Jesse nervously shifted on his feet. He didn't exactly know why he was nervous. It wasn't like he had never met him before but it had been a long time since the last time they saw each other.

New York was exactly as he had imagined: bustling with people and so much noise he couldn't concentrate on one thing. It was hot which was expected of the first week of August. Soon though autumn would come and he'll be able to spend every day with India while the leaves changed colors around them.

Right now she was back in Greenfield, probably stressing out more about the final details she needs to secure away before leaving for Colombia in two weeks. Jesse smiled just thinking about her. He had spent all summer with her but the late evening they had together wasn't enough for him. He wanted to see her all the time, in the morning when she woke up, at night when she went to bed. He wondered if her roommate would allow him to spend a night or two in their dorm with them. If not he was sure that she could stay the night at his place instead.

He wanted to be with her again, feel her skin against his, but this time he was sure to make it perfect. The past couple weeks she had been hinting at wanting more but he would never give in; the time and place wasn't right.

After the first time Jesse wanted to give India an experience she would never forget, one to replace the other.

As his mind wandered off on her perfect curves and the way he imagined they would feel under his lips a taxi pulled up on the curb in front of him. The door shot open and a man stepped out but Jesse only realized who it was when he took off his sun glasses.

"Jesse?"

"Justin?" Jesse looked at the man in front of him and it was like looking into a mirror. His brother stopped as well, staring amazed at him. He assessed him from head to toe, taking a deep breath once he reached his eyes.

"You grew up," Justin whispered. "And you look exactly like me . . ."

Jesse smirked. "Sorry to steal you spot light."

Justin smiled finally, stepping forward to pull his brother in a head lock and rub his knuckles against his skull. Jesse squirmed against him while laughing, feeling his chest loosen a couple notches. Justin pulled him in for a tight hug. Jesse didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around his brother's shoulders. He missed his big brother more than anything.

"I'm sorry," Justin said hoarsely near his ear. "I won't leave you again like that."

Jesse didn't have any words to say, instead he nodded his head, hugging his brother tighter. They stood like that for a couple minutes, embracing each other on the sidewalk outside of the airport before the taxi driver grew impatient and threatened to drive away.

The brothers pulled apart finally, both turning away slightly so the other wouldn't see them wiping their tears.

"Welcome to New York Jesse," Justin boasted, grabbing his suitcase and handing it to the disgruntled driver. "You're going to love it here."

Jesse followed Justin into the back seat of the taxi. "I just hope it loves me."

Justin let out a bellowing laugh, wrapping his arm around his brother's neck. "The first thing you need to know about New York is that it doesn't love anyone."

...

India seals up the cardboard box full of her books. Of course the one small box doesn't contain all of her books, just the ones she wants to bring to college. If she were to bring all her books then she would need an entire moving truck for them, not just a flimsy box.

She huffs, sealing off the tape and sitting back on her butt. All day she tried busying herself so she wouldn't have to worry about Jesse. He still hadn't texted her saying he arrived safely and it was freaking her out. Plus of course she didn't like the idea of not seeing him for the next two weeks.

She tried calming down by reminding herself that after two weeks it would just be her and him in New York and they wouldn't have to hide their relationship any longer. With that thought she smiled brightly and got to her feet.

Blue, her disabled husky ran into the room, his tail wagging and his tongue hanging out of his mouth. She leaned down to run her fingers through the black and white fur of her most beloved animal.

"I'm going to miss you Blue, but I'll come home for holidays." Blue licked her face before running out of the room.

Looking around her childhood bedroom India once again remembered that in two weeks this place would be hundreds of miles away from her. But then again Jesse would be right beside her and they could do anything they wanted.

She leaned down to pick up the box of books, ready to take it down stairs in her office where she had all the essentials for her dorm ready and packed away. She didn't get two steps before the cardboard gave out on the bottom and all of her books fell to the floor, a couple hitting her feet and shins.

"Shit," she cursed then immediately covered her mouth with her hand, hoping her father didn't hear her. Spending the summer with Jesse made India feel more free and reckless. For an hour one time he made her say every cuss word he could think of over and over again.

She stepped over the pile of books and ruined box to go on a search for another one. It was half an hour later when she succumbed to stealing one from the garage. She didn't think her father would care if she emptied one of the memory boxes of her mom to instead use for her own books. Luckily, though it seemed that her father had gone out.

The garage was dark and dusty and full of rusty tools and forgotten memories. The only times the garage was used was for John Quail to park his car and when he hid away his ex-wife's belongings.

India maneuvered around the tower of boxes, knowing some contained clothes and others makeup. The others were a mystery.

She found a plastic bin that was translucent. From what she could see it contained birthday cards, dvd's, and an old jacket. She figured this one was the best one to choose because not only was it sturdy enough to hold books but it didn't look to have anything important in it.

She opened the lid and began to transfer all the belongings into another nearby box that was only half full. Curiosity got the better of her and she inspected the birthday cards. She wanted to know what people had written to her mother for her birthday. Maybe it would add some insight into the women she hardly remembered.

After opening the first card though she realized that it wasn't addressed to her mother, it was addressed to her.

From her mother.

Not only that though but this certain card held the number sixteen on its paper. India suddenly got a bad feeling in her stomach and quickly moved onto the next card, nearly sobbing when her eyes found the number fifteen on it. The next one said seventeen, another thirteen. There was a birthday card sent for every year that she had been gone.

There was even one sent almost six months ago for her eighteenth birthday. India carefully read that one, whispering the words quietly on her tongue as tears fell from her eyes.

The card read, 'Happy 18th birthday, my sweet girl. No words can explain how proud I am of you. I haven't seen you in years and I'm not sure what you're up to these days but I can only imagine the wonders you are doing. Whatever it is that holds a place in your heart, whatever your grade is in school, whatever college you have been accepted into or if you are going to college, I am so proud of you. As long as it makes you happy I want you to go forward with it.

I miss you India and I know you probably hate me, seeing as how I have yet to receive a word from you since I left but I want you to know that I will always love you. No matter the distance or time between us my love for you will never falter.

As I say in every one of these letters I will continue to reach out to you, even if you do hate me. I want you to know that I never gave up on you, not for a second.

Love,

Mom"

Below that was a phone number, written in pen like the rest of the letter.

India sank to the ground, the cards pushed against her chest as she cried. That's how her father found her an hour later when he pulled into the garage.

Once stepping out of the car, concerned about his daughter, he took one look at the cards in her hands and knew.

India stared at him, hoping that he would have some kind of reason, an excuse to keep these from her all these years. Instead, he glared angrily at her and seethed, "I told you not to get into these boxes!"

India didn't flinch back as she normally would with his temper. Instead, she stood to her full height, blinking back tears.

"You lied to me," she whispered, her voice merely better than a frogs. "You kept her from me. I thought she hated me all this time! I hated her!"

"As you should," he yelled, his face red with anger and a vein pulsing on his neck. "She left us India! She doesn't love us!"

"No." She shook her head defiantly. "She left you."

There was a three second pause where India realized the mistake of her words but it was too late. His hand connected with her cheek quick and hard, sending her stumbling back.

With her hair covering her eyes she looked up to her father, seeing the hatred and resentment he kept deep within him rising to the surface. Her cheek stung, enough to make her eyes wet with tears and her hand shake beside her.

"Now I want you to apologize for your words India," her father snapped, his hands clenching at his sides.

India shook her head, her breathing increasing rapidly. "I can't say I'm sorry for saying the truth."

He stepped forward and India took the time to dart around him and run, the cards still in her hands. She ran into the house, slamming the door shut behind her and locking it. Her father screamed and hit the door but she didn't answer it.

She ran as quickly as she could to her room, grabbed her purse and her phone. By the time she grabbed her jacket she could hear the front door banging open, sending something crashing to the floor in its wake.

"India," her father yelled his almighty yell.

From a summers worth of practice it was easy for India to climb onto her window sill and down the tree into her back yard. She ran through the gate that lead to the front yard and by the time she had reached her car her keys were already in her hand.

Panting and with her heart beating out of control India slid into the drivers seat and closed the door behind her. When she pushed her key into the ignition she was startled as her father suddenly appeared at her side and began to bang on the window.

"India get back inside now. You are not leaving!"

With the glass separating her from him she looked into his eyes and said loud enough for him to hear, "Watch me."

Then she put her car into reverse and pulled out of the drive way, her father running at her side. She had no care for his safety as she turned the car around and sped down the street. Only when she turned the street corner did he grow tired and stop in his chase.

It took only four seconds for the dams to break behind her eyes.

...

Jesse followed his brother into the small apartment that he would now call home. It looked like it came from a sitcom, it's walls made of brick, the doors sliding open, street signs of all kinds covering the walls. It also smelled horrible.

"Sorry about that," Justin said, noticing the disgusted look on Jesse's face. "There's a reason why this place was so cheap. It's right across the street from a waste plant."

Jesse plugged his nose and let his bag drop to the ground by his feet. "Do you guys ever spray air freshener around or something?"

"Trust me, we try."

Jesse looked behind him to see a tall man leaning against the wall near the open kitchen. Jesse didn't know how he missed him when he came in the door.

"I'm Bud," he said, reaching out his hand for Jesse to shake.

"Jesse."

Bud smiled widely, his bright smile a contrast to his dark skin. "Wow, I didn't know that you would look so much like your brother."

"To be honest I didn't either."

"Justin showed me your demo. I wasn't so sure about you before, but after I heard that song. You're going to be picked up in no time."

Jesse smiled gratefully at him. "Thanks and also I appreciate all you're doing for me."

"Hey, I wouldn't do it if you weren't good."

"But you're amazing," Justin butted in. "So you don't have to worry bro."

"Why don't we show you around the apartment? Then we can go grab something to eat. Have you ever had New York pizza?"

"I'm pretty sure the south can't replicate the original that well. I'm dying to see what all the hype is about."

Ten minutes later Justin and Bud were finishing up showing Jesse where he would be sleeping, in a small alcove above the front door. It wasn't much but it was better than the lumpy couch that Jesse thought he would be sleeping on.

He jumped down from the ladder as soon as his phone rang in his pocket. Instantly he knew who it was calling him and he rushed to get his phone out of his skinny jeans. He couldn't believe that he forgot to call India and tell him that he arrived. Everything about New York kind of just blew him away that he completely spaced it.

"Baby," he breathed into the phone. "I'm so sorry, please don't be mad."

He ignored the curious look his brother was giving him because he knew that he never bothered to tell Justin about India. He was going to but he didn't want Justin to pry into his business like he always does.

"Jesse," she sobbed into the phone. Instantly he tensed and was on wide alert. "I need your help."

"India, what's wrong? Are you hurt?" Instead of answering she sobbed harder causing him to panic more. "Baby, just breathe okay? Tell me what's wrong so I can fix it."

She sniffled a couple times before finally responding. "I'm at the airport."

"Why," he asked confused.

"Because I want to be with you," she cried.

He relaxed, chuckling a bit. "India, you're so damn adorable. You can wait two more weeks to see me can't you? It's not that long baby."

"No," she sobbed harder. "I need to see you. I need to see you now. I don't want to be in Greenfield anymore."

Once again his body stiffened, knowing something was seriously wrong. "What happened?"

"He lied to me Jesse. My father lied to me this entire time."

"About what?"

Jesse was aware of his brother and his roommate staring at him confused and curious but he didn't pay them any attention. His focus was solely on his girlfriend at the moment.

"My mom sent me birthday cards. They all said how much she loves me and wants me to talk to her. He kept them hidden though. I thought she didn't care about me this entire time."

Jesse sighed sadly. "Baby, I'm so sorry. I want to see you, I do, but I don't you to run away from your family like this. He's your father India, he loves you too. Maybe try to let him explain?"

"He hit me Jesse. He's dead to me now."

"He fucking what," Jesse shouted angrily. He grasped his phone tighter in his hand until he thought it would break. No words could describe the amount of anger he was feeling in his body at the moment.

India sighed from the other end. "I'm getting on a plane to New York. The next one leaves in two hours. I'll see you then."

"Don't bother," he said, grabbing his bag off the floor. He headed for the door as his brother chased him. "I'm coming back to put his body in god damn grave."

"Jesse no," she pleaded. "I don't want to be here anymore. I just want to leave, please." She started to cry again making Jesse pause in his steps.

He closed his eyes shut, taking a deep breath. "I fucking hate him."

"That makes two of us."

...

Justin (older version of Jesse so I have to like him)

Jesse (my baby)

Bud (yessssss, yes, yes, yes!!)

John Quail (ewwww)