The One

The One (34)

~ Felicia Harrison ~

I trudged up the stairs to Maxine's room.

Why the hell must her room be so high up at the rooftop?

That lucky girl.

"It's what you wanted, wasn't it?" Maxine's voice floated out into the corridor where I was standing.

I seemed to have a knack for eavesdropping conversations.

"Yeah, but..."

I'd recognise that voice anywhere.

Steve.

"But what?" asked Maxine.

I heard a groan. "You don't get it. Felicia is... She... You should've seen her face when I told her that I wanted to end things with her."

I furrowed my eyebrows. Why would Steve be telling Maxine that?

I heard Maxine sigh. "Do I want to know what else you did to break her?"

"No, you don't."

Maxine sighed again. "You do know I'm supposed to beat you up for breaking my little cousin's heart, right?"

"But I'm stronger than you." 

I could just imagine Steve smirking.

"Just shut up already."

I heard Steve chuckle, and then silence. "I wish I didn't," said Steve softly, so softly I almost didn't hear it.

"Didn't what? Get involved with her? Break her heart? Tell me why you had to break up with her? Have to get this disease?" 

What was Maxine talking about?

What does she know that I don't?

"Everything," said Steve.

Everything? I echoed in my mind.

Wait.

This disease?

What disease?

Steve had a reason for breaking up with me?

It just wasn't him being a total asshole, bastard, jerk, fucktard and a heartbreaker?

Don't wanna break your heart, wanna give your heart a break, I know you're -

What the hell am I thinking?

I shook my head, clearing my stupid thoughts.

I heard Maxine sigh for the third time. "So this is it? You're going to go for the operation?"

My eyes widened.

Do not jump to conclusions, it might be some stupid secret code that they just made up.

Who am I kidding?

There was a moment of silence before Steve said, "Yes."

Steve's going away.

No. He can't.

"Will you come back?"

I held my breath in anticipation as I awaited his reply outside the door.

"No promises."

No...

"But -" I heard Maxine protest.

"It's a fifty-fifty chance, Maxine. I don't want to promise something I can't keep. I don't want to be able to promise Felicia a future with her when my own future is a grey area, do you know that?"