Eternity's Promise

Chapter 8

Rose’s POV

I am all alone in this dreaded party, well there are hundreds of kids filling every available space in this house, but I have no idea where my friends are. I look around for them and my eyes land on a person, I really wouldn’t call him a friend, but he’ll have to do. I walk over to Tyson who is sitting on the staircase, he’s near people but he’s not talking to them and they are laughing from their buzz of alcohol. I sit next to him and notice he’s not saying any snide comment. He just looks at me and then, looks down.

Something is definitely wrong with him. He’s not dancing or talking or laughing or drinking. Just sitting down, seemingly miserable, even when surrounded with a bunch of happy people. I touch his arm,

“What’s the matter?”  I ask truthfully concerned. I don’t know why I am even caring, I could just walk away and hang out with my friends, well once I find them. However, there is something strange going on, and my curiosity is getting the better of me.

“Nothing,” he says softly almost speaking to himself.

“Okay then,” I am standing up because I am not going to intrude and I’m not going to force this kid to talk to me. I’m being nice and if he doesn’t accept my offer of kindness then, that’s his loss. Hasn’t he ever heard to not reject kindness? Gosh, I knew he was always self-centered but here he is in action.

“Wait, no, please stay,” he pleads grabbing onto my wrist and gently tugging me back.

“Why? Why should I stay?”

“Because I need someone to talk to…”

“About what? Is everything okay?”

“No, not really. My parents are getting divorced, I saw the divorce files on the table this morning. They didn’t even tell me, I guess I should have known. They’ve been fighting for years now and my dad doesn’t even sleep in the house anymore. He has his own apartment, and when I asked him why, he thinks I am an idiot or something because he says it’s closer to his work and he doesn’t have to wake up as early or whatever.” He looks away and his eyes are really glossy.

“It’s going to be okay, don’t worry about it,” I say, trying to make him feel better. He’s really good at pretending he’s happy, now that I think about it. This has been going on for a while and never once had I suspected he was unhappy. I wish I knew what to say.

“I thought they loved each other,” he said.

Should I tell him that they do and it will all straighten out later or say they weren’t meant to be and it is for the best? I chose the latter and he said,

“I want my parents to be happy together. Life’s so unfair,” he puts his hands over his eyes.

“I know it is, that’s why you should live your life trying to make it as fair as possible,” I reason. Maybe, he’s mean to people because he thinks that’s the way it is supposed to be; constantly living in a world where life seems unfair makes you be unfair to others.

I turn my head from looking at his hand covered face to see two people I recognize intertwining their hands. Aaron and Delilah were holding hands, with smiles and rose colored blushes on their faces, walking over to the dance floor, where they start to slow dance.

Finally, I thought. I always knew Aaron liked Delilah, and I tried to indirectly tell her that she should be with Aaron and that he likes her. She didn’t get my subtle hints, but it worked out in the end. She realized Tyson isn’t for her. I wonder what made her think that.

Then Tyson removes his hands from his eyes and looks over at me, and casually says,

“Will you go out with me?”

“No”

“What?” He looks completely shocked, like he knew for fact that I would say yes.

“I said no, I’m sorry,” I mean I feel bad about his parents but I am not going to say yes to him out of pity or guilt, that’s low and everyone even him, deserves more than that.

“Don’t say sorry, its okay. Whatever,” he stands up and walks away.

I hope I helped him in some way, but he’s just feeling lonely and wants me to fill that hole, I can’t do that because I don’t like him. He doesn’t like me either; he just wants someone to make him feel wanted.