I'll Be the Light

Chapter 20

"Hey Genna?" Colton woke me up from a light nap and I look up into his brown eyes. "Sorry to wake you," he grinned sheepishly.
I sat up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes.
"No I'm sorry for falling asleep on you. What's up?" I mumbled, sleep still evident in my voice.
"Do you want to go out to dinner tonight? No school tomorrow for Teacher's Institute day," he sat up as well and grinned at me. My stomach growled right as he said that, I could go for some food.
"Sure! I'm paying," I pulled out money even before he blinked, causing him to laugh.
"How about you pay for your food and I pay for mine?" He offered.
"Sounds good. I still need to get you back for yesterday," I winked at him and he chuckled. I was already forming a plan in my mind to "overpay" and pay for him too. I grabbed my phone and texted my mom that I was going out with Colton and got up. Colton followed and we began to walk into town, swinging our hands between us.
It was silent the whole way, but it was a nice, comfortable silence.
People smiled at us as they walked past. It was nice. There were so many good people here and I loved it.
We stopped walking when we reached a diner filled with people. The name was "Peppo's".
"Want to eat here?" Colton asked me.
"Sure." I smiled at him as we walked inside. We took a seat at the booth with wooden table. It was nice for such a small diner. Soon a waitress came up to us with menus.
"Hi how are you two today?" She smiled at us. She was tall, tan, and had springy red hair and green eyes.
"We're fine, thank you," Colton answered.
"What can I get you two today?" She whipped out a small notepad and pen and awaited our orders.
"Can I have the double cheeseburger please? With a side of fries please," Colton ordered. She wrote it down and then turned to me.
"I'll just have a cheeseburger with fries as well please," I grinned at her.
She took our menus and walked back to the kitchen.
"So wait how old is Annie?" Colton asked. I chuckled. She looked really young and she probably wasn't telling Colton.
"She's twenty," I chuckled at him.
"Oh she's closer to my age than I thought. I thought she was eighteen like you," he explained.
"Haha nope! Thought wrong," I grinned.
We gazed at each other for a bit. I looked at him and I saw the man I fell in love with. I can't believe my heart still skipped a beat whenever I saw him.
"You know you look pretty good for a girl who was hit by a car and in a coma not too long ago," Colton said and we bursted out in laughter, earning us some glares for being too loud.
"Wow thanks," I joked with him. It's true though, I have come a long way since then.
"Here you guys go," the waitress set our food down between us and said that she had forgotten to ask for our drinks.
"Coke," Colton and I said at the same time. She went back behind the counter again and came out moments later with two glasses of the brown liquid.
We mumbled thanks and dug into our food. Colton inhaled his in seconds. Typical boy. I sipped from my soda occasionally and ate my burger. Soon our plates were empty and we were full. "Now for the payment..." I trailed off and I saw Colton smirk evilly. I knew what he was planning.
"No Colton!" I said, but he was already up and moving to the cash register. I got up and ran after him, shouting "Don't take that man's money!"
The man has already put it in the register though when he heard me. Colton laughed maniacally and I scowled at him.
"I win again!" He cheered and I crossed my arms.
"Not for long, blondie," I said and walked out of the diner, winking over my shoulder at him.
I walked out into a night air and shivered a bit as a cool breeze fluttered past me. I heard the door jingle open again and suddenly I was rising into the air. I was set upon someone's shoulders and I towered above everyone below. I smiled down at Colton and ran my fingers through his soft blonde hair.
"Stop that or else I'm going to have to kiss you," he said and I did it some more.
"That's it."
He swung me down from his shoulders and into his arms bridal style. He then kissed all over my face and I giggled like crazy. It tickled!
"Stop please I'm sorry!" I managed to get out between laughs and he did. He winked at me and walked in the direction of my house, still holding me like a baby.
I loved it how he carried me so easily, with no strain or anything. Was I really that light?
I gazed up at the street lights and the midnight blue sky. I gazed at the twinkling stars and I thanked the Lord for this masterpiece. Then I looked at Colton and my heart just melted. I thanked God for this man who I hoped to marry one day.
I snuggled against his chest and I listened to his heartbeat, a great, melodic rhythm. I loved Colton so much that I don't know where I would be without him. I've been so much better now that I was with him. My whole life has turned around for the better.
"We're here," Colton said and I didn't even realize that we were on my doorstep. He gently put me down and I smiled up at him. "Thanks," I grinned.
"You're welcome," he smiled back, but suddenly he frowned.
"What's the matter?" I asked, concerned in my voice. I wanted to help him if something was wrong.
"Genna I need to talk to you," he said, motioning to the bench on my porch. We both sat down and he took my hand and looked me in the eyes.
"Genna I want to break up," he uneasily said. I saw so much pain and hurt in his eyes, but I don't even want to know what he saw in mine.
As he said those words my soul died a little bit, along with all of my heart. He wanted to break up? Why? Thoughts were racing through my mind, but I didn't voice any of them.
Agony stabbed my heart and twisted the knife that resided in there. A huge lump formed in my throat and tears threatened to escape my eyes, but I held them back. I had to ask one question before I broke down into tears.

"When did you stop loving me?"

Confusion knitted his eyebrows together and he looked at me funny.
"What do you mean? I still love you Genna. I just want to break up," he said.
"If you loved me, Colton, you wouldn't be doing this now. Our relationship was perfectly fine, no problems, no complications, nothing. So who is it?" I said, deathly calm, hiding the raging storm inside.
He looked me in the eyes and I knew the truth. I could see it! In his eyes I saw...
"Annie." I sighed and stood up.
"Genna wait please," he reached out to grab me, but I pulled away. Even though I yearned for one last touch.
"No Colton. Go be with Annie. My cousin. It's fine. I don't judge you," I said and walked into my house. I shut the door on a sad looking Colton and hopefully on the attachment I had with him. Maybe that'll stop the pain I felt right now.
"Hey honey how'd it go wi-" my mom stopped talking when she saw me. "What's wrong?"
I couldn't talk. The lump was too big and the words wouldn't form. I couldn't even swallow. My heart throbbed and ached with pain and my eyes stung from unwanted tears. "Colton..." I trailed off before my shaky knees gave out beneath me and I fell to the ground crying.
My mom raced to my side and hugged me and comforted me. She didn't need an explanation. She was wise enough to know what had happened.
"I'm sorry Genna. I'm so sorry," she cooed in my ear as she half carried me upstairs. She set me on my bed and told me to let it all out and that she'd come back in when she stopped hearing me cry. She was giving me some alone time.
By now my makeup was burning my eyes so I stripped and got into the warm shower. I turned it up so that it burned my skin, hoping that it might neutralize the pain I felt inside. I cried all through the shower and I didn't stop even when I had gotten out and gotten into bed. Who knew love could be so cruel?
I turned off the lights and I just cried all through the night. It seemed like hours before the agony in my chest subsided to a throbbing pain and my sobs turned into whimpers. I still hurt a lot.
I couldn't be mad at Annie because it wasn't her fault. She just caught the eye of the man that I love and he fell for her. It's not her fault she's so beautiful. I didn't want to see her though, because it would cause more bad than good.
What am I going to do with the mess he made of me?