Present Day-- 2025
As Dustin turned off the engine to his fifteen year old black Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, he hesitantly made his way up to the house that seemed like a cozy white picket fenced family home on the outside, but he knew that it wasn't on the inside. As soon as Dustin took his fist and knocked on the front door of the house, he felt like he should turn and run away, but he knew that if he did he would be labeled as a coward.
When the front door finally opened, Dustin saw a face that made him almost want to commit suicide or murder. He told himself to keep his composure as he made an almost pleasant face or what he hoped was pleasant.
Nicole: Dustin hey, come in.
What a fake smile, Dustin thought as he looked to his sister whom owned the house. As Dustin walked through the door, he avoided eye contact with her.
When Nicole shut the front door behind Dustin, she turned around as she took a look at Dustin's rough, hard and heartbroken exterior. He's been this way since that day, but Nicole didn't want to think about that day.
Nicole: I'm glad you could make it.
Dustin: Well I wouldn't miss Junior's cooking for the world.
Dustin smugly walked away leaving a slightly disappointed Nicole in the entry way of the house. As Dustin made his way into the kitchen, he knew that his sister's husband would be in there because he smelled the delightful smell of his cooking.
Dustin: Hey Junior, what's up?
Junior stopped stirring the boiling pot that was on the stove as he glanced back at Dustin, whom was leaning against the counter island in the kitchen behind him, then back again.
Junior: Hey Dustin.
Dustin: Smells good in here.
Dustin began to visibly sniff around in the air of the kitchen just like a dog would when his owner had just bought a big juicy bone, as he spoke to the back of Junior's head.
Junior: Thanks. How's the shop going with Tony?
Dustin: It's going great.
This conversation is getting awkward, Dustin thought to himself. His and Junior's friendship hasn't been the same since that day, so Dustin thought of anything to get him out.
Dustin: So... how's my niece doing?
Junior: You can ask her, she's in the living room.
Junior turned his head towards the living room as he spoke the words. Dustin made his way out of the awkward feeling atmosphere in the kitchen and to the living room where he saw his niece that was getting bigger day by day in front of his own eyes, sitting on the floor. She had her elbows leaned on the top of the coffee table, and looking down at what seemed to be homework. She had all her books, pencils, pens, notebooks, and worksheets spread all across the coffee table. Dustin could see how concentrated she was on what she was doing.
Dustin couldn't help but think that his niece was a spitting image of her mother, she had blonde hair, green eyes, she was tall and slender. Dustin just couldn't believe that such a wonderful kid like Lindsay was the offspring of somebody like Nicole, Dustin guessed that she gets more of her –- good -- personality from Junior.
Dustin: Hey Lindsay, how's my favorite niece doing?
Dustin's niece Lindsay looked up from her piece of homework paper as she still held her pencil in her two fingers, she had a look on her as if she was not amused.
Lindsay: Uncle Dustin, I'm your only niece.
Dustin: True...
Dustin grinned as if trying to hold back his laughter as he plopped himself down on the couch that Lindsay now leaned her back against. Lindsay looked up at her Uncle as if she enjoyed his presence; which she did.
Dustin: What are you doing?
Lindsay looked down at her homework, then back up to Dustin with a slight look of annoyance.
Lindsay: English homework.
Dustin: Homework on a Saturday night? That's rough.
Dustin sucked his breath in through his teeth as he made a noise, it was as if to say, I'm sorry for your pain.
Lindsay: *whining slightly* I know, mom made me.
Dustin: Anything I can help you with?
Lindsay: Do you know how to translate the play Romeo and Juliet?
Lindsay looked to her uncle with hope in her eyes, but Dustin came up short and laughed a little as he spoke.
Dustin: No, not really.
Dustin leaned forward on the couch as he looked at Lindsay's worksheet.
Dustin: But, I see you got some questions. Maybe I can help with that?
Lindsay looked to her paper and read the next unanswered question as Dustin leaned back into his place on the couch.
Lindsay: Ok, what's your definition of forbidden love? Because I have no idea.
Lindsay looked to her uncle for help unaware that her question struck a memory, the memory, in Dustin's head. A smile slid across Dustin's face as he started to remember.
Dustin: Would you like to hear a story to understand the definition better.
Dustin saw a light twinkle in his niece's eyes as she practically jumped out of her own skin with excitement.
Lindsay: Yeah, is it a personal story?
Dustin: Yes it is, it happened fifteen years ago come tomorrow.
Dustin couldn't forget the date even if he wanted too.
As if to interrupt, Dustin heard the sound of Nicole's ear pinching voice.
Nicole: Dustin can I speak to you in the hallway?
Lindsay looked away from her uncle and over to her mother in the doorway of the living room as she spoke again with a slight whine.
Lindsay: But mom, he was just about...
Nicole stopped her daughter from going further with her sentence as she raised her voice slightly.
Nicole: Dustin now!
Lindsay: I know that one, you in trouble.
Lindsay looked up at Dustin in a playful manner as she spoke to him. Dustin got up from his spot on the couch as he playfully looked mockingly at his niece.
Dustin: No, you're the one in trouble because you're the one who wanted to hear my story.
Dustin smiled back at his niece playfully, but as he walked into the hallway with Nicole, his smiled wiped away almost immediately.
In the hallway Nicole looked to Dustin with a stern serious expression and spoke with a whispered but forceful tone.
Nicole: Umm... maybe you shouldn't tell my daughter this story?
Dustin became defensive, but he kept his voice low because he knew that Lindsay would be trying to listen to the conversation.
Dustin: Why? Because you don't want your daughter to know that you are the villain of this story?
Nicole: Dustin... I was never the villain... I...
Dustin: You were the one who was against it from the start. I'm going to tell her this story no matter what, because MY NIECE wants me to help her with her homework and this is the best way I know how to do it. I basically lived Romeo and Juliet.
Dustin gave Nicole one last defensive glance before walking back into the living room putting a smile on his face so his niece wouldn't be worried. Dustin plopped himself on to the chair that was near the couch that sat his still excited niece.
Dustin: So... where were we?
Lindsay looked to the ceiling as if the answer she was looking for was somehow up there. Somewhere it was, because she looked back to Dustin no longer in her own thoughts.
Lindsay: You ended off at "fifteen years ago..."
Lindsay said imitating her uncle, just trying to be dramatic like someone in the theater arts would do.
A look of realization came across Dustin's face as he remembered where he was going with his story before he was so rudely interrupted by Nicole.
Dustin: Right... fifteen years ago come tomorrow I knew a girl named Allie.
Lindsay interrupted Dustin as she remembered something and had to blurt it out before she would forget.
Lindsay: Isn't she the girl in the picture frame in your apartment?
Dustin: Yes, she is.
Dustin began to smile to himself inside and on the outside as the picture on his night stand flashed through his mind.
Lindsay: You know you never told me about her.
A look of slight sadness washed over Lindsay's face, but Dustin knew what would cheer her up.
Dustin: Well, she has to do with the story I'm about to tell you. Lindsay: Oh ok, go on. Sure enough Lindsay began to perk up as she spoke. Dustin's voice and mind trailed off to his memories of fifteen years ago... *fades in to the sound of Awake- Bianca Ryan*