No Strings Attached ; j.g

t h i r t y - s i x

I tucked the note away into my pocket as a tear slid down my face. Jack pulled me close and I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"What did it say?" Dad asked.

"She was just saying goodbye-" I lied to cut the amount I had to say. "Dad, I'm sorry for leaving," I stood up and hugged him. "I'm sorry I never came back or tried calling. I'm sorry I had you all so worried," I sobbed.

"It's fine, were fine now, it's been almost three years, Hun." I pulled away from the hug. "Do you two want some coffee or something?"

"Please," Jack speaks for me. We walk to the kitchen, my siblings and father follow. My dad makes us coffee and we slowly sip it. I stare at my reflection in the dark coffee and feel Jack's arm come around me. "You okay?" I look up at him with teary eyes and I try to smile.

"I'll be okay," I shrug. Everyone hugs the two of us. "I'm sorry I left you guys," I say sadly.

"It's fine, we know you're okay, now!" one of my sisters say excitedly.

"So, tell us everything," Jake said enthusiastically. Their wanting to know everything made me feel better, like me traveling around hadn't been a waste.

"Well, after going to North Carolina, I went to a bunch of different places. I went to Six Flags with a friend named Sam. Traveled a few more places and met some really cool people. Then Jack here stumbled upon me in the middle of the night, we had coffee, and he let me stay with him. He took me to Nebraska, where I saw my old friend Sam. Sam took me to Hawaii, I left Jack to go, so that was a rough patch but we're good now," I smile. "In Hawaii I met these really cool hippies. Ziggy, Misty, Cotton, Hash, Koi, and their dog Doobie. I have lots of pictures at home. We had lots of fun. Sam had a hippie name, Marley. I had one too, Breezy. Sam left Hawaii, and I stayed back for two months. We ended up going on a road trip, the first stop was California, which is where I'm living with Jack. That's when Jack and I made up. Then my good friend Koi," I felt sad again. "He died of an allergic reaction."

"Aw, I'm sorry," Jake said.

"Yeah, but we-" I stopped. I thought about whether or not I should say it. "We went to the beach and smoked a joint in his honor, he was always high as fuck," I laughed and they looked at me shocked, except Jake who was laughing just like me. Then everyone else laughed too. "Then when the hippies left and I stayed with Jack, Jack and the hippies got me a puppy. I named him Augie." Jack showed them all a picture and they all 'awed.' "After seeing Jack's happy family, it made me miss you all."

"Well we missed you," they all agreed and I smiled. I explained more about the trips and answered all of their questions. They seemed genuinely happy to see me, which made me happy too.