He Loves Me Not *Under Editing*

Reconnecting

I spent a week in agony.  I watched Laurie continue to hang all over him for three days, then it stopped.  I don't know if they broke up, they had a fight and would get back together, or if she cheated again.  After a week, I finally decided to give back his jacket.  I didn't want to just drop it off on his doorstep because it was raining all week, and because I was no coward.

I had Chyna drop me off a block away from his house.  I figured that I would walk home.  I held the letter I wrote him under the thick jacket.  It was pouring, after only five minutes staring at the door I was soaked.  I stomped up the drive to his house and stood under the eave.  I wiped my face with my wet hand and knocked on the door.  It took a minute before I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. I saw his mother's face through the window in the door before she opened it.  The first thing she did was step out and give me a hug.  I froze.  Usually, the mother of your ex doesn't give you a hug for the first time after she sees you.  She released me and looked me over.  "Would you like to come inside sweetheart?"

"Oh, no I just came by to drop off a few things for Alex."

"Do you want to give it to him?  He's in his room."

"No, no.  I was hoping you would."

"Of course darling.  I have to say, between you, Laurie, and Samantha, you are my favorite.  So, what do you need me to give him?"

"I-uh, just have his jacket and a letter for him.  I thought I'd give it back now that we aren't dating."  A pained look crossed her face.  She rubbed my shoulder.  "I know it wasn't easy for you to live through that darling, I hope that he realizes that.  I don't want you to forget what a sweet guy he is, what you guys had was special.  It was truly something out of a book or a movie."

I thanked her and waited until she went inside.  I shoved my hands in my jean pockets.  I made it halfway to my house when a familiar blue truck rolled up beside me and rolled down the window. "Get in."

"I'm fine."

"Cyd, you're going to get sick, now get in."  I scoffed at the old nickname.  I kept walking until he got to an intersection and pulled in front of me.  I could walk around, but I was freezing and I didn't want to walk anymore, it was longer than I anticipated.  I crawled into the cab and pulled out my phone.  "How did you crack the screen?"

"A little over a week ago, I broke up with my boyfriend and threw it in a fit of rage."  He cleared his throat and drove away from the intersection.  I texted Chyna telling her what happened.  She told me to tell her everything that happened after I got home.  I chuckled and put my phone away.  "What's so funny?"

"Your face."  I saw a smile creep at his lips but he continued to drive.  We pulled up to my house a couple minutes earlier.  "Thanks for the ride, erm, oil the gear shift once in a while, it tends to stick."

He sighed as I got out of the truck.  I ran to my door and opened it.  I peeled off my wet clothes and put on some sweats.  I texted Chyna again with an update.  The rest of the night was uneventful.  I unblocked him from Instagram but kept my updates very vague and refused to give details.  I told everyone that if they wanted to know more they could dm me.

I went to bed feeling neutral about what happened today.  Not particularly eager about what was going to happen tomorrow, but not dreading it either.

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It was Tuesday.  I woke up after my alarm with only ten minutes to go before I would most definatley be late.  I ran to the kitchen and found that Chyna and Cam had invited themselves in and made coffee.  They handed me a to-go cup and we headed out.  I grabbed my now dry jacket and saw a note from my mom on the door.  Hurry home honey, your dad and I have to talk to you about something.

I shoved the note in my pocket without a second thought and headed out the door.  We get there five minutes early and I rush into school.  Anderson seems really out of it when I walk in.  I ask her what we are going to be doing today and she says it is just a work day since she was to wound up to make a lesson plan.  I have virtually no homework so I spend the class sipping coffee and reading a book.  Alex keeps looking at me like he wants to talk, but he won't.  I shake my head slightly and go back to reading.  I put down my book for a second to down the rest of my bitter coffee so I can put the cup in my locker.  I come back and see that my book has been moved.

At first, I think that it is someone that was just curious to see what book it was.  I put it out of my mind until I open it to the page I was reading and a slip of paper falls out.  I unfold it and the only thing written is, 'I'm Sorry.'  I look over at Alex and he is trying not to look at me and is pretending to do his work.  I get up and throw the paper away.  Right as I sit back down, the bell rings.  I groan in frustration and get up to leave, as Alex makes it to the doorway I hear the teacher ask him to stay back.  

I leave and make it to math.  I decide to play his little game and write on a slip of paper, 'Showing up late isn't going to impress me sugarplum.'  I keep it at the corner of my desk until Alex comes in three minutes late to class.  As he is handing the teacher the pass I twist around to pop my back and lay the note on his desk.  He hurries to his seat and sit down.  He reads the note and chuckles.  I contemplate asking him what is so funny to see his response, but I hold my tongue.

He gets up and throws the paper away.  We go through math not talking to anyone.  I walk through the halls after class and my phone vibrates in my back pocket as I am walking down the hallway.  I pull it out once I get to Spanish.  While I am pulling up the text, his I think girlfriend strolls up to me.  "Look, Cyd.  I don't know what you said to Ally to make him so upset, but he broke up with me again.  And I think it's your fault."

I roll my eyes, "Ally?  My fault?  I haven't spoken to Alexander about anything.  If you are so curious to why he ruined your happiness go ask him yourself.  My happiness involves peace and quiet, which you are disturbing.  So, tata whorie."

She shrieks and flies out the door.  Alex walks in with uncertainty on his face.  I sit down and cross my arms.  I was having a moderatley decent day until her.  I struggle through my Spanish work until the bell rings.  Eager for the sweet release of freedom, I race everyone out the class and make my way to lunch.  I have a fun lunch with my favorite high school couple.  We laugh and throw green beans in Chyna's hair.  We both team up on Cam until Alex starts to make his way towards us.  I remember the text from my mom and excuse myself to go home.  

I tred through the wet concrete as it continues to pour rain on me.  I feel like I have a personal rainstorm.  I hear thudding footsteps and see Alex running after me.  He stops three feet away from me and covers the rest of the distance with his massive feet.  He wraps me up and kisses me as water drips from both of our noses.  I drop my backpack and sling my arms around his neck.  As we stand there with our lips locked, the rain lightens up and the sun shines.  I pull away.  "What about Laurie?"

"I hurt myself more by having to be around her than I tried to hurt you."

"Huh.  So what about my murderous traits?"

"I didn't mean it, I was upset that I finally got some answers from the woman I love."

"Don't you mean loved?"

"I could never stop loving you Cydney Thompson."  I brought his face down to mine again and kissed him some more.  "And I you Alexander 'the Great' Peterson."

He drove me home after we quit kissing.  I thought all was right with the world until I sat down in the living room with my parents and they unleashed a whole new hell upon me.