Death of the Perfect Girl

45- The In Love

Poppy sat on her bed reading a book. Her phone buzzed on her dressing table, but she didn't feel eager to look at it. She had been getting texts from people she knew from school and people she didn't know at all.

Her doorbell rang and she slowly stood, not in the mood for company. She walked down the stairs and opened the front door.

"Fisher," she smiled, then frowned.

"I texted you," he shrugged and chuckled fighting the moral thoughts in his head telling him not to do what he was about to do.

"I'm sorry," Poppy rubbed her arm scanning the floor. "I haven't looked at my phone all day... I've been getting threats." Her eyes met Fisher's.

He froze. "From who?"

"People who have seen Sadie's videos? I don't know. I just...," Poppy stared at Fisher. "I'm glad you're here."

He gulped and shoved his hands in his pockets.

"You can come inside if you want."

"Sure." Fisher walked into the house.

"My mom's still not your biggest fan-"

"Because of the fight?"

"Yeah," Poppy giggled. "But she says you sound like a good kid."

"So...you've talked about me with her?"

"Yeah. My dad too. They say you sound okay. They're just not fans of you coming over like this when they're not around."

"Then," Fisher tried to take his chance," I should leave."

"No," Poppy stepped in front of him, staring up at her 'guardian angel'.

He looked down at her.

"I don't want to be alone...right now." Tears filled her eyes. "I'm...I'm scared."

Fisher's skin began to crawl. He felt nauseous.

"Could you stay with me? Just for...an hour or so."

He gulped again trying to swallow his cries for forgiveness.

Poppy stared at him with glossy eyes and a frown that weakened him.

"Okay."

She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in her chest. "Thank you."

Fisher pat her head, looking around the house. He was too involved with her now. Her family trusted him and so did she. The right thing would be to end it and tell her the truth. But Sadie had a knife to his throat. He couldn't back out.

He walked up to Poppy's bedroom behind her staring at the back of her head. It hurt him knowing that if he were truly with her by his own choice they wouldn't be going anywhere near her bedroom. If he really liked her and had been dating her with the intention of introducing her to his family, they would've been on a the living room coach, or he wouldn't have been in her house in the first place. He wanted to show her respect, not put her in a position she might regret in the future. But in order for things to go as Sadie wanted, he had to do whatever Poppy wanted..."until Sadie says it's time to end it."

Poppy climbed unto her bed and sat in the corner near her wall. She grabbed her book and marked the page then she rested it under her pillow.

Fisher stood by the door rubbing his hands together nervously. "I think...I think I should go-"

"Why?" Poppy frowned.

"I don't think I should be in your room without your parents supervision."

"You've been here before."

"But this time...it feels different."

"How?"

Fisher stared at Poppy.

"We're not going past first base," Poppy snickered.

He shook his head. "I don't think I should stay."

Poppy pouted and looked down. "Okay."

Fisher put his hand on the door knob then he looked back at her.

"Do whatever she wants you to," Sadie's voice ordered in his mind. "Don't let her dump you!"

He sighed then he walked over to Poppy's bed. He climbed beside her and stared at his hands. Then he held hers.

She layed on his shoulder.

Fisher began to feel his heart beating in his head. He sat stiff from anxiety and regret.

"I've been crying all day," Poppy wept. "I've gotten so many texts. They keep telling me to kill myself."

Fisher looked down at her. "You aren't letting it get to your head...right?"

"I...I've thought about it before all of this."

"But...you've just thought of it. You're not going to do it. That's crazy."

Poppy shrugged her shoulder. "It's not crazy when you have nothing to live for."

"What?" Fisher felt thorns wrap around his heart. "POPPY, LOOK AT ME."

She slowly lifted her head and turned to him, tears running down her face.

"You have everything to live for," he stared at her. "You're smart, and beautiful-"

"I've heard compliments before. They never change my mind."

"Then...," Fisher knelt down on the bed," I don't know. Why are you here?"

Poppy furrowed her brows. "Excuse me-"

"What are you doing here? Poppy, there are billions of people in the world. There are places to see. You can feel...feelings. You can eat," he chuckled. "There are galaxies and possibilities and you're a possibility. For some reason, you were born. You out of billions of sperm cells-"

"Oh my God," Poppy giggled and crinkled her nose.

"I know," Fisher chuckled. "That was a weird thought... But just think about it for a minute. What are you doing here? You were born to your parents and put here...in our town. You've met thousands of people and you've been a part of their lives. And their memory of you is what you choose for it to be... You met me." Fisher held her hands. "Don't leave because of a few people who think they know you. When all of this is over...when you're done with high school...leave here. Go somewhere and impact lives the way you want. Let other people know you. Don't end yourself because you think the entire world is like the few you've met."

Poppy stared into Fisher's eyes.

He knew that it was the right moment... The right moment to lie. He took a deep, wistful breath then he squeezed her hand. "Something's telling me that this is a bit early to say this..."

Poppy's eyes grew.

"But I think... I love you." Fisher felt a lump go down his throat.

A soft, radiant look covered Poppy's face. She smiled. "I...don't know what to say-"

"It's okay if you don't love me back-"

"I love you too," Poppy giggled and shook her head.

Fisher held his breath. "Oh."

"I wasn't sure I did a few days ago because I thought I was being naive. But you're everything I want... I love you too."

Fisher stared at her.

She threw her arms around him and toppled him over unto the bed.

He slowly hugged her back feeling regretful. She admitted that she loved him when he had lied to her about his feelings. What had he done?