Behind The Screens

14 | Mistakes

Alex

When I opened my eyes, Britten was holding onto my chest, her curly hair wild across the pillow and splattered all over her face. I moved her hair, causing her to stir in her sleep.
I reached for my phone sitting on the night stand to check the time. 10:32am on Christmas Eve- our three month anniversary. I had forgotten it was Christmas Eve for a hot second and had almost forgotten that Tyler was on his way to NYC, but I couldn't forget our anniversary. A text from Tyler appeared on my screen.

Just got on plane. be there in about 4hrs.

I texted back "ok" and set my phone back on the table. I shook Britten slightly in attempt to wake her up. When she didn't wake up, I began to wiggle out of her embrace. She moved her hands from my torso to in between her legs, still not waking. I chuckled. Who knew she was such a heavy sleeper? I thought.

I tried pulling the blankets off of her, but she curled into a ball to keep herself warm. At this point I had given up and chose to plop back down next to her. I gazed at her shut eyes and laid my hand on her cheek. "Britten?" I said. Her eyes finally fluttered open and she squinted in attempt to adjust her eyes to the brightness of the room. "Britten." I called her name again.
"Hm?" She responded. I smiled.

Britten sat up and stretched, her eyes squeezed shut. When she opened her eyes, a look of confusion crossed her face. "My clothes?!" She squealed. She quickly snatched the blanket and covered herself up, looking for her clothes.

"Britten..." I called. She rummaged through the room, completely ignoring me. She tripped a few times, trying to keep the blanket up. "Britten!" I tried calling again. No response. I sighed, hopped off of the bed and grabbed my shirt. "Britten!!!" I yelled. She whipped around and yelled, "WHAT?!" I held up the shirt. She sighed as I tossed it to her. I grabbed a pair of sweatpants and quickly slipped them on.

"What's your deal?" I asked Britten. She threw the blanket back on the bed and shrugged. "I don't know, I mean..." She stuck her arms through the sleeves of the shirt I gave her. "Last night-" She smiled at the thought. "Last night was great, but I feel like I'm missing something."
"Your virginity." I said, cracking up laughing. Britten giggled a little and said, "Sure." With a half-hearted smile. I piped down a bit. "Don't worry, it's fine." I said. She shrugged and sighed. "Can you take me home?" I frowned and walked toward her, holding her waist.

"What's really wrong?" I questioned. "I don't know," Britten replied, lying her head on my bare shoulder. "I think... I don't know."
"Britten, really." I said.

Sighing, Britten said, "my parents." I furrowed my brow. "Is this about your mom?" I asked. "It's both of my parents," she replied. "But it's not about that, it's about them... missing." I scratched my head. "I don't get it." I admitted.

"I feel like because they're gone, I'm going to fast and they're not there to stop me."

"So you're saying you didn't want to...?" I said. "No- I mean- not now! When we're married- I mean- ugh! Is that all you got out of everything I just said to you!?" Britten yelled. "Wait... you wanna marry me?" I smirked. She couldn't help but smile. "Ugh, whatever." She said, turning red and looking at the ground. "Let's get out of here."

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Britten

After twenty minutes of trying to hail a cab, I was headed down the crowded, snowy streets toward the airport where Tyler was supposed to land in about ten minutes. Alex was supposed to be there soon but was dealing with the hotel manager about his room. He didn't have any money left to pay for it and wouldn't accept my loan.

During the long ride, my mind began to race with thoughts about last night. Of course I felt happy, but was I really? My full pleasure seemed to only last until the moment I opened my eyes this morning.

I realized that I had drifted off when the taxi driver tapped me and said, "your stop, ma'am". I quickly sat up, pulled some bills out of my purse, and handed them to him. I jumped out of the car and rushed into the door, grabbing my phone to call Tyler.

"Hello?" He answered after a couple rings. "Tyler, did you land yet?" I asked. "I landed a half hour ago." He replied.
"Oh."
He laughed and said, "I guess you're here now, huh?" I nodded as if he could see me and when I realized he couldn't I said, "Yea." It was quiet on the line for a couple of seconds, then Tyler gave me directions for where to meet him.

When I finally found Tyler, he was sitting on a bench with his suitcase at his side. "Tyler?" I called, making sure it was him. He turned around and smiled when he saw me. "Sup, dude?" He said. I rolled my eyes and walked toward him. "I'm not a dude." I said while giving him a hug. He chuckled.
"How was the flight?" I asked. "Just a regular plane flight," he replied. "But I am starving." I shrugged. "I can order pizza?" I suggested. He nodded in agreement.

When we arrived at the penthouse, Alex called in to ask if Tyler had made it and to tell us he was still a few minutes away because of all the snow. After we hung up, I called Pizza Hut to deliver for Tyler. "Thanks." He said after I ordered. I nodded. "No problem." I plopped down on the couch and brung my knees to my chest, staring at the blank tv.

"Uhh..." Tyler mumbled. "Gonna watch it? Or..." I shook my head. "Go ahead" I said, beginning to think about Alex again. He grabbed the remote from the coffee table and switched the tv on. I sighed. "Did you not want to watch this?" Tyler asked. "I can change it, I mean, it's your-"
"No. It's not that, it's fine. You're fine. Just... Yea just go ahead." Tyler stared at me for a few seconds, then said, "You cool, Brit?" I sighed again and shrugged. "I don't know." My phone buzzed with a text from Alex.

Couple minutes away, snow storm, pls let me in lol.

I responded: Door is unlocked. Then set my phone back down.

Tyler muted the TV. "I thought you were watching it?" I mentioned, confused. "I wanna know what's up with you. What twisted your knickers?" Tyler responded. I gave him a half-hearted smile and said, "it's not something I should talk about."

He got up to sit next to me on the couch and slung an arm around my shoulder. "Whatever it is, don't let it get to you." Tyler explained. "I'm sure that it'll all work itself out! It may seem so bad now, but later, it'll be something you smile about."

I turned my head towards him and gave him a little smile. "That's really sweet." I complimented. "Thanks, I read it in a horoscope book." Tyler admitted. I giggled and he lifted my chin with his finger. "Keep your head up, Princess." I smiled. "Did you get that out of the book too?" I teasingly asked. He shook his head and tapped my temple. "All in my head." He said.

Then, because I'd been so distracted and dazed since this morning, when Tyler leaned into kiss me, I didn't stop him. I simply sat still and let my mouth move with his... I didn't know how to stop him or if I should. But by the time I'd returned to reality and was about to push him away, I heard the sound of a door shutting. Tyler quickly jerked off of me, leaving the three of us in a tense silence.

"Alex, I didn't-"

"Why? I dont get it." Alex interrupted me. "Is this what you do? Make love with someone who loves you, then make out with their best friend? Maybe this is what you meant. When you woke up not feeling right about it, like it was too fast, maybe this if why. Why just me when you can get with my best frie- former best friend."

I wanted to open my mouth to say something but nothing but a small squeak would come out. "Well?" He said.
Still nothing.
"That's what I thought." Then he opened the door, and just before he walked out into the cold of the snowstorm, he said, "did you ever love me?" I struggled to nod my head yes, but the door slammed, triggering a rush of tears that fell down my cheeks like waterfalls.

"Britten..." Tyler began, but I waved my hand at him and shook my head. "No. Don't talk to me." And I ran to my room, slamming the door behind me.