Chapter 3: Gone too long
1400 Words
Chapter 3
Cody
I have Elle’s lips against mine. At first, I was startled, I never could imagine this happen. But now her lips are onto mine and it doesn’t take me long to fall deep into the kiss. I love the feeling I get through my body from her lips.
I was supposed to tell her that I like her, no, that I love her, but I never got the chance before she kissed me. She’s a girl who likes taking matters into her own hands, that’s one of the things I love her for.
Her legs are still locked around my waist, and it seems as if she doesn't want to let go. And I don't want her to, I really don't. I don't want to let her go either.
Soon she just hugs me and has her head on my shoulder. We shouldn't be standing here still, so I walk up to the principal and shakes hand with him. But when I'm about to let go, he doesn't. I put down Elle onto the stage floor again but she clings onto my arm as if she's afraid that I'll disappear if she lets go.
I called the principal and begged him to put Elle last in line, so I could surprise her without ruining the whole ceremony. He said that he would, he was just glad that he could bring Elle some happiness, because apparently, she hasn't been very happy, actually the complete opposite. He told me about many meetings with Elle where he has asked and asked if he can do something to make her feel better. But that doesn't seem like my Elle. She was always happy. Always. But now they tell me she's never happy. That doesn't make sense to me at all.
"Can I ask the the Williams to join us up here please?" The principal asks.
I look down to the audience and can see the members of my family, hurrying up to us. I didn't tell them that I would come home today, because I didn't even know yesterday myself.
I'm supposed to stay now. But I don't know, if I get a callback, I need to leave again, so I really need to take care of this time I have with my family and with Elle.
I don't understand why the principal is keeping me up here though. Why not just let us walk off the stage?
Suddenly I feel myself being wrapped in a women's embrace and I know that my mother's arms reached me first. "Oh, Cody! We've missed you so much sweetheart", she cries.
I don't feel like taking this here upon the stage.
"Can we get down from here?" I ask.
They start to drag me down from the stage. "Elle, come here, you need to take that off", I hear a voice say, which I recognize as Vicky.
Turn my head to look at Elle. She has stopped crying. Vicky starts to drag her away. I want to scream and hold Elle back. I don't want her to leave, but I bite back the scream because I know that she'll be back soon.
Everyone seems to want to let us have some privacy so they all start to leave. The ceremony is over anyway, so there's no need to stay.
I feel my mother's tears drop down on my shirt. I'm a lot taller than her. My brothers and I are all very tall actually.
"No mom, don't cry", I beg.
"I can't help it, Cody, I've missed my baby so much", she cries, stroking my cheek.
I'm used to being called a baby. I'm the youngest in the family. The baby of the family. Rye is seven years older than me, and Daniel is five years older than me. Being the baby of the family has always been my role. That's why I joined the army. I wanted to show everyone that I'm more than a smart kid and the baby of a family. That I'm strong. And that I'm good at things. I really am. But I've never really had a chance to show what I can do. Right now it seems like a mistake. To join the army that is. And maybe it was. I don't know, I mean serving my country can never be wrong, but I joined because of the wrong things.
Soon we're alone. Everyone has left already.
"Oh Peeta it's so good that you're home", Rosa, one of Elle’s two sisters, says and hugs me. "Maybe Elle will be happy again".
I hug her back. "Why is everyone saying that?" I ask.
"You obviously don't know what a rough time she's had Cody", Rye says, pulling me into a hug.
"Yeah, she has been in a really dark place", Daniel says, stealing me from Rye.
What? My beautiful Elle. I really need to talk to her. As long as I’ve known her, she has always been the most positive person in my life. The girl they’re describing doesn’t sound like Elle to me.
I pull away from Daniel and look at Summer. She's standing between her father's legs. I sit down squatting so I'm her height.
"Hey Summer, you remember me?" I ask.
She shakes her head and hides her face onto Ryes leg. It breaks my heart that she doesn't know who I am. I'm her uncle for god's sake!
Maybe it's my military suit that scares her. I take off my hat and bow to her. I can hear Rye's chuckle when I do this.
"I'm your uncle", I say and put on my hat again.
"Nwoo, heww's my unwcuwl", Summer says in a shy unclear voice, pointing at Daniel.
When I left six months ago, she could only say 'dadda'. Oh, she has grown so much. When I saw her last time her golden hair reached her shoulders and had big locks. Now her hair reaches her to her waist in lighter locks. Her green eyes are so big and she's slim now. When I left she was chubby, I guess that’s what happened when you become taller.
I've been gone for too long. That's why she doesn't remember me, she was only one year and a half when I left and now she's two. I missed her birthday as well. And dads, and Rye's and... Elle’s.
I feel really bad about this. "Yeah, that's right, he is, but I'm your other uncle", I say, smiling at her even though my heart is crying.
Summer looks up at Rye. He nods, and Summer looks at me again.
"Hewllo", she says shyly.
I stand up and Rye looks at me with a pitying look. I see Julia. When I left she was about three months pregnant. And now it looks like she's gonna pop any second.
I can't believe how much I've missed out on. I look at my dad. He smiles at me. He looks the same, he hasn’t changed a bit, and for that, I love him.
"Hey dad", I say.
Dad says nothing but pulls me in a hug.
"Is that the only thing you have to say after six months?" He asks.
I laugh.
"What can I say?"
"Nothing, only hearing your voice is enough", I hear the voice that belongs to Elle.
Dad lets me go and I turn around and see Elle standing in front of us.
My eyes widen when I see her without that blue coat and hat. Her dress is so beautiful. No one could possibly pull it off as well as her. And red... My favorite color. She would look beautiful in anything, but this dress, wow. I have no other word for it.
I just stand like frozen to the ground and look at her. She's so beautiful. I haven't told her how much I love her. I mean come on! Fifteen f*****g years have passed since I fell in love with her. It was when I first got eye contact with her and our eyes lingered for at least a good few seconds. Her beautiful eyes, I thought I could look into them forever, and I was a kid so that is saying something.
I get a push in my back and get pushed forward. Elle comes up to me.
"I've missed you", she says.
If only she knew how much I've missed her. Screw this! I wrap my arms around her and pull her to me in a hug. I don't ever wanna let her go.
- Writer
