Chapter1

Chapter1

The Letter

Jesse stared at the sunset as it turned the sky six different shades of pink and orange. The ocean spray was cool against his skin. Elle gazed at him with deep blue eyes, and Jesse leaned in to kiss her. The ocean and sunset melted away, and it became the cold dark night she left him. Suddenly, he found himself lying on the floor; above him Travis started beating him with his belt, and Jesse felt a sharp pain as Travis kicked him in the side.

Jesse sat up sharply. He breathed deeply to calm himself down, and turned to see if he had woken up Bridget. As he turned the room started to spin. He hung his feet over the edge of the bed and put his aching head in his hands. “God, I hate hangovers,” He whispered to himself.

“Then you shouldn’t drink so much in one night baby.” Bridget sat up and rubbed his back and shoulders. Standing up, she walked over to the phone, “hey, room service, ya we’re gunna need some breakfast and a hangover remedy…yes, the penthouse… Thank you.” She went to a drawer and pulled out some clothes, “I’m going to take a shower. Drink all of the remedy I can tell when you don’t.”

“Yes mother,” Jesse said sarcastically. Elle smiled and left the room. As Jesse sat down at the kitchen counter the elevator door opened suddenly and Jesse’s two best friends, Michael and Alexander, stepped out laughing.

“Hey Jess, you should have seen the end to last night’s party.” Alexander grabbed a beer out of the fridge. “The cops had to come and break it up, after Mike here and that Justin Timberlake wannabe, Peter I think, got into it over some blonde.”

Mike staggered to the counter and sat down on a stool, “hey, I saw her first, and I was just talking to her. You know minding my own business, and he walks up and punches me.”

Motioning to Mike’s black eye, Alexander laughed, “he gave him that and not because he was minding his own business,” he turned to Mike, “The blonde was his girlfriend you idiot.”

Jesse tried to laugh but winced as pain shot through his skull. The elevator doors opened again and the head concierge came out with a tray that held pancakes, eggs, toast, and a red smoothie-type liquid. The concierge handed the drink to Jesse while trying to keep the food away from Michael and Alexander. Jesse almost spit the concoction up as the gritty liquid slid down his throat. “You can avoid having to drink that you know. I warned you not to drink so much last night.”

Jesse looked up at the concierge wearily, “if I wanted your advice I’d ask for it Blake.” Jesse choked down the rest of the remedy as Bridget came out of the bathroom, hair dripping wet.

“Good you finally listened to me Jess. Thank you Blake for keeping the food from these fools.” She said to the concierge.

“Not a problem Miss,” turning to Jesse he said, “theirs a letter for you sir”

Jesse shook his throbbing head, “I told you I didn’t want fan mail brought up to me and all bills go to my manager,”

Blake nodded, “I know sir, but this one was marked by the post office as urgent.”

Jesse rolled his eyes, “fine let me see it.” Jesse took the envelope, read the address, and froze. Everyone in the room became quiet at the look on his face. He stared at it as if the devil himself had sent it, the pain in his head had disappeared, and he didn’t know if the remedy had worked or if he had gone num from the shock.

“Who’s it from?” Alexander put his drink down.

Jesse looked up, his face as white as a sheet, and replied “my sister.”

Alexander motioned for Blake to leave, and he quickly obeyed. “You want me to get rid of it? You don’t have to open it.”

“No…I, I want to.” Jesse carefully pulled the letter out of the envelope and slowly unfolded it.

Dear Jesse,

I know it’s been a while since we’ve spoken or seen each other but this is important and I hope you don’t throw this away. You probably won’t care or might even be happy about this, but Uncle Travis died of Lung Cancer which you probably didn’t know he had. I know you don’t want to come to his funeral, but, believe it or not, he wanted you their. He told me on his death bed that he was truly sorry for what he did to you and that he wanted you to be at his funeral and will reading. The funeral will be on the 21st and the reading will be the next day. If you decide to come you should come on the 19th and I’ll be waiting at the air port for you when the 4:00 flight arrives. Please come alone, this town isn’t ready for New Yorkers.

I still love you,

Page

Jesse looked up from the letter and took a deep breath, “she wants me to come back for my uncle’s funeral. He died from lung Cancer, she said he wanted me there.” Jesse tried getting up, but the room started spinning again. “Alex get me a beer.”

Alexander started reaching for the fridge but Bridget stopped him, “you’re still getting over last nights hangover you don’t want to drink now it won’t help.” Jesse glared at her then motioned for Michael to leave.

“Why do I have to leave? What about Alex?” Michael glanced at Bridget’s face and the worry in her eyes, and he left without another word.

“I think you should go. You haven’t seen anyone from your past in a long time; you shouldn’t run from the opportunity to settle this once and for all.” Bridget sat down next to him and put her hand on his shoulder.

“No. you can’t go they remember you. Think about what Travis did to you, and no one even tried to help you. That’s why you came to me, don’t go back.” Alexander leaned over the counter and stared at Jesse, “you don’t have to face them.”

Jesse stood up, “yes I do. Page tried to help me, I didn’t listen. I should have she was right the entire time, but I didn’t listen. I’m going back I need her to forgive me, and I need to find a way to let go of my past.”

Alexander sighed. “Fine, don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He turned towards the elevator and walked out. Jesse looked to Bridget for support but she was already focused on what part of the carb filled breakfast she could eat.