Change in Heart

Chapter 5- The Pier

Chapter 5

The cold wind stung my face as i walked down the beach front towards the pier. I could see him standing there facing the waves; he looked deeply lost in thought. He hadn't seen me yet and i was so tempted to turn around and run as far away as possible. 'Don't be a chicken' i kept telling myself over and over. As much as i wanted to stop, my legs carried on until George was standing about four feet away from me. He wheeled around and instantly i looked away desperate not to make eye contact.

'Erm... hey,' George said after a minute of long silence.

'Hi,' i said bluntly.

'I take it you got my message, only you didn't reply.' He sounded puzzled though it seemed pretty straight forward to me. Why would i want to talk to him?

'I didn't feel in the mood for talking to anyone last night,' i lied.

'Well you spoke to Karlie, she told me.'

Damn it! 'I didn't feel in the mood for talking to you last night... no offense.'

'No offense taken. I can understand why.'

'Good,' i said awkwardly. I hated being like this with him. I wanted to sit and talk to him all day.

'So did you just come to say that?' i asked tapping my foot impatiently.  

'No i didn't.' His lips twisted and I did my best not to stare.

'Well?' I prompted.

'We have the dance next weekend.'

'Which you promised you would take me to,' i reminded him.

'About that...' he said looking away slightly.

My heart dropped. 'Yes?'

'Well, Maddy said i have to take her.'

'And what Maddy says goes right? Is that how it works? Some relationship you have,' i said snottily.

'Well Libby, she is my girlfriend... she has to come first.'

'I know she's your girlfriend, i have seen you two outside, it's not hard to miss. Anyway, the year above aren't invited you know,' i said smirking.

'Maddy got around that.' My faint smile suddenly vanished. I sighed.

'George. You promised me. I remember your exact words. You came over to me when i was sat down on the bench and said, 'Libby, how come a pretty girl like you doesn't have a date? You're not going to the dance alone, do you hear me? I'm taking you and if i have a girlfriend i'll just have to explain i owe my friend big time.'

'You remember that huh?' he shrugged.

'Yeah i do.'

'I can't, I'm sorry. The 'explanation' wouldn't go down too well with Maddy, you and i both know that.'

'You always let me down George,' i whispered to my shoes.

'What?' He asked as he moved in closer so he could hear.

This time i shouted making him leap back in surprise, ' You always let me down George! Why don't you stop making promises you can't keep, start doing something nice for a change. Stop going round trampling down everybody you walk over! You're supposed to be my friend. Well some friend you are...' I trailed off at the end, I'd suddenly realised what i hadn't until i said it out-loud. He was always letting my down and he treated me like nothing.

'Libby, you are my friend. And i don't always let you down.'

'George, all you've ever done is let me down.'