Five Words

Chapter 21

~Cher

My phone chimes when Ace rises from his chair. I take it out of my purse and Adrian's picture pops up. I quickly answer the call.

"Hi." I smile glad that he called me.

I have been wanting to call him today morning but everything escalated so quickly it slipped my mind.

"Hey, Cher. How are you?"

Ace gestures for me to walk in front of him so that we can leave.

"I'm fine. How are you feeling today?"

"Meh." I know that he is shrugging even though I can't see him, "I got out of the hospital for some fresh air."

"How's he doing?"

"He just got out of a chemotherapy session. I didn't wait until the doctor came and just left."

"Adrian, I can come." I open the car door and get in, "I want to be there for you."

"Cher..."

"No, seriously, Adrian, you're pushing me away, and I understand that I hurt you. I hurt you so terribly, but we can get through this. Just let me try and fix this, Adrian."

"Cher, you don't know how I feel right now. Talking to you on the phone makes me feel better, but if you are here, it's different."

It is true. I don't know what he is feeling, and I can never imagine because I am not the one with the broken heart. I am the one who broke his heart, but it hurt me so much because I broke him.

"Adrian..." I begin but he cuts me off.

"Seriously, Cher, I just called you because I missed you, but you just keep insisting. I don't need you here right now, because I don't want to be reminded of the pain you have caused me. I have Sarah and Leah and that's all I need for now." He yells through the phone.

Adrian has never yelled at me, not when I broke his Macbook, or when I ruined his favorite shirt, or when I gave him the wrong material to stud from for an exam. Not in a million years have I ever thought that Adrian will say those words to me, especially not a time like this when his father is on the verge of death. We have always been there for each other, at the best and the worst of times. We have always been what we both needed at the right times when things would go bad.

He is one of my closest friends, and the words he just said to me puncture right through me causing my heart to crack.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know that wanting to be there for you is so wrong. Call me when you want your best friend back." I hang up on him and toss the phone onto the dashboard.

"Woah."

I jump a little out of surprise, completely forgetting that Ace is here with me.

"What happened?" He asks me.

"Nothing." I shake my head, not really feeling like talking about Adrian with Ace, "Are you coming with me? Or do want me to drop you off?"

"I'm coming with you."

My heart leaps, despite the fact that it was hurting a second ago.

"Really?" I can't fight the smile that pushes its way through my lips.

"Yeah, I know how bad you want me to go back with you."

I groan, "God, Ace. Get out of my car." I push him to the side emphasizing my point.

He laughs, "What isn't it true?"

"No, it is not true. I was just speaking for Paulina's sake."

"Yeah, sure, sure." He chuckles.