Ashi

chapter 14

Chapter 14: The Declaration Of Love

Brendan and I have been dating for two weeks now. We didn't tell anyone at first, but they caught on. Brendan walked me to class, carried my books, held my hand, and gave me rides to school.

"Ashi, can I have one of your Apple slices?" Todd asked.

I pushed my Tupperware container towards him.

He grabbed a red Apple slice then gave a green one to Logan. Tyler was still laughing about Brendan being threatened by the old woman.

"She said she was going to beat Brendan with a shovel!" He laughed.

"I'd be happy to do that." Scott's voice interjected. He sat in the empty seat beside me. I looked up at everyone else. Tyler quit laughing, and everyone had their serious faces on.

Our table was silent, but the cafeteria continued making noise. Brendan put his hand on my leg, trying to comfort me. I tensed up when I heard Scotts voice.

"Ashi, I came by yesterday. Did Kyle tell you?" He asked me.

I didn't answer him. I stared at my food like it was the most interesting thing in this entire school. "Not so big and bad now are you?" He asked.

"Scott you need to leave." Todd said.

"I'm just talking to Ashi. I'm not hurting anyone." Scott said while putting his arm around me. The warmth that I had felt every time we touched was still there, but I could tell it was fading. Brendan's hand on my leg dropped. I stood up, "Don't touch me. Don't talk to me. Don't even acknowledge my existence, okay?" I said before storming out of the cafeteria.

I went to my locker and got my binders before going into class five minutes early.

~~~

After school ended, I could not wait to be home. I dropped my bag on the floor and jumped into my bed. I kicked my shoes off and snuggled against my pillow.

There was a knock on my door. "Come in." I said. The door opened and Brendan walked inside. He looked worried. Instead of getting on the bed with me, he sat on the chair across the room.

"Brendan what's wr-" He cut me off.

"Do you still love Scott?" He asked.

That surprised me. I thought about my answer for a long time. The room was dead silent. Do I still love Scott? I cannot just stop loving someone I've loved for years. Is it the same love I had two months ago? No, it isn't.

"How do you stop loving someone you've loved for years? It's not the same-" He cut me off again, "Yes or No Ashi."

I knew the answer. He knew the answer. It hurt both of us, and we knew it. It hurt me because it's my feelings, and I have to live with them. I have to live knowing Scott was my first heartbreak, and the first person I loved.

It hurt Brendan because if he ever did develop that love for me, he would know that I still love Scott. Even if it isn't the same strong love we had, it's still love.

"Yes." I whispered.

Brendan's head fell into his hands. "I knew you still did. I just needed to hear you say it." He said, his voice full of hurt.

"Why?" I asked. Why did he need me to tell him I still love Scott?

"So I could stop myself from falling for you." He said. He sounded so broken and vulnerable. I hopped off of the bed and stood in front of him. I lifted his head, so he was looking me in the eyes.

"I love Scott, but in a different way. I love how happy he made me, and the memories we shared. I don't love him. I love my past with him. If there is one thing I know about love, it is that falling into it is inevitable. I've done it twice Brendan. I've fallen in love twice." I said.

I wiped a tear from my cheek. "So quit trying to avoid falling for me because I am in love with you."

A single tear fell from his eye. I removed my hands, so he could leave, but he grabbed them and put them back on his face. He pulled me closer to him, and then kissed me.

The kiss said it all. Brendan had officially fallen in love with me. The kiss was sweet, and lustful, yet so soft. "I love you." He said. I smiled into the kiss before pulling away.

~~~

For the rest of the day we stayed in my room. My parents would come in every hour or so to make sure we weren't doing anything intimate. We weren't. We were cuddled up in the duvet, with an empty popcorn bowl beside us on the night stand and watching movies.

My mom brought dinner up to us while it was still warm, and offered the guestroom to Brendan. I wanted him to stay, and I know he wanted to stay as well, but we have school on the morning and he wasn't prepared. He left a little after 9. It been an hour since he left and I just want to see him again.

How did I get so attached to the bad boy?