Chapter 1 — History Repeats

"Okay, kids, Dad and I are leaving!" Miranda Owens announced as she rolled the last suitcase to the door. "Byron, you take good care of Vanessa. Don't forget the check for her yearbook."

"I won't forget, Mom. You and Dad have a great time and don't worry about anything. I got this." Byron flashed a good boy smile to his mother.

Miranda grabbed her son's face and kissed his cheek. "I know you do." She pinched his cheek. "Vanessa!"

Vanessa came bounding down the stairs. Her hair was shoulder length and brown with highlighted beachy waves. Her eyes were blue with shades of green. Miranda always said they reminded her of when fresh water meets ocean water. Vanessa’s skin was fair with flushed cheeks. She was only fifteen years old. Byron was in his first year of college at Virginia University and came home for winter break.

Miranda grabbed Vanessa and squeezed her. "Okay, Mom, you're crushing me."

"Sorry, it's just that I'm going to miss you so much!"

"I'll miss you too!"

A car horn beeped from the driveway and Daniel Owens stepped out. Much like a retired superhero, Daniel was a dashing older man. Byron took after him with a height of 6'2, luscious dark brown hair, ice blue eyes, and a smile that could melt anyone’s heart. Aside from good looks, Daniel was one of the top five most requested lawyers in Alexandria, Virginia. He was taking his wife of 25 years, Miranda, on a cruise for a winter getaway. He walked up to the house and greeted Miranda. The family hugged one another, and Vanessa and Byron watched their parents drive down the street.

Two days before Christmas, they learned they would be burying their parents.

Byron had to drop out of college to take care of Vanessa or she would go into foster care. Byron worked two jobs. During the day he worked at the local bank as a teller, and after picking up Vanessa from school, he worked as a bus boy at the local diner. Vanessa got used to being alone. It was a long three years of frozen dinners, late night television, and just being alone. Vanessa relied on Byron a lot, and as she got older, she wondered if it had become too much.

After she graduated high school and was accepted into James Madison University, she encouraged Byron to go back to school. Vanessa hadn’t been close to anyone in high school, and she grew even more distant after losing her parents.

However, Rylie Summers was an extrovert who took the introvert under her wing when they met as roommates in the college dorms. Vanessa and Rylie grew close, and Vanessa had found a real friend who became her rock.

The smell of burgers and fries followed as Vanessa stepped out of Ballentine Burgers after a long weekend shift. The sharp winter air stung her cheeks as she walked through the parking lot to her old Nissan Altima. Her phone buzzed in her purse, and she pulled it out to see Byron calling. She got int the car, started it, then grabbed her phone and hit the answer button.

"Hey!"

"What's up, Little V?" Byron asked.

"I just got out of work. What are you up to?"

"Just finished studying for an exam I have before winter break."

"Haha! I took mine yesterday!" she taunted.

"Way to rub it in." Byron chuckled.

"What can I say? A mid-week exam is the way to go."

"I bet I had longer to study than you did. You probably bombed yours."

"If I did, remember who helped me with homework."

"Fair enough!" Byron laughed, then his tone went from teasing to normal. "Anyway, Little V, I called you to let you know that I'm going to New York City with some friends for winter break."

Vanessa frowned a little. It was the fourth anniversary of their parents’ death. She needed to see him and wanted to introduce him to Rylie. "Yeah? What's taking you guys to the Big Apple?"

Byron sensed that Vanessa was disappointed, and he knew why. "It's the anniversary of our parents’ death. I know. But I want a getaway, V. Don't you think I've earned that?"

Vanessa closed her eyes as tears fell down her cheeks. It seemed selfish to ask Byron to be with her when he did deserve a vacation with friends. But ever since their parents’ death, she struggled this time of year. "Of course, you do, By. I just…"

"I know, V, I know. It's hard for me too, but I need to get away."

"What about me? What if I want to get away?"

Byron shook his head and a few tears dripped from his eyes. "You don't want to get away. You're not ready to."

"You don't get to tell me what I’m ready for." Vanessa's voice shook. "It's fine, Byron. You deserve to get away. I'll just spend Christmas with Rylie and her aunt."

She hung up before Byron could say anything else. Why this trip to New York was so important, she didn't know, but he did take care of her and even dropped out of college to do so. The least she could do was let him go. She could be the strong one for once, right?

Winter break started and Vanessa sent Byron a text: "I'm sorry, you deserve to get away. For once, I can be the strong one for you." Byron replied with a GIF of two people hugging and she smiled.

Two days before Christmas, she was with Rylie at her aunt's house is Leesburg, Virginia. They were having a family Christmas party, and everyone was wearing ugly sweaters and eating sugar cookies. Vanessa was enjoying a cup of hot cocoa by the fire when a call came in from Byron. She should have known he would remember to call that day of all days and it warmed her heart.

"Hey! How's New York?" she asked as she answered the call.

"It's good. Listen, I just wanted to call and say I love you, Little V. I've decided to stay in New York. You won't be seeing me again. Just know I'm okay and I love you."

"Wait, Byron, what's going on?" Vanessa asked, but before she could finish the question, he'd hung up. She tried calling him back, but the only answer she got was a dreadful beeping noise and an automated voice. "This number is currently out of service." She tried again, and again, and again. Same automated response. She texted him, but an automated text came back. Byron was gone.