αяє ωє тнє ѕαмє αиумσяє؟ (Private: Vertia)

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    Brooklyn Hayes: Age Eighteen
    The door slams shut and all I can hear is the sobs that escape from my throat as I lean my back against the door. All I can think is that he's leaving me. He's leaving me behind and I may never seen him again. The thought tears my heart apart further and I move to the side of my bed.


    I fall against the covers, allowing the soft material to hug my shaking body like a mother would hold her terrified child. My day had started with pure shock and fear, and now I feel rejection. What more could go wrong? This night was suppose to answer questions flowing in my mind, but now I still have them.


    I took a deep breath and tried to regain control, pulling out my cell phone from my pocket. I slide my finger across the screen and look at the picture of me and my boyfriend. He is the one leaving, going off to the military. I know I have to tell him my news, I know he has a right to know, but right now I can't stop crying enough to do so.


    I turn the phone off and set it down on my nightstand. I'll just try again in the morning.


    Brooklyn Hayes: Age Twenty-two
    Present day


    I stand behind the counter of the only small corner cafe in town. My salmon red shirt is buttoned from the bottom up, leaving the top collar button unbuttoned. A white apron is tied around my slim waist, and black slacks complete my little outfit. The everyday wear of a waitress here.


    I run a rag over the white counter tops, cleaning up anything dropped by the customers. Currently it's a slow time in the day and not many people come in, giving me some breathing time. It's the little moments of relaxation that I now hope to steal away.


    I glance over at the small table nearby, spying a little boy there. He has medium length, curly, blonde hair and fair skin. Freckles decorate his delicate little nose and his vivid blue eyes are focused on the picture he colors. He's the perfect little man at the age of three and a half.


    A sigh escapes my throat. He is my pride and joy, and I work the way I do to make sure I can provide for him, but there is one thing missing from his life that I fear may stay a missing piece: his father. I look towards the door of the cafe and let my thoughts take over, just this once.

    Where is he now? Is he even still alive? Does he even think of me for a second anymore?


    I shake my head to rid these thoughts from my head and return to my work. I have more important things to think about than the man who I couldnt convince to stay. I just hate that my little boy may have to settle on having someone else in the father role.


    Plot
    Brooklyn Hayes is the young girl who caught your character's heart the moment he laid eyes on her. She is beautiful and charming, yet fun and outgoing. There is never a boring time with her, and they soon became close friends. As time passed with them growing closer, he decided to make her his girlfriend.


    No other couple was better paired than these two. Mostly everyone liked to see them together, and what they saw was a perfectly happy couple. This is how things were as their high school years flew by; high school sweethearts that pictured a whole future with each other.


    But things have a way of changing.


    You character finds his calling to go into military, wanting to help his country and maybe become something big. However, Brooklyn doesnt want to hear anything about it. At first, she thought that it was just a thought that he had, just an idea, but the final night that she went over was when she found him packing and getting ready.


    As they both tried to prove their point on whether he should or shouldn't go, everything ended up in a yelling match and tears. Brooklyn gave in and left his home, leaving him to his bags and packing. However, she never got to tell him the news that she had found out that morning; the whole reason she had gone over that night: she was pregnant, and it was his child.


    The next morning he was gone.


    Now, four years later, your character returns home for the first time since he left. There has been no connection between him and Brooklyn since that night, so neither knows where the other is. However, one day they meet up, and Brooklyn has to decide whether he should know about their son or not.


    How will he react to the news? Will he accept the small boy or leave him to Brooklyn like he has been all these years? How will he feel when he finds out that some one else behind the scenes may be trying to step into Brooklyn's life in his place?


    Other
    Just let me know if you will be gone for a while so I can keep this unlocked :)
    You can use the form I have in the spoiler below, or you can use one that you prefer. Either way works.


    Brooklyn Hayes


    Jaxon Hayes


    Form (Optional to use)

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    [font=georgia][color=white]
    Ainsley Brodinczni
    name pronunciation: AYNZ-lee Broh-DIHNCH-nee
    age: 23
    basic appearance:
    - 6ft 4in
    - muscular build
    - medium brown hair
    - brown/hazel eyes
    personality: estj personality type, "the executive"
    People with the estj personality type are described as "Excellent administrators, unsurpassed at managing things--or people."
    Strengths:
    - Dedicated
    - Strong-willed
    - Direct and honest
    - Loyal, patient and reliable
    - Enjoy creating order
    - Excellent organizers
    Weaknesses:
    - Inflexible and stubborn
    - Uncomfortable with unconventional situations
    - Judgmental
    - Too focused on social status
    - Difficult to relax
    - Difficulty expressing emotion

    The post was edited 1 time, last by Vertia ().

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    Oh he looks nice. Just tell me when you are finished, or when you would like to start.
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    [font=georgia][color=white]Finished! I hope that is enough for you. If not, I could add on some more. :)

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    That;s perfect. Thank you! I'll start us off.




    The soft music playing, the sound of silver wear hitting the plates, and the quiet satisfaction of served costumers. Just another day for Brooklyn.




    She stood behind the diner counter, wiping it down with a rag. She wore a white, button-up, short sleeve blouse, a small black skirt, and a red apron that framed her slender hips well. Her hair was pulled up and back in a neat bun, with only her bangs hanging at the side of her face. She wore black flats and worked diligently, pausing now and then to check on customers.




    This was what it was like almost every day of the week. She comes in either early morning or in the afternoon, serve customers and clean dishes during her shift, and then goes home to her mother's house. However, it wasnt as dreary as it sounds. Brook had many good friends at the diner now, and she often had a small visitor to keep her company. She glanced over as she worked, her eyes landing on a small boy in a booth nearby.




    Little Jaxon. His curly mop of blonde hair and his vivid eyes could make her day bright at any moment. He sat there quietly, knowing it wouldnt be best to interrupt at mommy's work. He colored with crayons that were provided, seemingly content, but Brooklyn knew he would rather not be here all day. Her mother however, his grandmother, had to work as well, so half the time she had to bring him along. But he always acted like the perfect little gentleman, and liked to keep close to Brook anyways.




    This brought a smile to Brook's lips. He is so much like his dad... Every now and then, thoughts of her high school sweetheart, Ainsley, would meet her out of the blue, just like it had now. It was in these times that her mind took little detours to what they once had, but she quickly got her mind set back on work. It was true that she thought of him often, and wondered where he was and if he was okay but there had been little communication between them for years. All she could do at this point was just hope.
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    [font=georgia][color=white]Ainsley didn't regret his decision to join the military at the age of nineteen. It had always been a silent calling to stand up and fight for this place that he was so grateful to have been born in. He loved his country immensely, and he felt that it was necessary to show that appreciation by fighting for it. So that was what he did.


    He served for four years, and didn't regret a single minute. Everything he did was to make his country and its citizens proud. Not once did he complain, even when hell seemed to be raining down on him. He didn't whine when his best friend gave his life to protect their glorious country. The tears he shed were not for his own grief, but for the loss of a brave soldier. He would save his own mourning for another time, a time when his country wasn't relying on him.


    But there was one thing that would occasionally weave its way into Ainsley's thoughts that made him feel regret: the way he had left the girl named Brooklyn Hayes.


    Ainsley regretted everything about those last two days. He had wanted to keep his leaving a secret from Brooklyn, fearing that her knowing would end all possibilities of her being happy in the last few weeks they had together. Except his plan failed miserably when she showed up the night before his departure and saw him packing his bags.


    That night haunted Ainsley for the next four years. It had gone so wrong. Ainsley had never meant to yell at Brooklyn; the last thing he ever wanted to do was to hurt her. He had been trying to push away his sadness at leaving her, forget about it completely, so maybe then it wouldn't hurt so much when he had to walk away from her. So he bottled up his feelings for as long as he could. But when he had seen Brooklyn that night, the hurt that swam in her eyes, the way she was begging him to stay, his sadness was so severe that he didn't understand what it was anymore. He was overwhelmed by the amount of hurt inside of him and he didn't know how he was supposed to handle it. So instead he took that sadness and turned it into something that was easier for him to understand and express: anger. Ainsley protected himself by snapping back at Brooklyn, and soon enough they were both hurling harsh words at each other. He didn't realize it then, but he had been crying the entire time.


    The plan was that, in the morning, Ainsley would stop at Brooklyn's house before he left.


    For obvious reasons, that didn't happen.


    He wasn't sad until he had taken his seat in the airplane. That was when he had realized what he had done, how he had left. Ainsley had gotten up to leave, to run from the large aircraft that was going to take him away from the girl he loved. He wanted to be by her side again, holding her close, kissing her sweetly. That was how he wanted to leave her. But the airplane had already departed.


    That was what Ainsley regretted the most: not saying goodbye like he should have.


    While he was in the military, Ainsley remembered her. It was true that he still loved her, would most likely always love her, but in his eyes their relationship was over. She wouldn't wait around during the most exciting four years of her life for the high school sweetheart that abandoned her. That would be stupid of her. Ainsley assumed that she was already with someone else, maybe even married. It was strange how that thought could make Ainsley both happy and sad at the same time. So Ainsley decided that, although he would always love and remember her, he needed to move on.


    Four years later, however, and he had still not had a single relationship.


    (Okay, I know this is a really long post that contains a lot of nothing actually happening, and I'm sorry. But I was kind of wondering, when do you want them to meet up? It would make sense for them to meet at the cafe your character works at, and I was going to have that in my post, but I was worried that it would be too early.)

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    (No your post was amazing. I loved reading it because it gave a little inside to how he thought about everything happening. I was thinking they would meet at the diner as well while she was working, if thats alright with you. It kind of adds a surprise factor to both of them.)




    Brook hustled from booth to booth as lunch time rolled around. This small diner became rather busy during lunch time, though she couldn't exactly understand why. Maybe it was the food, or the relaxing atmosphere, or the fact that the prices we're rather good for the amount of food they got. Whatever the reason though, Brook was happy for the extra tips.




    When things started to get a little break, all the customers happily served and eating, Brook felt a light tap on her shoulder. Turning, she came face to face with Melody, her best friend for as long as she could remember. "You've been thinking of him, haven't you?"




    Brook knew who Melody was referring to. Melody had a special way of reading her like a book.




    Brook drew a breath a nodded slightly. "Its that obvious, huh?" she asked, to which she earned a playful eye roll and a nudge.




    "Its written all over your face," Melody answered before shaking her head. "I don't know why you do though. Its been four years Brook. I think it's time you move on." Brook could also read the underlining statement Melody wasn't outwardly stating. She was referring to Joshua.




    Joshua had become a regular here lately, and Brook knew him from high school though they had never been close back then. He liked to come and talk to Brook, as well as try to play with Jaxon, though Jaxon seemed to have no interest in it. He was a good man, a good friend, but Brook couldn't handle the idea of a new relationship right now. She just hasn't been drawn to someone like she was to Ainsley.




    Glancing over at Jaxon, she could hear the young boy singing a children's song to himself. He was always so happy, a ray of sunshine, and a lot of fun to have around, much like his father. However, she also always felt a current of regret in her chest. He knew his daddy, or at least stories of him, but his daddy didn't even have a hint towards him. She had every intention of making him known that night. She had just found out and was emotionally a wreck before she saw the bags being packed. Through high tension, the baby was never mentioned, and Brook wished Ainsley knew now.




    But that was just something she had to live with now. And even if she had the chance, she wasn't sure she could actually tell him. She didn't want Jaxon hurt if he left again.
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    [font=georgia][color=white]Ainsley sat in the passenger seat of his mother's miniature Toyota. He watched in the rear-view mirror as his brothers, Alexander and Adrian, squirmed uncomfortably in the back seats. The boys, both older than Ainsley, were both as wide as an armchair and struggled to find space in the cramped Toyota.


    "Why does Ainsley get to sit in the front?" Adrian practically whined.


    "Because he's the one who got back from four years of service in our nation's military, Adrian," their mother snapped from the drivers seat. The look on Adrian's face told Ainsley that he already knew this, obviously, he was only joking. Their mother, however, wasn't much of the joker.


    After a seemingly long and uncomfortable drive, they finally pulled into the diner's parking lot. The sight of the building brought strong memories back to Ainsley. This had always been his favorite restaurant, where he went whenever he could. That was why Ainsley had chosen to come here when his mother asked where he wanted to eat.


    Ainsley couldn't help but remember the meals he ate here with Brooklyn.


    Everything reminded him of Brooklyn.


    He wanted to see her so badly that it surprised himself. On the entire drive to the diner, Ainsley couldn't help but to look out the window in hopes of seeing her walking a dog or shopping with a friend. It was ridiculous, but Ainsley couldn't tear his eyes away. He clung on to the hope that she hadn't moved away in the past 4 years.


    It didn't even make sense why he wanted to see her. What would he say? What would he do? He had left her. She had moved on. She was probably married. There was no reason for him to want to see her. Yet he still did.


    The family of four squeezed their way from the car and made their way into the diner. Ainsley smiled at the little ding of the bell above the door. The sounds and smells came to him at once; the clinking of silverware against plates, the calm chatting of family and friends, the smell of syrup on brunch pancakes and the cheese on burgers. Ainsley could breathe these scents and hear these noises forever.


    He looked around as he waited to be seated, wondering if he'd recognize anyone. The town wasn't that large, and some of the kids he went to high school with could still live here. There wasn't a point in not looking, and reuniting with some of his guy friends like Michael and Joshua was something he was actually hoping to do at one point.


    And then he found her.


    Despite how much she had changed in the past four years, Ainsley recognized her immediately. Her gorgeous blonde hair and chocolate brown eyes were something that he could never forget even if he wanted to. She was wearing a waitresses' uniform, with a nicely fitting salmon top and a clean white apron. Her hair was so much longer than Ainsley remembered. Where before it had barely passed her shoulders, now it was tumbling almost past her chest. Her brown eyes seemed older, more mature, with a lot less amount of their liveliness and youthfulness. Even her face had become slightly more structured, more adult-like. But she was still absolutely gorgeous.


    Brooklyn was still living in Elmswood, Tennessee, and she was working as a waitress in the restaurant that Ainsley was going to eat at.


    He told himself to stop staring at her. She's probably married! She's moved on! She doesn't care about you anymore! She probably doesn't even remember you! Ainsley's mind screamed at him. But he couldn't stop. Brooklyn, the woman he never thought he would see again, was right here in front of him. It was a miracle. He missed her smile, her walk, her, so much and he was only realizing it now. So he couldn't look away because he didn't want to miss her anymore.

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    ((I apologize in advance if this post isn't the best. I just got home from work, and I am completely drained.))




    Melody had finally let the subject of Joshua and Ainsley drop, leaving the counter to serve some customers that had walked in. Brook was happy for the break. She knew her friend meant well, and she knew she was only trying to he'll, but this was something that Melody just wouldn't be able to understand. Melody had a steady boyfriend who has always stayed around here, she's never had his child, and he didn't have any plans of ever moving from this town. Melody would have him here with her forever probably.




    Brook sighed slightly and folded up her towel, turning to hang it on the rack behind her. Thats when she heard the bell ring a second time. She knew this customer was hers since Melody had her own. So Brook got her ticket pad, a pen, and got ready to greet the new comers.




    However, that greeting hardly left her lips.




    As she turned, her eyes landed on a party of four. She recognize them as well. The woman, she knew, was Ainsley's mother, and two men were his brothers. A familiar ache returned to her chest as she saw them, once again aching for the past. However, it was the third man that caught her gaze.




    He was staring. He was staring at her. His brownish hazel eyes shown recognition, and she could hardly believe what her mind was telling her. Ainsley...




    Her eyes began to study him, though she hardly meant to at this moment. His face was more refined, rugged almost than what it was as a young teen. It was shaped by the years of physical endurance and concentration that no doubt was forced into by the military. Gone was the mischievous glint in the eyes of a teenage boy and replaced was the experienced look of a young man. But it was still him. It was still Ainsley.




    And Brook would know him anywhere.




    Remembering she was at work, Brook snapped out of her surprised, studious phase and approached him and his family. "If you'd like to take a seat wherever you feel comfortable with, I'll be happy to get your drink orders in." Her voice was sweet, gentle, and shown her years of practise as a waitress. Though her heart and stomach were flipping and her mind racing at the sight of Ainsley, and no doubt she looked absolutely dumbfounded at the fact that he was actually here, she had to keep her role as a waitress at work.
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    [font=georgia][color=white]When Brooklyn spoke, Ainsley was really hit with his emotions. It was almost like a confirmation, something that suddenly made it completely clear that this was really Brooklyn. It really was her. And while on the outside he was completely stiff, unable to speak or even move, his heart was aching and hammering inside his chest.


    The silence after she spoke was incredibly long, or at least it felt that way. When she spoke, nobody answered. Ainsley knew he didn't have the ability to do anything, so he waited for someone else to take control. But just like Ainsley, the brothers and the mother were shocked beyond words.


    "Oh, Brooklyn, it is so delightful to see you!" Ainsley's mother finally said with her strong southern accent. Of course Brooklyn had been a huge part of Ainsley's life, so their families were surprisingly close. So seemingly forgetting how her own son had left Brooklyn behind, Ainsley's mother went up to Brooklyn and wrapped her in a hug, whether Brooklyn wanted to or not. That was the type of woman Ainsley's mother was; she hugged everyone and anyone and didn't care whether you wanted a hug or not.


    When she pulled back she still had a huge smile on her face. "Please, darling, you don't need to be all formal with us. We know each other just too darn well for that." She tossed a suggestive smile over her shoulder to Ainsley, who tried snapping out of his daze by giving a small, awkward smile and a slight wave of his hand at Brooklyn. He still couldn't utter a single word. There was so much to talk about, but he could think of nothing to say to her. It was all so much. His mind was flashing with memories of her, with her, the moments they shared and the things they did together, the things they could still do together. But it was all so unrealistic. They were done, a thing in the past. She had moved on. He had moved on. Right? How was he supposed to act towards her now? He didn't have any answers, and it was bothering him. He didn't know what to do.

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    Brook was caught off guard by the hug, though subconsciously she knee it was coming. There was part of her brain that still remembered the little things about this family. However, it's been so long since she actually spent time with the family that her actions regarding the small things were delayed. When his mom wrapped Brooklyn in a hug, she had stiffened slightly before she return the hug cautiously.




    The kindness and warm meeting shocked her though.




    They knew that she and Ainsley we're together now, right? She didn't word whether or not they knew about the fight, but surely they knew that they had split. Still, the welcoming was very appreciated, especially since she missed his family almost as much as she missed him.




    She offered a smile and nodded. "I guess I'm just used to being a bit more formal," she answered, motioning to her uniform. "It tends to bring in some good tips." She looked over at Ainsley once more, seeing his small smile and wave. She returned them both, though she was at a loss as to how to really act.




    Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see they had two questioning gazes. One was Melody, who would definitely be asking questions, and the other, Jaxon.
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    [font=georgia][color=white]Ainsley was embarrassed by how open and loving his mother was sometimes. She knew what had happened, she knew where Ainsley and Brooklyn were. But Ainsley's mother was caring and loving, and when she got close to somebody then she got really close to them. Of course, because Ainsley had been with Brooklyn for so long and she had been a big part of his life, his mother got to know her pretty well. So despite the fact that she knew what her son had done to Brooklyn, Ainsley's mother would hug her because he missed her.


    "Here, let's go find a seat. Ainsley, where would you like to sit?"


    Ainsley was surprised to hear his name. He came back to full attention and felt the shock of seeing Brooklyn fall away, at least externally. His strong, relaxed persona appeared again and he smiled easily at his mother.


    "Why don't you pick, Mama?" he said. His voice obeyed him by sounding completely casual despite his racing heart.


    "Oh, such a gentleman," Ainsley's mother gushed before scuttling to a window-side booth. Feeling more comfortable, Ainsley let himself do something other than stare at Brooklyn. As he passed her, he gave her a friendly smile and simply said: "Hey." Neither he nor she could forget about what they used to be, no matter what they were now. While Ainsley had left her with an aggressive argument, there had been so much more that had happened between them. He didn't smile at her like he used to do, mischeviously and flirtatiously, but casually and friendly. Because there was a strong possibility that she wouldn't appreciate that, whether it be because she hated him for leaving her or because she had somebody else. Either way, he at least had to acknowledge all that had happened before he left four years ago.


    He followed his family into the booth and took the outside seat next to Xander. He felt both of his brother's gazes burning into him, but Ainsley refused to look at them. They were probably freaking out as much as he was, itching to ask him what the hell he was going to do, but Ainsley couldn't answer him yet. Besides, Brook was still right there, and she was stealing all of his attention.

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    Brooklyn could feel Ainsley's gaze on her before his mother spoke up, though she was unable to meet it. At any other time, in any other place, maybe she would be able to look at him and really take in the fact that he was here; he was here, alive, unhurt as far as she knew, and home from fighting. He was back in their little town and he was back in the small diner that they had made memories at years ago.




    But she couldnt. Not right now.




    The shock she felt from these simple facts weighed heavily on her. He was back, and she felt relief and happiness from that, but she also felt nervousness and uncertainty. He didnt know about Jax, and honestly had every right to know, and since he was back, she would have to tell him sooner or later. But how? She couldn't simply just walk up to him and state that she had his child. No, this kind of news need better introduction than that. But Brook wasnt sure she could do that. And what if he didnt care to hear? What if he didnt care to see Jaxon as his son?




    Brook was brought out of her trouble thoughts when she heard his voice. She looked up at him, due to her height being a bit shorted than his, and saw his friendly smile. She returned it with a small smile of her own, her voice gentle and sweet as she spoke. "It's nice to see you again," she offered softly as she moved just behind him and his family to their booth. She clicked her pen and waited patiently until they were all seated. "Can I start everyone off with something to drink?" She asked, her pen poised and ready to write.




    Meanwhile, she could feel Melody's gaze on her as she walked over to her side. Brook silently held her breath until she heard Melody softly whisper into her ear. She let her know that she was cooking a small lunch for Jaxon, and before Brook could respond, said she was paying for it this time. Brook watched her friend walk over to her son, knowing better than to try and argue with Melody. She cared and helped with Jaxon quite a bit, and Jaxon saw her pretty much as his aunt.




    Grinning softly, she looked back at the family's table, awaiting their orders.
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    [font=georgia][color=white]Just when Ainsley thought he was going to be fine, Brooklyn spoke to him. Brooklyn spoke, to him. Her beautiful voice, the one that had told him that she loved him, the one who had spoken so many beautiful things to him in the past, was speaking to him now. And then what she said only made it worse.


    It'a nice to see you again.


    Ainsley was filled with joy and hope. She didn't hate him! She might even still love him! No, that was too far. But she still didn't hate him for what he did! She was actually glad to see him; she wouldn't be glad to see him if she had a husband, would she? Or was she just being friendly? But she had spoken quietly to him, her voice almost private. What could that mean? Did she still like him? Was there really a chance that they could be alright?


    Then Brooklyn asked what everyone wanted to drink. They started with Mama, then Adrian, then Xander, then Ainsley. But the words froze in his mouth as Brook turned her kind, friendly gaze on him. God, what was his deal? His eyes locked into hers and he felt a sudden, strong sense of longing. He longed for what they were, what they could still possibly be. He wondered if the desire was conveying from his gaze. Something about that thought, about her knowing how he felt, made his heartbeat increase. Even if she was with someone else now, he at least wanted to know where Brook was. Except, where was he? He didn't even know the answer to his own question.


    "Sprite," Ainsley finally said after what must have been a few long moments of silence. Ainsley kept his gaze locked onto Brooklyn's wide, almond-shaped eyes. He had looked into those same eyes so many times and told their owner that he loved her. Most everything he had done, he had done looking into those eyes. He could always tell what she was thinking or feeling just by looking at them. Now, he was hoping to maybe find an answer there, as desperate as he was. Because although it was stupid and wrong, Ainsley still loved Brook and he hoped that she still loved him too.

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    Brook swiftly wrote down their orders in the trained short hand she had learned while working here. When working as a waitress, you did anything really to make things faster and easier for both you and the customers. However, she had to pause when she came to Ainsley, due to the fact that she had yet to hear his answer. But there he was again, staring at her, right in her eyes. Like so many time before.




    Did that mean he still thought of the past? There was intensity in his gaze, so what was he thinking about? Was it the years they spent together? The memories? Did he think of her while he was out training or battling? God knows she thought of him quite often when she was able to lay down at night. Did he do the same? So many questions blazed through her mind as she looked at those brownish-hazel eyes, and a slight blush formed on her delicate cheeks.




    It shocked her though. No one has really made her blush since he had left because no one was able to make her heart race like he had. No one was able to read her like he was, and no one made her feel more safe and secure like he once had. She looked down sheepishly for a moment at her own blushing, unable to continue to hold the intensity of his gaze.




    When he finally answered "Sprite", she wrote it down quickly and slipped the pad into her pocket. "I'll get that right out for you," she said and looked around the table with a soft smile. When her gaze landed on Ainsley once more, she offered a small nod towards him before walking back to the counter.




    She could feel her heart racing in her chest, threatening to be heard. It was true. She still felt something towards him. Was it love? She wasnt sure. She wasnt sure only because of the fear and uncertainty that she also felt. Did he love her still? Would he want to stay here? Or would he leave again? Or did he even care for her any more? His gaze had told a different story, but the thought still remained. And what of Jaxon? What would he think of her precious boy?




    She tried to push all thoughts aside as she worked to get their drinks.
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    [font=georgia][color=white]Ainsley's looked after her as he walked away, his heart racing. Thoughts ran through his mind and fed him hope. She was blushing. Oh my God, she was blushing. She had to still feel something for her, didn't she? If she were married, she wouldn't have blushed and smiled at him, right? She would have just brushed him off and took his drink order as it was. But she blushed and smiled the shy smile that he had seen so many times, when he had asked her to prom or told her that he loved her or that she was beautiful. And once again the longing hit him. He wanted to have her back. But did he really? He couldn't tell anymore. So many years had passed since they had seen each other; it was a different story now. Ainsley was stuck in a whirlwind of confusion, and he didn't know how to handle it.


    The entire family was silent, staring at Ainsley staring after Brook. They all seemed to be thinking, or they just didn't know what to say. They knew how precarious this situation was.


    "Dude, that's seriously Brook," Xander stated.


    "Obviously, dumbass," Adrian said back.


    "Okay, what to eat," Ainsley said in a failed attempt at being casual. He looked to the menu and tried finding something to eat, but he could feel the stares of his brothers and his mama burning into him.


    "Are you just gonna pretend that you didn't just see Brooklyn, your high school sweetheart, and totally flirted with her?" Adrian asked.


    "We weren't flirting," Ainsley said strongly, still not meeting any of his family's gazes. He had to act as if what had happened didn't really effect him, or else he would have to really think about his emotions. "And it's not that big of a deal. She was my high school sweetheart. Before I left we got in an argument and we were done. We didn't talk to each other once. End of story." Except as he was saying this, he was beginning to even convince himself that there really wasn't anything anymore. They dated in high school. That surely couldn't be seen as such a big deal, could it. But as he said the last part, about not talking for the past four years, his voice slightly faltered. He remembered all of the times that he would sit next to his laptop and type up long, emotional emails to Brooklyn, only to delete them before they could get sent anywhere. He had wanted to talk to her; some nights the longing was so bad that he stole off to wherever he could find privacy and cried about what he had lost. But the fear that she wouldn't want to hear what he had to say, the worry of being rejected, was too great and Ainsley didn't want to risk it.


    "Sweetie," Mama said, pulling Ainsley from his thoughts. Ainsley had been looking down at his menu, hiding his face and the sadness that was beginning to show in the redness of his cheeks and the glistening of his eyes. He looked up at the feel of his mama's hand on his. He blinked his eyes a few times, surprised at their wetness. God, what was his deal?


    "Ainsley, it's alright. I know this is probably real stressful for you to see her. Do you want to go somewhere else?"


    Ainsley shook his head roughly, tossing away any trace of sadness from his face, and gently pulled his hand out from under his mama's.


    "No no no, I'm fine. It's fine. She's just my ex-girlfriend." But even just saying the words felt wrong. Of course Mama, the woman who had raised Ainsley from infancy to adulthood, saw easily through Ainsley's lie.


    "She'll never just be an ex-girlfriend to you, Ainsley. You may have left on a bad note and seemed like you were done, but there was a lot between you two. And by what I can tell, she hadn't forgotten that either." Her eyebrows arched in a way that brought the hope and happiness rushing back to Ainsley. His mama was always right. Could she be right about this?


    "What am I supposed to do?" Ainsley asked, letting some of his nerves show. Mama smiled at the display.


    "I can't tell you that, but I think there may be a chance that she feels the same way you do. Just keep that in mind." With that, Mama looked down at the menu and began flipping through, smiling softly to herself. Ainsley let her words soak in, let himself think about what to do now. Mama thought that Brooklyn could still have feelings for him. Could that really be true? Could Brooklyn feel the same way? Ainsley had seen her blush and look down sheepishly. She wouldn't have done that if she had a husband. So was Ainsley safe to at least kind of flirt? He had no damn clue.


    So he looked down at the menu, his head still spinning as he tried to pick out what to eat.

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    Brooklyn looked at the drinks as they filled one by one, lost in her thoughts as she stood there. So many things were going through her and she couldn't get any of it straight. That's when she felt a light touch on her shoulder and she jumped slightly, almost dropping the glass she was holding. She looked beside her quickly, seeing that it was Melody.




    "Sorry," Melody said quickly. "I didnt mean to startle you, but you looked a bit lost there."




    "Oh, no, don't worry about it," Brook answered, situating the glass once more to continue filling it. Melody, however, didnt move away.




    Instead she leaned in closer, dropping her voice to a soft whisper. "Alright, who's the family, who's the guy, and what has he done to make you loss yourself like this?" Of course Melody wouldn't know any of them. She had only heard the stories about them, but never saw them face to face. And even if Brook had described Ainsley as best she could, that didnt mean she could recognize him now. Brook drew a slight breath.




    "That's Ainsley's family. And the guy I was talking too? That one is Ainsley..."




    Melody looked at her with her mouth slightly open and stole a glance towards the table. "You're lying," she said and then looked back at Brook. "Tell me you're lying." When Brook said nothing, Melody shook her head slightly. "Just say the word. Say the word, and I'll make him leave."




    Brook quickly shook her head. "No, no, dont do that. There is nothing wrong with him being here. He has every right to eat here." Brook set the glass down and picked up the next one, keeping her gaze away from Melody.




    "So you want your ex here? Do you still have a thing for him?"




    Brook didnt move. "No...Well, maybe...Melody, I dont know, and I cant think about that right now."




    Melody wouldnt take that for an answer. "Its a simple question Brook. Either you like him, or you dont. Either you want him here or you dont. So which is it?" Melody was a sap for anything romantic and, no doubt, she was trying to form some kind of fairytale story out of this. "I mean, he definitely is hot, and a soldier boy is definitely a good catch. No wonder you fell for him as quickly as you did."




    Brook looked over at her, shaking her head slightly. "Melody please. Stop trying to push me on this. I cant-" She felt liquid run over her hands and she looked down to see that she had overfilled the glass, and the drink was running everywhere. She quickly put the glass down, and Melody reached over for a towel. Brook huffed in annoyance and looked at Melody. "I cant do this right now."




    With that, Brook went to the back room, shutting the door behind her, leaving Melody to clean up. Hot tears filled her eyes and she sank down against the wall. All she could think about was the fact that Ainsley was home. He was safe. Her heart aches to go to him and hug him, tell him how much she missed him, but she couldnt. Fear kept her back and, right now, all she could do was cry.
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    [font=georgia][color=white]Focusing on what to eat was impossible. The more he thought about the past, about Brook, the more troubled he became. For the first time in months, Ainsley let himself think in depth about Brooklyn. He had done this multiple times while he was in the military, and every time he felt the ache of missing her like a knife stabbing in his chest. And every time he broke out crying. He regretted what he had done and missed her so much. He missed her so much! He believed that he would propose to her one day, they would get married and have children together and he would be by her side forever. He couldn't imagine growing up with any other smile or any other pair of eyes or any other mane of soft glowing hair. And yet he left all of it, all of her perfection behind, by yelling at her. And he hated himself because of it.


    And now she was here, talking to him and smiling and blushing like she had when they had first met, but he didn't know what he felt and he didn't know what she felt and he didn't know what was right. What the hell was right? Had he moved on or not? Obviously not. He needed to, he should, but he just couldn't. At least not while she was right here. But what about her? What did she think? How did she feel? Should he flirt or not? What the hell was he doing?


    All of this was happening because he was the dick who yelled at her and then left her.


    He was extremely overwhelmed. The only time so many emotions had ever taken this much of a hold on him was when he fought with Brooklyn the first and last time. And he didn't know how to handle it.


    Suddenly he realized that hot tears were forming in his eyes and threatening to run over.


    "I gotta go to the bathroom," Ainsley said quickly, with voice thick and wavering with emotion. He shot up from his seat and hurried towards the bathroom before the tears could run over. Just before he put his hand on the door, he heard her. Somewhere nearby, barely audible, Ainsley heard crying. Worry instantly sparked through him as he recognized the cry. He had heard the same sniffles on the night before he left. They were the cries that echoed in his mind most nights whenever he allowed himself to think about her. They were Brooklyn's cries.


    Ainsley immediately hated himself. She was crying because of him! It was the only thing that made sense. Why was he so good at hurting her? He didn't even know what he did to hurt her, but he hated himself anyway. Why has he smiled at her? Why had he said anything to her? In fact, why had he even come here? Just like the last time he had seen her, he was hurting her.


    He wanted to go to her. To comfort her and hug her and kiss her like he should have done the morning he left. But would she appreciate his presence or would that only make it worse? And what was he supposed to do? How was he supposed to act? He didn't know anything anymore, and everything was too overwhelming for him to even think straight. So now he was left without logic, and his heart was left to make his decisions. He did what he desired the most, what his instincts and heart told him to do.


    Ainsley ran to find her. It was stupid, it was desperate, and everything else in between. But he couldn't listen to her crying. He couldn't stand causing Brooklyn pain, and this time he wanted to be there to comfort her. He didn't want to spend the rest of his life regretting the fact that he didn't go back to her. He wasn't going to make that mistake again. And even though it was possible that he would only make it worse, that she hated him, his feet kept carrying him towards her and he couldn't do anything about it.


    He found her sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall. Tears filled her beautiful chocolate eyes, occasionally spilling over her cheeks. Her face was blotchy and red. And Ainsley hated it. He couldn't stand the sight of her crying, of her hurt. The desire to go to her, to pull her into his arms and stroke her hair and wipe the tears from her eyes, was surprisingly strong. But even without much of his logical mind left, Ainsley couldn't do that. He didn't want to scare her. So many possibilities of what he could and wanted to do ran through his mind, but he didn't do any of them. He was too afraid of only making her more upset.


    So instead he stood there, looking at her with a concerned and worried expression, wanting to run to her but unable to move.

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    Brook hated that she was crying. She hated crying at anytime, but right now, at work, with people out there, she hated that she was crying. No doubt Jaxon would soon be looking for her, and soon she would have to act as if nothing happened. That was something she had grown well in doing. She didnt want Jaxon to worry about her and didnt want to upset him, so every time she cried she had to play it off as if it was nothing later.




    But she couldn't do it right now. She couldnt. Her heart was wrenching and fighting with her mind. There was a war in her as she thought of Ainsley and she didnt know how to win it. So she cried. She cried as softly as she could, letting her tears fall on her cheeks and not bothering to wipe them away.




    Until she felt a gaze hold her.




    Slowly she lifted her brown eyes, only to find none other than Ainsley standing there. Quickly she scramble to her feet, putting a hand on the wall behind her to steady herself. She made herself look like a fool in front of him. She ran a hand over her face, feeling the hot tears that graced her cheeks. She drew a shaky breath, trying to smooth her clothes.




    "I'm sorry," she said in a shaky voice. "I just...I..." What was she saying? She had no idea what to say to him. All the years that she wished to see him, hear his voice, feel him near, had led to this moment of him being home, and here she was, making a fool of herself.




    Her breaths were shaky as she tried to control her tears now, and she couldnt bring herself to match his gaze. Meanwhile, Melody took over and went to his families table with their drinks. "Sorry for the slight delay. Here are your drinks." She set them out on the table, one by one, but she began to wonder where the third man had gone. She also wondered if Brook was going to be alright.
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    [font=georgia][color=white]"No no no, don't apologize, it's--" Ainsley stopped as he realized what he had done while he spoke. Acting completely on instinct, Ainsley had made his way to her in quick strides and placed a reassuring hand gently on her forearm. He stopped talking as soon as his hand felt the smooth skin of her forearm. She was so soft, so delicate. He had forgotten the touch of her skin. He had forgotten how perfect it was. And now here he was, touching her after four years of not even seeing her. He wanted to touch more of her. He wanted to wrap his arms around her slender waist, bury his nose in her hair and smell her unique scent like he used to. He wanted to feel her cheeks with his fingertips, hold her face and look into her eyes, kiss her. After four years of not kissing a single woman, he wanted to feel her lips against his again.


    He realized that his hand had remained on her arm while he had been looking at her, taking in the gorgeous face that he hadn't seen in so, so long. His heartbeat was dancing wildly in his chest and his breath had silently quickened as his gaze moved to her lips. He wanted to kiss her.


    But he couldn't, and he wouldn't. He knew nothing about where Brook was, if she liked him or not, if she was single or not. Besides, she seemed scared already, and he wasn't going to do something that would only make it worse. She never wanted to hurt Brook again. So he lifted his hand from her arm, feeling the cold air against his palm, and took a step back. Then he stood up straight, tried brushing the his feelings away, and smiled worriedly at Brook.


    "Are you okay?" he asked, entirely friendly. That was the only thing that mattered at the moment. Where they were could come at a later time, when she wasn't working or after she had time to process her feelings. Whatever it was, Ainsley was more than willing to wait. He had already waited four years for her; at this point he would be willing to wait a few days for her to figure herself out. He would probably need it too. But at this moment he didn't want to think about the questions in his mind.

    The post was edited 1 time, last by Vertia ().