna do with you!"
"You're back five minutes and its like mom is here with us instead!"
In that moment I heard two laughs resound from behind me, and I turned to see Amy and Trish standing a few feet behind us, looking on with interest.
"Now if anyone needs a drink it's us," Trish laughed. "We drove from the airport with speed racer over here, holy shit dude!"
"Yea," Amy chuckled. "Go speed racer go!"
"Oh hush, no one told you two to follow me." I laughed, still in my spot in Brian's arms.
A second later I felt a pair of arms grab me around my waist and hug me. Valary.
"Val, I need to breathe love."
"Yes I know that but this is just the perfect ending to the day, I still can't believe you're here!"
"I can't believe it either," Matt laughed from in front of the fire. "After Trish kicked you in the jaw I thought for sure you'd be out for the count kiddo."
"Did I ever apologize for that?" Trish asked suddenly.
"No, but its ok, I had more important things to worry about." I smiled.
"I still can't believe you're here, I mean I saw your match and now you're here!" Brian exclaimed, pulling me into him once more.
"Yes, I'm here," I smiled, resting my head on his shoulder and looking out at everyone sitting around the fire. My home and family, all in one place, and I was in the arms of the man I loved. The only place I was every truly meant to be.
