New Feelings, New Problems (Sequel to "#4 Stole My Heart")

Chapter 20: Throwing Away Us

Braden's pov:

I step off of the bus and walk home as slowly as possible.

I really don't wanna see Kelly right now.

The last time we talked, I basically told her I hated her and never wanted to see her again.

I didn't mean it though.
It was the heat of the moment.
Of course I don't hate her. I love her.
I always have, I always will.

But she needs her phone, I mean, she must be going insane looking for it right now.

I approach my house and look across the street to see Kevin's car in her driveway. I see a glimpse of the two of them running around like children in the window. Kevin scoops Kelly up while she continues to laugh and playfully hit him to put her down. She pretends that she doesn't like it, but she secretly loves to be picked up. I would know, I used to do it all the time. He carries her out of view and I take a deep breath. I guess she hasn't even realized that her phone's missing. I mean, if I was having that much fun, I wouldn't notice either.

But I guess I have to get used to that now.
Him being hers.
Her being his.
Me being alone.

I walk inside my house to drop off my bag and say a quick hello to my mom who's baking in the kitchen.

"I'll be right back." I tell her.

"Where are you going?"

"Across the street, I have to return Kelly's phone."

I run out the door and slam it before she can ask anymore questions.

I take a deep breath as I walk across the street, my hands shaking at my sides. I wipe my hand across my forehead and feel bits of water. I'm sweating in the middle of January. I must really be nervous.

I suddenly find myself standing in front of her door, but I can't seem to move my hands to knock or even to just ring the doorbell. I'm frozen. My whole body's gone numb and I feel like I'm gonna pass out.

What's wrong with me???

Before I can answer myself the door swings wide open and Kelly stands in front of me, a little puzzled and confused.

"Braden? What are you doing here?"

Kevin comes up behind her and wraps his arms around her waist like he's marking his territory; it makes me sick.

"I-I...." I start to stutter and I draw a complete blank. Why am I here again? I don't think I was expecting to be so mesmerized by her beauty... I don't know what to say. I can't speak.

"Hello?.." Kevin waves his hand in front of my face and snaps his fingers.

Something clicks and I regain control of my mouth. "Uh... I'm here to return this." I reach into my back pocket of my khakis and present Kelly's cell phone.

"Oh, I didn't even realize I lost it. Thank you Braden!" She embraces me in a hug and it takes me by surprise. I place my hands on either side of her waist and she places her head in the crook of my neck, with her arms wrapped securely around it, just like old times. I smell her perfume, the one she always wears, and it takes me back to when we were together. Hugging her right now makes it feels like nothing ever even happened. It feels like before... when I was happy. She's hugging me so tight that I can feel my broken pieces begin to stitch back together. It's just absolutely perfect. I don't want this hug to end. I open my eyes that I didn't even know were closed and see Kevin staring at me, disapprovingly. I quickly take the hint and let go of her. She releases me and looks a little confused as to why I ended the hug. She frowns slightly and I feel myself break all over again. I made her frown. I made her sad.

I clear my throat and shove my hands into my front pockets. "Well uh... no problem, bye guys." I start to turn around and walk away but she stops me before I can even take one step.

"Braden, wait. Can we talk?"

I raise my eyebrows in confusion for a second.

"Please." She begs.

I glance behind her and see Kevin leaning against the wall, arms folded, steaming hot mad.

"I'm really sorry, but I gotta get home."

Her eyes start to swell up but then she starts to smile. I recognize it as a fake smile, something I know too well. I'm about to say something but she beats me to it. "It's okay, go home. Bye Braden." She closes the door, leaving me there speechless.

What was that? What did she want to talk about? Why was she upset? Is she having second thoughts? Do we still have a chance?

I know I'd do anything for a second chance with her; a second chance to treat her better and give her everything she could ever want so she wouldn't fall for another guy again like she did. I know it's not my fault, but I can't help but feel like I must've made some mistake to drive her away.

As I run my hands through my hair, I start to walk off of her lawn but something shiny in the flowers to my left catches my eye. I take a step closer and my heart shatters when I realize what it is. The necklace I gave Kelly last year. It has a picture of us inside it from when we were five and it says "BK + KO Forever" on the front of the heart. I pick it up and brush the dirt off of the locket. I run my fingers over the engraving and click it open. The picture's still intact inside and I tear up at the sight of it. I miss being five with no cares in the world and getting to spend every day with my best friend. But now I can't even look at her without her boyfriend getting upset. I enclose the necklace in my fist and start walking back across the street as the tears begin to fall.

I enter my house and it finally sinks in that we're really over. And Kelly must not care, she's probably completely fine with it. After all, she threw away the necklace.

She threw away us.

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A/N: late-night, long, overdue update ahaha i'm so sorry guys. i really do absolutely LOVE to write this story, along with all my others, but i can never find time to write them to the standards that i set for myself so i always write it in bits and pieces and then just end up forgetting about it. i wish i could tell you i'd update more often, but we both know that's a lie lol. i will try harder tho, i promise. just please let me know if anyone is actually still reading this bc i feel like bc i took so long to update that i lost all my readers. so if you're still reading & want me to continue, please let me know so i don't just waste my time. ❤️❤️