The Normal Heart

Chapter Six

Karsen's POV
After work it's the normal routine, tell Ryan I'm tired and go to bed early, fall asleep thinking about Bruno and feel guilty about it all over again the next morning. Although, tonight was different. I didn't avoid Ryan. I didn't go to bed early. And I didn't think about Bruno, not even before I fell asleep. In fact, I didn't think about him at all today. I smile, thinking maybe I'm over him and I can get back to being the girlfriend I was before. After Ryan and I watched a movie together we both went to bed. I snuggled into his arms and was almost asleep when he said my name and then,"Why did you push me away for a while?"
I keep my eyes shut and pretended like I never heard him. "Karsen?" He repeats.  "I know you're awake."
I open my mouth but don't say anything for a second,"be-because I was-" I cut myself off.
"Because you were what? In love with another man," he laughs.
Silence. I can feel his smile fade. "Well..." he continues.
"Yea."
He pushes me away slightly and I open my eyes. His chocolate eyes pour into my baby blues. "What?" He asks confused.
"I wasn't in love with another guy. I just wasn't sure- I wasn't sure what I felt for that chunk of time."
"You weren't in love with another guy?" He repeats.
"I wasn't in love with another guy."
You didn't know if you were in love with another guy or not, but you weren't in love with Ryan, my conscious corrects.
Bruno's POV
Ring.... ring.... ring.... voicemail.
"Hey this is Karsen. Sorry I can't get to the phone right now, but leave your name and number and I'll get back to you as soon as I can."
For the fourth time I've called her, I haven't gotten an answer. When I first called her I didn't have a clue what I was doing. The second time I had an idea of what I was going to do. The third time I was desperate. And the fourth, I was annoyed, so I got on a plane. The private plane that flew my band and I here is the same one that flew me, and only me, back home.
The next day
"Hi, does a Karsen work here?" I asked a server in the cafe I first met her.
"No," my smile fades,"but she does sit in that corner and work on her computer," the waitress points and smiles.
I thank her and turn around. Tucked into the far right corner of the coffee shop, a familiar face sits staring at a computer screen. I quietly walk over and sit on the other side of the table.
Her head slowly raises until her ocean blues settle on my face. Without saying a single word, she closes her laptop and stands up.
"Wait!" I say.
"Go away," Karsen says.
"No c'mon! Hear me out Kar!"
"Don't call me that Bruno! I don't want to talk to you," she picks up her computer and swings her purse over her shoulder. "I called, and you never answered, that's all I need to hear." She pushes past me but I grab her hand.
"Wait," I say softly but stern.
"Let me go," she pleads.
"Listen to me!"
"Why should I? You didn't have a problem letting me go to voicemail, or leaving me on read, or letting me go the first time!"
She pulls her hand away from mine and rushes out. I jog after her until I'm ahead of her and blocking her way.
"You're right, and I won't let you go a second time." She tries to get around me but I stay in front.
"I was stupid. I was scared. Give me a second chance. Let me explain myself."
She stops moving and stares me in the eye,"I had a boyfriend. And I forgot about him when I was with you! I felt guilt for weeks after that, having to hide that from him! I practically fell for you in an hour and had to pretend to him that nothing happened that day! All I thought about for days, was you. I fell out of love with him and in love with you that day! And I just got over it, don't make me have to go through that twice Bruno," tears glisten in Karsen's eyes but never fall.
"I'm sorry," I whisper.
"Whatever," she pushes past me and through the mall doors that lead to the parking lot.
"I fell for you too Karsen!"
She stops cold in her tracks but stays facing away from me. She raises a hand to her face and a moment later turns around.
"You stole my breath and tossed it away the next day. You didn't have to see the hurt in his eyes when I pushed him away...because of you."
"But I had to see myself everyday in the mirror, imagining what my life would do to yours. How it'd ruin yours." By now we had reached her car.
She unlocked the door but said one more thing before closing it,"Then why'd you come back?" And just like that, she was gone, again.

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AN UPDATE!!! I MISSED YOU GUYS SO DAMN MUCH😭💔IM SO SORRY IT TOOK ME LIKE A MONTH AND A HALF TO UPDATE!! I had some major bullshit going on and life's been really shitty lately so YAY ME!!! BUT I LOVE YOU ALL SM!!!! I WILL BE WRITING TMMRO SO POSSIBLY (don't count on it😂) AN UPDATE TMMRO💗💗 LOVE YOU!!
-ps what should I call y'all? I need a name!! Comment!💗