Living Short in Bel Air (Completed 2013)

Chapter 29: Living Short in Bel Air

Last chapter’s dedication winner: @HannahRobles5

My response: “Yes. I. Suck.... Lollypops. Duh? :)” 

One Shot Contest Winner will be announced at end.

Chapter 29: Living Short in Bel Air

I swept my crimson hair out of my face and sighed.  My hands quivered as I ripped open the envelope.  Driz remained by my side, her supporting arm gripping my shoulder. 

Written in black ink, the cursive writing shook more frequently as it went down the page.  My gaze wandered to the beginning, the first few words catching my breath. 

Dear beautiful,

For the past few weeks, I’ve lost myself.  Long sleepless nights, lack of hunger, hours of lying alone on my bed, staring into the ceiling, feeling nothing.  The technical guy I am first suggested it was puberty issues, but I immediately knew that wasn’t the case.

It all happened several days ago.  Specifically at 3:06 am, when my thoughts began to wander.  Under cold sheets, after continuous battles with my heart, I finally let you in my mind.  My actions replayed over and over, and I noticed a pattern.  The signs.  Your signs.  I realized how you felt; your perspective when I made terrible mistakes.  How much I affected you. 

I felt like a complete dick.  I feel like a complete dick. There’s a 111.11% chance that you’re agreeing right now.

Before you order the huge dart board with my face on it, I suggest you let me explain my actions.  The kissing booth situation has been haunting my every second of the day—you have no idea.  Regret rests in my stomach, eating my insides as I wish I could take back that night a million times. 

I volunteered for the kissing booth because I knew I could get Jeff to sign up as well.  If Jeff worked at the kissing booth, that meant he couldn’t be your date.  When he asked you out, I was honestly ready to throw up on his fancy shoes.  Then beat the crap out of him in the process with a wooden spoon.  There are other things I wanted to do, but I think your morbid imagination can take care of that.  Point being, I didn’t want you with him. 

Jeff was actually going to give you a necklace when you visited the kissing booth.  He knew you and Driz would visit, knowing very well about Driz’s new obsession with me.  He secretly hid Driz’s lip gloss at the foot court, and he knew that you’d wait in line for her until she found it.  He planned it all, even angling the mirrors (more like screwing—you were in there for 20 minutes) so you could end up at his booth. 

The day of the fair, when he wasn’t looking, I took the necklace and put it in my bag.  Timing it perfectly, when he left to fetch the necklace, I snuck in his booth when the candle went out.  I couldn’t let him have your first kiss; I had to steal it. 

The kiss.  Oh, the fucking kiss.  I might have seven literature awards, ten first place ribbons for Spelling Bees, and memorized every single word in five dictionaries and two thesauruses, but I have no words explain how you made me feel.  I’m speechless when simply thinking about it. 

Then Driz came, and I felt so bad.  My guess is that Stacy let her in the maze, and Driz must have tripped over the mirror you dropped.  Jeff probably ditched the idea of the gift and didn’t want you waiting.  On his way back, he must have tripped over Driz when she landed on the floor, and tried to grab something, but ended up grabbing onto the booth’s light switch. 

Her face, Ly-a.  She heard us kissing.  She was heartbroken, and I knew she liked me.  The look she had, it read so much hurt.  You know I’m a kind, soft guy; that’s why I sounded disappointed and said I was supposed to kiss Driz.