The Limits of Love

Chapter 20

I didn't know where the days went, but before you knew it, March was already ending. Nothing much really happened these past few days. Cody and Elaine are still a thing. Devin and Yvonne are the same as always. Jim is still the same old good boy of the group. Same goes for Don, who's always cheerful and mischievous. Lucas got even more famous ever since he got the title 'prom king'. Everyone stayed the same. Everyone but me.

I've been hanging out with Darren these past couple of weeks. I guess I'm trying to spend more time with him now that I know it's limited. We've been hanging out so much that I barely see my other friends. I still sit with them at the back row during class, but my mind was always elsewhere; mostly thinking about the things Darren and I should do for that day.

Class was dismissed, and I was just about to head out and meet up with Darren at the school gate when Don, Cody, Devin and Jim approached me.

"Fred..." Devin called me. "I think we need to talk."

"Guys, can this wait?" I asked hurriedly. "I'm supposed to be meeting Darren right now."

"No, it can't!" Cody said in a sharp tone. "You've been spending a lot of time with Darren, and now you're acting like we don't exist!"

"Cody-" Jim tried to stop him.

"No, Jim! This had to be said!" Cody raised his voice. "Why are you so obsessed with him anyways?! He doesn't even like you back?!"

BECAUSE HE'S LEAVING IN A FEW MONTHS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL GET TO SEE HIM AGAIN!

I could've shouted the words right at Cody's face, but I couldn't. Darren has never told anyone else about it. I was the only one apart from his family who knows. It wasn't my secret to tell.

"Can't I just spend time with him?!" I countered with annoyance.

"Fine! Go on ahead and continue your wild goose chase with Darren. I'm sure it'll get you somewhere." Cody said sarcastically, before stomping his way out of the room.

Don, Jim and Devin simply stared at me as I walked past them, trying to hold the tears in my eyes that were already blurring out my vision. I quickly strode down the hall and made my way to the school gate, where Darren was waiting for me. He was leaning his back to the wall when he saw me.

"Hey Fred! Are you ready to-" He stopped his sentence midway as soon as he noticed me looking all teary-eyed. "Are you okay? What happened?"

"Can we get out of here first," I said as I wipe away my tears. "Please?"

He answered with a simple nod and we went to our favorite spot; below the huge tree at the abandoned park. Feeling the grass touching the back of my head instantly calmed me down, and the tears dried up after a couple of minutes. The two of us were quietly lying on the ground, staring at the sky and watching the clouds pass by. Darren decided break the silence with a question.

He gulped hard before speaking. "Do you want to talk about earlier?"

"It was nothing." I shrugged as I played with the grass. "Cody and the others were getting a little jealous because apparently I've been spending a lot of time with you."

"You haven't told them I'm leaving though," He gave me a worried look. "Right?"

"No, I haven't." I shook my head firmly.

"Good..." Darren let out a sigh of relief. "That's good."

A silent pause lingered between the two of us for a moment.

"Say, Darren..." I broke the silence this time as I tried to ask him a question back. "How's Dexter and your mom holding up?"

"Beats me." He answered with a flat tone. "I haven't heard from her ever since she took off. I just hope Dex is doing well."