Real Love

Chapter Three

  The next day, Paul woke up to find his world completely changed.

  “What’s going on?” Paul was so confused. He had just woken up, not knowing what was going on. People were rushing around like mad, packing their things.

  “We’re going to London,” Jim replied.

  “We’re going now?”

  “Mm-hmm.”

  “No, we’re not supposed to be leaving for another week.”

  “Get dressed and come have some breakfast, Paul. I’ll tell Mike to pack your things.”

  “I’d be happy to pack your things,” Mike replied honestly, standing in the doorway.

  “I don’t want you to touch my stuff,” Paul snapped. “I’m not going.”

  “Yes, you are.” Jim’s face was hardened, his expression stern.

  “No I’m not,” Paul pouted.

  “Yes, you are.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “Paul, you’re going whether you like it or not. Even if I have to pick you up and throw you over my shoulder, dragging you the whole way, you’re going.”

  “Excuse me.”

  Paul sped out of his room, running out of his house as well. He hopped on his bike, speeding down the road to the lumberyard where John supposedly worked. He hopped off his bike not at the sight of his ex-lover, but at the sight of his friend, Stu.

  “Stu!” he cried, running toward the older lad. “Where’s John?”

  “He’s out delivering a load. Why, what’s going on?”

  “I’m leaving town.”

  “Leaving?” Stu looked shocked.

  “Yeah.”

  “When?”

  “Like… today. Right now.”

  Stu sighed, but Paul continued.

  “Look, I need you to tell John something, okay? I need you to tell him that I love him. And tell him that I’m sorry for everything, okay?”

  “Look, I was up all night with him, Paul. I’ve never seen him so low. It’s over. Don’t make it any harder than it already is.”

  “No, no! It’s not over! Stu, we had a fight last night. And we said some things we didn’t mean, but it’s not over.”

  “It is over.”

  “No!”

  “Leave it alone. Let it go. Look, he understands-”

  “But…”

  “It’s hard, but he really does. Summer’s over, and it’s time to go home. If he wants to talk to you, he’ll write. If not?”

  “Okay.” Paul sighed, taking in a deep breath. “Okay, can you just… can you just tell him that I love him, then? Can you do that?”

  “I’ll tell him.”

  “Bye, Stu.”

  And like that, she was gone. Summer romances end for all sorts of reasons. But when all is said and done, they have one thing in common; They are shooting stars… a spectacular moment of light in the heavens, a fleeting glimpse of eternity. And in a flash, they’re gone.