Tainted

Chapter Eight: He is back!

I have been waiting in the little area, where they show you the progress of the shuttle, for the past few days. Don't get me wrong I don't come here and spend the whole day here, I come for a few hours just watching and praying that they are all safe, especially James.

But today, isn't any normal day, it's the day they all come back, granted they aren't supposed to arrive for another 3 hours, but I'm way too excited to not be here.

I showered and did all that stuff this morning specifically so that I didn't have to be in a hurry.

I look at my watch and see that it is just now getting to 2 p.m. Just looking at the time and seeing it get closer and closer to when they get home I can't help but get ansy. To distract myself from the time I watch as people casually walk in and look at the time and smile. I imagine all the other families and see how glad they are for the them to come back.

James parents weren't going to come so early, and had offered me to go eat with them before they headed over, but I had nicely declined and came straight over.

You see that day he left, I could never really enjoy life here up in space. He was the one who wanted to be up here not me, so when he left I knew I wasn't going to enjoy the time where he was gone.

On the bright side, my little sister and I had sleepovers and watched Netflix for the past couple nights. It was fun to have a night with just us to. Reminds me of times back on earth.

Growing up we didn't have the best relationship, my sister and I, but as we got older we grew closer.

I glanced at my watch again to see that it was only 2:25 p.m. Sighing I got comfortable in the seat and decided that I would take a nap to pass time, seeing as I was going to be here for a while.

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"Haley, wake up they are almost here" my mom whispered in my ear, lightly shaking me.

When her words finally dawned on me I jumped up and saw that they were only 5 minutes away. Stepping over people and running to the door, where surprisingly no one was standing, I stood happily wait for the love of my life to walk through those doors.

"Excuse me ladies and gentlemen, there has been an accident and we'll need you all to scoot back from the door" a voice over heard spoke with such authority. By the time he spoke people began to crowd the door. All of us scooted back. Hoping and praying that James wasn't the one that was hurt.

Then, what felt like slow motion, the door opened and one by one the boys started coming out of the door. My eyes scanned the crowd for a certain boy, and as soon as I found him I made a bee line toward him. As soon as he saw me he dropped his bag and opened his arms catching me in an embrace.

"You scared me, I thought you were the one who got hurt" I told him as I leaned back, looking into his eyes.

"Well I'm here and not hurt, I missed you so god damn much" he told me as his hand cupped the back of my head and brought our lips together.

"You have no idea how much I missed you" I told him after the kiss. I leaned my head on his shoulder then slid down him to wrap my arms around him.

We heard a cough, and turned our heads to find both our fathers with their eyebrows raised and our mothers with little smiles.

"Glad you are back sweetie, but also its a good thing you're back." Mrs. Dean told him. I stepped a side letting them hug.

"Why do you say that ma?" James asked.

"Well you see, Haley hasn't been doing to well, she's barely slept and has barely ate anything." his mom smiles at me with concern. I look around to see everyone nodding and looking at me with concern filled eyes.

James wraps his arm around me tightly. "Well that will change, she'll be back to normal in no time" he said kissing me on the side of my head.

"Alrighty, are you hungry?" My father asked. "Our treat for welcoming back James"

"Yeah that's fine, hey we'll meet you there I just want to go put my bag away and change clothes, and I'll be quick." James told them grabbing ahold of my hand.