The Good and The Bad (Complicated Love Story)

Chapter Ten: A New Betrayal

"You can love two people, yes. But, Dotty, you can’t be in love with two people.”

“Well, thanks for stating the obvious Bridge!”

“Look, you’re worrying me, Dotty. This is like the 5th phone call in two days.”

“I know…I know. I just want someone to talk to other than…Scott…considering Cal…”

“Yes, yes, we know. Look, I have to get back to work, Dotty. Just know I’m here for you girl. But you gotta stop calling me while I’m at work.” Bridget finished with a chuckle.

“Fine. Talk you later, Bridge, bye!”

“Bye, girl.”

Dotty felt like a horrible friend. She had been calling Bridget nonstop simply for the reason of feeling alone. Scott had noticed her distance and that caused Dotty to feel worse since he felt as if he had done something wrong. She blamed it on that time of the month and ever since then he kept his distance as well like he was scared of WWIII coming.

Dotty grabbed another tissue and pressed play on the TV. She had been watching the saddest movies she could possibly find in hopes of one of them helping her figure out what to do. How does one solve the problem of having feelings for two people when one guy sort of broke her heart? Pathetic. Cal obviously wanted nothing to do with her and still she sat around like a depressed, worthless human being as if the world had just ended. It had been almost a week since the incident and Cal still had not called or texted.

Dotty thought back to Bridget’s words from earlier, ‘you can love to people but, you can’t be in love with both of them’ and buried her head in the pillow.

“Love is a cruel, cruel feeling and no one should ever have to endure it!” Obviously she was in love with Scott, right? She thought. How could she be in love with Cal? They were friends. Five long years of friendship…just gone. How could he be so selfish to throw that away? How could she be so selfish? Thinking of Cal’s words Dotty found herself becoming surprisingly angry. How could he just say he wanted nothing to do with her!? Dotty grasped the TV remote and through it against wall.

“Whoa, what’s this?”

“I just wanted to cook you a nice dinner, my way of apologizing for being so distant.”

“Thanks, sweetie. But I totally understand shark week and all.”

Dotty laughed at his knowledge of menstrual terms and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

A couple weeks later and Dotty felt new and refreshed. The escapade with Cal was slowly starting to disappear from her mind along with any thoughts of him. This also excited Bridget in that she didn’t have to hear about Cal anymore. Bridget liked Scott but in high school she always thought that Dotty and Cal would end up together.

Bridget and Dotty were meeting halfway to have lunch and Bridget felt as though she should spill her guts about something. An incident that happened in high school. An incident that caused the recent domino effect of Cal ‘friend dumping’ Dotty. Bridget felt herself becoming more and more nervous as she approached Dotty. Hopefully, seeing as how Dotty seemed to be over the escapade with Cal, she wouldn’t be angry. Hopefully.

An hour or so into the lunch Bridget finally grasped the guts and announced she had some things to tell Dotty. Some things she felt Dotty should know.

“You’re scaring me, Bridge, what’s up?”

“Well…there are some things that deal with…Cal…I want to let you in on…” Bridget slapped her head at the choosing of her words.

“Uh…about Cal?”