If You See Him

Chapter 4

Narvel listened as Reba's laughter filled the quiet halls of the library. He had missed her more than words could say, but he knew deep down in his heart, he knew that he did the right thing by breaking up with her. Every time Narvel looks at her, he feels his heart beat quicken and his mind fills up with memories of when the two of them were together. The way she giggled when he would kiss that special place just below her ear, the way she would smile up at him whenever they cuddled, the way she would talk about her siblings. Narvel had been convinced that she was the one, the one he was going to marry one day.

But every time he looks at her, he remembers that night. He remembers a sobbing Reba calling him late that night to come pick her up. He remembers sitting her on her front step, listening to her tell him all about what happened that night. He remembers getting angry, he still believes that the hole in the tree in Reba's front yard is from him. He remembers telling Reba that it was over, that he couldn't be with her. He remembers Reba sitting there and nodding her head, knowing that she was going to accept her punishment.

Narvel looked across the table, smiling as he saw Reba reading through a book. These were the moments he missed the most, where he could just sit down and admire her, without her even knowing he was looking at her. It had been two and half years since he was this close to the girl of his dreams, but he also knew that she was with Ronnie.

Everytime he even thinks of going to talk to her, Ronnie is by her side. He's there, holding Reba the same way he used to. Making her laugh and giggle and blush. Narvel refused to say that he was jealous of Ronnie, but deep down, he knew that he was. Ronnie got Reba, he got the girl he still wants.

Narvel has tried to move on. He's dated a handful of girls over the past two years, but none of them lasted. He compared all of them to Reba and none of them could even come close to her. He thought that when Reba cheated on him, that was it. Narvel thought it was a sign that they shouldn't be together, but now, still here in the all too quiet library, he wished that they had stayed together and worked things out.

"I miss you," Narvel blurts out as he stares off into space. He doesn't register that he said it.

"What?" Reba questions as she looks up from her book. Narvel looks back at her, staring straight into her ocean blue eyes.

"I miss you."