Through his eyes

76

Theodore

"Theo! What are you doing this late outside?! Come in come in!" Mrs Jovita said ushering me inside,

she closed the door behind me as I just stood there like a mannequin.

"What happened?" She asks softly placing her hand on my arm, I tried to speak but the words just wouldn't come out of my mouth.

"Shhh its okay, its okay" she said cooing me as I let my head fall onto her shoulder and cry.

•••

The next morning I woke up in Mrs Jovita spare bedroom feeling like shit.

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes when got into a sitting position,

I put on the same clothes from yesterday, leaving the tie and not fully buttoning up the dress shirt.

I walked outside the room and heard Mrs Jovita hum a song in the kitchen probably preparing something to eat,

I went into the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth.

"Good morning!" Mrs Jovita chirped as I entered her sunlit kitchen

"G'morning" I greet tiredly
"Do you need help with anything?" I ask just looking for a way to distract my rushing thoughts

"Yeah you can start making pancakes, I already prepared the mixture" she ordered softly.

•••

Sitting at her cozy dining table we ate in a comfortable silence.

"You don't have to talk about it hun" she said softly
I placed my fork down lowering my gaze as I felt all the emotions from last night coming back.

My eyes started stinging but I quickly collected myself,
"I... I know" I said my voice sounding raspy so I cleared my throat,

"I would offer you to stay but I don't want Zoe and Will to worry about your whereabouts" she adds and I nod understanding

"Yeah I know"

"But I'll make you an apple pie you can take home" she said reaching for my hand and squeezing it gently to which I tried to smile at her.

We continued eating when a thought came to my mind.

"How long does it take" I ask deep in thoughts

"How long does what take?"

"Until you get rid of this feeling" I ask subconsciously placing a hand over my left chest

"Oh dear" Mrs Jovita says smiling sadly at me
"It depends on the person, it's different for everyone. For some it takes a while and for others it doesn't"

I ponder.

"What if it will never go away? This feeling I mean" I ask looking up at Mrs Jovita

"Because they won't. You'll just get used to the feeling and move on with your life"

Imani

I felt awful.

"Imani! You can't stay in your bedroom all day!" my mom yelled from downstairs,

I haven't told anyone about Theo's and my breakup.

There was a soft knock on my door before it opened revealing my mom,

"I know school is not mandatory anymore but graduation day and prom are still a few weeks away and it could be fun going to high school for the last few times" she offers and I groan

"Mom I already told you I'm not going to! I don't even know if I still wanna go to prom" I say mumbling inside my pillow

"What? Why?? You were so excited about it!"

"Yeah but I changed my mind now" I grumble turning on my side

"Look, I'm not going to push you or anything but if you wanna talk, just know that I'm always here to listen" My mom said before walking out and closing the door.

Maybe I did a mistake, maybe I shouldn't have broken up with Theo. I should've waited and at least try for a long distance relationship before ending it all. Or not?

My phone kept going off but I ignored it.
I wasn't in the mood to read Georgias messages about her plans for our last summer vacation together, or hear anyone's complain about everything and nothing.

I just want to stay in bed and never get up again. But as I looked through my messy bedroom I realised something.

I have to get rid of his stuff first.

I got up from my bed and looked for an empty box where I could throw all his belongings he forgot or purposely left here in there.

I started with his hoodies and sweatpants that even had already found their way inside my closet. A few notebooks, pictures of us together, random sticky notes he wrote me and... the promise ring.

I took it gently admiring it in the sunshine, a promise ring, a promise that we'll still be together in future.
Too bad that's not the case anymore.

I placed everything inside the box and got ready to go out.

•••

As awkward this might turn out to be I wanted to drop his things off asap so I won't have to be constantly reminded of him.

I rang the doorbell hoping anyone but him was going to open the door,

"Ezra?" I ask dumbfounded when he opened the door

"Shi thought you were the delivery guy" he says putting his money back away

"Yeah well obviously I'm not" I say chuckling nervously
"I ju-"

"What's taking you so long I-" Theo said who appeared behind Ezra only to stop mid sentence when he saw me. His eyes widened for a second and he closed his mouth shut,

"What are you doing here?" He asks not a single emotion in his tone

"I err I just came here to drop off your stuff" I said slightly raising the box in my hands up, but he just stared at me

"Well are gonna give it to me orrr?" He asks and I break from my trance

"Oh yes right, here" I said handing him the box he took with ease
"And before I forget it, this too" I said taking the promise ring from Jeans pocket.

He tried to play it off cool but I saw the face he was making before quickly went back to no emotions in his face,

"I'm gonna give you guys some privacy" Ezra said walking back inside. I almost forgot he was even here with us.

"Is that all?" Theo asks coldly and I nod slowly

Tell him it was a mistake! The voice in my head kept saying

"I guess that's all" I say awkwardly
Tell him!

"Yeah I guess"

"Bye-" I started but Theo closed the door shut before I could even finish my sentence.

•••

W: poor boy wasn't being mean, he didn't want to start tearing up in front of her :/