What once was

Chapter 15

The next morning Shayla woke up, still in Jackson's bed.  Sitting up, she remembered the night before, and quickly got out of bed and got dressed. Going out to the kitchen she looked around for Jackson but he wasn't inside. Stepping out on the porch, she saw him sitting there drinking a coffee, watching the waves of the ocean. He looked up when he saw her come out. Smiling, he said, "good morning Shay. I hope you slept okay." Shayla  smiled. The truth of the matter was, she had slept really good. The best that she had in days to be honest. She nodded. " I did Jackson. What about you?" Jackson took a sip of coffee and nodded. "I did.  Are you hungry"?  Shaking her head no, she sat down beside him. "I'm good. I'm actually not much of a breakfast person." Jackson looked over at her. "We may have to change that. It's the most important meal of the day you know." She smiled at him when he said that. They made small talk for a bit and then had some coffee together. Finally Shayla stood up. "I hate to go Jackson, but I have to go into town and get some things. I need to pick some stuff up for graduation tomorrow, and I have to stop by Karen's and get some things. I still have to clean out my locker at the University and stop by the house and check the mail." Jackson nodded. Looking up at her, and taking hold of her hand, he said in a serious tone, "Are you sure your okay? I mean, with last night, and us......." He waited for her response. she looked back at him and squeezed his shoulder. " I am.  Actually, I am happy. " Jackson smiled and stood up, leaning over he kissed her on the forehead. "Your going to come back here after your all finished up in town?" Shayla shook her head. "Yeah, hopefully I won't be too long." Jackson walked her to her car and they said their good bye's and she headed off.

A couple hours later, Shayla pulled into Karen's drive way. Karen, seeing her from her deck, waved and smiled. Shayla got out of the car and headed around back leading to the stairs of the deck. Putting her purse down on the table, she sunk in a lounge chair and sighed. Karen caught the sigh, just as she came out onto the deck with a glass of lemonade for both of them. "Rough morning"? she asked. Shayla looked up at her best friend, and nodded. "A little," she said. "Cleaned out my locker, got my stuff I need for grad tomorrow, made my hair appointment, and just going to head over to the house soon to check mail and stuff." Karen sat down beside her. Looking at her best friend, she surveyed her a moment and then spoke. "Your different today Shay. You seem a bit more upbeat. What's going on?" Shayla smiled a little. Karen and her had been best friends since junior high. Karen was very intuitive and not much really got past her. Shayla looked at her best friend. She knew she could trust Karen with anything that she told her. Putting down her lemonade, she leaned forward in her chair and filled Karen in on the last few days, including the previous evening with Jackson. When Shayla was finished Karen leaned back in her chair and grinned. "Wow! Good for you Shay. I am glad you have found someone, but I am a little concerned. Are you sure it is not too soon?" Shayla understood where her best friend's concerns were coming from. Thinking for a moment, Shayla answered her best friend back. "I don't know Karen. I don't know what will happen with Jackson and I to be honest, and I certainly never saw this coming, nor would I have ever imagined being ready for another relationship this soon. But there is something totally different with Jackson. I can't explain it, and I can't explain how he makes me feel, but it is different. As much as I loved Brad, and maybe still do a bit, Jackson is different than Brad. I cannot really explain how." Karen watched Shay for a few seconds and then smiled. "Well hell... if he makes you happy, then I am happy Shay." The girls talked a while longer, Shayla picked up the things she needed from Karen, said their good bye's, and she headed over to the house to pick up her mail.

Three hours later, Shayla grabbed some things she needed from the house, checked the machine for messages, tossed Brad's mail on the table, and headed back out the door. Locking her door she sighed a bit. It was hard to believe that she would never be coming back to this place with Brad again. He had made it clear that they were over, and now she had Jackson in her life. She knew last night could have been just a one time thing, but she knew Jackson felt more than that for her, and she felt the same about him. As she had told Karen, he was different then Brad. She didn't know where this would end up leading too, but she knew that she woke up happy this morning, and looked forward to going back out to the cottage again tonight. Bringing herself back to reality, she looked at the time and realized she needed to get in gear if she was going to be on time for supper.