Youth Group Popularity

Chapter 22 - The Remembrance of Our Past

My breath turned into a white mist in the air as I sighed deeply. My hand gripped the freezing handle of the car door and swung it open. Just as I entered the car, the apologies began flowing out of Parker's mouth and flooding the car.

"I shouldn't have done that to you, especially after last night. I should've known that. I'm so sorry. Oh God, I'm sorry. Even after what I said last night-" Parker rambled but I held up a hand and placed it on his mouth to stop him.

"It's okay. Really, it's fine. I'm not mad at you," I reassured, making my eyes bigger to try emphasize what I'm trying to get through to him.

"Okay," His muffled voice said simply from under my hand.

I removed my hand from his face and sat back in my seat. He started the car and sunk a few fingers in his hair.

"If there's any way I could make it up to you-"

"Will you shut up about it? It's fine!" I rose my voice a little to try to get my point across.

"Okay! Okay!" He lifted his hands in surrender. "Sorry, I just don't feel like I'm completely forgiven."

A silence filled the empty space of the car as Parker began to back out of the parking space. I played with my thumbs as I stared down at them, feeling a sense of guilt for yelling at him. I've probably made him feel worse than he already does just because I'm not in the best mood.

"Look, I'm sorry for snapping at you. It just hasn't been the best night," I whispered the last part.

"What happened?" He looked away from the road to give me a sympathetic look.

I can't tell him about it because he wouldn't understand. He doesn't understand me and Danny's relationship. I'd have to start from the beginning for him to get the picture.

"Stuff that you really wouldn't understand. It's just a long story..."

"We got time. We have a two-hour ride back home. Might as well tell me... You know, if you want to. You don't have to."

"Are you sure you want to hear it all?" I joked, leaning my head on the window.

"Sure, why not? I told you about my parents, why don't you tell me about Danny?"

"How'd you know it was about Danny?" I raised an eyebrow.

"I just know. It's not hard to put the pieces together."

"Fine, I'll tell you. But, understand that the only people I've ever told this to is Preston, Amanda, and Danny and they're my best friends. I don't even know if I've told them everything..."

He gave me a silent nod, signaling me to start my story. I took a few slow breaths, contemplating how I would start this tragic backstory. Am I really ready to tell this guy, who I met a month ago, my past? Apparently I am. Well, here goes nothing.

"So, I had this friend. My best friend. Her name was Michelle. We met in third grade and were best friends from the first day of school all the way up until last year. The reason we aren't friends anymore is because we fought over the same guy- That guy being Lucas. About almost a year after Lucas became my boyfriend, she was staying over at my house. She confessed to me that she had liked Lucas for a long time, a few months after we started dating I think. I told her it was alright and that I trusted her. And then I told Lucas about it and he promised that I was the only one for him and that Michelle can get over him. He told me that he wanted to plan for the future and that I'd be in it," I stopped for a few moments because I had begun to tear up a little bit. "But not even a week later, he told me it'd be best to break up because he didn't want Drama between me and Michelle. So I told him if he wanted to, then we should. So we broke up. And then I found out about two weeks later from some people at school that Michelle and Lucas had started going out. Michelle never spoke to me again after that and Lucas did on occasion. The relationship didn't last long, but it was long enough for Michelle and I never to be recognized as friends ever again. I still don't know what made her do it..."