Falling From It Again

Fifteen

(^ THAT PICTURE 😭🤣😍)

CHERYL's POINT OF VIEW

"Cheryl, look- you didn't have to leave." Shemar said over the phone as I finally made it back home.

"Yes, I did. You saw how she was acting. Actually, I feel as if she's right though. Kissing your forehead was inappropriate." I said as I sat down on the couch.

"Meet me on West Main." He said. I thought to myself.

"Huh? Wes-...." I said but he cut me off.

"Yes, West." He added. I automatically smiled because I knew exactly where that place was located. A location that will forever be in my heart....because of him.

"I'll be there." I told him. (😭😭😭 gosh)

Once I made it to West Main St. I saw Shemar sitting on a bench. West Main St. was a park dead in the middle of Brooklyn, NY. Where we first met each other.

"I remember this place all too well." I said as I walked up behind the bench he sat at. He turned to look at me. I smiled at him and sat down.

"I know you do." He said as he examined the space between us. "Don't do that, Cheryl. Please, don't. This isn't....us." He said as he patted the open space between us. I sighed softly and moved over some more towards him. "Thank you." He said as he wrapped his arm around me. He looked at the side of my face as I looked around at the empty playground. I then looked over at him.

"I-...I know that what happened between us years ago is making you uncomfortable with being around me but...just be yourself. How we always were when we were friends. I don't wanna lose this connection." He said as he looked down at my hands and noticed that I were playing with my promise ring that he gave me years and years ago. "You hear me?" He said to me.

"I know, Shemar. I just don't wanna ruin your engagement." I said in a sad voice as I looked at him. "You've finally found somebody and I'm happy for you but...we are spending way too much time together." I assured him.

"I don't care. Don't you love spending time with me?" He asked me.

"I-....I do but is this a little inappropriate? We've grown since then. We-....nevermind." I said as I just stopped talking and looked down in my lap. He pulled my chin up and moved my head to where he was looking in my eyes.

"We made a promise. I'm keeping my promise. Do me a favor? Keep yours as well. No matter if I have a wife or kids. Keep it." He told me. I nodded my head.

"I'm sorry." I said as I started to cry.

"Why-...no need to be sorry. Why did you say that, baby girl?" He asked me.

"Be-...because I wanted to get along with her but she won't let me. She takes things the wrong way. I was just caring for you." I said as my voice cracked. I wiped my face. He pulled me in for a hug.

"Stop it, baby girl. Don't worry about that. I can fix that." He said as he held me tightly. "Get up." He said. I got up and he pulled me into his lap. I wrapped my arm around his neck and hugged him some more. He always used to hold me like this. When everything in the world was crashing down on me- he held me. When another man broke my heart- he held me. When I felt like I wasn't good enough- he corrected me that I am good enough and...held me. "I hate it when my best friend cries." He said as he rubbed my back. "I love you and don't worry about her and what she does. This bond that we have will never, ever break." He said as he leaned back and wiped my tears. I felt so bad because I was so happy to know that he finally found somebody but...I felt like I needed to stay away because of Lorah.

I looked him into his eyes and he looked me in my eyes as well. There was a silence between us as he moved my hair out of my face. I looked down at his lips and then back up at his eyes. "Say that you love me back...best friend." He said as he broke the silence.

"I love you too." I said as I looked away. This was getting uncomfortable. I had to stop it. I tried to stand up but he pulled me back down into his lap. "Hug me again." He told me. I hesitated but I gave him a hug. He held me by the hips as I was in his lap.

"Wanna walk around?" He asked me. I stopped hugging him and nodded my head yes.

As we were walking, we just looked back at all of the things that happened here at this park. Our parents always brought us here and one day- we just clicked. After that- we were inseparable.

"Ou, you remember when we first spoke to each other?" Shemar said as he automatically started laughing.

"I don't want to remember. That shit hurt." I said as I shook my head and started to laugh.

"I didn't mean to hit you with the ball. I mean, your big ass head was in the way. You were crying and mess. Then, when I asked you if you were okay....you hit me. I mean, that wasn't necessary." He said as he stopped and looked at me.

"Whatever. I was only 10 and...you nearly gave me a concussion. I still wanna beat your ass over that. I went home that night with the biggest headache and when I told my mom- she said "oh well. Watch where you're going next time." I said as I mocked my Mom's voice. He laughed and smiled at me.

"Instantly, I knew that you were special. I mean, you hit me hard as hell but...I couldn't keep my eyes off of you. I wanted to know you more...." He added. It was silent and I looked down at my feet as we walked. I tried my best not to smile but the memories that he brought up- made me happy. He was always there. Always.

"You remember what happened over there by that tree?" He asked me as he pointed to a big tree a few feet away from the playground. I thought to myself and looked over at it.

"I had first turned 13 years old and I was upset over something that my Mom did. I forgot. Do you remember?" I asked him as I looked at him. He smiled and nodded his head.

"Cheryl Ann, I remember everything when it comes to you. Everything...." he said as he winked at me. I already knew what he meant by that. He is correct. He knew it all. He knew what made me happy, sad, hurt, smile, cry, excited, jealous, confused and how my heart worked. He even knew how my body worked, what I liked and what I craved. He knew me more than I knew my own self.

"She made you mad because you didn't want to go to school that day but she made you. We were just about to get on the bus but you ran over here and cried. I ran after you and you had your back against the tree and your hands on your...pretty little face. I removed your hands and I remembered when my heart first melted for you during that moment. I instantly gave you a hug and innocently kissed your cheek. After that, you felt better and I told you that you'll enjoy your day. You did exactly that because I convinced my Mom to bring me some flowers to give you. I told her, "these are for my best friend, Ma." and I remember that you smiled so big when I gave them to you after school. Right there....once again, at that tree." He said to me. I looked at him and felt....important.

"You actually remember all of that?" I asked him in a low and shocking voice.

"Yes. You remember every detail of things when it was a moment that changed your life. You...changed my life every moment that I was with you, Cheryl. Every single moment and it never failed." He said as he grabbed my hand. His words gave me chills all over my body. He then gave me a hug and we were both stuck in silence. I was lost for words...

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