What Goes Around

Nattie

 

It was obvious that everything would be different. School would now be awkward. Seeing him in the hall and making new friends would kill me, because as much as I hate Aaron, the part of me that has trouble letting go misses him. The last thing I wanted to do, though, was to go up to him and apologize. Act like nothing happened. I was too stubborn to do that. Why should I forgive him? He dropped off of the face of my own little world for four years. 1,460 days of crying and wishing and hoping for anything as small as a postcard from someone who promised that they would never leave me alone. That's all I ever wanted.

He left me alone, alone and scared. I was helpless. I knew no one, there was no USE to know anyone. I had him. During those four years, Kayla was the only person I got close enough to to call a friend. Still, she hardly knows as much about me as Aaron does.

 

The final school bell of the day reverberated through the air. I picked up my things, and without a glance and the person who singlehandedly destroyed me, I walked to my locker.

Of course, Aaron Terrensaw was always difficult to hide from. I was almost done packing up, when I felt someone standing by me. It didn't take rocket science to know who it was.

It was obvious he was waiting for me to acknowledge him. I was slightly amazed at how forgiving he was. I had just been a total ass to him, and here he is. I'm not saying he didn't deserve it, though.

"Nattie? I was-"

"Don't call me that."

The childhood nickname now hurt. Aaron looked me straight in the eyes. It seemed that he was trying to figure me out. He wasn't going to have much luck with that, though, I had no intentions of letting him into my brain anymore. My thoughts and feelings were a strict no-Aaron-zone.

"Fine. Okay. Natalie. I was just wondering what you meant by four years."

I slammed my locker closed and leaned against it, staring him coldly in the eyes. I would listen to him, sure, but I didn't want to say anything. He seemed to get the hint.

"Natalie, I know I left abruptly. My mom just had the new job and said she needed some time away from this town and that she just needed to get away and I made her promise she would let me write to you, and I kept that promise-"

That was it. I snapped.

"You KEPT your PROMISE? You kept your promise, huh? Was your PROMISE to leave me alone for four years? Was your PROMISE to force me to deal with the entirety of middle school all alone? With no friends? Was you PROMISE to desert me, without a single word over those entire four years? Because if it was, good job! You sure as hell kept that promise!"

And with that, I turned the tables. I walked away and left Aaron Terrensaw alone by my locker.