CATHERINE MCMILLAN

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It was the start of a new year. I am now a junior high school student.

"Let's see. My uniform still fits me. Things are ready and I'm ready. Okay! Time to go to school.", I excitedly told myself. I wore my shoes and I closed the door and locked it. I went downstairs and I saw the landlady.

"Good morning!", I greeted.

"Good mornimg dear. Looks like some one is in a good mood today.", she said.

"Well of course! Who wouldn't be? Today's the first day of school.", I replied.

"I'm just happy to see you smile again Catherine.", she said. I smiled and said,

"It won't happen again. I promise.", I reassured her. I waved her goodbye and I walked out of the apartment. I guess she meant about how I was so depressed about Dylan's disappearance. It's been over a year now. Jacob and I still worked together at the same restaurant and he'll be entering school this year! He'll still be a second year though, a year behind me but that's okay. We ended up being as closer as ever, like we were bestfriends. As for me and Michael, we broke up but it was a mutual break up. We both agreed on it and now, Michael, Jacob, and I are like best friends. Michael was still the same old popular jerk that yeah, I admit, had fallen in love unexpectedly. I did love him though and he also seriously loved me but we both thought that it wouldn't work up. No hard feelings or heartbreaks happened. The same thing applies between me and Jacob. Because of that, the three of us became as close as ever. Oh, and Stacy? She had other friends. I never knew the reason behind why she kissed Dylan and why she betrayed me. I didn't mind anymore though. I was slowly moving on from Dylan and what happened  a year ago. But still, I hoped  to see Dylan again. Maybe not today, but maybe someday. I wouldn't expect anymore.

"Hey Catherine!", Jacob called out. I smiled and approached him.

"You look good in the uniform Jacob.", I complimented.

"Nah. Not really. Good thing I got in this school. The entrance exam was really difficult but I still managed to pass.", he said. I patted his shoulder and looked at him.

"And I congratulate you for that!", I replied.

"Hey guys!", Michael called us as he approached us.

"Hey!", I greeted him. Jacob and Michael did their handshake which I found unusual since it was weird and difficult. The three of us went in the school and Mark was there waiting for us.

"Hey guys. You're all late.", he teased.

"It's still seven thirty in the morning,Mark. You're earlier than ever I see?", I teased. Jacob and Michael held their laughter.

"Hmph! It's better than being late.", he said. We walked along the hallway and I sensed something. I looked behind but no one was there. I swear I felt someone was looking at us. Nah, maybe it was just someone who passed by.

"I'll go on ahead guys.", Jacob said.

"Oh yeah, you're still in second year.", Michael said.

"Bye Jacob. See you at lunch.", I said.

"Take care of yourself.", he said. Yes, Jacob was still the same old caring Jacob. Michael wrapped his arm around my shoulders and said,

"Don't worry Jacob. If anything happens, I'm always there for her.". A smile formed across my lips and I hid this from everyone. Okay, so maybe I hadn't fully moved on from Michael.

"Fine. Bye Catherine! Bye guys.", he bid and walked away.

"I'll head the other way guys. I need to get something at the library.", I told them.

"Okay. See you in class.", Mark said as both of them walked away. I headed towards the library and borrowed a book. After, I headed out. While walking, I spotted a pink rose.

"Huh? What's this doing here?", I wondered. There were no roses grown in school. I picked it up and continued to walk. I spotted another rose and more roses alomg the way. Wait, these weren't here awhile ago. So how did this happen? Also, who would just go and drop roses everywhere like this? I picked up the roses and it seemed like it was leading me to a path. I followed it and right in front of me was the huge oak tree. Huh? Why did I end up here? I looked at the paper bag that was sitting on the bench under the oak tree. I approached it and I took the bag. Did someone leave it here? I better take this to the security office. I went to the security office and entered.

"Good morning sir.", I greeted.

"Good morning! What do we have here? Why are you holding a bunch of roses?", he asked.

"I would like to ask that myself sir. Look, I came here because I found this paper bag sitting at a school bench outside.", I said and gave it to him. I examined it we found a card underneath.

"It's for you.", he said as he gave the card to me. It was for me? I opened it and it said,

meet me at the bleachers. don't open the paper bag.

It was encoded so I couldn't guess who it was from. I was completely clueless.

"I better go and bag was for me after all.", I said. I took the bag and went out of the office. I ran my way to the stadium. Why am I running? Why am I starting to feel nervous? I arrived at the entrance of the stadium. I took a deep breath and held onto the roses and bag. I entered the stadium. When I arrived inside, I looked at the bleachers. There I saw someone sitting alone. He was wearing a jacket and he had the hoodie on so I couldn't picture out who he was. He was wearing the school pants so I could confirm that he was from Wilson High. I approached him and he stood up. He turned away from me and now I was behind him.

"Uh, hey? Are you the one behind these roses and bag? Thanks but it's not Valentine's day.", I told him. He turned to face me. Under that hoodie was dark. I couldn't clearly see his face. I could only make out the mouth that was smiling.

"You sure did change in just one year.", he said. That voice. It couldn't be. I started to really feel nervous.

"Excuse me?", I asked. He raised his hands and slowly took off his hoodie. There, I finally saw his face; a familiar face I didn't see for a year. I fell down to my knees and looked down. No way. This couldn't be happening. Not right now. Tears were starting to fall out of my eyes. He knelt down and looked at me.

"Now, now. Ms. Landlady was even glad that you're smiling again. Don't cry like that.", he said.

"You saw us?", I asked and he just chuckled. He's been watching me all along? For how long? Since when?! I wiped the tears and looked at him.

"Dylan? Is that really you?", I asked. I heard him chuckle and he placed his hand on top of my hand.

"Yes Catherine. It's me.", he said. I cried even more. I didn't know how I felt. I was happy, sad, hurt, nervous. I felt lonely. He wrapped his arms around me in to a hug.

"Dylan you jerk!", I yelled at him while lightly punching his chest.

"I know.", he replied but he had never let go of me.

"Dylan you idiot! Why did you leave? Why did you leave me? You jerk!", I asked him while I cried.

"I'm sorry. I wanted to know myself better. I wanted to confirm what I was feeling. I'm sorry I made you sad. I deserve your punches and scolding.", he said. Looked up at him. He looked a bit more mature but he still looked the same. He was the same old Dylan I knew from a year ago. Happiness dominated and filled my heart that it took away all the sadness and uneasiness away. I raised my hand and cupped his cheek.

"I'm so happy to see you again. You don't know how much I wanted to see you again. I really missed you so much Dylan.", I said as I held him close to me.

"I missed you more Catherine. I'll never disappear again. I promise.", he said. Our lips met and we kissed each other tenderly. That longing sensation you feel when you meet someone you didn't see a quite a long time now.  I didn't know what I felt for Dylan anymore. I feel happy when he's with me. I couldn't bear it if I would lose him again. I wanted him to be with me always. It was a long yet passionate kiss that Dylan and I shared. We both pulled away and smiled at each other.

"Catherine, you really did change. You've become more sweet and caring. You've become more beautiful. I don't even know if I should be by your side.", he said. I chuckled and said,

"You're perfect just the way you are Dylan.". It was dark all of a sudden. The sky became grey and the stadium did not have a roof.

"Let's go shelter ourselves.", I told him. Dylan grabbed my wrist and smiled at me.

"Let's stay here.", he said.  I sat beside him. I took out my umbrella and the rain started to pour.

"I want to spend more time with you even if we're under the rain.", he said. He placed his arm around my shoulder and his other arm holding my umbrella. I rested my head on his shoulder and I felt Dylan rest his head on top of mine. I smiled and closed my eyes. I didn't mind the rain making us wet. I didn't mind the wind blowing us making us shiver. I didn't mind everything around me. For Dylan and I were in a world of our own, under one umbrella.

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After one year, they finally met. But this us just the start of something else. What, will happen to Catherine and Dylan after Michael and Jacob find out that Dylan has returned? Find out on the next Chapter of Umbrella! :)

Hey guys! Aww.. Dylan's so sweet, isn't he? What do you think about what Dylan did? Let me know your thoughts on the comments! :)

-SophiaMission