Her First Love

Chapter 8- Part B- moving on..

Aliza was finally infront of him, but she was staring at the ground. She didn't want to stay goodbye and she didn't know how to say it. Chapman spoke first,"So I'm guessing, like everyone else you're going to wait until you get home to open your envelope". He gave her the usual 'cheesy' smile, that's what Aliza called it, as he nodded towards the envelope that was wrapped around by her arms tightly pressed against her chest. She was holding on to it as if her life depended on it, funny thing was it actually did. "I just came over to say good-" She finally spoke, only to get interrupted by him. "Don't.. Not here. Follow me," He said in a serious tone as he walked towards the door. She was surprised and curious. So she followed after him out the door. They went up the grey, metal stairs that led to the p.e office. 'What is he doing?' Was the thought that appeared in Aliza's mind as he unlocked the door.

She followed him in. "Ummm... So I guessed we really needed to talk. I just wanted to do it somewhere more private. Oh and also I need to give you your goodbye present. Although it isn't goodbye," He said as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously, staring down at his desk. His back was all she could see, she wanted to see his face.
'But this is the end'.. She thought and wanted to tell him.
She felt only seconds away from exploding and a waterfall coming down from her eyes.

Chapman took a step further away from her and towards his desk. He picked up a small, white box. He looked at it for a while. Then he turned around and stretched his arm out. Holding the box towards her. She looked down at it, then back at his face. "I wasn't sure what to get you, but then I saw this and it looked really nice," He said. She took a step forward turning excited as she took the box from his hands. She flashed him a smile in which he returned.

She opened the box and gasped. "It's beautiful," She beamed, admiring the necklace. The pendant was oval shaped and her favourite colour, blue. She took it out of the box gently. "Look at the back of the pendant," He said looking at her with a shy grin on his face. She did as he said. Her smile grew wide, there was a message inscripted in small. It said,'We had some great memories, don't forget them or me, Adam.c'. She put the necklace back into the box and the box into her bag.

"So this is really goodbye," She said, as her smile started to turn upside down. "No! Don't say that, we can still stay in touch," Chapman quickly said. But he also knew that was not going to happen. He went up to her and engulfed her into a warm, big hug. She couldn't do it anymore, she couldn't act brave. So she let it all out. She began to cry uncontrollably, which got Chapman to tighten his grip on her.

"I've fallen in love with you and only realised it till the start of yr 11. When you said that you're getting married, it broke my heart. It's not your fault, it's mine for having hope. That's why we can't stay in touch because I need to move on or else this ridiculous pain won't go," She managed to say, but with every word came a sob. They stayed silent for a bit.

"I know," was all Chapman said.

"Wait. You said, love? A part of me thought you had a crush on me, but I ignored it thinking I was being paranoid. But I never suspected you being in love," was all he could say, he was surprised.

"I'm so sorry," He added, realising how much pain he had put her through. He let her go and took a step back. "I'm sorry for not realising sooner," He said, looking deeply into her eyes. It was the very first time he saw it, he saw the pain in her eyes. He hoped that every drop of tear she shed would take the pain a long with it. But even the teardrops didn't want to carry her pain as they fell from her eyes and splattered on to the ground.

He hated seeing her like this, so he understood what he had to do, it was what she had been trying to do all this time.

He had to let her go.

"Okay," He whispered, she still heard it. She looked at him confused and wiped the tears off her face. "Okay what?" she asked, confused. He looked away not wanting to say it, but he knew he had to. So he looked at her again, straight into her eyes and replied, "Okay. We.. Don't have to stay in touch. There's something about you Aliza, something that makes you special and different from the others. I'll never forget you. You weren't just a student to me, you were more of a friend, I was able to talk to you about anything. I'll never forget the moments we had..... You know if I was your age maybe things would've been completely different. But life had other plans I guess. So thank you for making these last years of school unforgettable." He paused to catch his breath, he didn't want to cry infront of her. He took a deep breath and continued, "I really do hope you find someone that makes you really happy and is worth your beautiful soul. I am once again truly sorry for hurting you. So... Goodbye and have a great future." He ended it with a sad smile.

She stood there for a while taken back by his words. The pain she had, she felt it lift a little. She went up to him and hugged him one last time. "Thank you for understanding. I will never forget you too. All I wanted was a goodbye and you gave that to me, so thank you. Take care of Holly and yourself. Have a nice life Chapman and be happy that's all I'm asking from you now. Goodbye," Aliza said as she let go of him. She gave him a genuine smile and he gave her one back. She finally got her goodbye and she was satisfied with it. So with that she headed off to find me.

So has Aliza finally moved on or at least a part of her.....