It's them again...
Carmen POV
We broke up. It was three weeks ago and I still couldn't feel anything. My whole heart aches still. It hurts whenever I think about him. His curly bronze hair. The way it moves in the breeze. The way my fingers can run through it. His crystal blue eyes and bright smile. His laugh that's so contagious. His beautiful personality...
I felt my eyes well.
No. You will not cry, Carmen. Stop. Don't think about him. He's an ass.
He's also he guy who was your best friend for ten years, nearly eleven and amazing boyfriend for a year.
The two halves of my brain fought continuously. I turned the music that was coming through my ear buds up. Moral of the Story played. Why the fuck did music that related to my moods have to play all the time!
The music drowned out my thoughts, but it didn't stop my shoulders from shaking.
I tucked my head between my knees and curled in a tight ball in the chair of my dads truck. My older brother was seated beside me. I leaned against the car door, hoping it would support my broken self.
The big family trip my parents had planned for when my brother came home from college for Christmas break was ruined by that idiot boy.
I could only think of how he looked at me after that fight; angry. I'd never seen Travis truly angry. I'd seen him mad when I had to break him out of petty fights, but this was so different.
I couldn't stop thinking of the way he told me we were breaking up after we fought. I couldn't even remember what it was about. It was stupid and about random shit.
My tears stained my cheeks and I tried to keep myself quiet. The car was silent as everyone was trying to get some sleep. I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder. I looked up at my brother. He smiled gently, trying to cheer me up.
I turned away.
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Travis POV
It was a pretty crappy Christmas.
Every time I closed my eyes she was there. Her laughing and looking at me with hearts practically filling her eyes. The way she kissed me on that car ride home. The way she rolled her eyes when I did something stupid and she tried to look annoyed, but couldn't keep the smile away. Her long hair that fell almost to her waist.
Last Saturday was the first Saturday we had skipped Saturday conversations willingly.
This wasn't how I wanted to spend my senior year. I wanted to spend it with Aveen, Mason, Kendal, and Emily and Carmen. In our little friend group. I wanted to spend senior year with her. The girl that was impossible not to think about. Who I loved. Who I left.
I bit down on my lip. Don't cry. Don't do it. I swear Travis if you cry.
"Hey honey," my mom entered my room, "We're heading over to the Hundles to hang out. I want you to come, but you need to finish cleaning up the living room first. You know, like I told you to do yesterday?"
The Hundles? Weren't they on vacation?
"Why are we going there?" I asked. No way was I going over to the house of my ex best friend and ex girlfriend.
"You may not be dating Carmen anymore, but your father and I are still rather good friends with her parents," mom explained.
"Please stop," I muttered. Mom sighed, "Just come over. Please."
She left the room and I flopped onto my bed in a crying mess.
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Carmem POV
The hell are they doing here. I looked down the stairs and saw Travis' parents. No way. He better not be here.
The parents made their way to the living room. I didn't see Travis, so I figured I was clear.
I sat in my room for a while before getting hungry. I made my way to the kitchen that combined with the living room. I heard voices chattering. Not just his parents, but his voice.
No. No. No. Please don't see me.
To late.
He looked over from the couch and saw me standing there in shock. The others saw me to. I stared at him, ignoring the others. His lips were pressed in a tight line. His eyes looked sad and his eye brows were scrunched up.
"Hey Carmen. You good?" My dad asked, trying to break me from my trance. I tried to keep a solid glare at Travis, but my lip trembled. Of course he was here. When did he get here?
I turned in a quick motion and made a bolt to my car. I couldn't handle this.
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Travis POV
I stared at Carmen. My heart ached. I felt like someone took a knife and dragged it through my chest.
My eyes flicked to her hand. Her fist was clenched on her thumb; one of her nervous habits.
She always did this when she was nervous or sad. It was a strange thing for someone sad to do, but after being so close with her for so long, I got used to her odd little habits.
It was like she was trying to crack the knuckle.
She turned and ran away. I tensed. Holy shit she was gorgeous. She was also hurting and I wanted to patch up all her sadness like the good person I used to be.
"Now where is she going?" Mrs. Hundles wondered. I turned my head to where her attention was. Carmens car left the driveway. I knew where she was going. I wanted to go.
"Excuse me. I'm going to go to the uh-to the uh- bathroom," I mumbled and stood up, exiting the room quickly.
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No ones POV
The parents all looked at each other. Travis dad looked out the window and saw his sons truck start up and drive away, toward where Carmen's went.
"Oh good boy," Mrs. Hundles sighed.
"I thought he was never going to leave," Travis' mom said.
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Travis POV
I found her just where I expected. She was leaned against a tree near the lake. Where we used to go every Saturday. She was listening to music. Her eyes were closed and she didn't notice me yet. Tears rolled down her face. Her phone was on, laying next to her. The song playing was Kiss Somebody.
I thought back to that night in my car. She had been fidgeting so much. She was so nervous. I knew what it was about. Aveen and Mason had talked with me about her forever and that night they told me Emily and Kendall were confronting Carmen about us.
Forty-sevenish times did we make awkward eye contact before I pulled to the side of the road. In a quick movement we just kissed. It was one of the best nights ever.
Thinking back hurt me. I was going to fix this. If I didn't....
I came in front of her and crouched down. I nudged her foot slightly. Carmen opened her eyes slowly and looked at me. Her tears flowed.
"I'm so sorry," I mouthed. She looked at me deeply. She leaned forward and grabbed the sleeve of my sweatshirt, pulling me toward her. She pulled me into a hug and cried. I hugged her back, letting myself cry just as hard.
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Carmen POV
My breath came out fogged in the cold weather. I tucked my hands deep into my jacket. My hair fell over my shoulders and I felt my cheeks grow cold.
Kiss Somebody played through my head phones. I wanted to skip it. Don't let it play.
I didn't. I couldn't. It's like something was just keeping me from doing that.
That's when I felt him nudge my foot. I looked at his soft features, sad and hopeless.
He mouthed those words I had wanted to say to him for weeks. I was so sorry. He was so sorry. I loved him and I could tell he loved me back again.
I pulled at the sleeve of his sweatshirt and wrapped him into a hug. We sat there and cried.
We exchanged no words. Not in the twenty minutes we sat like that. We shifted slightly so he was leaning against the tree and I was leaning on his chest. His arms wrapped around me.
This. I missed this.
I gently pulled an ear bud from my left ear hand gave it to him. The song that filled our ears was Hold My Girl by George Ezra.
I cried again, but not completely out of sadness. I was relieved. I was hopeful. The song pulled all the strings on my heart.
I closed my eyes and let myself drift away. Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep.
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Travis POV
She had fallen asleep. She breathed softly and peacefully.
Your perfect. I thought.
I ran my fingers gently through her hair, careful not to wake her. I kissed her head before leaning back against the tall tree and letting myself doze as well.
I was thankful. I had her back. Carmen. The girl I love. My best friend. It might have been a crappy Christmas, but it was the best New Years Eve.
