SL-Chapter 4 There was no way she could go back into his house, so she walked back to Gilbert’s and sat out on the back porch.  She stared at the stars as she thought of how she had looked so forward to coming home.  She had wanted to get away from all of the drama and chaos of her life and come back to the place that gave her the most comfort in the world.  But, there she sat in the middle of yet another self created drama.  She had almost talked herself into going back to California when Matt stepped out onto the porch and sat down next to her.  "It’s so peaceful out here, huh?", he asked.  "Yeah, you can’t see the stars like this back in California.  I miss it."  There was a long pause.  "Just like we missed you.", he said looking her in the eyes.  "I know.  I should have called.  My life just got a little crazy.  And I know that’s no excuse.  I’m sorry.", she said turning her gaze back to the stars.  "I know all about that.  Our lives have turned a little upside down too.  I understand.  But, Jeff, he’s a different story."  "He hates me doesn’t he?", she asked.  He laughed a little, "No, Kari, he doesn’t hate you.  In fact, it’s the complete opposite."  "What do you mean?", she asked now looking at him.  "He’s gonna kill me for telling you this.", he started, "But I think that you need to know."  "Okay.", she said waiting for the story.  "When we were little, Jeff had the biggest crush on you.", he revealed.  "No he didn’t.", she said shoving him slightly.  "No, really.  He was crazy about you.", he said smiling.  "Matt, he was just a little kid.", she said laughing at the thought of the little "squirt" having a crush on her.  "Yeah, a little kid with a big heart.  He use to tell me all the time that one day when he was all grown up, he was going to marry you.  Then when you told him that you were leaving, he gave up that dream.  But then you gave him that necklace, and it gave that dream of his hope again."  "Gee, Matt, I didn’t mean it like that.  I never knew.", she said.  "I know you didn’t.  But when you stopped calling, it broke his heart.  He never has let that go.  I think he’s still crazy about you.  I know he is.", Matt said.  "Surely he doesn’t still feel that way.  It’s been ten years.  Besides, he has a girlfriend who your Dad says he’s crazy about.", she said trying to shatter the thought of Jeff being in love with her.  "He puts up a good front for Dad and Kristin.  I mean, he cares about Kristin, but you still hold that special place in his heart.  Trust me, I’m the one he drags to see your movies 3 and 4 times. Not that I don’t enjoy them, but I don’t like to watch ANY movie over and over.   And every time we’re in a store and he sees one of those rag mags with you on it, he buys it.  Hell, anything with you in it or on it, he buys."  Kari didn’t know what to say.  "I’ll never forget when you married that drummer guy.  I thought he would never pull out of that depression.  And then, when the story came out about how he beat you, it took all that I had to keep him from going to California.  Hell, it took all I had to keep myself from coming out there and killing him."  Kari grew sad at the thought of how she let him beat her, how she let it go on for so long.  "Matt, I didn’t know.", is all that she could say.  "I know.  But I thought that you should.", he said putting his arm around her.  "Now how do I deal with it?", she asked.  "I don’t know, sweetie.  I guess the best way you can.", he said as she laid her head on his shoulder.  He kissed her on the forehead.  "I’m just glad that you’re here.", he said, "Well, I’m worn out.  I think that I’m gonna hit the sack."  "Okay.  Good night.", she said.  "You coming in?", he asked.  "Yeah.", she said.  Gilbert had fixed up Jeff’s old room for her to sleep in.  She laid down in the bed, her head swimming from all of the information that she had taken in.  She tossed and turned for about an hour before she finally dozed off to sleep.                      Last Chapter ..*.. Next Chapter ..*.. Chapter Index ..*.. Home