secrets

three

-ADELE-
______

It's been a month since Alex and I broke up, a month since I met that dreamy man, and a week since I accepted that he'll never call me.

Maybe his girlfriend made up with him. Maybe he realized he didn't actually have any feelings for me.

Maybe I should just let go of every shred of hope I have left.

I hand over my boarding pass, seconds away from getting on the plane to America and leaving behind everything I know.

"Wait!" I hear a slightly familiar voice yell from the other side of the gate. "Please, just wait, don't go, Adele!"

I turn around to unexpectedly find Simon. He's out of breath.

Security guards run up behind him, each of them taking his arm and trying to pull him away.

I drop my things, ignoring everyone and everything around me, running to the other side of the gate where he is fighting to free himself.

"Simon? What are you doing here?" I ask.

His eyes light up when he sees me. "I came to stop you from leaving."

"How did you know I was here?"

"I ran into your friend and she told me you already left."

"We don't even know each other, you never called me, we're not together. Why would you want me to stay?"

The guards momentarily let go of him, understanding the situation.

"Just give me a chance to explain." He says.

I turn back to my bags, seeing the impatient staff waiting for me to board the plane.

Then I turn back to Simon, the man who I fell in love with for a night. He's offering me another chance.

I go back to the gate, picking up my bags. Then I decide to erase all the plans I had and take him up on this second chance.

Slowly, I let him take my hand and lead me back outside. Just the touch of his hand relaxes me and I feel confident in my decision.

He opens his car door for me, winning me over even more simply by being a gentleman.

We sit together in his car, listening to the rain pound against the roof for a while.

"I'm sorry I never called you." He finally breaks the silence.

"Is there a reason why?" I continue to stare out my window.

"Yes and I need you to hear me out on this. More than ever."

I don't even know this man but I'm already willing to do anything for him, so I nod and listen.

"My girlfriend's name is Clary. And she came home that night, angry that I was talking to you."

"How could she be-" I start, until he shakes his head.

"That's what I said, and she revealed to me that Alex was heartbroken because his girlfriend, you, had broken up with him."

"I DID NOT BREAK UP WITH HIM!" I yell, suddenly enraged.

"I know, I know," He calmly says, "And that's what I said to her. She believed me, she didn't like Alex anyway. But she asked me if I still loved her. She wanted me to choose between her and you."

Knowing that it had been an entire month since I've heard from him, I already know his answer.

"I mistakenly chose her."

Reaching for the handle of the car door to leave, he takes my arm and stops me.

"Adele, I said it was a mistake!"

"The fact that you had any doubt of me in your mind says a lot. I mean nothing to you, I'm just the girl you met at a pub."

"You are so much more than just a girl I've met, Adele." His eyes are glimmering with tears.

"Simon, unless you break up with her, I can't be with you. I'm sorry."

"I am going to break up with her. Soon. I just need time."

"Why? Time to make sure you love me? Pathetic." I reach for the door again.

And once again, he takes my arm away from the handle and says, "I need time because Clary is an explosion waiting to happen. I have to time it just right. It's too close to the holidays, so I'm going to wait until they're over, ok?"

"I have to wait another month for you, simply because you're afraid of your girlfriend? No."

"Adele, please, just give me a chance!There's something beautiful about you, inside and out, and you're too perfect to let go of. Just give me the chance."

I look into his blue eyes, remembering what it was like to love someone. I find myself loving him, even though Laura told me that night was not about love.

He deserves this chance.

"Ok. You have your chance. But I can't wait a month. I'm sorry, I just can't."

He sighs and talks lower. "You know, we could still see each other while I'm waiting to break up with her."

I shake my head, refusing. "Absolutely not!"

"She wouldn't find out, Adele. It would be our little secret."

Intrigued, I think about it. How does a man I barely know have such an immense effect on me?

Because I love him.

"Our secret." I repeat, slowly pressing my lips against his.