The Boy Next Door

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I woke up Tuesday morning to a strange sound. Crying. It wasn't from my house either.

Sitting up quickly, I peeked out my blinds and saw Evan on his knees by his open window. He wasn't trying to draw attention, he looked like that guy Daniel from the Bible. He was praying too, and I listened.

"Father God, please don't let Megan hate me, or Brianna. I may have done it on the wrong day, but I know that breaking up with her was the right thing to do. I didn't want to give her false hope about us. Megan and I are just starting to become friends, don't let this jeopardize our friendship. I want to get to know her, and I want to do it without her anger burning against me. Please help me, Father. In Jesus' name, amen."

As I watched, he looked up to the sky and wiped his eyes. He was really upset. I felt the need to do something, but I didn't want him to know I'd been listening.

"God," he cried out, "why does this hurt so bad? Why do I care so much about what everyone thinks?" I looked away, letting the blind drop, and just listened. Not of my own accord though, just because we were so close and his window was open. I sat with my back against the wall and felt tears welling up at the sound of his voice. He was so sincere, broken, hurt, and he was crying out to God. That's what hurt me, touched my heart. He didn't try to cover up his pain with other things, he went directly to God to help him.

When he had finished, I thought I heard the window close and peeked back through.

"Megan?" He asked timidly. I snapped back down, but he wasn't fooled. "Megan, I know you're awake."

He hurt Brianna, he broke her heart. I had to remind myself of that.

"Yeah." I pulled the window open. "Good morning, Evan." My tone was icy cold and my eyes narrowed.

"I'm sorry. I really am."

"I know. You woke me up."

"Oh, I did?"

"Yeah. So I know you're sorry. But, for my only friend's sake, I can't forgive you."

"Meg--Meg, please." He pleaded as I began closing my window.

"I can't. Brianna has been my friend since I can remember. If I forgive you, or even talk to you, I'm betraying her."

I closed the window and walked away.

The next morning at school, I was walking down the hall with Brianna to lunch and laughing with her when someone caught my arm. "Hey!" Brianna exclaimed. Because our arms were entwined, she was jerked back as well.

When she saw Evan, she scowled. "I'll meet you in there." She started to walk away.

"Alright. This won't take long."

Sending Evan one last glare, she turned and walked swiftly down the hall. "What do you want?"

He was standing by the same boy as before, but my anger overshadowed my shyness. "You've been boring holes in my head all day."

"And?" I crossed my arms.

"I don't like it."

"We don't always get what we want."

His friend's eyes got a touch wider at my words. "Uh, Megan, right?"

"Yes."

"I'm Scotty."

"Nice to know. Now, Evan, if you're done trying to convince me to forgive you for breaking my only friend's heart, I'll be leaving."

"I thought I was your friend." He sounded hurt; good.

"You were."

Ignoring him, I continued walking down the hall to find Bri. "What's he want?"

"Forgiveness." I muttered. "Over the week we talked more, I considered us friends, but then I found out what happened. He's as much a friend to me as everyone else here."

She laughed a bit and we got our food. "Good for you."