"Long Awaited" Chapter 13: "Fireside"

Virginia's POV:

6:43pm...

"Mom, Dad, remember I'm probably going to be out a little late. My friends are doing something special. Are you okay with that?"

Dad: "As long as you're back by midnight. Temple Square isn't that far, is it?"

Me: "No, not at all. Well, I have to get going."

Mom: "Be safe. Don't talk to strangers. Stay with your friends at all times and please, just be careful for God's sake!"

Me: "Mom, calm down. When I get to Temple Square, they'll be right there waiting for me and then we're going straight to the fireside. I'll be fine. Thanks. Don't worry!"

They both give me a hug before I leave. I haven't been out this late at night yet in Utah, they're worried. I found that endearing.

I head out on my way and since the weather and beautiful, I decided to walk it out. I kept looking up at the sun wondering when it was going to set. Summer has the most daylight hours, I liked that, but for some reason I kind of wanted it to set tonight.

James' POV:

At Temple Square:

6:54pm...

Deeply entranced by my own thoughts, I can barely pay attention to my two friends. I am just caught up in myself at the moment. As the moment draws ever so close, I become terrified. Soon Virginia is in sight and I see her walking down the street. I wave her over to the car and help her inside.

Virginia: "Hey Veronica, Cody, and James! How are y'all doing tonight?"

Cody: "Just fine."

Veronica: "Awesome" and giggles a little. I coughed so as to give her the signal to be careful not to give us away. Unknowingly, I forget to respond because of the things running through my head at the moment. Then I realize that I didn't answer and pipe up a little too late. On the drive to the fireside gathering, the three in the back kept on talking and talking and talking, but I didn't take notice of it; I was far too indulgent in my own thoughts. There was no room to process anything else.

About 35 minutes later...

I set Virginia down on the eastern side of the fire where some of our friends are, but with some people she doesn't know. I wanted her to socialize before the big reveal, but I made the people she was talking to not to mention anything about the guest of honor. They should just introduce themselves and talk with her about things she likes and things they like. Just be friendly, but stay off the topic of anyone arriving. After I noticed she was comfortable with Karen, Imogen, and Henry, I told them I had to go take care of something. I made sure Virginia was turned around before I wink at them after I receive a text message from HIM.

I move quietly over to the south-side of the woods, as we were in a clearing. I tried to blend into the surroundings as much as possible. This is where I told him to meet me. He just sent me a message saying that he was in the parking lot, he's coming up the south-side of the mountain. I waited for him about 10 feet back into the woods. In about 7 minutes, he showed up.

Me: "David! How are you?"

David: "Just wonderful! This was so nice of you to set up."

Me: "It was no problem at all! Everyone was just as glad to come!"

David: "Great! So when we were talking yesterday you told me about a surprise that I will have at the fireside, what is it?"

Me: "Oh, well...everyone's here, your brother, your sisters..."

David: "FANTASTIC!! I MISSED THEM!"

Me: "That's not the surprise..."

David: "Oh well, what is it?"

Me: "How do you feel about meeting new people?"

* to be continued *

(Chapter 14 is up soon after you read this!!!)

"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 *