What the Heart Wants

Chapter Twelve

Brian walked me to a little play park round the corner from the school. I’d never been here before but it was pretty small and pretty much isolated. Perfect. I loved being in empty parks! It was so much more fun. A huge grin broke out onto my face and I quickly darted for the swings. The swings had always been my favourite. Ever since I was a little girl I loved the rush you felt when you swung so high and felt almost weightless; before you started free falling backwards. It was dreamlike.

Once I reached the swings, I couldn’t contain myself. I jumped on and instantly started swinging my legs. I started to slowly build up momentum but I wasn’t going very high. Luckily Brian came over less than a second later and ran behind me to give me a push. He stopped the swing with ease before pulling it back as high as he could, and giving me a massive push. I was flying. My smile got wider if that’s even possible. My cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling so much, but I couldn’t help it. I was just so happy.

Brian hopped onto the swing next to me and soon he was swinging just as high as I was. This was the best date I’d ever been on. Well, if it was a date that is. The best kind-of-but-not-really-a-date date.

After at least twenty minutes on the swings, we went and played on some of the other toys. We did the slide, but my butt kept sticking to it. It was incredibly annoying but Brian found it hilarious because it made a big squeaking noise. I on the other hand, was not so amused.

After the slide, we went to the roundabout. At first we spun it as fast as we could but then after a while we just let it twirl in the breeze. We lay down in the middle of it and just looked up at the sky. It was nice. Just lying there with him. Just being with him. However, our fun soon came to an end when my mum called. Ugh. Way to ruin a girls day.

I apologised to Brian at least four times before running out of the park. My mum was pretty mad. It was two hours past the time I was usually home and I hadn’t told her where I was. She gave me the whole “I was worried sick about you” speech. And then started with the “What if something had happened? How would I know where you were?” Yep, she was mad.

I ran until I reached the lane. Once I got there, I slowed to a fast walk. I quickly marched up and before I knew it I was face to face with my not so happy looking mother. Oh boy…

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I got a twenty five minute lecture on rapists but other than that I was in the clear. It was totally worth it though. My few hours with Brian were amazing. I loved just spending time with him. Even if we were doing nothing, it was fun just being together.

But then Alex popped into my head. His eyes looked so sad when I had seen him after school. He had looked truly crushed. Was he really upset about Brian and me? I couldn’t take the not knowing. I had to call him. No, I had to see him.

I snuck downstairs as quietly as I could. It was only about 8:30 but I had a feeling my mum wouldn’t be too happy about me going out tonight, even if it was just down the lane. I spotted her in the living room watching TV and tried my best to sneak past the door without making a sound. I made it past and proceeded to make my way down the hall. I got to the kitchen and quickly, but silently, ran to the front door. I spotted my chucks sitting next to it and quickly pulled them on. I then very slowly turned that door handle and opened the door. I opened it just enough for me to slip out. I quickly closed it behind me and started making my way down the lane and less than five minutes later I was standing at the bottom of Joan’s drive. Thankfully there was no car there which meant Joan must be out, phew.

I took a deep breath and made my way up the gravelly path. I arrived at the front door and took one more deep breath before bringing my hand up to ring the doorbell. I heard someone shuffling about inside and saw Alex’s silhouette coming towards the door. My heart rate picked up and my palms started to get clammy. He turned the lock and opened the door. He took one look at me and he froze.

I had a similar reaction but after a few minutes I managed to stutter out a, “Hey.”

“Why are you here?” His voice was cold and detached. But his eyes gave him away. They still looked like they held a deep sadness.

“We need to talk, can I come inside?”

He didn’t even respond. He just took a step outside and closed the door behind him and spitted out, “Talk.”

“Look I know you’re upset about me and Brian but I never meant to hurt you and…”

He cut me off completely. “I told you today at lunch, you can date whoever the hell you want. I don’t care. I was a little shocked that you and Brian got together but it’s your life, not mine.”

I was shocked. I hadn’t expected him to be so dry about it. I didn’t know what else to say.

“Are we finished? Or was there anything else you wanted to say to me?”

I bit my lip and shook my head. With that he turned around and started to storm off inside. But not before I called out to him, “Hey, are we still walking to school together tomorrow?”

He did a sarcastic laugh before clipping out, “Why don’t you go with Brian.” And just like that, he marched inside without even giving me a second glance. I felt a stab of pain in my heart and a single tear started to roll down my cheek. Why did I feel like this? I was with Brian now. Alex shouldn’t have this much of an effect on me. A few more tears rolled down my cheeks but I quickly wiped them away and turned to walk down the driveway. I practically ran down. I wanted to get home as fast as possible. But for some reason, tonight was just not my night.

I came face to face with Mrs Piers. She was looking at me with a scowl on her face. I got the feeling she had just heard every word I’d said to Alex. Great, just great.

“I told you to stay away from that boy,” her voice was hard.

“Well he’s my friend and…”

“I don’t care what he is to you, he is trouble and you will not hang around with him.” Now she was just pissing me off. She had no right to tell me who I should and I shouldn’t hang out with.

“You keep saying that to me, but why is he so troublesome? What did he ever do that was so bad?”

“I take it this “friend” of yours hasn’t told you about Cassie then?”

I rolled my eyes and had to hold back a laugh, “You mean his on-off girlfriend Cassie? Yea, he told me.”

“Oh, he hasn’t told you.” Okay now I was mad. I was sick of all these word games.

“Told me what?”

“I think it’s better that he tells you…”

“No, you tell me. It’s obvious you don’t want me hanging out with him so you could at least have the decency to tell me why.” I snapped back.

“He got the poor girl pregnant. And then instead of helping out with the baby, he just packed up his stuff and moved in here with his Aunty Joan.”

My jaw dropped, I was shocked to say the least. “But… I thought he got expelled from his old school and he had to move here… I thought he didn’t have a choice…”

“That’s just the story he’s telling everyone to make him see cool or whatever. The poor girl had to get an abortion. She was only young. Just eighteen years old. It’s a shame really…”

I couldn’t listen to her anymore. I bolted up the lane and went straight home. I went straight up to my room and slammed the door behind me. I leaned against it but soon slumped down to the floor. The tears just poured out of me. I couldn’t hold them in anymore. After Alex’s harsh words, what Mrs Piers said just cut into me like a knife. Alex didn’t care about me. He never would.  He had gotten someone pregnant. And then just left her. He didn’t care about anyone but himself. And that realisation hurt like a bitch.

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Ooooh drama! Comment and let me know what you think! Please vote and follow as well! Song of the chapter is "Memories" by David Guetta, music video on the side as per usual. Thanks for reading <3