::Chapter 7::
I stared at my reflection in the water for what seemed like forever
until there was a small ripple in the water, breaking my
concentration. I looked behind me to see Chad standing there. I
looked back down at the water as he sat next to me.
"What's wrong?" he asked softly.
I shook my eyes and clenched my eyes together and the tears fell
freely down my face. Chad placed one arm over my shoulder. I quickly
buried my face into his chest and cried. I loved him, I really did.
But I couldn't help it that I was falling back in love with the first
person who ever cared about me. Joel was my first real love, the
first one to break my heart and now he was back to do it all again.
"I'm sorry Chad." I sobbed.
"For what?" he asked as he ran his fingers through my hair.
"For blowing you off. For being a bitch. I'm not a good girlfriend."
I sniffled as I looked up at him. Chad just smiled. Why was he
smiling?
"Come on. Let's go." he said, standing up and holding out his hand. I
took his hand and stood up.
"Where are we going?" I asked. He shrugged his shoulder.
"I dunno." he said as he looked around. "Wherever you want." he
finished as he took my hand. I looked down at the ground and kicked
at a rock.
"Can we go back to your place?" I asked quietly.
"Of course." Chad smiled. We walked back up Main Street and went to
our own cars. I followed Chad back to his apartment, trying to
justify everything in my head the whole way. When we pulled up in the
parking lot, I was hesitent to get out of the car, but proceeded to
anyways.
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::Later That Night::
----------
I layed next to Chad in his bed, careful not to move. I was afraid to
wake him up. Of course, my cell phone rang just at that moment. I
fumbled to answer it quickly so it wouldn't wake Chad.
"Hello?" I whispered.
"Erin? Where are you?" Joel's voice asked on the other end. My eyes
grew wide once I realized who was calling.
"Do you know what time it is?" I asked. Joel chuckled.
"Yeah. But I used to call you at 2am all the time. We loved talking
then. Remember?" he asked. I rolled my eyes.
"Yes I remember. But we were also dating then. And now, we're not!" I
said, getting angry. There was silence for a minute.
"Well, I need to talk to you. You up for it?" he asked. I bit my
bottom lip. Of course I wanted to talk to him. I also wanted to
figure out what the hell was going on in my head. I looked over at
Chad who was sleeping peacefully. He was so sweet and so perfect.
Damn me and my stupidity!
"Yeah. Where do you want to meet?" I asked.
"Uhm...Denny's is open." he said.
"Ok. I'll be there in 20 minutes." I said hanging up my phone and
sliping it in my pocket.
"Chad." I said softly shaking him.
"Hmm?"
"I have to go." I said as I grabbed my hoodie.
"Wait. Where are you going?" he asked, now fully awake. I felt bad
lying to him, but I had to.
"Meghan really needs to talk to me. I promised her I'd come home." I
lied.
"Oh.Alright. Well call me tommorow, or today I guess." he laughed. I
smiled and kissed him quickly.
"Bye Chad." I said as I walked out of the door.
I got in my car and quickly drove to Denny's. When I walked in I saw
Joel waiting, playing with some packs of sugar.
"Hey." I said sliding in the booth. Joel looked up and smiled.
"Good. You're here." he breathed. I nodded.
"What was so important?" I asked, taking a drink of his water since
the waitress didn't bring me any.
"Look Erin. We've been hanging out a lot over the past couple days
and I've been having more fun than I've had in a long time. I haven't
had this much fun since, well..since we dated in high school." he
said. I looked into his deep brown eyes and was suddenly in some sort
of trance.
"I've been having a lot of fun too Joel." I smiled.
"I'm glad to hear that. Because..I'm in love with you again!" Joel
spat out. My eyes grew wide and I pulled away from.
"You what??" I asked. Joel looked my with confusion in his eyes.
"I love you." he said. "I need you more than I've ever needed anyone.
You were my first love! Don't you feel the same?" he asked.
I stood up from my seat.
"I cannot believe you just did that to me Joel! You know I have a
boyfriend and that was completely unfair!" I shouted. I'm sure
everyone in the fucking restraunt heard me.
I turned away and walked out of the restraunt, leaving a very shocked
and confused Joel behind me. I got in my car and sped off. How could
he ask me that? And he's in love with me again? If he loved me so
much he wouldn't have left me and lied about me in the first place!
Wait? What was I doing. This was exactly what I wanted. Wasn't it?
I pulled up in front of Benji and Joel's house seeing the lights on
and ran up to the front door. I knocked loudly and waited. After a
few seconds, Benji came to the door.
"Um?" was all he said.
"Can I come in?" I asked. Benji nodded. He let me in and walked back
over to his paused Playstation game.
"What's going on? I thought Joel was meeting up with you at Denny's."
Benji said as he continued his game.
"He did." I said as I searched for a pen and paper.
"Whatcha lookin' for?" he asked.
"Pen.Paper." I said.
"Oh in the desk over there." he said. I found it and scribbled
something quickly then folded the paper.
"Here Benj. Can you give this to Joel when he gets home? Oh and don't
read it." I said handing him the folded up paper. Benji gave me a
confused look and then nodded.
"Sure thing E-Ron. Oh and I'm sorry for this morning." he said
looking up at me from the couch. I shrugged.
"It's no biggie Benj." I smiled as I gave him a quick hug.
"You still love me right?" he asked.
"Always." I said before opening the door.
"Later."
----------------------------
Benji was still playing his game when Joel got home 30 minutes later.
"Hey Joel. Why the long face?" Benji asked, pausing his game.
"I don't know what happened. I..I thought." he sighed as he plopped
down on the couch.
"Um maybe this isn't the best time. But Erin came by and left this
for you." Benji said handing Joel the folded up piece of paper. Which
as promised, he DID NOT read.
"Wha? Erin was here? When?" Joel asked.
"About half an hour ago." Benji said returning to his game. Joel
quickly unfolded the paper hoping to find an apology or an
explaination. Instead he found:
You say you love me
Love me again
But if you love me
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
You say you need me more than anyone else
WELL GO TO HELL!
Where have you been?
Tears filled his eyes as he read those words. He folded the paper
back up and leaned back against the couch. He didn't know what to say
or do. What had happened?
