It had been a whole year since I had last saw him. Being accepted to a college in Paris may sound like a dream for any 17 year old fresh out of high school. Now don't get me wrong it was a dream come true but when you leave your heart and your one true love back home it can seem like a nightmare. My freshman year at The American University of Paris went well. I was ranked either 1st or 2nd in all of my classes, never getting a grade below an A. But when you're in a city known for romance and your boyfriend is thousands of miles away grades don't seem to matter too much no matter how high they are.
My boyfriend and I had been together for about a year and a half at this point and our relationship was perfect, we knew we were meant to be. My parents had me apply at all the top ranked schools and I was accepted by at least 15 different schools most being within the USA I could've gone anywhere and I was going to until the day my acceptance letter came from AUP. My parents said it would be a great experience that not everyone gets an opportunity at, sure I was looking for fun and adventure but surely not that far away from home. Since my parents were paying for my college tuition I had no choice, it was off to AUP.
It was extremely hard at first. I had been in many AP French courses and could speak fluently but speaking French was not part of my everyday routine until the day I arrived. I missed my friends and family terribly. I wrote letters everyday telling them how much I missed them and wished I could be back home. Every once in awhile I would be able to call home but I had to limit myself because otherwise the bills would be enormous.
My boyfriend, Lance, and I kept in touch but it became harder and harder as he traveled across the USA with Justin, Joey, JC and Chris as *NSync grew bigger and bigger by the day. Letters, e-mails, and even the occasional phone call helped keep us together but our hearts were bound together and not even the sharpest knife could cut us apart from each other. That's why when summer vacation grew nearer the energy within me sky rocketed.
The day had come, now 18, I had my baggage and plane ticket in hand as I boarded my flight home. It would take a days worth of flying but to be home again with everyone once again it was worth it. The flight was long, yet smooth, I had the opportunity to catch up on sleep I had lost due to studying for finals.
"Attention passengers please fasten your seat belts we will be landing in Orlando, Florida in 5 minutes." announced the stewardess. I buckled up and my stomach sunk, 5 minutes until I saw my parents for the first time in a year. The plane landed and we all got off and went through the terminal. Luckily there weren't so many people waiting so it would be easier to find my parents. My eyes searched through the crowd looking for the 2 most familiar faces in my life. I couldn't see them probably because I failed to look behind me until I heard them calling me.
"Jen, over here." I heard my mom shout. I turned and looked behind me and there they were. Without thinking I ran through the crowd of people and over to my parents where I dropped my carry-on to the floor to embrace them both in a hug. I was so happy to be home and be in an English-speaking country once again with my family. But not all of my family was there, my younger brother Josh who was 16 and younger sister Emily who was 5 were nowhere around.
"Where's Josh and Emily?" I asked.
"Josh is at home watching Emily." my father replied.
The ride home was not the normal silent one I had always experienced with my parents we were busy talking about everything we couldn't in 5 minute phone calls and 2 page letters.
"So did you meet any of those charming French guys?" my mother asked.
"Yeah and I rejected them all too. Sorry but they don't live up to what I've got."
Half an hour of driving came to a halt when we pulled into the driveway.
"It's exactly the same as I remember it." I said as I looked at the house I had lived in my whole life. It was great to call this home once again since I had been referring to home as a dorm room shared with 2 other girls home for the past year.
My parents helped me get my things out of the car and to the front door. My dad opened the door for me and I stepped up and into the house.
"Surprise!" about 20 people shouted when I walked in. I was in shock here were all my friends I hadn't seen in over a year. I quickly went around the room hugging them all and saying hello.
"JJ" my little sister yelled as she came running towards me in a cute white dress.
"Em's" I yelled picking her up and giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Did you help plan this surprise?" I asked.
"Yup, just for you. But I got another surprise for you too." she said grabbing my hand and guiding me up to my room, my parents looked at her and giggled. When we reached my door Emily stopped me.
"JJ, you got to cover your eyes until I say open."
"Ok don't let me run into a wall or anything."
She opened the door and pulled my shirt to guide me in. After about 5 feet she stopped me.
"Ok you can open your eyes now." she said in her cute little voice so I followed her instructions.
"Oh my god Lance." I shouted as I ran up to him holding him as tightly as I possibly could. I pulled away and looked him over and then looked him in the eyes. "I've missed you so much I can't believe you're here, and look at you, more handsome than ever."
"I've missed you too much." he said hugging me again. "But look at you, you've grown like 2 inches taller and gotten more gorgeous than the day you left."
"I'm never leaving you again." I said passionately kissing him as our tongues mingled with one another.
"Eww, kissy faces, yuck." Emily said in disgust. I pulled away and smiled at her.
"I'm going to kissy face you girlie." I said picking her up and throwing her on my bed pretending to kiss her all over as she wiggled around laughing.
"Lance...hehe...help me. hehe" she begged. Lance rushed over and swept her off the bed.
"Awe how cute, have you and Lance gotten close while I was gone?" I asked her.
"Yep he's my new big brother." she replied.
"Oh is he now? So is he my big brother too?"
"Nooo...he's your husband." she said as she laughed.
"No he's not you crazy kid." I said as I walked back over to Lance and took Emily away from him.
"I know, I was just joking he's your booyyyyyyfriend." she said as I put her down on the ground and she ran down the stairs. I heard music coming from the room across the hallway so I went and knocked on the door. The music shut off and Josh opened the door.
"Jen, you're home." he said giving me a quick hug. We didn't have the normal brother, sister hatred other families had, we got along like best friends since we were close in age.
"Wait a second I must have the wrong room. My brother is about 4 inches shorter than you, what did you do with him?" he rolled his eyes. "I'm just kidding Josh you're looking really good, now get your ass out of that room and get downstairs, there is a party going on why aren't you hitting on my friends by now?"
"I've changed. I'm not like that anymore. I guess I didn't tell you I've got a girlfriend, Ashley and I don't need your friends anymore Ashley satisfies all I need."
"Congrats on the girlfriend but aren't you a little young to be 'satisfied' still? I mean come on you're only six....what am I saying I was the same way. Enough chit chat precious party time is being wasted come on." I said as I pushed him out of his room and towards the steps.
I went back to Lance and grabbed his hand tightly.
"Glad to be home?" he asked.
"I am so incredibly happy right now. I still can't believe you are here."
"I couldn't take not seeing you any longer." we moved in for one more kiss.
"Jen come on down the party is still going on." a friend yelled from downstairs. We pulled away and grinned.
"We'll have plenty of time later." he assured me.
"Yea, well umm we better get down there now I guess."