Disclaimer: No owning going around here.
A/N: Wonderful response to this, thanks you guys! Thanks for the reviews, and thanks for keeping up with the sequel. I know it's not on the level of the Adam story, but don't worry I'll get it there. Hopefully you guys will like this chapter anyway. Please, keep those reviews coming!
- - -
You know, as the plane starts to feel the ground approaching, with its shaking, and people grabbing onto arm rests, I truly feel a sense of excitement and fear… it makes me want to puke. I've been sitting on this plane for hours, and I still have no idea what to say to Banks. Hopefully he'll be in the bathroom when I come out, so when I come out to hug everyone, I can just wave to him as he comes back, and ignore him for the rest of the time because he was late to the party. I could do that, but I won't do that. Do you know why? Because I, Julie Gaffney, am still hung up over Adam Banks. That's what I figured out during the plane ride, and it didn't take much realizing, because I've known it for months, and just shoved it to the back of my mind. Now it's coming back to slap me in the forehead. It's all coming back to slap me on the forehead.
"Julie," I heard him whisper, as I, couldn't even open my eyes.
"Mm," I made a noise indicating I was still there.
"Did you know before I called you today, it was two weeks since we talked?" He asked, and my eyes opened wide. I knew it, I sure did. It was the farthest I felt from Adam since we saw each other, and it scared the hell out of me. Now I know it scared the hell out of him.
"Yeah, I know," I said, now sounding awake.
He sighed, "It killed me." I stared across my room, just staring, and not moving an inch. My stomach gurgled, and I knew this wasn't going to end well. "I'm getting busier by the minute, and I don't want to feel like that. Like my world won't go on if I know you're waiting for me to call…" He mumbled something else, but my eyes were closed, and I was too concentrated on sounding calm. "Julie?"
"I know Adam, I understand." I did understand. I didn't want to be the girl waiting by the phone for him. I didn't want to be the girl who was waiting around for Adam Banks to stop being busy, and I didn't wanna be the girl who didn't want to be as busy because her boyfriend may call. I didn't want to be the girl that killed him inside. "So what now?"
Why did we even bother? But now, here I am, on Minnesota grounds, with four years of Adam Banks ahead of me. What the hell am I doing? I had the urge to just sit there on the plane, until they decided to turn around, and I could just take the flight back. But I knew that wasn't even a possible option. So I stood up, and got my bag, mumbling things like, "Julie, you're so stupid. Okay, seriously, you have to calm down. Right now. Right now!" The last right now was a little loud, and it caught the attention a middle aged balding man, who was in the isle across from me. I gave him a nod, and he looked away. Damn straight.
- - - -
I took in deep breaths, while dragging my suitcase behind me, its weight feeling heavier by the minute. I grabbed my cell-phone out of my pocket, and started to dial Connie, then it began to ring in my hand. It flashed the name Connie, and I gave a laugh.
"I was just gonna call you," I answered.
"It's because you're so close, and we're already connecting," She said, making me laugh. "Where are you?"
"I'm walking to baggage claim. Where are you guys?" Before she could answer back, I turned the corner, spotting the group, with only one brunette girl, as they all turned in circles. Connie screamed, and ran over, with the team walking behind her. She jumped on me, almost knocking me over, and I hugged her back.
"Ah, Gaffney, I have missed your ass," Connie said, as we were still caught in our embrace. She let go, and the first person I see is tall, blonde, and smiling. It was a genuine smile. His eyes were the blue that I remembered, and filled with excitement. He wouldn't even let me smile back, before he grabbed me by the stomach to pick me up. So what did I do? I hugged him, and smelled his hair of course. He put me down, and I grinned like a little girl. And there we were, in the tension we always caught ourselves in; the tension that I could recognize no matter how long it's been since I've felt it. Of course, it was me to break the tension first. I turned to my right and began hugging the rest of the team. Oh, Adam Banks, you've still got me.
- - - -
"So Adam is pretty hot, huh?" Connie said to me, as we sat on a bench, waiting to be picked up by Charlie and Guy's moms.
"What?" I looked at her, but I was screaming 'hell yes' inside.
"Don't you say what to me, you know what I'm talking about," She nudged me.
"No, Connie, I really don't know. He looks like the same Adam that I remember," I lied. I lied, and I lied pretty bad.
"Oh," Connie shrugged. "Okay, so maybe it's just me that can see that's gotten taller, lost baby fat in his face, has a newly found, fabulous face structure, and fantastic muscles." I stared at Adam, seeing all the things she was describing. I knew about the fantastic muscles because I felt them when he picked me up. Oh my goodness Adam Banks, what happened to you when I left? "Those toned arms, and that stomach? I've never touched his abs, but I have seen them." I looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "Yes, I love Guy, but I'm just saying. But since you don't see it, then well, it doesn't matter, right?"
"Right," I sighed. Adam Banks, how you toy with me. Connie Moreau, how you mock me.
I continued to stare at him, then he glanced back at us. I turned to Connie, pretending that I was just taking a glance his way. He mumbled something to Charlie, and walked our direction. Oh my goodness.
He smirked, and said, "Hey, Cons, can I talk to Julie, please?" So polite. Connie nodded, and almost ran away. He sat next to me, and I refused to look up at him. "Hey Jules," He said, and I gulped.