The banner was bright red with black letters on it. The word 'reunion' made her stomach twist in knots. Balloons covered the edge of the doors that she used to walk through every day. People were walking through those doors now, dressed up in the nicest clothes they owned. Greetings were made, hugs were shared, and old classmates were reconnected.

But no one recognized her. Everyone walked past her with not much of even a slight glance.

She felt stupid for coming. She didn't belong here, she never did.

She turned away from those big double doors and that large buoyant banner and ran straight into another person.

"Oh I'm so sorry," she apologized, gathering herself. The other ladies purse had fallen to the ground. She bent down to pick it up, offering another apology. She had to blame her nerves. She's been preparing for this night as soon as she got the unexpected invitation months ago.

"Aurora?"

She froze in shock. The lady knelt down in front of her, making her raise her eyes to meet hers.

"Oh my god," the lady exclaimed. "It really is you. I can't believe it."

Aurora took in the stunning woman in front of her. Blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders in loose waves. Jewelry decorated her fingers, wrists, neck, and ears. Different tattoos were spaced evenly on her arms and legs. No two tattoos looked the same. This woman was a lot to take in for Aurora.

"I'm India," the lady spoke softly. "We were once friends." India looked up at the doors behind Aurora. "Here. In this hell hole," she chuckled lightly.

"I'm sorry," Aurora whispered. "I . . ."

India offered a small warm smile. "It's okay that you don't remember me. I remember you. I never forgot."

Aurora felt tears burn the back of her eyes. "I know who you are. You were in the car with me. Thank you," Aurora whispered through a cracked voice. She reached out to touch India's hand. A hand that once was familiar to her. "Thank you for the letters. I liked reading them."

India wrapped Aurora's hand in hers and squeezed it. "I wasn't sure if you were getting them. But I'm glad you liked them. I liked writing them."

Aurora gave India a concerned look before looking over her shoulder at the double doors. "Can I be honest with you? I'm terrified to go in there."

"Don't worry," India soothed. They stood up together, brushing off their dresses. "I am too. We'll go together."

Hand in hand they walked through those double doors, as they should have five years prior.

...

"You know I wasn't serious when I told you that you should wear that to our five year high school reunion."

Keenan looked down at his old varsity jersey. It had a couple holes in it and sure it was pretty small on him now, but it felt familiar when he put it on.

"You're just jealous because you don't have one. I can share one of my other ones for you if you like."

Jesse rolled his eyes and took a big gulp from the red solo cup. "From which team huh? The Browns? The Raiders? The Broncos? There's just so many choices."

Keenan punched his cousin's arm. "I told you that I just signed a five year contract with the Broncos. I'm not getting traded this year."

"I sure hope so," said an old friend. "I'm getting tired of having to buy new fan gear every season. It's hard to keep up with you Lockhart."

Lee Cook gave his old friends big hugs each. He had gained a lot of weight since they had graduated and hair was finally visible on his face. He was also sporting his varsity jersey that looked as worn as Keenan's, but much smaller.

"How did you know to copy me," Keenan teased. "Did you get an invite?"

"Well," Lee laughed, "when a hollywood pop star pays you two hundred dollars to squeeze into your old jersey, you can't say no."

Keenan stared down his cousin who was laughing behind his cup.

Jesse's eyes darted behind Keenan, and suddenly he choked on his own laughter. "Oh my god," he wheezed. "They all really did it."

Keenan squeezed his eyes shut, preparing himself for what he knew was waiting behind him.

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, Mr. Lockhart can you sign my boobs please."

"Dude, why did you always throw to Johnson? He can't catch a ball if his hands were covered in glue!"

"I was counting on you man. I've lost three fantasy football leagues because of you! You owe me."

Keenan finally turned around to face his old friends. Aiden hadn't aged a day, but his twin brother Ajax looked like the their old history teacher. Kasper was fitted into a suit with a tie. He was the only one not wearing their old jerseys.

"Didn't get the message Bond," Keenan joked with him.

Jasper rolled his eyes and huffed. "Why would I wear an old torn up jersey with grass stains on it when I have suits worth hundreds of dollars waiting for me in my closet."

Aiden snickered while his brother threw his head back and yelled out a laugh. Lee answered with, "You're not anything special Kasper. Jesse and Keenan make ten times as much as you do."

"And yet," Keenan smiled, "I still wanted to put on my old jersey."

"And not be a stuck up rich fu-" Keenan jabbed his cousin's stomach, hoping to not have a fight break out tonight.

Even after five years Jesse had not warmed up to Jasper. He had only gotten worse as time went on. Every so often Jesse would get a message from his old high school classmate asking for backstage passes to his concerts or invitations to celebrities parties. Jesse had to eventually block him on everything.

"All I'm saying is I just bought a house in Italy," Kasper said with a disgusting smirk on his face.

Ajax looked to Jesse, giving him a faux confused look. "Jesse, didn't you just finish your second world tour?"

The guys shared a laugh while Kasper grunted in frustration. He turned on his heel and let the friends be.

"Well," Keenan muttered, "that's one more down."

"Speaking of," Lee responded with a sudden burst of energy. "Has anyone spoken to our Russian friend?"

Aiden shook his head with a sad look. "Last I heard he had knocked up a girl from Ukraine. Poor bastard. Hey, that sounds like you doesn't it bro?" He gave his brother a mischievous look.

Ajax looked tired beyond belief. His hair line was already disappearing, but he tried his best to cover it up with a hat. Under his eyes looked like duffle bags. Keenan thought playing football was hard on his body, but being a father of three is a whole new level.

"How is Luna," Jesse asked. If it was five years ago he would not be asking that question with such genuine curiosity. He would have switched her name with 'satan's spawn' or 'hell hound'.

Ajax grumbled, rubbing a hand over his tired face. "She's fine. Not nearly as tired as me. She listens to your music all day, every day. She gets off on telling everyone that she used to be friends with 'America's Bad Boy'."

"Used to," Jesse gasped with feigned surprise.

"Holy shit."

Those two words from Keenan made Jesse's blood go cold. He looked to his cousin to see his eyes wide with shock as his focus was on something across the room. Jesse followed his line of sight to only have the wind knocked out of him.

There she was. The angel from his dreams, with just as long blonde hair as the last time he saw her. But she looked different too. Tattoos were scattered across her visible sun kissed skin. Her silhouette was smaller than before. He could tell that working out became a new hobby for her.

As he gawked at the woman who broke his heart years before he was reminded of the feelings he had for her. They all rushed to the surface, nearly breaking his bones within him. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't speak. He wanted to go run and hide, but he also wanted to go run into her arms.

The anger he felt for the past couple years washed away, replaced with the love for her he couldn't shake.

Keenan wanted to throw up.

He didn't think Aurora would show up to their reunion, given she didn't remember anything about this place. But yet, there she was. She was wearing a beautiful black dress that had Keenan drifting on clouds to her.

He was surprised himself as his legs carried himself over to her. She stood only a couple feet away when his legs stopped. Her eyes met his and in an instance Keenan felt his world begin to rebuild.

After the roughest years of his life Keenan had to only lay his eyes upon her and felt his life begin to change for the better.

Aurora ran into his arms, loving the feeling she had dreamt about for so long. She tucked her face into his chest, feeling her tears rush down her face. Keenan buried his head in her shoulder, hoping to hide from the world. He didn't want his old classmates to see him cry. He had an image to upkeep. The star quarterback who made it big and was living the life. But he wasn't. He was facing demons that no one could imagine. But Aurora knew. She always knew.

"I'm so sorry that I couldn't be there," Aurora whimpered. She held onto him tighter. "I should have come back."

Keenan shook his head. "No, you did the right thing. It's okay."

Aurora pulled away to look into Keenan's eyes. She cupped his cheek in her hand, wiping away his tears with her thumb. "He was an amazing person."

Keenan gave her a small smile, all he could muster before almost sobbing. "He was. He didn't deserve to die."

Aurora shook her head, feeling more and more tears rush down her cheeks. Her heart hurt as she thought about her friend Conrad.

He kept in contact with her when she went back to Canada. They talked almost every day. Conrad would keep her up to date about everything Keenan, since she couldn't talk to him. Conrad was their messenger when the world split them apart. But then the updates just stopped.

Conrad tried so hard to run away from his past in the dangerous neighborhoods of California. But they chased him down and shot him dead.

It took Keenan's life away when it happened. Conrad was a friend like none other. They were supposed to go into the NFL together, start companies together, travel the world together. But he was ripped away and Keenan was left with nothing. Except for the hope that one day he could reconnect with the girl that made him smile no matter what.

"Don't leave this time," Keenan begged, tears in his eyes, as he grabbed onto her waist for dear life.

Aurora smiled, her eyes lighting up the room. "I move into my apartment in denver in two weeks."

India looked away from the happy couple, a smile of her own on her face, to find the boy that haunts her dreams. She caught a glimpse of his white blonde hair heading out an exit door.

Making her way through the crowd, India thought of a thousand possibilities. He might spit in her face. He might hug her. He might pretend she doesn't exist.

Any possibility made her stomach churn. She just wanted to talk to him. She wanted to see him.

The cold night air nipped at her skin. She wrapped her arms tighter around her as she searched for the boy. She saw a figure hunched over on the bleachers. Her feet carried her while her nerves bundled themselves up.

Her heels against the metal of the bleachers made for a sickening noise at such a setting. Jesse's white blonde hair flew through the wind as he lifted his head to look at the cause of the noise.

His expression gave India no answers. With caution she continued her walk towards him. She sat a foot away from him, careful to keep distance. Even after all this time she had to keep her distance. The thought made her throat close up. Closing her eyes she repeated to herself, "this is Jesse. He would never hurt me'. Taking a deep breath she scooted closer to him, leaving only a couple inches between them.

Still, a shrill terrified voice sounded at the back of her head. 'We're alone. No one else is here. Go back inside. Safety in numbers.'

India shook the voice out of her head. She tried to concentrate on the football field before her.

"Was it worth it?" Jesse's voice broke the silence of the night, and her heart.

India didn't answer. She couldn't. She thought back on the nightmares she has faced since the last time she saw him. She thought of the demons that she carries on her back. She thought of the hospitals. The cops. The psychiatrists. The medicine. The nights she can't get the monster out of her head and just cries.

She thought of the plane rides. The countries she visited. The people she's met. The laughs she shared. The experiences she had.

"I set out for a purpose and I found that purpose," she finally answered.

Jesse looked at her with so many questions racing in his throat, before giving up and laying back. His eyes were focused on the stars above him. They're always a welcoming sight to him, because no matter where he is in the world the night sky looks generally the same.

"But I missed you every second of every day," she whispers into the dark. There's something in her voice that makes Jesse think this isn't the India he once knew. "I've been through hell and I'm still trying to find my way back."

Jesse couldn't help himself. He reached out and grazed her elbow. She jumped and looked back at him with such a ferocious look of fear that his heart broke. What happened to her?

He wanted to ask, but not then. Another day. Now, he just wanted to be with her.

He patted the spot next to him, inviting her to join in his gazing of the stars. A couple minutes passed and she slowly laid back with him, closing the distance between them.

Neither of them knew what they were going to do, or what this meant. But both were content in just lying there, looking at the stars that belonged to them.

....

Oh my god I can't believe this series is over. It took tooooo long to write it, but I finally sat down and finished it. I hope you all enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. And thank you for following it while I had my boredom, procrastination, and writers block with it. 

I love you all my wonderful readers and I hope you'll join me on my next stories!