Choices

Part 1 (12.22.08)

   "You're always so busy, it's like you don't even have time for me anymore. I mean I sacrifice my practices and my time to plan something up for us. But always, always something comes up in your life which makes our relationship like it's meaningless. I can't stand this. I'll see you tomorrow," Walking away in disappointment, she's troubled with a harsh problem. She truly loves him, but nothing she can do to relieve the stress from her life. She sees all his sacrifices and all the love he puts into their relationship, but she's unsure of what or how she can prove her love for him.

She enters her classroom wiping away the tears left from a horrible fight. Trying to find her seat, she rushes to the back of the room in attempts to avoid the annoying remarks she knew she would get if people saw her weeping. Soon enough, she reaches a seat far from everyone hoping she disappears in the room drenched in her tears. Suddenly without any noise, this velvet voice echoes through her ears. Soaking her hands with her tears as she looks up, she sees a tissue enveloped in this stranger's hand.

   "I think you can use this" smiling so cheerfully, she had the urge to put on a smirk trying to recollect herself.

   "Thank you" as she takes the tissue off from his hand. Wiping her eyes, she pulls away from his direction hinting him to leave, but hoping he would stay to talk with her. He pulls up a desk next to her with a box of tissue, placing it on her desk.

   "So that must've been a hard fight huh?" calmly asking her what he witnessed.

   "Oh you saw that?"

   "Well just the ending of it and you running to this seat. Don't worry he loves you. I can tell"

   "How can you tell just from a fight like that?"

   "Well think about it, no one would fight to want to be with you if they didn't love you right?"

   "I guess you're right, it's just ---" he interrupts holding out his hand.

   "It's okay; it's none of my business. I'm Josh"

Grabbing another tissue, she grabs his hands feelng an aura of warmth as she touches him.

   "I'm Cressa" trying her best to pull off an honest smile from her sorrow-filled eyes. Letting her go, he turns his attention onto the chalkboard, taking down notes. Still looking at him, she smiles not knowing why.

As the class ends, he gets up without any notice. He looks at her way.

   "You need any help?"

   "No thanks, I'm supposed to meet my boyfriend next period."

   "Well then, I'll see you next period." walking gracefully out the door only taking a few steps. She pauses for a moment trying to put together all that happened in class. She shakes it off and grabs her things and rushes out the door to meet up with her boyfriend.

In her disappointment, he isn't there. Dropping her shoulders in shock, she sighs and leans against the wall, closes her eyes and drops her head back to the wall. Unknowingly, Josh bravely stands in front of her placing his hands upon her cheeks to clear her face full of tears.

   "You know he's just testing you right?" She opens her eyes surprised to see him in front of her. Embrassed to have him witness another disappointment in her heart, she turns to the wall away from him.

   "Come on, let's go in class. You'll feel much better sitting down "Placing one hand on her shoulder. She turns her head slightly to see him realizing a smile is on his face. Pleased with such vivid honest smile, she turns towards him and nods. They both enter the classroom with his hand now on the small of her back carefully not touching her. She pulls up a chair by the side of the room as he looks for one close to her. He takes a seat behind her; quickly she turns towards him placing her hands crossed over his desk.

   "What do you mean he's testing me," asking so puzzled.

   "I guess you don't see it huh?"

Disappointed from her unanswered question, she turns back to face the front.

   "Don't worry, you'll see it when you make the right choice," as he whispers from behind in attempts to give her hope.

Once again, they sit in class not acknowledging one another until the period is done. She gets up quickly and rushes out the door in hopes of being the first in the lunchroom. She arrives there before anyone else, scoping around the room trying to find her boyfriend only yet again to fail. She takes a seat by the edge of the table as she continues to stare at the entrance.

Talking to a friend, Josh catches a glimpse of Cressa by herself staring at his direction. Knowing she wasn't looking at him, he leaves the side of his friend to walk towards Cressa. Still looking at the door, she doesn't realize Josh coming around to meet with her. He takes a seat in front of her, without her realizing him.

   "Still hoping he comes huh?" She turns to him still glancing back at the entrance. "Don't worry, he'll come here. He can't avoid you forever." He turns to the door smiling, knowing something she didn't.

Like a shot from one of cupid's arrows, her boyfriend comes around from the entrance. She jolts up from her seat eargerly walking to him. Josh noticing her, he smiles. Kyle, closing the distance between them, gives her a hug. He pulls her away from him wiping her tears again and kissing her forehead.

   "Come on, let's sit down" leading her to a seat nearby. Holding both her hands, he looks at her eyes realizing she's devastated. Knowing that what news he'll give her will pierce through her heart in every ways possible.

   "We need to talk---"as he takes a moment. "Look this is really hard for me. You know that I completely love you, but I feel like I'm the only one really involved in this relationship. So until you want to be with me, really be with me. I just can't be with you now."

Devastating blows from every word, every syllable spoken pierced like tiny needles cutting every vital point in her heart. Leaving only what's left of her love and the love he's shared for her. Giving her one final kiss to her forehead, he releases his grip on her hands as he steps back away from her. Breath-taken from the heart-wrecking news, no tears nor emotion are broken into view. Josh from afar studing what happened, he walks over to Kyle.

   "You think that was the right choice?"

   "I know she can make, you'll see Josh. Trust me."

   "I hope your right." Leaving Kyle and walks to Cressa's side.

   "Hey, are you okay?" already knowing the obvious, but has hopes of finding some happiness---nothing. 

Just like that, they never exchanged words anymore. All was left was the comfort of Josh's company and the memories they shared. Closer and closer they get, still in memory of Kyle's heart buried deep within her alongside the daggers left by him.