Match Made

Winter Break

Christmas is approaching fast. We're at the mall looking for gifts when Aden stops at a jewelry store. Grabbing my hand he asks, "Do you like any of these rings?"

My heart is rapidly beating as I point to the ones I like. Dallas asks, "Why are you looking at rings?"

He's making a scene. Calm Aden answers, "I'm just looking."

"But why? We discussed how we're too young to get married, so why are you showing her rings?"

They're arguing while Aden drags him away from the counter.  Whatever Aden said calmed him, but now Aden was ready to go. Outwardly I'm cool but inside I'm raging. Once we're a block away from my home Dallas makes a slick comment about some girl's party, and I lose it. I yell, "You're so upset over everything Aden says or does for me! I feel like we can't f*cking do anything without you tagging along! Are you so upset over him looking at rings because you want him to be your boyfriend and not mine?!"

"Kelly f*ck you!" Dallas scoffs.

Aden shouts, "HEY! Don't cuss at her and Kelly calm down!"

"NO! I'm sick of looking at him! He's too stupid to let us have our time!"

At this point, I'm dropping "F" bombs like it's nothing. Jumping out of his car, Aden snatches my door open. Now face to face, stern he repeats, "Calm down."

I leap out of the car and stomp towards my front door. Grabbing my hand before I ring the doorbell he says, "Let me handle Dallas, okay? You're right. Everyone says he's around us too much. So, chill, because you're cussing when you don't even cuss. I'll handle him."

Wiping my tears I nod. He kisses my cheek and then leaves.

Christmas comes and Aden gives me a tennis bracelet. Any teen girl, hell any woman would be ecstatic over a diamond bracelet, but my young mind feels as if he didn't get me a ring because of what Dallas said. Holding back tears as he clasps it on my wrist, I murmur, "Thanks."

Eyes squinted, he asks, "You don't like it?"

"No. I love it. Thank you."

Sensing my disappointment, he removed his nugget gold pinky ring and whispered, "Wear this as a promise ring."

After placing it on my ring finger, he leaves to spend Christmas with his family. Aden keeps his word, and Dallas is rarely with us anymore.

Today we had a blizzard. Once it ended, Aden took me to our city's island. He drives on a narrow bridge and parks. The frozen creek beneath us, pine trees, and grass display a picturesque winter wonderland. He puts on Anita Baker, and we kiss and grope until we're horny then we go to his home. 

He sneaked me upstairs and we started making love, but he didn't lock his door. Ten minutes in we hear his sister galloping up his steps calling his name. Jumping up he yells, "BINKY DONT COME UP HERE!"

"Huh? Why not?"

Quickly, he puts on his pants and T-shirt then meets her on the steps yelling, "Go back downstairs!"

Soon I heard his mom ask, "Why can't she come in your room?"

He mumbles, "Kelly's over."

There's silence. His door shuts and he returns with a solemn look. We're sitting side by side on his bed when he asks, "What made you decide to sleep with me?"

"Because I love you," I answered, bucking my eyes.

Nodding he grabs my hand, but he won't look at me. Dazing into space he whispers, "Let me get you home."

That was January now it's mid-February and we haven't made love. Valentine's Day is back. Naturally, I got my rose from Aden. Duran even sent me a rose. Contemplating whether I should accept it, I do, then go on about my day.

While changing classes I see Aden somewhere where he usually isn't. I believe God gives us a sixth sense when it comes to love. Although Aden's nowhere near this particular girl she stands out amongst this throng. She's very fair-skinned with long hair down her back, a designer outfit, and sneakers with a beauty mark on her cheek. She's unattractive to me, but the boys act as if she's flawless. Aden doesn't see me, so I take the back stairs to class.

It's a new semester and our schedules have changed. Aden needs more credits than I do to graduate so he has a full schedule, while I have four classes per day. The popular girls never petitioned me to join their cliques, so I still have my faithful girlfriends.

My friend Patty has an older boyfriend, and she acts as mature as my mother. We're sitting in the cafeteria eating. She's talking about her guy per usual then sighs, "Kelly, I don't want to tell you this but you're my friend, so I feel I have to. You know I'm on the fundraiser committee, right?"

Wide-eyed I nodded. Sighing again she says, "Aden sent that high yellow girl with the big mole on her face a rose. She's telling everyone she doesn't like him but wants his money."

As my heart shatters I keep my composure and reply, "Yeah, I saw him near her locker during the second hour. I figured something was up."

Patty adds, "I love you guys together and I know it'll be hard, but don't let these jealous girls take him from you. My dude cheated before but I forgave him. That's just what guys do, but Aden is special. If you stay with him, I'll understand."

Too devastated to speak,  I simply nodded and then went to class.

While driving home, I asked Aden, "Did you send someone else a rose?"

He sneered, "What? Kelly, what are you talking about?"

"Someone on the fundraising committee told me you sent another girl a rose. Is that true or not?"

Instantly he's angry, shouting, "Kelly all the people that are jealous of us why would you believe that?"

"Because she's my friend..."

"Oh, you have a friend? Well, who is she?"

"Aden answer my question."

Car idling in my driveway, he closed his eyes and said, "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Just answer my question!"

"Bye Kelly!"

"Why are you..."

He faces me and yells, "Kelly, you're pissing me off! Get out so I can leave before I say something I'll regret."

Crying I jumped out slamming his car door. Immediately he drives off.