The Six Degrees Of Separation

Chapter 5 : Falling Apart

Life went on. 

I should've accepted Aaron's change and felt happy that he was socializing more, being more outgoing. 

But no. 

My hesitant attitude towards the change showed through like a sore thumb, and Aaron had picked up on it. 

Every time he'd say hey, or give a brief hug, I'd freeze awkwardly standing in place. 

Now I was the one who was shy. 

But I continued on, trying my best to act normal. 

However, one day, Aaron had had enough. . . 

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Mr. Levesque had been dragging on about how accents were so important in French, when he realized it was 2 minutes into break. Gasping, he apologized repeatedly in French and let us out telling us there'd be no homework today. 

"Aww yeahhh!" I murmured to myself, nearly prancing out the door. 

And I found myself staring into the face of one Aaron Schmidt. 

His eyes pierced mine and he took a breath. 

"Hi?" I asked, puzzled at his attitude. 

"I need to talk to you about something..." he muttered, leading me away to a more private place in the Language Center. 

I tilted my head in question, but he shook his head with no answer. 

He took another short breath and stared into my face. 

"You don't like me anymore, do you?"

My heart stopped. 

Eyes dropping to my feet, like Aaron used to, I looked away. I couldn't bear looking at his face. 

Silence surrounded us, and I couldn't endure it. 

My eyes locked with his for a moment, and then I quickly walked away. 

Like a coward. 

What I didn't know was that Gretchen was just coming out of her Arabic class and had heard our whole conversation. 

She'd heard the question, the hesitation and silence. 

All of it.

I forced myself to push it out of my mind. 

Aaron would probably get over it anyways. 

I, myself didn't know if I still liked him or not. 

He was amazing, and this change was just some small thing that I should deal with, right?

Or was it too much of a dramatic change for me?

I didn't know.

I couldn't talk to anyone because my friends a) have no experience, b) never listen and go on and on with their own stories. 

Sometimes I wish I had a friend like ME. 

Someone who actually LISTENED, told me the truth, and gave me the best advice they could come up with. 

I didn't see Aaron for the rest of the day, since we have different lunch periods. 

But I was worried; I always went up to his locker so we could walk to the buses together. 

Looking around the 3rd floor and Aaron's locker area, I caught no sight of him.

Had he left without me?