If Jay Had Left For Tokyo....

I watch Grey, his dark eyes scolding me, glaring right through me. "You..." he begins with a shaky breath. "You are an absolute, utter idiot". His eyes turn away from my gaze.

"I know, and I'm sorry I didn't keep in touch. I just...... I just couldn't handle it. At all", I take a deep breathe, my words shaking, it pains me to talk about her, after what I have done. I Left her behind, she pleaded with me, but I turned a blind eye and left anyway. I have never been good at goodbyes, and I guess that day just proved it. But I never realized that not saying them, (goodbyes) hurts even more.

"She has been hung up on you. for 10 years Jay!!!!!!!" His voice rising, "10 f***ing years!!! You said you were hurt, you were broken into thousands and thousands of tiny pieces. And that was after 5 years. Did you even bother to imagine how she would feel, after telling you to your face so many times that she loved you, if you left for 10 years?!" He looks at me, having a confused yet raged expression on his face. I stutter, stunned, speechless. "I....." a burning pain in my eyes, I can't. I can't cry. not in front of Grey, not at all.

"I did. But I didn't at the same time.... I didn't know what I was doing, Grey! I was an idiot and I still am. I didn't think about what she desperately wanted at the time, how much she wanted me. I didn't realize how much I was hurting her until now. I was too focused on wanting her to be happy, I thought she would be better off without me. She obviously is, but she still wanted me, she told me over and over, yet I didn't accept it".

His eyes flicker and the burning that was present before, disappears. A small grin appears on his lips.

"Now's not the time Grey, you are supposed to be yelling at me. I just poured out my heart to you. that's not how your supposed to react", I scowl him. A laugh trickles from his lips "I don't give a damn Jay. You finally got some sense in your brain now huh? You realize that Lawson loved you and that the best for her IS and I repeat IS you".

I laugh to myself, grinning straight back at him. I have missed this, all this. Our heartfelt chats. His groaning and cockiness. I miss them all. Everyone single person I left behind. I wondered each day how their lives were going, how they felt when they heard the news that I was one of the few survivors of the plane crash and continued my contract in Tokyo. Most importantly, I wondered about her. Had she moved on? Would she still remember me? Is she ok?

I guess I finally faced facts. That Jay Taylor is nothing, absolutely nothing without his Aqueela Lawson. And I hope, I beg, I plead. That Aqueela still knows and feels the same way.

"She does, you know" I glance up, forgetting for a minute Grey was in the room. I was lost in my own thoughts.

"What??" I feign confusion. Only in case I heard wrong, not to get my hopes up.

"You know who, Jay. She didn't forget. She talks about you every day. A memory of you comes back each time anyone says anything." He chuckles "Man, it gets annoying. That kid will drive me off a cliff one day."

I laugh. "Tell me. Tell me everything I missed. What happened when I left? What is she doing now?"

He shakes his head. "I guess there's a lot to fill you in on, 10 years' worth to be exact," he pauses "but I guess I can tell you somethings anyway."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"The year you first left was the worst. She cried and cried. And I mean it in a literal sense. I have never seen Lawson break down like that. NEVER. She would sob and moan and drag herself around everywhere. She wouldn't speak or look at anyone or anything for 6 months at least. Hells sake she even tried to jump off that stupid Neptune's cliff when she found out your plane crashed. She was even more broken than you, Jay. When Bella tried to set her up on dates, she would just complain about them, like what you did."

I frown. I really didn't consider Aqueela. I didn't treat her right. I wasn't good enough.

"After that. She kept moping around. Avoiding anything that was to do with Jay Taylor. Ice Cream shops, leather jackets, even Slobber for a while. She couldn't look at the damn dog without having an emotional break down.

Then she started to face the fact after 5 years of trudging around like that, that you weren't going to back out. She tried to message and call you, but you never respond. Which evidently broke her some more. Mason flew out here. Followed by Laiken, Keag, Kyle and even Leban, which surprised me because I thought he had some utter hatred for her, worse than my own.

I don't know why. But it was no use, she refused to talk about you. After 6 years she started the whole fake act of being over you and being happy ol' Lawson again. But then one day stupid Landon mentioned something about the Ghost tracks and your racing in front of her, and she broke down for another year".

I wince. My heart feels heavy. Feelings of regret flood through me.

I feel a strong hand pat me on the back, "after that she started to accept it, but didn't give you up. She would eat bubble gum ice cream and strawberry all the time. She would fill her apartment with all things that reminded her of you. She would go everywhere that you and her had been.

She started racing again, and to be honest I don't know how, but she started to become better than me", he pauses to make time for a scoff sound, which makes a small smile form on my lips before he continues "and Landon. Started making her way to the top. Earn all the pink slips she could get her hands on. Winning almost every race. You can see the determination in her eyes. She does it for you Taylor"

This comment causes a sharp pain in my chest. He doesn't realize that a rational person would leave that part out, but no not Grey. I guess it's for the best though, to hear it all. To face the consequences of my actions.

"She has been like that ever since. Racing and living for the return of Jay Taylor himself.

Man, you're lucky though. Miss Loose Screw could have been snagged up long ago. You would be fuming with the number of guys that tried to snatch her up"

My gaze turns cold, I can almost feel the fume rising through my ears, restraining myself i decided to get some intel on this, I still can be jealous "Enlighten me on these events ", I snark through clenched teeth.

He chuckles yet again "ok Taylor. Easy boy, she didn't let anyone get her. She waited for you, 10 years in the making".

I take a deep breathe. " Tell me, Grey "

" Jeez. fine. I don't know what to tell you though. Just racers tried to get the lil' devil to be their girl, don't know why cause she is still as psycho as ever. Then jack asses like Xavier tried to as well. Man, even your man Leban made moves on her, even asked her on a date " He laughs uncontrollably "man, you should have seen the slap she gave that man, almost sent him back to South Africa"

"Shut it Grey. Tell me the others'

"Kay Taylor, but keep the fumes, you were gone for 10 years, let's just put the perspective in here.

Some asses from her school also showed up finding out she was rid of a guy. But she again, would mess up their pretty boy faces, one after the other if they tried anything on her" he hesitates " that's it Jay, nothing serious, just petty youth problems, nothing to fret about"

"You hesitated, tell me right now Grey, what happened to her" I see my knuckles turning white.

"no, Taylor. I'm putting my foot down. That's all you need to hear, nothing else happened"

I lose it. "Yes, yes it did Grey I see it in your face that you not telling me something!!!!" I stand up and pound my fist into the coffee table, "Tell me the F**k right now!"

"Sit, Taylor"

I don't move.

"S I T " he says through a clenched jaw, causing me to reluctantly retreat.

"I'll tell you ok, but you won't like it "

I nod my head in his direction, waiting for his response.

"The guys, found out Lawson raced, and seemingly found her.... Attractive...... And basically, wanted to get a hold of her for their gang. For what actual reason, I don't know. But you know how they are, they want what their enemy lost "

I gulp, "who... who are you talking about.... you don't mean......"

He cuts me off. "Yes. Them.... Brody's gang.... But they left her alone, we got her back after all. She is an official racer now. The whole unit of us basically stood in for her"

My fist slams into the table again, and again and again. I only stop when Grey snatches my hand mid air before I can blow another punch.

"Calm down JT! She is fine. Aqueela is fine. She was with us when it happened, so we had her back, nothing more to say. They have left her alone and no one has heard from them since."

I freeze. Glaring from my bloody fist to him. "When did they get out of Jail" noticing his awkwardness at the hearing of my question.

" Well, a few years after you left, they were released seeming as their father was their leader and they had served their time"

I cuss under my breathe.

"But. Its fine Jay. They didn't touch Aqueela. And they won't. They only wanted a bit of fun in their books I guess, they would have left her on the highway once they realize that her annoyingness and stupidity outweigh her looks"

I scoff at him again. "Now's not the time for jokes, Grey. and they didn't touch her cause they didn't have the chance". I slam my fist into the table again, causing blood to drip down my arm.

"Ok Taylor, enough. She is F I N E. Let's just in already. she'll be ecstatic"

* * *

The door opens and standing behind it is a girl. The most beautiful girl I have ever seen. Her long golden curls hanging down to her waist, her amazing figure being shown off in a baby blue bikini, and those eyes, those amazing, beautiful, big hazel eyes.

"Ja......" she stutters. Her eyes filled with shock, her jaw almost hitting the flaw. "Jay?!" She squeals at the highest pitch I didn't even know existed, before throwing herself onto me, causing me to fall to the ground.

"JAY. JAY. JAYYYYYYYYYY YOUR BACK, YOU CAME BACK, I THOUGHT YOU HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT ME, BUT YOU CAME BACK!!!!!" she shouts, almost causing me to become at death as her grandparents.

"Easy Lawson, he just got back, we want him to breathe for a little longer, ok?" Grey chimes in.

"Oh shut it Ferrot. I don't care" she snarls back. That's the Aqueela I know. The one I have missed so much.

"Hey..... Queels" I decide to find my voice, though it's hard to talk when having someone lie on top of you, hugging the life out of you.

"You have no idea how happy I am that you are back Jay. I thought you had left me for good. Is it real you? or am I dreaming? I'm usually not that creative. This is a dream isn't it? of course Jay wouldn't come back, what was I thinking" she sighs to herself and releases her grip on me, as she proceeds to walk away.

"NO! Wait Aqueela its me. Its Jay. I'm alive, I promise this isn't a dream. Come back please. There's something I gotta say" I plead with her, desperately, missing her presences near mine already.

She imminently shows off that smile, that drop dead gorgeous smile. Her big hazel eyes lighting up with joy. She runs up and jumps into my arms, and this time I'm prepared.

I hold her tight, not wanting to let go.

"I knew it was you" she whispers into my ear, "I knew, I just knew that if I waited, you would come back"

She drags me into the backyard, which is filled with every person I know.

"Heyy listen up peeps. Your queen has an announcement loyal followers!" She screams, yet again, to all the people buzzing around in the backyard.

"Shut upppp Aqueela! Stop ruining this for me! It's my party and you know it!!" A little voice pipes up from somewhere in the pool.

"Oh can it Aqueela the great and S E C O N D "

'Oi Queela don't tell my son to shut up. Get lost"

"Oh you IDIOTS" she screams at the top of her little lungs, before pointing to me.

The yard falls dead silent, enough for you to hear a pin drop. I cast my eyes around, and notice that every single one of them is here. Mason, Laiken, Kyle, Bells, Max, Troy, Emma, Xavier, Landon, Sarah, Nancy, Ryan, Leban *unfortunately, the little bastard*, need I go on.

"OH MY GOD!! JAY" they all scream in unison before surrounding me like moths to a light bulb.

From then on all I get is a lineup of welcome homes, I missed yous' and hugs.

The last person in line to great me is Leban. And unfortunately for him, because the minute I see his face, my anger comes back in the form of my fist in his face.

"OW" he scowls. "What the hell was that for!?"

Everyone around me goes silent, Staring at me wide eyed.

"That, my friend. is what you get for making a move on Aqueela. I don't care if I was gone for 10 years or half way across the world" I mutter under my breath, loud enough for him to hear, "Just no. But I missed you pal" I mention before hugging him back.

He cusses under his breathe before patting me on the back.

After all the welcome's and hugs after my little flame up. It's like I never left. I'm instantly interacting with everyone, catching up, and they all act like I was only gone just for a day. It makes my heart flutter with happiness. And I realize that this, this is where I want to be. I look around the crowd to find her eyes, those beautiful big hazel eyes, staring right back at me.

I now realize what I did wrong all those years ago, I never chose her. Every time something would happen to Aqueela in her life, she would always choose me. She would do everything in her power to be with me. And when I got on that plane, i didn't choose her, even though my heart wanted me to. But this time, I'm showing Aqueela that i pick her. I choose Aqueela Lawson.