"Long Awaited" Chapter 12: "Haven't Met You Yet"

(Before I continue the series, I need to say something. You know who's the guy returning, I'm keeping his identity a secret until he and Virginia meet up)

James' POV:

The next day...

The first thing that passed through my mind when I woke up is "Finally, you don't have to hide anymore. Thank God!" Relief was all I felt, like a weight was lifted off my shoulders that had been set in stone there for the past few days. I told my friends. I told Daniel. I told his friends. I told everyone needed for this...except for Virginia and HIM...my body ached at the thought, but I brushed it off. Only time would tell today.

I couldn't believe the time when I woke up, too early if you asked me, I was up until like 3 in the morning calling friends and friends of friends to tell them about the fireside later tonight to welcome a special guest back home. We told them just about the fireside, not what the underlying reason was. They would've shown up even knowing the underlying reason, but we decided to leave it out to protect privacy.

~Now there was only one person in Murray, Utah who didn't know who the guest of honor was~

News spread of his return through the town like wildfire. Everyone wanted to be there, but there were only people he knew who were invited to the "Welcome Home" Fireside. Now, the only thing is I need to get Virginia to come to the gathering.

I have to wait a few hours before it is appropriate to call her and invite her. For the morning hours, I sit around and think about how to get them to meet up. I think about how things were to work out if things between them didn't and vice versa. As I'm thinking about the future, he calls me on the phone again.

Me: "Hey, buddy! We still on for tonight?"

???: "Oh course! But I have a question..."

Me: "Yep, what is it?"

???: "Who's going to be there tonight?"

Me: "Just friends."

???: "And where do we meet up for the fireside?"

Me: "A little outside of town, in the woods, you know, where the last one took place?"

???: "Okay, thanks. I'll be there! Believe me! I miss you guys so much! I can't wait to see you again!"

Me: "Can't wait to see you too!!! At 7pm!"

???: "Wouldn't miss it for the world!"

He wouldn't miss it, we were all sure about that. He genuinely missed us and we missed him, we hadn't seen him in just under a year...way to long to go without my fix. And I laugh. As I watch the TV and see the minutes on the clock tick tock by, I notice the time is right to call Virginia and invite her to the little gathering tonight.

Virginia: "Hey James, what's up?"

Me: "Nothing really. I just wanted to know if you had any plans tonight..."

Virginia: "Oh-uh-James, I'm flatted, but..."

Me: "No! No! I just want to know!"

Virginia: "No, I don't...why?"

Me: "I want to invite you to the fireside tonight."

Virginia: "Isn't that for like only 'the in-crowd'?"

I laugh really hard and say "No! Anyone can come!"

Virginia: "Well, I'd love to go, but I wouldn't know where to meet you, I don't know my way around town yet..."

Me: "Just meet me at Temple Square, I'll have Veronica and Cody with me. Jessica said she'll arrive later with Casey and Kevin. I'll drive you from Temple Square to the fireside."

Virginia: "Oh, well, yeah, of course I'll come! Thanks for the invite!"

Me: "No, problem, Virginia, believe me, you won't regret it."

* To Be Continued *