Letting Go

Chapter 5

*authors note* wow sorry it's been so long since i've updated, life has been absolutely crazy, but i've gotten back to this story so hopefully i'll be updating fairly often. for those of you that have stuck around, i can't thank you enough. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------

By the time she was walking to her car after school her smile had faded. Her teachers had given her huge load of homework, including an English essay that was worth a huge percentage of her grade. She sighed and readjusted the weight of her books in her arms.

She heard a voice behind her calling her name. Her first thought was that it was Bronte, and she turned around excitedly. Her heart fell just slightly when she saw that it was Jason calling her.

Despite that, she smiled at him and called back, “Hey Jason.” He ran up to walk alongside her, a sheepish grin on his face.

“Fain, I … uh … wanted to ask you if youwerefreeFridaynight?” Fain was thankful for once that her best friend Christine had always been a speedy talker. She had learned to understand it when Chrissy had slurred eight words into one, sparing Fain from asking Jason to repeat his question.

“Yeah, I’m free.” Of course I’m free, I don’t have any friends. Jason grinned from ear to ear, prompting Fain to smile in return.

“Great! Dinner and a movie. On me.” Fain’s smile faltered for a moment. Clichéd first date.

She turned to him anyways and said, “I’m way excited. Thanks!” Jason leaned towards her like he was going to hug her, but settled for patting her on the shoulder before he said goodbye and walked to his car.

Her smile was genuine as she opened the door to her car. Tossing her books in the backseat, she told herself that she was better off liking Jason. The only similarities she could see between him and Ben were their fair hair and skin. She had to at least give him a chance. There was absolutely no reason for her to be pining over Bronte.  He’s a waste of my time.

As she put her keys in the ignition, there was a rapping on the window. Confused she looked up to see … Bronte. She rolled down the window with her heart pounding. Keeping her tone light, she laughed, “I’m having some serious deja vous from this morning, except I didn’t humiliate myself first.”

To Fain’s surprise Bronte didn’t laugh. His green eyes were serious as they stared into hers. “I’m so sorry Fain.” She started to brush him off, but he stopped her. “No, listen to me. How Amber acted was unacceptable. It should be her over here apologizing to you. I know she’s been acting, well, like a total brat, but she’s not a bad person. She just gets territorial, which is still no excuse for how she treated you, but—“ Fain tried to cut in again, but he put his hand over her mouth. “Shh. Not done yet. Now, where was I? Oh ya, I’m sorry about lunch and I wanted to talk to you. You never told me what was wrong this morning.”

He removed his hand, indicating that she could talk again. Fain found herself missing his touch, even if it was just him trying to shut her up. She shook her head. “It’s nothing, Bronte. I’m … I’m fine.”

“You really are a horrible liar.” Bronte half-smiled. “You were going to tell me before school, so just tell me now.”

That was before your girlfriend turned into the wicked witch of the west. “Really? Are you sure you want to listen to the new girl at school ramble about her problems? I’m sure you have better things to do.”

Bronte smiled at her, then turned and walked away. Apparently you do. Irritated for letting herself think that he actually wanted to listen, she started to pull out of the parking spot. Another car pulled in front of her, blocking her way out. She pounded her hand on the horn as the driver of the car rolled down their window. Bronte? He waved her over with a wide grin. Confused she walked over to the black jeep.

“Hop on in!” Bronte leaned over the passenger seat and opened the door for her.

“What?” Fain asked with her brow furrowed.

“Fain Edwards, get your British butt in this car. You are going to tell me what’s wrong, and you’re not going to do it in the school parking lot.” Fain’s lips parted in an unexpected laugh as she clambered into the car.

Bronte started driving, the California sun streaming in through the windows. Fain closed her eyes felt the warmth on her skin. She was in his car. His car that smelled just like him, but stronger. The smell could only be described as that scent that stays on your clothes after you’ve hugged a boy, or borrowed his sweatshirt. Her lips turned up at the corners as she took it in. There was music playing quietly. Good music. Of course he has good taste in music, there’s nothing wrong with him. Fain sighed quietly and opened her eyes.

Bronte was looking at her expectantly. “Eyes on the road Bronte” she joked half-heartedly. “What do you want to know?”

He answered in an almost whisper. “Why are you sad? Are you homesick? Or…” The end of the question dropped off with unsaid alternatives.

“You remind me of my friend Chrissy.” She said without thinking. Bronte raised one eyebrow, confused at this turn of conversation. “I’ll answer your questions, calm down.” She laughed, “It’s just this is something Chrissy would totally do. Drag me out of the house to talk. She never let me mope as much as I wanted to.” The side of Bronte’s mouth curled up at this, but he remained silent.

With a sigh Fain started talking. She hadn’t shared this much with someone other than Chrissy ever. She told Bronte about London, about the way the rain shone on the pavement and how you could get the most amazing antiques in Covent Garden on Mondays and how much she missed quiet tube rides underneath the city. She told him how scared she had been to leave, and how she tried to put on a brave face for her parents but that she would go back in a heartbeat. She told him about her parents. She told him about Chrissy. She told him about Ben.

She only stopped talking when her throat started to constrict as she finished saying what had happened with Ben. She crossed her arms to dispel the usual aching in her chest that came with remembering. Embarrassed for talking so long, Fain kept her eyes focused on her knees. He had just asked a simple question, he hadn’t wanted her life story. Why had she told him so much? She could feel her cheeks burning.

Bronte remained silent for a moment longer, but then she felt his hand brush her arm for just a moment. “Thank you.” Fain looked up in surprise. He continued, “Thank you for letting me be your friend. Thank you for telling me about London, about your family, about your friends, and everything… People don’t usually open up to me like that. I think everyone just assumes my life is perfect, it’s not by the way,” He winked, “and so they feel weird telling me about their problems.” He ran his hands through his hair nervously. “Anyways, not trying to make this all mushy, but thanks for that. And also, you should know that you’re a very cool girl and this Ben guy is a total douche for hurting you like that. If he ever dares to show his face over here in the states I’ll give him a stern talking to, and by that I mean punch him in the face. Just in case that wasn’t clear.”

Fain laughed and shook her head. She never thought somebody talking about Ben could be funny, but here was Bronte thanking her for sharing her deepest insecurities and making her laugh about Ben. She looked out the window and saw that they were pulling back into the school parking lot. Bronte parked next to her car. “See ya tomorrow, Fain.” He gave her a grin that made her heart pound so loudly she was sure he could hear it.

“Yeah. I’ll see you.”