By Erika Peterson (western picture prompt)
Jack had never really had any warm moments that he could recall from his past relationships. All of them had stemmed from his high school years, that god help him; he tried recreating those moments but to no avail. He had longed to once again reconnect to another human being, to be able to give his heart freely without any reservations, without any care in the world that at in an instant his heart and whole world would be crushed. If only he could get those youthful innocence perceptions back again, in his now older and aging broken heart.
He came close once when he married, but again the marriage was a crushing realization that all he thought was his wrong doing and having “rose colored glasses” as they say, would eventually bite him in the ass and once again would leave him with an empty and cold heart. “Live and learn as they say” Jack thought as he lazily woke up out of bed. “I got to stop lying in bed way passed the buzzer…..I’m thinking too much” Jack said to himself. As he reached the bathroom he glanced in the mirror and stopped and stared at his half-awake self-realizing that he looked older in the mornings. “Sheesh….I have a morning face only a mother can love” he thought. “I have to lay off those sappy ass chick flicks I fall asleep to at night, they’re messing with my head” he whispered to himself.
As Jack padded into the office with his cup of coffee and his favorite green robe on, he turned on his computer and instantly clicked on ITunes to put his favorite tunes on. He checked his Gmail and his heart leaped as he got an email from his high school sweetheart. “Good Morning Beautiful” Jack said to the computer screen. Jack had kept in contact with Stacy for the past seven years but always maintained the platonic side because he was married and she was taken as well, but now that he was divorced and Stacy was no longer dating maybe just maybe one day they’ll reconnect……one day.
Jack,
How was the concert the other day? I hope you had a good time.
I have a question: How would you feel about coming to my ranch for the weekend?
I have a beautiful horse named Blackjack that I know you would love riding.
Let me know what weekend works best for you.
I’d really like to see you.
Stacy
Jack just stared at the screen with his mouth open and heart racing a mile a minute. Stacy had expressed she needed time to heal from her relationship and that was four months ago “That was quick” he thought. And Blackjack Hmm interesting name for a horse could it be named after him? “Yeah right…keep dreaming Jack” he whispered. As the song: Turn back the clock from Johnny Hates Jazz comes on, he looked up at the ceiling and asked “Is that a sign god? He cracked his knuckles and said “I guess it is” and began to write.
Stacy, I would LOVE to come see you how about next week…
“Wait…. sounds too desperate I have to answer her first question first” Jack thought his hands were sweaty in anticipation of seeing her again would those feelings come back? Would she think he was ugly and fat now? How would she look now? Last time he saw her they were teens would she even like him now? “Shut up head I need to write this” Jack thought as he began to write the few sentences that little did he know, would change the course of his life forever.
Stacy,
The concert was awesome it was in a packed house and I even think I lost some hearing that night. LOL
I think going to your ranch would be a great weekend getaway thank you for inviting me.
And yes I would love to ride your horse you know me and horseback riding.
How does two weeks from now sound? Does that work for you? Let me know.
Jack
Jack always thought about the first time they would meet in person after nearly fifteen years apart. As he was driving to the ranch, a million emotions raced thru his head: fear, love, anxiety, nervousness most of all nervousness and the fear that she would be completely different from the girl he fell in love with many years ago. It was a three hour drive to his home town and in the drive there he started to see remnants of his youth flash by him in the things he drove past. Are there still pieces of his old self left? When his father passed a year before, his physical half of himself left him and it was all he could do to stay sane thru the most devastating year he just had.
Going back to his hometown was like his emotional past coming back to him, the bittersweet, the loneness, the anger, the confusion, the love, the awkwardness of youth all smashing together making a mush of emotions he didn’t know how to quite handle yet. This weekend would be the start of making peace with his past and his regrets
Jacks IPhone chirped by his seat and he pulled off to the next rest area to answer it, it was a text from Stacy.
How far are you u ok?
Even her text put a smile on his face:
Yes I’m ok I’m about half an hour away, and you just ruined my navigation stop texting me:P
SOOOORY :P man I love technology nowadays….this would have rocked when we were younger.
Yeah would have been A LOT easier to sneak out of the house and see you….:D
No doubt ….ok drive safe and see you soon…..YAY! can’t wait. :)
Jack drove up to the ranch just before sunset as the dusty rose sky was mirroring his own emotional state. He rang the doorbell as his heart caught in his throat as soon as she opened the door. They both stood still for a split second and then in a flash rushed into each other’s arms and held each other for a few minutes. “I thought I would never see you again” Stacy said as Jack felt her heavy breathing and shaky voice and knew she was sobbing softly. Tears welled up in Jack’s eyes too. “Me neither” is all jack could muster up as an answer.
The next twelve hours together felt like time stood still, as if they never aged at all, and as if the last fifteen years never happened. They started where they left off, as best friends who knew each other way before the pain and life took over and caused them to lose that innocent sparkle. Jack could still see traces of the girl he loved but now in a much more matured light. She was still as beautiful and sexy as he remembered; it’s just that now it was even more intensified by her fashion sense and maturity.
As they drove by the place where he and Stacy used to live, Jack was surprised he still remembered how to get there. “Let’s go back to North now” Jack said. “Are you serious, right now?” Stacy said with excitement in her eye. “Yeah, just for shits and giggles it would be fun” “Ok, but we can’t get in its all gated up a night” Stacy said. “I’ll get in….”
As they approached the school grounds, Jack felt that familiar pang in his heart and stopped himself from instinctively trying to grab Stacy’s hand as they walked up the front entrance. The gate was indeed locked but they both hopped the fence, and Jack could feel those old emotions sneaking up on him again. Roaming thru those same halls he did with Stacy by his side were the happiest he’s ever been. Going past the theater where they did so many plays, backstage, was surreal. Passing thru the front of the theater where they would make out like crazy in between passing period.
Stacy and Jack broke dawn as they settled back at the house in front of the fireplace with glasses of wine and talking till their tongues were dry, and sharing a first kiss after fifteen years. Jack pinched himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming and they cuddled on the couch that night and Jack felt the most calming, and loving feeling he had ever felt in a long, long time.
The next morning Jack arose and found Stacy sleeping beside him. She was like an angel when she slept and if possible was even more beautiful. He found the kitchen and tried to figure out where everything was. Everything around the house screamed Stacy even down to the vintage looking toaster on the kitchen counter. As Jack was preparing to open a cabinet, a bunch of pots fell out and made a crashing sound, Jack peered up from under the counter top and saw Stacy getting up. “Need any help? Stacy said half awake. “Uh….I was trying to figure out where everything was to surprise you with breakfast” “Wow, you cook now? I love a man who cooks.” Stacy said sitting on the stool. “Well…..I try” Jack said putting the pots back. “Sure you do.” Stacy said giving jack a wink.
After Breakfast Stacy took Jack to where the stables were. “Jack, I’d like you to meet Blackjack.” Stacy said while her eyes were beaming with pride. “Wow, he is beautiful and strong, I like his coloring.” Jack explained as he glanced at Stacy while noticing that the way her blouse clung to her breast drove him crazy. “I named him after you, you know.” Stacy said with a loving look on her face. She went on “I don’t know….every time I go for a ride with him, he makes me feel so free and young again, like all the cares in the world is gone you know?” “I have a good idea…..” It was in that moment where they fell into each other and made love right there in that stable.
Afterwards, Jack wanted to take Blackjack for a ride, as he was walking out of the stable, Stacy snapped his picture. “Hey, I wasn’t looking you brat.” Jack said snapping Stacy a mock angry look. “Don’t worry….you look sexy and have that contemplative look on your face I feel in love with.”
Jack had never really had any warm moments that he could recall from his past relationships. All of them had stemmed from his high school years, that god help him; he tried recreating those moments but to no avail. He had longed to once again reconnect to another human being, to be able to give his heart freely without any reservations, without any care in the world that at in an instant his heart and whole world would be crushed. If only he could get those youthful innocence perceptions back again, in his now older and aging broken heart.
He came close once when he married, but again the marriage was a crushing realization that all he thought was his wrong doing and having “rose colored glasses” as they say, would eventually bite him in the ass and once again would leave him with an empty and cold heart. “Live and learn as they say” Jack thought as he lazily woke up out of bed. “I got to stop lying in bed way passed the buzzer…..I’m thinking too much” Jack said to himself. As he reached the bathroom he glanced in the mirror and stopped and stared at his half-awake self-realizing that he looked older in the mornings. “Sheesh….I have a morning face only a mother can love” he thought. “I have to lay off those sappy ass chick flicks I fall asleep to at night, they’re messing with my head” he whispered to himself.
As Jack padded into the office with his cup of coffee and his favorite green robe on, he turned on his computer and instantly clicked on ITunes to put his favorite tunes on. He checked his Gmail and his heart leaped as he got an email from his high school sweetheart. “Good Morning Beautiful” Jack said to the computer screen. Jack had kept in contact with Stacy for the past seven years but always maintained the platonic side because he was married and she was taken as well, but now that he was divorced and Stacy was no longer dating maybe just maybe one day they’ll reconnect……one day.
Jack,
How was the concert the other day? I hope you had a good time.
I have a question: How would you feel about coming to my ranch for the weekend?
I have a beautiful horse named Blackjack that I know you would love riding.
Let me know what weekend works best for you.
I’d really like to see you.
Stacy
Jack just stared at the screen with his mouth open and heart racing a mile a minute. Stacy had expressed she needed time to heal from her relationship and that was four months ago “That was quick” he thought. And Blackjack Hmm interesting name for a horse could it be named after him? “Yeah right…keep dreaming Jack” he whispered. As the song: Turn back the clock from Johnny Hates Jazz comes on, he looked up at the ceiling and asked “Is that a sign god? He cracked his knuckles and said “I guess it is” and began to write.
Stacy, I would LOVE to come see you how about next week…
“Wait…. sounds too desperate I have to answer her first question first” Jack thought his hands were sweaty in anticipation of seeing her again would those feelings come back? Would she think he was ugly and fat now? How would she look now? Last time he saw her they were teens would she even like him now? “Shut up head I need to write this” Jack thought as he began to write the few sentences that little did he know, would change the course of his life forever.
Stacy,
The concert was awesome it was in a packed house and I even think I lost some hearing that night. LOL
I think going to your ranch would be a great weekend getaway thank you for inviting me.
And yes I would love to ride your horse you know me and horseback riding.
How does two weeks from now sound? Does that work for you? Let me know.
Jack
Jack always thought about the first time they would meet in person after nearly fifteen years apart. As he was driving to the ranch, a million emotions raced thru his head: fear, love, anxiety, nervousness most of all nervousness and the fear that she would be completely different from the girl he fell in love with many years ago. It was a three hour drive to his home town and in the drive there he started to see remnants of his youth flash by him in the things he drove past. Are there still pieces of his old self left? When his father passed a year before, his physical half of himself left him and it was all he could do to stay sane thru the most devastating year he just had.
Going back to his hometown was like his emotional past coming back to him, the bittersweet, the loneness, the anger, the confusion, the love, the awkwardness of youth all smashing together making a mush of emotions he didn’t know how to quite handle yet. This weekend would be the start of making peace with his past and his regrets
Jacks IPhone chirped by his seat and he pulled off to the next rest area to answer it, it was a text from Stacy.
How far are you u ok?
Even her text put a smile on his face:
Yes I’m ok I’m about half an hour away, and you just ruined my navigation stop texting me:P
SOOOORY :P man I love technology nowadays….this would have rocked when we were younger.
Yeah would have been A LOT easier to sneak out of the house and see you….:D
No doubt ….ok drive safe and see you soon…..YAY! can’t wait. :)
Jack drove up to the ranch just before sunset as the dusty rose sky was mirroring his own emotional state. He rang the doorbell as his heart caught in his throat as soon as she opened the door. They both stood still for a split second and then in a flash rushed into each other’s arms and held each other for a few minutes. “I thought I would never see you again” Stacy said as Jack felt her heavy breathing and shaky voice and knew she was sobbing softly. Tears welled up in Jack’s eyes too. “Me neither” is all jack could muster up as an answer.
The next twelve hours together felt like time stood still, as if they never aged at all, and as if the last fifteen years never happened. They started where they left off, as best friends who knew each other way before the pain and life took over and caused them to lose that innocent sparkle. Jack could still see traces of the girl he loved but now in a much more matured light. She was still as beautiful and sexy as he remembered; it’s just that now it was even more intensified by her fashion sense and maturity.
As they drove by the place where he and Stacy used to live, Jack was surprised he still remembered how to get there. “Let’s go back to North now” Jack said. “Are you serious, right now?” Stacy said with excitement in her eye. “Yeah, just for shits and giggles it would be fun” “Ok, but we can’t get in its all gated up a night” Stacy said. “I’ll get in….”
As they approached the school grounds, Jack felt that familiar pang in his heart and stopped himself from instinctively trying to grab Stacy’s hand as they walked up the front entrance. The gate was indeed locked but they both hopped the fence, and Jack could feel those old emotions sneaking up on him again. Roaming thru those same halls he did with Stacy by his side were the happiest he’s ever been. Going past the theater where they did so many plays, backstage, was surreal. Passing thru the front of the theater where they would make out like crazy in between passing period.
Stacy and Jack broke dawn as they settled back at the house in front of the fireplace with glasses of wine and talking till their tongues were dry, and sharing a first kiss after fifteen years. Jack pinched himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming and they cuddled on the couch that night and Jack felt the most calming, and loving feeling he had ever felt in a long, long time.
The next morning Jack arose and found Stacy sleeping beside him. She was like an angel when she slept and if possible was even more beautiful. He found the kitchen and tried to figure out where everything was. Everything around the house screamed Stacy even down to the vintage looking toaster on the kitchen counter. As Jack was preparing to open a cabinet, a bunch of pots fell out and made a crashing sound, Jack peered up from under the counter top and saw Stacy getting up. “Need any help? Stacy said half awake. “Uh….I was trying to figure out where everything was to surprise you with breakfast” “Wow, you cook now? I love a man who cooks.” Stacy said sitting on the stool. “Well…..I try” Jack said putting the pots back. “Sure you do.” Stacy said giving jack a wink.
After Breakfast Stacy took Jack to where the stables were. “Jack, I’d like you to meet Blackjack.” Stacy said while her eyes were beaming with pride. “Wow, he is beautiful and strong, I like his coloring.” Jack explained as he glanced at Stacy while noticing that the way her blouse clung to her breast drove him crazy. “I named him after you, you know.” Stacy said with a loving look on her face. She went on “I don’t know….every time I go for a ride with him, he makes me feel so free and young again, like all the cares in the world is gone you know?” “I have a good idea…..” It was in that moment where they fell into each other and made love right there in that stable.
Afterwards, Jack wanted to take Blackjack for a ride, as he was walking out of the stable, Stacy snapped his picture. “Hey, I wasn’t looking you brat.” Jack said snapping Stacy a mock angry look. “Don’t worry….you look sexy and have that contemplative look on your face I feel in love with.”