The Back Up Plan

Prologue | IT'S CHRISTMAS IN A FEW MINUTES, ASSHOLE

Prologue.

Four years.

I've been in a relationship with the same man for almost four years. We started going out on our freshmen year and being with him was truly the best years of my life. It was love at first sight, how corny and sweet at the same time. Finding a person who connects with you instantly is pure bliss, let alone having mutual feelings for each other. I don't get why would anyone let go of that.

"Excuse me?"

The sweet smile he always has on his lips was replaced by a tight line. "I'm sorry, Ellie, but let's break up."

"'Let's break up'?" I repeat, my voice going higher than usual. Pulling my freshly ironed coat towards my body. "Why?"

"I.." He sighs, shifting from one foot to another as if he didn't think this through and racking his puny brain for some lame excuse he would forcibly make me believe.

"Miguel Louis Andrews, you better be joking right now." I mutter as he wince hearing his full name. "Did you even think this through?"

"I did!" He snaps, making me raise my eyebrow at him.

How dare he raise his voice at me when he's the prick for breaking up with me for no apparent reason!

"Then why can't you tell me the reason why you want to break up with me?" I demand. "We've been together for almost four years, Migs. Don't I at least deserve to know what went wrong? Was it me? Did I do something you didn't like? Can't the problem be fixed anymore that the only thing you thought of was a break up?"

Huh. I wasn't the president of the debates team of Northridge High for nothing.

He closes his eyes as he pinches the bridge of his nose. Something he does when something's bothering him or he's stressed.

Doesn't he know he's stressing me out here right now? We've been standing here outside of my house for almost an hour. It's cold since it's snowing and it isn't like we live in Egypt or somewhere hot! We live in fucking New York, damn it.

"Ellie.." He sighs as he looks directly at me. For the whole hour that we're talking, he only looked at me directly now.

"Look, Miguel." I start, not minding that I cut him off. For all I know we could stand here all night but he still won't tell me anything. Yes, I dated a wuss. "We're a couple here. Relationships were meant for two people fixing each other's mistakes. It's about deciding together for us two to benefit. I don't get why you're making a decision here alone."

"That's the thing. I'm not happy anymore. I loved you all these time but I'm not sure anymore."

He fucking said it.

"I think that you're beautiful inside and out but clearly you deserve so much better than me." He forces a tight smile on his face that he looks constipated rather than the calm and collected vibe that he's going for. "Being the boyfriend of the most popular girl in Northridge brought me pride and I'm thankful for that. Other guys would kill to be in my place yet you still chose me. Heck, I don't even know why."

"Don't give me that 'you deserve better' crap. We live in a modern time that gives shitty excuses like that. You should know I won't believe a lame excuse like that." I snap, rolling my eyes at him.

"I am telling the truth, Ellie. I was by your side all these time. I saw all your hard work turned to accomplishments. I was really happy for you. You made me proud just by looking at you at the sidelines. You deserving someone better than me wasn't an excuse. It's the truth."

"I'm sorry if I'm working my ass off to achieve my goals." I say sarcastically. "But breaking up with me just because you feel inferior? That's too shallow, even for you Miguel."

"Shallow, Ellie?" He repeats harshly, as if not accepting the word I used for him. "I get it that your parents don't like me. Typical rich snob parents wanting the best for their child. Who am I to argue with that? They're right anyway. But you know what I can't take? My supposed to be girlfriend is the one making me feel like shit."

"When did I ever?"

"C'mon, Els. You always fuss on everything. My grades, football, and even my relationship with my family. I need my own space too! I need someone who will tell me that I did a good job too, and not someone who will always tell me what I should've done."

"My gosh, Miguel! Are you hearing yourself? Do you honestly think of me that way? That's so low." I say. "I am pushing you to your limits because I know you can do better, because I believe you can."

"You're pushing your ideals to me! Can't you see that? It's not me anymore."

"First of all, I never intended to make you feel inferior of me. I'm not sorry because I worked my ass for those accomplishments. Those are my goals. That's what I wanted and I deserved it. Second, it's true that my parents don't like you but they never really paid attention to you since they trust my decisions. If they made you feel low, then I apologize in their place but they didn't probably mean it. Third, after placing your cards on the table, I think a break up really is the solution for us."

"Ellie.."

"I still have a lot of goals to accomplish and with you out of the picture, I can reach for them easily without thinking how not to break your fragile ego." My tongue is like a sharp knife when I needed it. I am known for being sarcastic and sassy anyway. He knows that. Everyone does.

I turn around. This talk is meaningless. My parents taught me to never give up on what I want but they also taught me how to value myself and respect other's opinions and decisions. Why fight for him when he already made up his mind to let go of what we have?

But my parents never taught me to be sweet and kind.

I stop on my tracks when I reach the marble staircase towards the main door.

"It's christmas in a few minutes, asshole. Thanks for ruining the mood." I choke back a dry laugh. "Also, fuck you for flaunting me like a piece of meat or some kind of cheap trophy in front of the school. I know you loved the attention more than me. You can go and kiss your sweet spot on Northridge goodbye now."

And with that said, I left the man I fell in love with for almost four years.. The man who was more in love with the privelage of dating the school's most popular girl than seeing the real me.

Scratch that. I didn't dated a man, I dated a boy. I will wait for the day when be begs me on his knees while I flip him off.

Oh. He won't like what I'm thinking of doing to him when he does.

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