Girl Next Door

Chapter Seven: Becca

For the past three days, all I've done is sleep and eat. Alexander must hate me. He won't even return my phone calls. For as long as I can remember, Alexander has always been there for me, letting me cry on his shouder, helping me with homework, helping me practice my lines for plays.

I don't know if he's ever going to talk to me again. I hurt him...my best friend. He built me up, and all I did was reject him. Actually, I didn't even get the chance to reject him, and I'm not sure that I would have. Out of everyone in my crazy, messed-up life, Alexander has always been there for me. Not even my own mother can always be there. She has a new boyfriend and a job. Sometimes, I feel forgotten. He would never make me feel like that.

The doorbell rings, and I trudge toward the offending sound. I contemplate opening the door. I really don't feel like talking to anyone except Alexander, but I decide to open it.

To my surprise, Toby is standing there with a worried expression plastered on his face. "Becca, we need to talk."

I let him come in and get a couple of cookies from the kitchen. "What do you want to talk about?"

He sighs. "Becca, what's going on with you and Alexander?" The question brings back all of the pain from that night. Should I tell him?

I look around the room and back at him. "I hurt him. I never meant to hurt him. I never knew."

He laces a comforting hand on my shoulder and clears his throat. "It wasn't your fault. It wasn't anyone's fault. How did it happen?"

I consider keeping certain parts of the story to myself, but I just need to get everything out in the open. "I had a crush on you for the longest time. Alexander knew. When you said that you had a date with Stella, I went to the basement and cried. He went down to the basement to comfort me and said some wonderful things, and that's when I realized how he felt. We haven't talked since. I tried calling him so many times. He never answers."

By now I am crying my eyes out. Toby rubs my back as the sobs rack my body. A week ago, I would've given anything for this, but now, I'm not sure. "You had a crush? You don't anymore?" His eyebrows furrow.

I take a long, shaky breath and look into his eyes. "I don't know what I want anymore, but I don't think it's you."

He smiles. "I know."

After finishing his cookie, Toby goes home. With a smile on my lips that hasn't shown for days, I go to my room and start writing some notes out for history class.

My phone buzzes, and I take a look at it. Toby sent me a text.

Toby: I told Alex. Give him a few days. He's having a hard time with this.

Me: Could you do something for me?

Toby: Depends on what it is. I'm not wearing a tutu and singing "The Sound of Music."

Me: Lol. Just tell Lex that I miss him.

Toby: I can do that. See you tomorrow, Becca.

Me: See you tomorrow, jock.