The Great War

XIII

My half-lidded eyes showed my exhaustion to whomever paid enough attention. My eyes drift up and catch onto blue ones that look into mine in sadness. A sadness that was found in mine too.

I looked down and tried getting past him, but he swooped in and softly grabbed my wrist. "Daph, please let's just talk."

I stop and sigh, "Alright, fine." I mumble, he seemed relieved. His hand interlocks with mine as he pulls me out of the building.

"Listen, I've been thinking a lot about what happened, about you. I said a lot of shit and I'm sorry."

I nodded chewing on my lip. I wanted to scream at him. Cry then kiss him. I mean I loved the boy; I have since my second year of high school. God, I wanted to hug him tightly and wish it was all a dream. That we never broke up and he was the sweet boy I fell for.

"It's fine. I forgive you. It's the past." I mumble looking up at him. Staring into the eyes of the guy I loved for so long.

His blue eyes bore into my brown, he seemed to feel what I did. But neither of us acted upon it. No matter how hard it was. I gave him a half-hearted smile and walked away from him, towards the parking-lot of the library. My breathing picking up. I hated this, I hated all of it.

I wanted to rewind time. Go back to the winter of last year. When we were perfect. When he effortlessly kissed me and stole my breath. When he hugged me and told me he loved me. But I know I can't. I dug my grave, now I have to lay in it.

𖤐

I leaned against my steering wheel, the car softly rumbling as I stare at the floorboard thinking of everything and nothing all at once. Was this all just one big bad idea? Why did he even bother coming back to apologize, the damage was done.

Was this his own sick way of making himself feel better? To come crashing back into my life when I was finally feeling okay. I felt a mild amount of anger build up. This isn't fair. Why did he get to have closure when this is all his fault?

He should suffer the same way as I do. But he gets to feel okay because he thinks what he did was forgivable. I sit up and turn the car off after who knows how long of just zoning out. I hold the keys in my hand as I open my door and step out sighing. This whole life thing was bullshit.

𖤐

"You really showed up at my work, just because?" I nod with a cheeky smile as I lean on the counter Theo staring down at me with tired eyes. "Why?"

I shrug and tap his arm, "Now order me nuggets, I'm hungry." He scoffs and does what I say without further questioning. "Thank you, babe!"

I skip back and sit down near the front watching as Theo walks around doing his usual. His blank eyes catching mine a few times. Half the time as I ate, I caught him staring at me.

"Why'd you really come here?" He asks, approaching me on his break.

I shrug and smile up at him. "Can't I visit a friend?"

He crosses his arms as he plops down across from me, "No."

I roll my eyes and sigh. "I was hungry, plus I wanted to hang out with you but ya know, you work."

He glares at me like he was trying to get a read on my fucking DNA. "What?"

He shrugs still staring heavily into my eyes, "Nothing." I groan and slap my head down on the table. "I knew something was wrong. What's up?"

I peek up at him as I sniffle, "Elias came to the library while I was leaving, somehow knowing I was there."

He sighs and gets up walking over to my side, "Scoot over."

I rub my nose as I sit up and scoot over for him to squeeze in beside me in the booth. He throws his arm over my shoulder and pulls me into his side. "He's a jackass, we both know this. What'd he say?"

I shrug and lean into him, "That he wanted to apologize and shit."

He scoffs, rolling his eyes, rubbing my arms. "What a fucking bitch."

I chuckle and nod. "He is, isn't he."

Theo smiles at me and leans down kissing my head, "When I'm off work, we can go do something fun, okay?"

I nod and smile at him. "Thanks Theo,"

He pats my face softly, "Of course," he gets up and yawns. "Stay here, I'm off in like 40."

I lean against the table again, my arms spread out on the smooth cold surface. "Here I shall stay." He nods in confirmation and walks off.

𖤐

I latch onto Theo's hand as he walks over to me, "Finally, felt like ages."

He laughs and squeezes my hand, "Shut up let's go." I smile and walks up both to the exit of the establishment. "I'm driving."

I snap my head up at Theo. "No, the fuck you aren't."

He shrugs and snatches my keys from my back pocket. "Yes, the fuck I am." He grins at me walking ahead. Not too far still within arms distance.

"You're so mean."

He smiles and winks at me, "We've established that, sweetheart."

I roll my eyes and get into the passenger side of my car as he gets in the drivers much to my displeasure. "I can't believe you're basically stealing my car."

He pats my thigh before turning the car on, "I'm stealing your car. Yes, that's exactly what I'm doing."

I roll my eyes and lean back. "Where're we going?"

He looks down at me switching gears, "Firstly, put your seatbelt on. Secondly probably a Walgreens."

I grunt like a child and lazily buckle myself in. "Why a Walgreens?"

He shrugs, "We need snacks, don't we?"

I shrug back, "How the fuck would I know, you won't tell me what we're even doing."

He smiles and leaves his works parking-lot driving off. "You'll know soon enough."

I wave my fingers, "Ooo so suspenseful."

He chuckles, slapping my thigh, not hard but hard enough. "This is cruelty. Just tell me what we're doing." I cross my arms looking out the windshield.

"Have you not heard of surprises?" I huff and glare at him as he pulls into a Walgreens parking-lot.