My not so Perfect Love

CHAPTER 6: The Story of Us

Later that day after dinner, I decided to take a walk at the playground Maxx and I used to go to. It was so nostalgic.

                I remembered how Maxx and I used to play at the swing. We’d see who swung higher that the other. There’s also that time we share just about everything together, how he comforts and joins me in the happiest moments. How he was the first in almost anything i wanted to do with my special someone. How I get him to sing on the phone even if he’s a little off-key. We laughed, we smiled, we ….

                I started shedding tears and they won’t stop pouring. I ran and ran until my feet couldn’t move anymore. I was stranded in a light post, crying.

                “It’s dangerous for a girl to walk alone at night.”

                                “Lance? You… hik .. you shocked me.” I gasped.

                “Oh now you cry? After everything I did.”

                                “Why do you care?! Just… just leave me alone!” I didn’t care if my voice was loud or whether I was talking to him or not. I just wanna burst, anywhere but here.

                He grabbed my arm and pulled me towards his chest. “Are you really this careless? If those guys saw you in that state they’ll chase you and do perverted stuff, you idiot!”

                So that’s why he talked to me? He was trying to protect me? But why? This just makes me…. I clenched my fist and cried my heart out, hugging him tightly.

                “Hey!” hey reacted. I didn’t care if he’d push me away. I continued crying even if its irony. I couldn’t face anyone with this face.

                “Its 9p.m. aren’t your parents worried you’re not home?” Lance questioned. Sniff. “They won’t. I left after dinner saying I’ll be sleeping early and went off the window.” I replied.

                He chuckled. “You serious?”

                                “Do I look like I’m kidding? Of course, I am. What’s wrong with that?”

                “Nothing, I never thought a good girl like you could pull that off. Ha, who knew you were that interesting.” He grinned.

                                “Don’t flatter yourself too much. I can’t believe that YOU among all get to see me like this. Plus, I’m not that good-a-girl.”

                “Oh really?”

                                “Mhmm!”

                “Have you ever drank alcohol or even smoked a cigar?

                                “Well, n-no.”

                “Ha! Then you’re a good girl.”

                                “…” we had a moment of silence as we looked up to the sky. “You know, you were wrong about me.”

                “Hm?”

                                “I’m really selfish and naïve. But the only one who understands that was just one. And that’s when you’re right. Maxx and I…. we shared something special. Something I couldn’t take off my memory. He courted me for so long and eventually gave up without hearing me out properly. We were young. I never understood his way of thinking. He’s actually sweet but… at the moment when we almost got together; Liza introduced me to an almost-perfect ideal guy to any girl. I talked to him, leaving Maxx a bit.. it was only for 6 months because I know in my heart that it wasn’t real. Next thing I knew, Maxx was in love to somebody else, prettier and his kind of girl. I felt I lost someone important. He followed her and stopped being himself with me. That was when he left. And now that he’s back I couldn’t even ---“

                I crunched myself to my knees. “I’m really stupid, right? Saying stuff like this to someone I barely know.”

                                “No, you just fell in love.”

                What? He doesn’t think I’m stupid. I just fell in love? I know but… Coming from him is….

                                “Love can make you become a better person if you choose to be so. It can pull you down so low and make you go crazy but it’s actually the choices you make that led you to what you’ve become. Don’t you agree?”

                “Yaa… I do.”

                I looked at him with confusion. His aura was different from any aura he has ever shown. “Are you really Lance?”

                He snorted. “Ahahahahahaha! Wow! Aha. That’s an interesting reaction you got there, Scarlet.” He helped me up. “You should go home. Your parents might not trust you the next time you’d snuck out.”

                “Next time? How sure are you that there’d be one?” he threw a crumpled paper at me. “Aw.”

                                “See you around, Scarlet.” He waved his hand as he walked away.

                I opened the paper he threw at me and read it.

                “You’re ‘The’ Alison Grey, right? Suck it up. …”

                I smiled and went back happily.

                                “P.S. I’ll be nice to you. I promise, but only before 6 in the morning and after 8 at night. So you better keep this a secret.”

                Lance Fletcher, huh? My angel oars of 6 and 8 in disguise.

                Knock. Knock. “Ali, are you still awake?” Mom shouted.

                                “Yup! Why?” I answered. Not a minute to lose.

                “I think your classmate just left this for you.”

                I opened the door and glanced at what mom was holding. It was our thesis plans. Finished! “Did Maxx gave this?”

                “No, dear. Speaking of Maxx, why don’t you invite him for dinner tomorrow? I bet your father missed him chatting with him. Okay?”

                “Sure, mom. Goodnight.” I kissed her by her cheek and closed the door. I read the plans but something was a bit off. The last page was folded in half.

                I took it out and there written was an unfamiliar phone number.