It Started with a Dare

41

I made my way downstairs the next morning. Everyone was out. Mom went to look for a job. Nathan was out with Nina. Kyle was at work. Nick went to the gym. I was at the house alone.

Emilee called last night and told me that she was going to Florida for a week with Marcus and his family. Xavier, well, I hadn't heard from Xavier in about two weeks. I hadn't spoken to Ridge since the incident at the ice cream place, which was almost a week ago. My summer wasn't turning out so well, as you saw.

I sighed and made myself a bowl of ice cream. I looked at the clock, and it was nearly three. These summer days varied. Sometimes they went by fast, and sometimes they went slow. This was a fast one.

A knock on the door made me groan. I reluctantly left my bowl on the counter and went to the door. I opened it, and my heart sped up. Ridge looked at me. "We need to talk."

I knew he was right. "Yeah, we do," I said. I knew what I was going to say because I had put in a lot of thought.

I stepped out onto the porch, shutting the door behind me. I sat down on the steps, and Ridge sat beside me. "I got accepted into Harvard," he said.

"That's nice," I said, meaning it. "I'm proud of you." I looked at him. He was tired, I noticed. Bags under his eyes, and his hair was not as neat as he usually kept it.

"My family thought so, too. There's just one problem," Ridge said, looking over at me.

I raised my eyebrows. "What is it?" I asked.

"It's in Massachusetts," he said.

I nodded. "I know, so what's your point?" I asked.

"That's a long way from here, in Texas," he said.

I shrugged. "So?" I replied.

"I need to know something before I make my decision to go," Ridge said. "It's been eating me alive since Formal. Braelyn, I messed up. I messed up bad."

"Yeah, you did," I said.

"But I need to know if you still feel the same way about me. I still love you. Nothing is ever going to change that. I love you more than I have loved anything in my entire life," he said.

I looked at my shoes. I swallowed back the tears that threatened to spill. I needed to be strong. I needed to be convincing. I kept quiet for a second, getting my thoughts in order.

"Tell me, Braelyn. Just tell me," Ridge pleaded.

I rubbed my face then looked at him. I needed to forget him. I needed to forget the one guy I loved. I blinked back tears.

"Tell me you don't love me anymore, and I'll leave. I'll leave, and you won't have to see me again," Ridge said, tears brimming his eyes.

I swallowed, looking up into his eyes. I couldn't get hurt again. I just couldn't, so I made the hardest decision in my life. I lied. "I don't love you anymore."

Ridge's tears spilled over as he stood. "You can't mean that," he said.

My own tears fell. "I'm sorry, Ridge, I just don't love you anymore."

He swallowed and looked away. Then, he wiped his eyes. Ridge took a deep breathe, and he forced his eyes to mine. "Okay, I understand. Goodbye, Braelyn," he said then walked over to his truck.

Ridge looked back at me then got in, slamming his door shut. He waited a moment, and I knew why. He was waiting on me to change my mind. I stood my ground, tears streaming down my face.

When Ridge realized that I wasn't going to, he pulled out of my my driveway then sped down my street. I collapsed into sobs on my porch. I had let him go, and he wasn't coming back.

                     The End