Five Years

It was a week later and I hadn’t seen Jack or Alex. It was weird spending most of my time with my coworkers and my brother, no romantic antics for me. I sat in my room and listened a new album that I picked up from a local record store. Rian kept bugging me about getting Enema of the State, I had completely refused to listen to it before because that’s all Rian used to talk about but I can’t believe that I put it off for so long.

“Having fun up here?” Zack leaned against the door frame and sat down in my desk chair.

I laughed and flopped onto my back. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You’ve been avoiding the guys.” He spun around in the chair and messed with his shirt. “You can’t just solve the Jack and Alex crisis by avoiding it, you know that.”

“I know but it’s a decision that I can’t make right now.” I groaned.

He got out of the chair and sat on the bed next to me. “I know that I sound a lot like our parents right now, but those guys are my best friends and they’re coming to me about this. So I decided to be selfish and come to you because they really do deserve an explanation.”

“Zack, I’m going to tell them eventually but right now I don’t feel like talking to either of them.” I frowned and rested my head on his shoulder. My phone buzzed and I looked down to see another new text message from Alex. I pushed my phone under a pillow and Zack gave me an annoyed look. “I don’t want to talk to him right now!” I groaned and flopped back onto the mattress.

He got up and walked toward the door. “Act like an adult Shay, adults communicate.” And then he shut the door behind him. Being around Alex really did make me feel like a teenager again. I was cooped up in my room most of the time, listening to music, avoiding responsibilities, and playing stupid games. I ignored my message from Alex and grabbed my car keys.

“Going somewhere?” Zack called while I was bound for the front door.

I sighed and shook my head. “I’m gonna go straighten things out.” I walked out the door and I saw the smile on his face before I left. The drive to Alex’s house was pretty short and I listened to soft music so I wouldn’t be all alone with my thoughts. I pulled into his driveway and glanced at my phone, his message was still unread and I went up to the front door. I knocked and waited by the front door, a silhouette appeared in front of the door and opened it up.

“Hey,” Alex smiled lightly and scratched his head. “Did you get my message?”

I sighed and bit my lip, realizing how awkward this really was. “Well I didn’t read it because I wanted to talk about it in person, I haven’t even thought about it actually.”

“Well come in, I guess we could talk about it inside.” He stepped out of the way and I took off my shoes next to the welcome mat. “So is there anything in particular that you wanted to talk to me about?”

I walked into the kitchen with him and he offered me a bottle of water which I accepted. “Well I wanted to talk to you about us.”

“Oh yeah, you haven’t talked to me in a week, is everything okay with you?” He sounded genuine and reached across the counter to touch my wrist. “I was really worried.”

I felt some tears roll down my eyes and I shook my head. “I just don’t know what to do right now.”

“Hey, don’t cry.” He held my hand across the counter and I looked away from him, looking into his eyes would make things harder for me.

I shook my head and took my hand out from under his. “I just don’t think that we should try to work things out again.” I felt a few tears roll down my cheeks and I kept looking down at the ground. “Every time I find myself defending what you did another part of me realizes that I can’t keep doing this. I can’t keep getting hurt by you; I need someone that is going to treat me well.”

“But I’m making things better this time, I won’t hurt you anymore, I already told you that.” He shook his head and sighed.

I gulped and looked back up at him. “I just can’t let you do this to me again. I have to go.” I walked out the door and left him sitting in the kitchen. I stood out in the cold air for a minute and wiped away my tears and let out a breath, I was slowly gaining my strength.



I pulled up in front of Jack’s house and sighed again. Doing this is going to be so hard for me. Why did I have to get involved in a love tringle? Why can’t I just live a normal life? I looked in the mirror and wiped away the makeup from under my eyes so I wouldn’t look like a complete mess. I sighed and glanced at the front door before I got out of the car. I grabbed my purse and walked up to the front door and as I held my hand up to knock, I paused. Before I could put my knuckles against the door, Jack answered.

“Hey Shay, I heard your car pull up.” He had a smile on his face but it seemed to fall when he saw how puffy my eyes were. “Is everything okay?”

I shook my head and he ushered me inside. He took my jacket after I shrugged it off and he walked me over to the couch and threw a blanket over me and he ran into the kitchen. He came back a minute later with hot chocolate in his hand and he gave me the mug.

“You’re so sweet Jack.” I smiled and I felt my eyes tear up a little.

He shook his head and looked at me. “What’s wrong?”

“I just broke things off with Alex.” I sighed and set down my mug. I could tell that he was happy about the news but he didn’t want to upset me so he kept a concerned look on his face. “I broke up with him because I realized that he would just hurt me and I need someone that’s going to be there for me no matter what.” I paused for a moment and got up from the couch. “I guess I just need you.”

He smiled and got up from the couch, placing a hand under my chin. He lifted my head up to look at him and he gingerly pressed his lips against mine. I dropped the blanket to the floor and I let my hands press against his chest, his warmth was radiating. We parted from the kiss and I could feel my cheeks turn hot. I giggled and rested my head against his chest.

“So what does this mean for us?” He asked and ran his fingers through my hair.

I shrugged and wrapped my arms around him. “I guess we could start dating, I just don’t want to take things too fast.” He rested his chin on top of my head and I let a smile fall across my lips.

Notes

Ah man I don't know, I really just don't know.