The Way Back to You

Chapter 3

"Package came for you, bro." Drew told Adam as the younger boy entered the kitchen went to the refrigerator and pulled out a carton of orange juice.

Adam looked at the box on the table before taking a drink from the carton and putting it back in the fridge.

"It's from Fiona," Drew said as his brother began walking away. He laughed when Adam raced back to the kitchen and sat down at the table, nearly missing the seat.

He tore the box open and first found a note written in Fiona's hand writing.

Happy birthday! Sorry I'm not there.

Your gift might seem weird at first, but I just don't want you to forget me. I know, you're probably reading this thinking "that's not possible" but I don't want to risk it.

He smiled. That was exactly what he was thinking.

I have a couple of your t-shirts that help me get through the night, you have nothing. Spray this on your pillow.

He looked into the box and saw a small bottle of her perfume. He pulled it out and held it in his hand as he continued reading her letter. He loved the smell of her perfume. It would be nice to have his pillow smell like her again.

It's small, so it will only get you through a couple months. But that's all you need because I'll be home in November for a few days. Maybe I'll refresh your supply then.

I'll talk to you later. I love you.

Fiona.

He smiled again. Her home was in New York, where her family was, yet she still referred to Degrassi as home. "It's my favorite place in the world," she'd told him once. "It has my favorite person."

Behind him, Drew snickered when he saw the tiny bottle in Adam's hand. "Perfume? Dude, has she gotten the memo that you're a guy?"

Adam rolled his eyes. "She just wants me to have something to remember her by."

"I know when Bianca's not around and I need something to remember her by, I just look at this picture." Drew pulled a nude picture of his girlfriend up on his phone and showed it to his brother.

"Dude, I don't wanna see that." Adam swatted the phone away. "Put that away." He hated that his brother was dating the girl who used to torment him, he didn't want to be reminded of it every day. Especially his birthday.

Drew smirked and looked at the picture for a moment before putting his phone back into his pocket. He patted his brother's shoulder. "Enjoy your present," he said with a chuckle as he walked away.

Adam shook his head. He picked up the box to throw it away and noticed something else on the bottom of the box. He pulled out the large envelope. Something else to get you through the night was written on the front in Sharpie.

He opened the envelope and pulled out the picture it held, his eyes widened and he smiled as he looked at it. Bianca had nothing on Fiona.

0o-0o-0o-0o

"Happy birthday," Adam heard behind him as he got his books from his locker, he turned to find Eli and Clare. Clare held out a small package.

"I told you guys, no presents."

"No extravagant presents," Clare corrected him. "We both chipped in for this."

Adam looked at Eli, who shrugged. He tore the paper off, his jaw dropping when he saw the video game. "Dude! Modern Warfare 3? I thought this was sold out everywhere."

"Yeah, well pre-order and standing in line at midnight kind of fixes that problem," Eli said.

"You went out at midnight to get this for me?"

Eli shrugged. "I thought Clare would let me play it."

"Game night tonight?" Adam asked. Eli smiled and responded by high-fiving his friend.

The bell rang, Clare kissed Eli quickly before leaving to go to her class. "Now that it's just us," Eli said quickly, turning back to Adam. "Do I finally get to hear what went down with you and Fiona in Italy?"

Adam smiled and shook his head, closing his locker as he began walking away. "A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell."

To be continued…