Chapter 11 With each day that passed, the number of messages from Jeff lessened, until finally one day there were none.  The film was complete and it was time for Kari to go home.  She spent one last night with Adrian before he saw her off at the airport.  They promised to keep in touch.  She spent the plane ride home thinking.  Thinking of how different she was now.  How that trip had changed her.  How being with Adrian had changed her.  She wasn’t afraid to be alone anymore.  Although she had spent most of her time there with him, she didn’t feel the NEED to do so.  She had a new sense of independence.  It made her wonder if she HAD only been with Jeff because she didn’t want to be alone.  But then she also thought of how he had loved her - with all his heart and soul - or so she had led herself to believe.  But if he loved her so much, then how could he have cheated on her.  That’s not something you do to someone that you love.  On the other hand, she understood the "physical thing", as Adrian called it.  But she would never have even given a second thought to being with Adrian had she still been with Jeff.  There was no sense in attempting to make it all make sense.  She pushed it all out of her head as the plane taxied onto the runway at LAX.  Jason was at the gate to meet her, just as he had promised. "It’s about damn time you got home.", Jason said hugging his roommate.   She smiled as he grabbed her bags and they headed to the car.  They talked non-stop on the ride home.  As much as she had tried to distance herself from her life back home, she truly had missed Jason.  Especially the way he made her laugh. "Order us some Chinese take out while I get unpacked.  You know we have to eat while we catch up.", Kari yelled as she climbed the stairs to her room.  "Yes ma’am.", he returned. She opened the door to her bedroom and immediately dropped her suitcase.  It landed on her foot sending a shooting pain up her leg, but she didn’t make a sound.  She walked into her room trying to take in the sight that filled her eyes.  There must have been  over a hundred of them.  Vases filled with lilies sat in every spot that was once vacant. "Pretty, huh?", Jason said causing Kari to jump. "They’re beautiful.  Did you do this?", she asked turning to look at him. He looked at her like she had lost her mind, "Why would I do that?  I’m not in love with you."   He smiled at her seeing the moment that she realized who had sent them.  She tried to fight the smile that was beginning to creep across her face.  "There’s a letter on that one over there.", Jason said pointing to one of the vases that sat on her dresser.   She grabbed the envelope and opened it, almost scared of what it might say.  Jason sat down next to her on the bed where she had taken a seat, resting his chin on her shoulder and reading along with her:   "Kari-    I’ve tried and tried to talk to you, but it’s obvious that you don’t want to    listen to what I have to say.  I’ve got to get to you somehow.  I love you and    I'm sorry about what happened.  It had nothing to do with you or how much I     love you.  I was alone and needed you so much.  You couldn’t be there, so    I found someone that was.  I was selfish.  That is the only way to explain it.        If I  could take back what I did, I would do it in a second.  But you know I          can't.  I realize that I have lost the only thing that ever mattered to me -           your  love.  I just hope and pray that you haven’t given it to him.  I’ll do            whatever it takes to make this right.  I love you Kari, with all that I am and      all that I will ever be.  I  was walking by the florist in town the other day, and    I saw a lily.  It reminded me of you.  It’s beauty.  It stands for peace which is     what I felt when I was with you.  There are 107 of them to represent the days    that your love was mine.  Baby,  please give me another chance.  I swear I’ll      never hurt you again.                      With all my love,                        Jeff "    A tear fell from Kari’s eye as she folded the paper and looked around the flower filled room.   "Wow, Kar, I wish someone loved me like that.", Jason said putting his arm around her. She laughed as she turned to him and said, "Someone does love you that much.  YOU." "Very funny, missy.  But I’m serious.  If you ask me, I think you should give him another chance.", he said standing and walking to the door. "Well, who asked you?", she said causing them both to laugh. The door bell rang. "There’s your food Madame.", he said turning and practically running down the stairs. Kari sighed heavily, "He really does love me."  She placed the letter on the table beside her bed and joined Jason downstairs.               Last Chapter ..*.. Next Chapter ..*.. Chapter Index ..*.. Home