Living in the Past
A/N -WOW! I can't believe it has been 40 chapters already! Thanks to all of my loyal readers (you know who you are!), I appreciate you taking the time to read my story and sticking with it through all the twists and turns! Enjoy!
"And you and Kris," he asked "you two are back together?"
He couldn't help the huge smile that formed on his face "Yeah," he stated "we are definitely back together."
"That's great," Matt replied "I'm happy for you guys."
Junior looked at him for just a moment before he reached over to open his door.
"Then why don't you sound happy?" he asked as he turned to look back at Matt.
Just then his phone rang.
"Hey, I can't talk right this second" Junior stated as he answered the phone.
Matt wasn't sure what was said but the look on his face spoke volumes.
"Hold on," he stated as he turned to look back at Matt.
He watched him hop out of the car and turn his back to him. He was obviously whispering because no matter how hard Matt tried, he couldn't hear a word that he was saying.
The next thing he saw was his phone tumbling out of his hands. As he turned to pick it up Matt couldn't help but notice the look of hurt on his face. Was something wrong?
He hopped out of the car and slowly made his way around it to the other side. Junior was smiling now, and laughing gently into the phone.
He turned to look at Matt and then mumbled something into the phone before hanging up.
"So," Junior stated as he looked at Matt "are we going to talk about it?"
"Talk about what?" Matt stated as he turned and walked into the restaurant.
--
"Kris."
"Yeah," she stated turning around to look at him wondering why Pablo was calling to her.
"So you stayed with Junior last night, huh?"
She really didn't feel comfortable discussing this with him so she silently nodded her head while looking away. She could feel a small blush rising on her cheeks and she silently hoped that he couldn't notice.
"Sorry," he stated noticing her discomfort "I just was going to say that it is good to see you two back together."
She looked at him smiling before replying "it feels good to have him back."
He nodded his head in understanding before responding "there was actually something I wanted to talk to you about. Do you have a minute?"
Her mind raced with the possibilities of what he would have to talk to her about. Was he going to ask her to come back to Raintree and jockey again? Was it something about Wildfire? What did he want?
"Of course," she replied as calmly as she could.
She was suddenly taken off guard as a car sped down the road honking. What in the world was so urgent that they needed to drive like that?
"Wait a minute," Pablo stated "isn't that the car that was out front earlier?"
"I wouldn't know." Kris replied watching, confused at what someone with that type of car was doing way out here.
As the car stopped a man hopped out of the car and looked around for a moment before turning and looking at them.
"Kris Furillo?" he asked.
"Yeah," she replied "that's me."
"Good," he stated "it took quite awhile to find you mam."
She shrugged her shoulders, because in all honesty she was confused about what he was doing looking for her.
"May I help you?" she asked hastily.
"Yeah," he stated shortly "you need to come with me."
Before she could even say anything two more cars pulled up.
"What is going on?" Pablo asked brusquely.
"I'm sorry sir, but those questions will have to be answered at another time."
The next thing Kris knew she was in the back of the car driving away from Raintree. As she looked out the window behind her she saw Pablo standing alone in the middle of the road watching her slowly fade away.
--
He looked at the man in front of him as he quickly pounded down his hamburger, almost in shock.
"So are we just going to ignore it?" he asked once again.
The man looked at him for a moment before picking up a few fries and shoving them in his mouth.
"Ignore what?" he asked, muffled by the food in his mouth.
He could feel the frustration rising in him and he ran his hands over his face and through his hair.
"Matt," he stated and watched as the man seemed to look away.
"Matt, you still love her don't you?"
"Sometimes," the man replied taking a sip of his drink and looking away.
He nodded his head in understanding. He wondered if the fact that he had gone missing and was pronounced dead had given him hope in some way and had reignited old feelings.
"I understand though," Matt stated "that you two are together and happy. I get it, I really do. Sometimes it's just hard to see, hard to stop my brain from going there you know?"
He nodded his head for what seemed like the hundredth time, not really knowing how else to respond.
"I thought you were happy for us, I mean you were my best man at the wedding."
"I am happy for you, but that doesn't mean I can't hurt." he replied "I loved her too, you know."
"But you are with Dani now!" he exclaimed "How can you do this to her?"
"I'm not doing anything to Dani," he replied hitting his fist on the table "that's the problem."
Junior looked at him for a moment before suddenly realizing "RJ," he stated.
Matt nodded his head quietly looking away and Junior couldn't help but notice that his eyes looked wet.
"It's hard to not live in the past, when that's all the person you are with can do." he stated gently.
Junior closed his eyes, trying not to let the memories of his old friend overtake him.
"But she loves you." he stated.
"Sometimes," he replied "but there is still that piece of her heart that belongs to him, just like there is a piece of mine that belongs to Kris."
He looked at his hands for a moment before continuing.
"I am not going to get in your guys' way, I promise. Most of the time, Kris is like a sister to me. But when Dani and I fight, I can't help but flicker my brain back to what could have been."
Junior shook his head, almost in shock, realizing the confession that his friend had just made.
He could feel his phone vibrating in his pocket, and he reached in and pulled it out looking at the caller ID before hitting ignore.
"Who was that?" Matt asked.
"Pablo's cell," he replied "I will talk to him later."
Just then Matt's phone went off, and the music fluttered through the air and into his ears.
Junior watched as he looked at the caller ID before a puzzled look came on his face as well.
"Pablo," he stated "I wonder what he wants?" he asked as he picked up the phone.
"Hey Pablo, we are eating. Can we call you back?"
Junior wasn't sure what was said but he watched as the phone fell from Matt's hand and bounced on the table.
He had gone sheet white and Junior called his name twice before reaching over and shaking him.
"Someone has taken Kris," he whispered.
The next thing he knew they were both running out of the restaurant and headed back to Raintree.
"I knew it," Junior mumbled "I knew I shouldn't have left her this morning."
He could hear the brakes screech to a stop and Matt turned to look at him.
"You were with her this morning?" he asked and then it seemed to dawn on him as he silently nodded his head and hit the accelerator.
"Well good for you," Matt stated.
He could feel a sigh escape his lips as he looked at the man that was supposed to be his best friend.
"So that was what took you so long," he heard him mutter under his breath "and why she hadn't picked up Jason."
Junior turned and looked out the window, wincing at the realization that was coming over his friend.
"She hasn't been with anyone, you know, since the accident."
Junior could feel his heart beat rise as he turned and looked at the man.
"But how did you? How could you know? She took off."
"I just know," Matt replied looking at his best friend "you were always it for her. Always."
Junior slowly nodded his head as the realization slowly dawned over him.
"I think," he stated "from the moment I met her, I knew she was the one. Somehow I just knew."
There seemed to be a silent acknowledgement between the two as they looked at each other for a moment.
Matt pressed his foot on the gas, and they quickly accelerated towards Raintree.