The Introduction (Undying Love #1)

Running

Skylar

I'm laying down in my bedroom staring at the ceiling. I'm mentally drained. I like Rachel enough as a friend but not as anything more, even though she's beautiful. Actually in my eyes nobody compares to Ari. And any amount of time I spend with Arianna, I feel myself falling for her. I've never been in love before, and I'm not sure if this is real, but I want to find out. I've never worked so hard to be with someone. There has never been anyone who was worth all this effort. I've never wanted to be in a monogamous relationship before her. But she has this misplaced loyalty to Rachel. So, she won't even give me a chance and it's so damn frustrating. I groan out loud and throw a pillow out my open bedroom door. I hear my mom shout "What the heck..."

After a moment, I hear her shout, "Sky..."

"Yeah, mom?"

I hear footsteps and then I see her standing in my doorway in my peripheral view. "You want to tell me what that pillow did to you that made you so mad?"

I sit up so that I can face her. "Nothing."

"So, what was that? Are you trying to test the theory of gravity or something?"

I laugh. "Yup, that's exactly what I was doing and it seems there is still gravity on earth."

"So do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really."

She raises her brow expectantly at me. I sigh because this means I don't have a choice in the matter. I sigh. "Mom, how did you first realize you were in love?"

She smiles the biggest smile I've ever seen. My mom has never looked younger than in this moment. She walks towards me and sits next to me. "Well, I realized I was in love when I couldn't stop thinking about him. I was consumed by him, and I couldn't breathe without him. We were young, but I knew it was real. We spent all our free time together, and when we were apart I felt like a part of me was missing. I wanted to learn everything about him. I wanted to know what made him happy or sad. What his favorite color was or even his favorite food. When he spoke I listened, and when he laughed it made me feel... happy? It's hard to explain it...But when I looked into his eyes I could see my future and I wasn't afraid because I saw it with him."

"Wow, do you still feel like this about dad?"

She blushes. "Sweetheart, I never said it was your father..."

"What? Whoa...wait..."

"Yeah, sometimes love is not enough to stay together. Life can still tear you apart no matter how much you may love someone. So, when you find love hold on to it and cherish it. Because there is nothing more precious than real love. I'm telling you to cherish it because if you lose it, it may never come again."

I grab her hand and squeeze it. She looks up at me with a sadness in her eyes that I've never seen before. "Mom, are you happy?" I ask hesitantly.

"Of course I am, and if I wasn't with your father I wouldn't have you. And I wouldn't trade you for anything in the world."

"I know you love me mom, but are you happy?"

Mournfully she whispers, "I'm content."

"Who is he? Why didn't you marry him?" I ask confused.

"Who he is, is not important. The why of it all is a story for another time."

"I'm sorry mom."

"Don't be a baby Sky. Now tell me about this girl who has you throwing pillows all over my house?" She teases.

"Well, it's Arianna... every time I'm around her I feel ...different. It's like she's the missing piece to my life. I can sometimes even sense her before I even see her. I can smell her scent from anywhere. And I can spot her laugh from any crowd."

"Wow..."

"Yeah, but she won't follow through on her feelings for me. She feels something for me, I'm sure. I can see it in her eyes, but she won't admit it because of Rachel."

She eyes me for a while as if she's making sense of the whole situation. "So she's loyal?"

"Yeah."

She nods. "Well, give her time. I like her even more for her loyalty. In the long run, you'll appreciate her more for it. That means she can be trusted. But she has to come to you, or else it won't work. And let me tell you a secret about women. We always want what we can't have."

Confused I ask, "So what? Are you telling me to date, Rachel?"

She beams at me. "Exactly. Just make sure not to let things progress to anything too serious with Rachel. Because who knows maybe its Rachel you belong with."

"I'm sure about Arianna. It may not be for always, but for right now she's all I want."

"Well, go get your girl then." She smiles and kisses my head and leaves me to think everything over.

***

It's Saturday night and there is a party going on at Lake Sidney on the outskirts of town. I've decided tonight I'll try one more time with Arianna. If she continues to run from me then I'll ask Rachel out and hope this all works out for the best. She's sitting with Abel and Rachel. But, I see Colin sitting across the way watching her every move. I decide to text her to get her to come over to me rather than to walk up to her and make a scene.

Me: You look nice.

Ari: Are you lurking in the shadows watching me? K

Me: Maybe!

Ari: Being a stalker is not a good look on you...

Me: I need to talk to you can you slip away?

I see her look up and contemplate her response.

Ari: Okay. Where are you?

Me: I'm by the tree where the cars are parked.

Ari: Okay. Give me a few minutes.

Me: I'll be waiting.

I watch her as I'm hidden from the cloak of the night. She talks some more with her friends and then I see her getting up. I look to my right and I notice that Colin is on the move right along with her. She stops and speaks to him and I feel my jaw tighten and I squeeze my hands into fists. When she gets away from him she walks hurriedly to my direction. When she's hidden in the darkness along with me, I walk up to her and pull her into my arms. I feel her body shivering. "Are you cold?"

She croaks, "No."

I smile. "I see. So what did Colin want?"

"He wanted to go on that date that I canceled on him."

I grit my teeth. "I see. So, are you?"

"I don't know ... What are we doing here Sky?"

"I want to know or better yet I need to make sure that you don't want to be with me."

She swallows hard. "I'm sure."

"Why are you running from this...from me?"

"Because she's obsessed with you."

"And I'm obsessed with you." I whisper.

She takes a deep breath and says, "I'm going on that date with Colin."

I take a step back and release her from my arms. I stick my hands in my pockets. "Okay. I guess I better let you go back to your friends then."

"Sky..."

"It's okay. I just need some space right now. It doesn't change how I feel I just need to think..."

I leave her standing there alone in the night and I start walking away from the crowd. And I go further into the darkness. Now, it's me who's running from my feelings. The sense of deep anger and intense hurt is suffocating me.

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