Prologue

After my life at Fayland and losing the love of my life, my life has been pretty good. The guy I had a crush on ever since I was little is now my very good friend and we are even thinking about going out. No one will ever replace my true love, James, but I would want him to date if I died, so he must want me to date since he is dead. In many ways he is dead. Physically he is dead and I will never see, hear, touch, smell or speak to him ever again. But in my heart he is alive and will stay there. My favorite old quote is…

“I wrote your name in the sand but the waves washed it away. I wrote your name on my hand but I washed it the next day. I wrote your name on a paper but I accidentally threw it away. I wrote your name in my heart and forever it will stay there forever.” I used to say that to James in my dreams when I saw him. But all he’d so is smile and slowly disappear into the distance and then I’d wake up, it was almost like a tradition.

            It was my 21st birthday and my mom had already re-married by then. The guy’s name was Christopher and he was the father I had always wanted. Christopher bought me a Volvo for my 21st birthday and it was a light red.

            “This was James’s dream car!” I shouted aloud. I ran into the house and ran up to my room. I flopped onto the bed and wouldn’t stop crying.

            “Is that a bad thing?” Chris asked my mother.

            “No, it’s a wonderful thing. Since it was James’s dream car it means she loves it,” Mother told him. My window was open so I heard the conversation.

            “I got a letter in the mail yesterday. You’ll never guess who it’s from.” Mother was telling Chris. I sniffled and got off my bed. I crawled to the opened window so I wouldn’t be seen. I peeked out a little.

            “Who was it from?” asked Chris. Mother looked around a little to make sure no one else was listening.

            “It was from James.” Mother whispered. I fell backwards. James, but James is dead, I told myself. But then I thought, mother never lies, but this has to be a joke, she must have known I was listening. I crawled back over to the open window to listen in more.

            “James? But Serena said he died in her arms.” Chris said loudly.

            “Shh! I know she did. But no one ever knew what happen to James’s body after the butler, Alfred took it away. Maybe James hadn’t died completely but was just passed out. Think about it, Chris, since we changed our last name since I re-married, he would have a hard time finding us.” Mother stated to Chris. Chris nodded his head.

            “And who would joke about being James? Even though every one knows about Serena and him, not one would dare joke about this sort of thing. Am I correct?” Chris asked. Mother nodded, “We should go tell Serena!” Chris said as he was about to walk inside and tell me.

            “No!” Mother grabbed Chris gently by the arm. “James told us he was going to come down here and he wanted to surprise Serena.” Mother said. Chris nodded and then patted my mother’s stomach.

            “Have you told Serena about her having a new little sister?”

            “No, not yet. I haven’t even told Kyle yet.” Mother told Chris. Kyle was my older brother. He was 7 years older and now the cutest guy in all of PA since James was dead. But then I started to wonder if Mother was telling the truth. If James was coming, then when? And since he was coming, what would I wear? 

Chapter 1 (midnight calling)

            Late one night I woke to pebbles hitting my window. I was wearing my favorite night gown. It was a light red, but not pink. I knew that James would have loved it. James had loved every thing about me. He hadn’t cared that I had ADD; but now I was taking medication to handle it. James loved everything about me, from my pinky toe to a little piece of hair on the top on my head. He told me he loved my laugh and my smile. But most of all, he told me that he didn’t just love what was on the outside, but what was on my inside. He could joke around and say, “I love your heart. I also love your brain, but most of all I love your large intestine.” We would then laugh and hug. I missed his hugs and kisses, his laughter and his tears, his cologne and his always warm body heat. But everything about him fit together perfectly and that was what I missed. I miss his warm and kind heart. He was so romantic and-

            Another pebble hit the window and made me lose my train of thought. I opened the window a little and called out into the night in a light whisper.

            “Who is down there? I was sleeping very soundly and-”

            “Serena, come down here.” The voice whispered back into the night. It sounded urgent.

            “How did you know my name?” I asked. I finally saw a figure in the dark.

            “Let’s just say I’ve known you for a long time, that’s how,” the figure spoke to me. The voice sounded deep and soothing. It also sounded familiar. I agreed with the figure and put on my robe. I opened my door and walked down the stairs more quietly than a mouse. When I got outside I saw an old blue truck. The figure ran over to me and shook my hand up and down then up and down. My hand was going up and down so fast that I thought my arm might have fallen off.

            “Serena! It’s me, Alfred, I’m so glad to see you!”

            “Alfred?” I asked, backing away, remembering the butler from Fayland. He had been the one who took James’s body away from my loving hold. But then I remember something. That tear that he shed, was it for me and James, or was it for some other reason?

            “Alfred, I over heard my mother and stepfather talking about getting a letter from James, is he really alive?” I was still a few steps away from Alfred because I wasn’t sure if I could trust him. If he was going to hurt me, I needed a head start.

            “You still like to ease drop, don’t you Miss Serena?” Alfred asked. I giggled and nodded. He couldn’t be bad if he was still joking around. “If you are wondering so much, James is alive and very well. He is 21 and is still single, if that is what you are looking for.” I looked up and gave Alfred a large smile. “Hop in the truck and I’ll take you to our place,” Alfred said as he opened the door. I ran inside and left my mother a note saying that I had heard everything her and Chris had been talking about and that Alfred had come to visit and was going to bring me to James. After I wrote the note, I hopped into the truck and was on my way to see James for the first time in what felt like forever.

Chapter 2 (James?)

            It was later the next day when Alfred and I arrived in front of a nice house. The house was a stone colonial and had pretty light green shutters. Alfred was nice enough to stop at a clothing store so I could buy some clothes and look nice for James. When Alfred pulled into the driveway I quickly jumped out of the truck and ran to the front door. Alfred was nice enough and closed the door I had left open.

            “It’s open!” A voice yelled from inside. I pushed open the front door and saw a nice hall way. It was painted yellow and there were steps going to the up stairs on the right.

            “Come on in, I’ve been waiting for you!” I heard the voice yell again. I walked in a few steps and looked to my left. On the left side of the house was a room that looked like a living room. It was bright and looked as if it were lit up with joy.

            “Serena! Stop looking around and open the door that’s right in front you!” I looked at the door and walked towards it. I put my hand on it and was abut it turn it but I stopped. What if I’ve turned ugly over the years, and what if James won’t love me any more? What if Alfred lied about James being single? I kept worrying myself so much I didn’t notice Alfred walk up behind me.

            “Don’t leave Sir James waiting.” Alfred whispered into my ear. I nodded my head as Alfred took the other things we bought up stairs.

            “Serena! Are you going to come say hello to me, or not?” the voice yelled to me. I quickly turned the door knob.

            “It’s about time!” The voice said again. I walked into the room which was the kitchen and found a fat looking woman hovering over a pot.

            “He is in there.” The woman pointed, “That’s the family room.” I walked into the other room that she called the family room. I saw a figure sitting on the couch and reading a news paper. He obviously heard me come into the room and he put down his paper. I waited until he turned around.

Chapter 3 (Tears of Joy)

            The figure turned around and I knew right away that it was James. He was still handsome looking, but he looked more mature. I just stood there and stared at him, letting all my old feelings flow back into my body.

            “Are you just going to stand there or does this single and handsome man get a hug?” James asked. I smiled as a tear ran down my cheek. James stood up and I ran to him. He hugged me tight and I hugged him tight as well. I cried into his arms until I could cry no more.

            “Why did it take you so long to find me?” I asked James.

            “Well, your mother got married and changed her last name so it took Alfred and me a while to find you. But now you are here with me, and that is all that matters.” I nodded my head and James sat me down. He explained how Alfred had saved his body and brought him to the hospital where they then brought him back to life. I didn’t want to hear the whole story, but James liked to go into the details.

            “James, no more, I don’t think I can handle any more. I don’t care how they brought you back to life as long as you are with me, that’s all we should both care about.”

            “You’re right,” He laughed, “You always were.” I beamed at him and he beamed back. James held me in his strong and muscular arms for about an hour but it felt more like forever, but it was a glorious forever. We sat in silence, but out bodies ran fast as they flowed with long forgotten memories. James and I were interrupted when the over weight woman came in and told James and me that dinner was ready. We both nodded and got up.

At dinner we had on hand under the table holding hands and the other eating. After dinner, James and I went for a walk and caught up on old times. But the best part was when we brought back that wonderful feeling of being kissed. I hadn’t been kissed since the New Years Eve party when we were younger. The same feelings and more came back to me when he kissed me. Right then and there I realized I hadn’t really loved him when I was younger, I only felt very strong feelings for him, but now I knew-I was in love.

Chapter 4 (True love)

            I contacted mother after I got back from the walk. I told her every thing and she kept asking when the wedding was.

            “Mother, how many times do I have to tell you? There is no wedding! I wish there was going to be, but there isn’t! Good-bye mother!” I hung up the phone and gave a frustrated sign of relief.

            “How would you like it if there were to be a wedding?” I turned around and saw James on one knee. I covered my mouth and gasped.

            “James, you aren’t-”

            “Oh, but I am.” James insisted.

            “Oh, James-”

            “Serena Starr, I’ve had to live six years without you. I will die if I have to live another day without you. Serena, will you marry me and make me the happiest person on earth?” I got a shiver of joy down my spin. James took out a small box and opened it. He took out a small but beautiful diamond ring and slipped it on my finger. The diamond was in the shape of a heart and I looked down at James who was now standing up.

            “You’d be the happiest person on earth? No, I would be if I married you! I will, I will marry you!” James hugged me and picked me up like they do in the Disney movies. He even kissed me like they do in the Disney movies, but his time, it was real and no movie.

Chapter 5 (Wedding Bells)

            A year later, James and I were married. Mother loved having another son and by then I was a big sister to a little girl named Samantha. When James and I were married, Chris re-gave me my 21st birthday present and James wanted to drive it right away. James jumped in the car and pulled me in after him. We drove off and no one heard from us for 4 months.

            “Mom, I wanted to tell you the wonderful news.” I spoke into the phone.

            “Hold on one second honey while I put you on loud speaker.” Mother yelled into the phone, “Okay you’re on loud speaker. What’s the wonderful news?” Mother asked.

            “Mom, I’m pregnant!” I heard myself echo since I was on loud speaker.

            “Oh my goodness! Chris, did you hear that, I’m going to be a grandma!” Mother yelled to Chris.

            “That’s wonderful Serena!” Chris spoke into the speaker phone. After about ten more minutes of chit-chat I hung up the phone.

            “We’re having a baby?” James looked at me with shocked eyes. He was stiff and looked worried.

            “Surprise?” I said

            “This is the…HAPPIEST day of my life. I’m going to be a father!” James said as he pranced around the room. The he ran over to me and kissed my stomach. Then he picked me up he hugged me lightly so not to hurt the unborn baby.

            Five months passed and I had twin baby girls. I named them after my very good friends, Allie and Grace. Allie and Grace came over a month after the little babies were born, they were so happy to have babies name after them. James was a wonderful father despite him having a horribly mean stepfather. Mother was the best granny and Chris was the best Poppy there ever was. Every one said I was the best mother but I told mother that I thought she had done a great job raising me. She promised to teach me how to become a better mother and now she tells me that I am the better mother. I try to disagree, but I let her win because it gets annoying after a while.

            Five years have passed since I’ve had the twins. James and I work together now. I am now known as the famous singer Serena Bass and James writes all my songs. In a month we are even going to be in a movie together. It is the story about out life at Fayland and Mayland and how horrible it was to lose each other for six years. Our daughters are going to play small parts but we wanted to make sure they got parts in it.

Alfred married the over weight woman and moved to Alaska. As for James and I, the twins and myself, we moved to Florida with mom, Chris (who I know call dad), and Samantha. We live in a nice house near the beach and we visit Disney World on any one in the family’s birthday, no matter how old they are. I enjoy my life very much and I’m glad it is the way it is. I wish all the best for you in your future and hope that you find true love easer than I did. Yours truly,

Serena Bass