Chapter One
Four Years Ago (contd.)
Vincent waited impatiently outside Julianna's school the next day with his letter. He waited and waited yet she didn't come out. Did she miss school today?
He stood outside the gates confused. Should he go back or wait some more? Nearly all the students had left. He was about to leave when Julianna came running out of the gates, panting and breathless.
"Sorry I'd got detention, " she said, looking embarrassed. Vincent's eyebrows shot up in surprise. How did good girls like her get detention?
"How? What did you do?" He asked her amused by her confession.
"I wasn't paying attention," she said shyly.
"Were you thinking about me?" He asked and she stared at him with round eyes. He was mesmerised by her wide eyed stare. At least he had her full attention on himself now. He held her gaze, daring her to look away.
"No," she mumbled, looking away. Vincent was too excited to see her that he couldn't stay in control around her. "Why did you want to meet me?" She asked him, shyly.
"I wanted to give you this," he said as he took out the letter from his pocket and handed it to her.
"What's this?" She asked in confusion.
"Read it," he insisted.
She opened the paper and read it. Her cheeks coloured profusely as she tried to avoid his eyes. "Won't you say something Anna?" He asked, leaning to look into her eyes.
She blushed more. "I'll come tomorrow and wait here again. I want my answer," he said and she nodded.
"Come I'll drop you home, " he offered, taking her by the hand and leading her to his red Camaro.
They climbed into the plush brand new car. "I got this on my eighteenth birthday," he said, proudly. Julianna was impressed.
She liked Vincent very much. In fact she had developed a crush on him since the night of the party. He was so handsome and more mature than her classmates. He looked at her as if she was the most beautiful girl in the world. He said things that made her heart beat faster. She felt like being with him all the time. She was detained after school because she couldn't concentrate in class. Her mind kept wandering to thoughts of Vincent. She felt that her crush was blooming into a feeling of deep love, a love that came directly from her soul.
"It's very sleek and nice," she answered, shaking herself out of her thoughts.
"You didn't tell me why you couldn't concentrate in your class today," he insisted. He wanted to know whether she was thinking about him the way he was thinking about her.
"It's nothing," she said, embarrassed by his insistence.
They reached her house and she was glad to escape him. "Write your answer down. I want it tomorrow, " he reminded her. She smiled and went inside her house. Closing her door she started breathing hard, smiling at herself as her hand went to her heart. It was thumping loudly against her chest.
At night after dinner, before going to bed she took out a piece of paper and wrote neatly,
I wonder if I'm on your mind as much you're on mine
I want to meet you and be with you every single time
Who knows where the road will lead us
It's difficult to say
But if you let me love you
I'm sure to love you all the way.
Yours Anna
Happy that she could write how she felt, she went to sleep, eagerly waiting for tomorrow when she could give it to Vincent.
The next day as promised, Vincent stood waiting for her in front of her school gates. In fact he bunked a class at his college to be here on time. Julianna came out and saw him. Smiling inwardly, she walked towards his car.
"Hey Anna," he greeted,"Did you write my answer?" He asked impatiently. He couldn't sleep the whole night thinking about what she would write.
"Yes, " she said shyly. He held out his hand asking for her note. She took it out of her backpack and placed the folded note in his hand.
His face grew solemn as he opened the note and read it. Then with dark blue eyes he looked up into hers, there was a storm brewing up in them. "Yes, you are," he answered,"You're on my mind, 24/7," he said and her eyes grew wide as realisation struck that he might be feeling the same way that she was.
"Do you love me?" He asked, excitement bubbling inside him at the thought of Julianna McCoy in love with him.
"Yes," she said softly. He picked up her hand and led her inside the car. Then climbing in, he started the car and drove away. They drove to the Travis lakeside and stood on the beach, hand in hand staring at the huge expanse of water.
"I had sworn to myself on that party night that I would marry you one day, " he breathed as he turned to stare at Julianna.
Her breath caught in her throat as she stared at him in surprise. He must like her to want to marry her.
"Can I kiss you? I won't go home without a kiss," he said huskily.
Julianna nodded shyly and Vincent came closer and pulled her in his arms. His mouth claimed hers hungrily. He couldn't get enough of the kiss. He wanted so much more but she was just sixteen.
He broke off and reluctantly took her home. Stopping the car in front of her house, he asked,"Will you meet me again tomorrow?"
"Yes, " she whispered, before turning to leave but Vincent caught her hand and with the other, he held her head and planted a quick kiss on her mouth. She blushed and climbed down from his car and rushed inside her house. Closing the door softly she placed her hand on her racing heart to calm her nerves.
Opening her eyes she gasped at the sight of her parents staring at her with angry, solemn expressions as if the world had come to a stop and she was responsible for it. She gulped in fright as they approached her.
What would she do?
"What were you thinking? Leroy Martin is our main invester. If he finds out that you're seducing his only son, he will pull out. Don't you have any sense girl?" Shouted her dad.
"Dad, I, " her dad, interrupted her mid sentence," I don't want to hear any excuses," he sair sternly.
"You are grounded, Julie. No school, no going out. We can't take the risk," said her mom.
"I will take her to my sister's house in Alabama, tomorrow," said her dad.
"Please no, dad," she pleaded. "I won't meet Vincent." She promised but her dad simply walked away.
"We're not taking any risk. You will go and that's final," said her mom.
Julianna crumbled down to the floor, sobbing. Why were her parents so ruthless? To them her feelings did not matter at all. Only the business mattered as always.
She sighed heavily and went upstairs to her room, sobbing into her pillow.
