When Everything Changed (Currently Rewriting)

5. Let's role-play. I am the priest. You are the confessor. Now, action!

CHAPTER 5 | Let's role-play. I am the priest. You are the confessor. Now, action!

Why am I weird?

At first, I was trying to avoid Brandon with all I can. I dislike his presence, and I would like for him to go away. Next thing you know, I miss him. I want him to go back here and bother me with his ridiculousness. 

You see, Brandon never spoke to me again ever since the little 'bursting' from Saturday's playdate. It had been a dreadful weekend - so boring and unexciting. I thought he would go by my house after a few hours and ask for my reasoning and all, but he didn't. Now, it is a Monday, and I hope he can talk to me.

Wow, I sound weird and bipolar.

I drove the car towards an empty space at the parking lot. Anthony decided I should try testing my driving skills and see if I am worthy enough to pass the test. So far, nothing has been destroyed, yet. I carefully parked the car with ease. I let out a sigh and turned off the ignition.

I stepped out of the car and threw the keys to Anthony which he caught it effortlessly. I sauntered through the entrance and towards my designated locker. I stood by it and waited until the bell rang for class. Once it did, I slammed my locker door and walked towards class.

On the way though, a hand shot out from one of the doors and pulled me into the room. It was an empty classroom which would not be occupied until the afternoon. I looked at the person who pulled me in and saw him.

"Hey, Emily," he says. He pulls me towards the desks and gestures me to take a seat.

"Why did you pull me into this classroom?" I questioned him.

"I need to speak to you about," he replies, "our friendship."

I got up from my seat and quickly walked towards the door. My hand was on the knob when I felt Brandon pull me back. I turned to face him.

"Sit down," he bellows. I sensed he is tired of me running away from telling him my reasoning. 

"Let's role play. I am the priest. You are the confessor. Now, action!"

I swallowed the lump in my throat. I averted my gaze from him and stared at everything else. I fidgeted with the hem of my blouse. Honestly, I would like to talk about everything but what he has done.

"Remember when you used to be quirky and carefree?" He asks. "What happened to that Emily?"

"Easy," I say. "She's gone."

He stared at me with a grim expression. "Why is she gone? Why had she turned into the oppostie?"

I sighed, knowing there is no way out of it. I guess I have to let out all these bottled-up feelings. "Life," I say. "Life had changed me. It threw me all these life changing events that carved me into who I am now."

"But," he protests, "That doesn't explain the reason of you running away from our friendship."

"Well you see, I wasn't really opposed to the idea of our friendship. I never wanted to run away; I always waited until this day when I see you again. I always wanted to be by your side and go to those play dates."

"Then, what is stopping you?"

"You."

Brandon looked taken aback. His expression clearly states he still has no idea of what he had done! He fueled my insides knowing that he doesn't realize it was he who ruined our friendship. 

Brandon was kept silent, so I continued with my reasoning. "Don't you remember six years ago when I visited you?" Brandon still looks confused, and I sighed. "I visited you six years ago. I deeply missed you, and so I visited to see you again. You were there, of course. Your mother was the one who I had spoken to. I asked her if I can speak to you, and she asked you if you wanted.

"Guess what?" My eyes were already glistening with tears. "You told me to go away! You told me to forget you and leave, but those were said by your mother. I told her I wouldn't leave until I hear those words coming out from your mouth. Well, I did hear it. You were at the stairs all along. You repeated your words and said it straight to me. I was so furious and betrayed - mostly hurt. I took your words to heart and did as you commanded.

"Now that I came back, you sound like it was in the past and forgotten. You look happy and excited to see me. I was confused of why - why when you never wanted to see me. You then go questioning for my reasons when I thought you knew. You hurt me so bad, and it's your fault why I am who I am today, and why I am against this friendship."

The tears were already unstoppable. My heart felt like bursting out of my chest with pain. My shoulders, though, feels lifted from the weight of the past gone.

Brandon stands up and pulls me into a hug. I reluctantly buried myself into his shoulders and wrap my hands around him. 

"Emily," he says as he ruffles my hair, "I never said that to you. Well, I did, but it wasn't meant for you."

I looked up at him with a disbelieving look.

"At that time, I was angry at this girl who I liked. I never wanted to see her again because of what she had done to me. When mother says that a girl is down stairs asking for my presence, I thought it was her. I never knew it was you. I only realized it wasn't the girl until I saw the familiar lock of blonde hair. I thought I was hallucinating from the longing, so I ignored it.

"I never meant to hurt you, but I am sorry that I did."

I am stuck in the middle between believing him and thinking that it was a fake excuse, but I decided to pick the first. I don't care if he was telling the truth or not. Just by his sincerity and excitement of befriending me again is enough to forgive him. I am ready for another round of this friendship.

"It's alright," I say. 

He digs into his pocket and pulls out a handkerchief. He gives it to me and says to wipe my snot. Some kind of friend, right, but I love him anyways.

"So, afterschool, want to go over to Coldstone and get some sundaes like we used to?" he offers.

I nodded, and we made our way out of the classroom and to class. My eyes had returned some of its whiteness, and my nose is still kind of blotched. I looked at my watch and saw that Brandon and I were thirty minutes tardy for class.

We just sauntered the hallways towards our designated buildings. With arms linked, we skipped merrily like there is no tomorrow. We even started humming some jingles from some commercials.

"Hey you two!" I a voice called out from behind.

We both spun around and saw the principal marching towards us.

"What are you doing in the hallways? Aren't you two supposed to be at class?" 

"Obviously, you saw us walking in the hallways. That's what we are doing," I retorted, all smart-aleck.

"And for your second question, duh?" Brandon says from behind me.

We both chuckled. Our tardiness and sarcastic-ness earned a two-day detention. After giving us our slips, the principal turned around and started roaming the hallways for other skippers. Brandon and I resumed to going back to class.

"Well, Coldstone next time?"

"I guess?"

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Edited.

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