“Great! This weekend all of the first years are going to dinner and a movie downtown. Is that cool with you?”
“Perfect…Which chapters do you want me to outline?”
We worked side by side until nearly midnight, stopping after we’d gone through two more pots of coffee. I helped her put all her things back into her backpack and walked her outside to her car.
“We got a lot of work done today,” she said, smiling as I held her car door open for her.
“We did. I’m sure we’ll get the highest scores again, too.”
“I’m sure…” She hesitated a second, and then she stood on her toes and planted a kiss on my cheek. “See you Saturday, Carter.”
“See you Saturday…” I forced a smile and waited until she drove off before walking back inside. I was about to collapse on the couch and call it a night, but I spotted a letter on the TV stand. Addressed to me in Arizona’s handwriting.
I quickly ripped it open and sat on the couch to read:
Dear Carter,
Sorry it took me so long to respond to your last letter, but unfortunately not much has changed in my life since we last wrote. (Or spoke…)
I still hate it here. It’s absolutely beautiful despite the lack of beaches in the part of town I’m in, but that’s about all I can say…
Anyway, who would’ve thought you would be number one in your class? I mean, I knew you’d do well, but that’s amazing. Good for you. Maybe you can be my lawyer if I ever open up my own restaurant? (Funny how I’ve never given much thought to that before, but that’d be nice.)
Also, THANK YOU for sending me even more of those jars of Gayle’s waffle batter. Believe it or not, I’ve used them all and I’ve got my classmates hooked on the crack that is Gayle’s waffles. Well, that’s it for me for now…Let me know how you’re doing and I’ll try to write back faster next time.
Sincerely,
Arizona
Three Months Gone…And More
Dear Arizona,
I refuse to believe that you’re not checking your emails at all.
I could maybe understand if you’re reading them and quickly deleting them, but could you at least respond to one of the ones I sent you last week (or at least this letter. At least THIS goddamn letter so I know that you’re reading what I send you…) whenever you get a chance. I need to talk to you about something important.
Not much has changed in my life here at home.
Still in law school.
Still number one in the class.
Still missing you. (More than I’ll ever be able to explain.)
Sincerely,
Carter
Dear Arizona,
I need you to respond. Now.
Say something...Anything.
Sincerely,
Carter
Dear Carter,
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you enjoyed the holiday! (Please tell Josh I said hello!)
Sincerely,
Arizona
Dear Carter,
Merry Christmas! Hope Santa brought you everything you wanted and more! (Thank you for sending me more waffle batter from Gayle’s! I’ve also mailed a separate “thank you” note just for that.)
Sincerely,
Arizona
Dear Carter!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Whoa, crazy how the past six months have just flown by, huh? All is well here—I’m officially my teacher’s favorite student and I think I might have a real female BFF in Nicole. (I think the distance made us stronger.)
Sincerely,
Arizona
Track 27. Begin Again. (5:03)
I dropped a few postcards into the mailbox for my mom one Saturday morning. I was slowly coming to terms with my new non-Carter filled life, and even though I still woke up some days feeling numb and occasionally broke down and cried in the middle of the night, I was faring way better than I was when I first got here.
I was making plenty of new friends in my classes, talking to Nicole once a week via Skype, and whenever I was feeling lonely, I wandered out to the coast.
Since there were no beaches here—only jagged rocks and rough waters that knocked against them, I would lay back against my blanket and shut my eyes—pretending I was back at home instead. I would envision sunny days and warm sand, and for once, I wouldn’t be bothered by the tourists.
My plan for “make-believe beach” was derailed today, though. In my usual spot, a group of people dressed in grey tuxedos and pink dresses were preparing for a wedding, so I headed to a nearby café.
I ordered a pastry and a water, and sat by the window—trying my best to catch a glimpse of the ceremony, to see what true love looked like up close.
“Do you mind if I join you?” My classmate Sean, a gorgeous guy with green eyes and an American accent, suddenly stepped in my line of vision.
“I don’t mind.”