Listen To Your Heart ~ Book One.

An Unexpected Twist

"I know? What the fuck was that?"

(He leans against the balcony railing with his head down. He thought of calling Billie back...but he wasn't sure if he loved her anymore or not. Maybe it didn't matter.)

"Something wrong? Is Billie, okay?"

(David jumps, he had been so lost in thought, that he hadn't heard Claudia come out onto the balcony.)

"Billie...told me that she loves me."

"That's great! See? I told you she did!"

"I couldn't say it back. I'm not sure of my feelings for Billie anymore. I don't even know if I could hold her like I used too. That video you sent me is pretty much burned into my mind...you know?"

"David...Finneas has apologized to me over and over. Him and I have been lovers since 2017...I'm not throwing all of that away over one mistake. You and Billie need to talk. So, what are you going to do now?"

"I invited her to maybe spend some time together in Ocean City, Maryland...but...I'm not sure if that was such a good idea."

"Why not? The two of you need to talk."

"Because I enjoy kissing you, Claudia. Billie made her choice, with her brother."

(I walk back inside the apartment. Claudia follows me inside.)

"I enjoy kissing you too! But I already told you I intended to give Finneas another chance. This is what I was talking about earlier. We let ourselves get too close to one another!"

"But I want to be with you. I already tried things with Billie, and look what happened? What the hell do you want from me?"

"I want you to fight for Billie!"

"What do you think I've been doing? I've been busting my ass, trying to do right with Billie...but oh, that's right...your boyfriend arranged to get me out of the way, so he could fuck her himself! So, what the hell do you want me to say?"

"Look...you saved Billie's life. You helped her with her night terrors. She's finally admitted that she loves you. Don't throw it all away because of a mistake. Let it go, David. Please let it go."

(I grab Claudia around her waist and pull her tight against me. We lock eyes, then we kiss again and again.)

"Was that a mistake too? Your boyfriend and Billie...fucked...because they wanted too. Just like we did. So, do you truly believe that what they did was a mistake? Was our kiss just now...a mistake?"

(Claudia and I hold eye contact for several seconds more, we kiss again, then I let her go. She doesn't answer my question.)

"I'm going out. I'll be back in a while."

(I leave.)

"Oh my God." (Claudia murmurs, trying to catch her breath. Claudia calls Billie.)

"Billie...it's Claudia. We need to talk."

(Later that night. I'm back at the apartment. Claudia had left me a note saying goodbye, and that we could only be friends. She was flying to New York to be with Finneas. I was tempted to call her, but her note had made it clear not to call her unless necessary. I sit on the sofa reading a technical manual that had arrived while I was gone, there's a knock on the door. Please let that be Claudia, I think. I open the door.)