Intersecting Lives

Chapter Five

(Third Person POV)

Eric sighed irritably as he stood alone in the empty hallway. He knew that if he stayed any longer outside of class, his teacher would grow suspicious about where he was. He had to push those worries aside though. He had some unfinished business to attend to.

“Hand it to Ricky to leave me here waiting for him like this,” he thought silently to himself.

Immediately, he noticed a familiar figure walking down the hall, making his way towards him.

“Finally,” Eric muttered softly as Ricky stood beside him.

“What’s up?” Ricky said, running his fingers through his hair nonchalantly. Eric remained unfazed by Ricky’s motion, but felt a pang of jealousy.

No wonder she fell for him- he probably charmed his way closer to her, he thought.

“Nothing much,” Eric began slowly, staring strictly into his friend’s direction, “I just wanted to talk to you about something. Well, actually- someone.”

Ricky raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“What’s with him?” Ricky questioned to himself, but aloud replied, “well, let’s hear it then.”

“It’s Christine,” Eric stated bluntly.

Ricky sighed immediately. Just the mentioning of her name made him feel a mix of emotions.

Nostalgic from their times in the past.

Disheartened by how they spread apart.

Determined to –somehow – make this better between them again.

“I want you to stay away from her,” Eric continued, breaking Ricky’s train of thought.

“Wait, what?”

“You heard me. I want you to stay away from her.”

Ricky glared at his friend who glared back at him with crossed arms and challenging eyes.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Ricky retorted, trying to avoid eye contact.

“Bullshit,” Eric proclaimed, “I saw Christine’s eraser the other day and the pathetic note, or whatever that was, that you carved into it. And sadly, she bought into your so called feelings for her. How long did you think you could toy with her?”

Ricky made a fist in his left hand. He wanted to protest against his friend, but who would actually believe that the bad boy actually had feelings for a good girl- a good girl like Christine.

He knew Eric was right, and he had no choice. He leaned against the hallway wall and beat his hardened fist against it.

“Look,” Eric began slowly after a short while, “Christine is a really good friend of mine, and if you really like her, then hear me out. Truthfully, you’re not the best guy for her…”

Ricky looked down on himself and stared dejectedly at his worn out and battered shoes. As much as he wanted to disagree with Eric, his friend was right.

We were two completely opposite people, he thought, Christine and I – maybe too opposite.

“… and if you truly care for her, you need to keep your distance. If you truly care for her, then you’ll want what’s best for her. And I’m sure you care for her, right?”

Ricky stood there in silence as he leaned there against the hallway wall. He knew one hundred percent what his answer was, but he didn’t want to give in and just ignore every feeling he had for Christine, from here on out.