The One I Love...

5

Maxwell's P.O.V

I hate you, Maxwell!...

That sentence just kept replaying. I can't believe I hurt her! Now I lost her and I can't get her back...

And for the first time in years... I cried. I lost her again...

~
The next day, Bethany wasn't at school. She probably didn't want to see me. I stayed quiet the whole day.

Missing her smile, shyness - everything! Thinking about how I could make up for the trouble I caused.

My friend, Joanna (also known as the school's biggest gossiper), asked me a question.

"Say, Max, I've kinda been dying to ask you this but... everyone keeps calling that nerd a sl*t and they say that she's getting too close to-"

"JUST GET TO THE POINT!"

"Alright, alright. I just wanna know what's the deal with both you. A handsome guy like you shouldn't be with a low-life like her."

"Well, we're dating. I asked her out because we haven't seen each other for years and I love her." I immediately realized what I said and regretted it. "I didn't mean that!!"

Joanna squealed and everyone seems to have heard me and said, "What?!?".

I sighed and put my head down. I wish I hadn't said that. The day went on, but people couldn't stop talking about what I said.

~
The next day felt like torture. Bethany was finally at school, but it hurt to walk past her without saying anything.

Suddenly a boy was running towards her. He was yelling, trying to get her attention. Bethany turned around and he immediately hugged her. Shock was written on both of our faces. I stood there, watching him and then walked away. But the hall was empty, and whenever he spoke, it echoed. So I stopped when the conversation was fading and hid behind the lockers.

"Bea, it's me! Johnny! Your childhood friend! I haven't seen you in 12 years and I finally found you! I'm sorry for what my dad did, but I'll make it up for you!"

I peeked out. He was about kiss her! The only person that's allowed to kiss is me!! It took all my will power to stay hidden, but Bethany slapped him. I could barely hear what she said next, but I only word I heard, was 'proof'. She then walked away. Once she was out of sight, that Johnny made a phone call.

"I need more money if you want me to keep going with this whole 'childhood friend thing', $200 dollars a month, isn't gonna be enough. She wants proof and I don't have any. So if you have proof that I am that boy, then I'll keep pretending for $500 a month. Otherwise, deal's off and a certain someone will remain unhappy and hurt." The bell rang. It was time for class. "Call me when we have a deal."

He hung up and walked to class. I did the same.

~
Four Days Later...
~
I was still wondering who he was talking to. Every once and a while, I'd follow him for clues. So far, I got nothing. But now, I felt like my inside was dying.

Bethany and Johnny were a couple.

It hurt seeing them around. Three days before, I had proof that I was the boy. The toy truck she played with that day. But he had proof of his own. A picture of us. He beat me to it and gave her the picture. I snuck a peek, and it was kinda blurry. But Bethany looked at the picture and at him several times. She then accepted and kept the picture and now they're a couple.

The look on her face since that day was filled with sadness.

I put the toy truck back inside my backpack. I decided that I'll visit her today. Giving her my congrats for finding the boy even though I'm right here. Waiting for her to realize the mistake she made. But how did he get that picture?

There was only one person who could've taken it. My old babysitter. It can't be true... can it?

-
I stood on Bethany's doorsteps. I took a deep breath, and knocked. Her mother opened the door with her phone in her hand.

"Maxwell, come in." She smiled.

"Thanks. Bethany's not here yet?"

She looked surprised, but also a bit happy. "You called her, Bethany."

"Yeah, I guess I did."

"Well she's not here yet, so you can go wait in her room."

"Thank you."

I was halfway through the stairs, until she called me.

"Maxwell."

"Yes?"

"Thank you for giving up on my daughter."

"I never said I did, and I don't ever plan too."

"I hope that one day, you will."

I continued up the stairs. Once I was at the top, I stayed there as she got back to her conversation. I listened closely.

"How're things going? Are people thinking that you're both a couple?"

- pause -

"Great. She kept the picture right?"

- pause -

"Now don't mess this up. I don't want my daughter hurt by that Maxwell."

She hung up and I went inside Bethany's room. It was so...blue. (Blue is Bethany's favorite color.)

I walked over to the desk and sat down. I took out the toy truck and put it inside a small silver box I brought. Once I put the lid on, with the red ribbon on top, I attached a note to it.
I heard the front door opened and I quickly placed the box carefully on the middle of her desk. Then pack up and left the room.

I nearly crashed into Bethany when I got downstairs.