ONE CHANCE

Chapter 23

I stand with my eyes wide and mouth agape. Did he just admit to falling in love with me?

He is still looking deeply into my eyes, waiting for some reply that I can’t seem to give at least not at this period of time.

I have never had someone tell me that they have fallen in love with me. Heck, I’ve never even heard the ‘L’ word being said to me in any way, shape or form. My heartbeat quickens by the second and my feelings are all over the place. I don’t even know how to reply to this.

“Please say something…” He pleads, his eyes still locked on mine.

“I-I…I don’t know what to say.” I admit. It’s true; I don’t know how or what to reply with. I’m not even sure about how I feel about him. I know I don’t love him…I’ve never been in love before.

We stand only inches away from each other, his body is slightly tense now and it’s because I haven’t replied to his confession. How can this be true? He’s known me for 3 months and claims he fell in love with me when we met. That’s impossible. I don’t believe in love at first sight because how do you know that person thoroughly just by looking at them. I was only eye candy for him at the start.

“Bryce, I don’t think you’re in love with me.” I say. His brown eyes narrow down at me.

“Cecilia, I am.” He replies taking my small hands in his.

“No you possibly cant be, there is no such thing as love at first sight..” I frown.

“You don’t believe in it?” He questions and I shake my head. “I didn’t either until I saw you.”

“Bryce stop, I don’t think you know what it’s like to be in love and I don’t either-“

“I do know.” He tells me and now it’s my turn to give a confused expression. “Oh come on Cecilia.” My expression remains the same.  “Don’t pretend like you don’t know everything, you eavesdrop on a lot of Amy’s and mine conversations, we aren’t stupid.” Oops.

“Emily.” I breathe out and he nods.

“I loved her.” He says softly, “I was crazy in love with her, I loved everything about her, her eyes, her smile, her laugh, her soft white skin and the warmth of it whenever I touched her, sounds kind of crazy coming out of my mouth.” He chuckles.

“Well no one could picture a bad boy like you falling in love.” I say.

“I wasn’t bad back then.” He whispers. I stare at him intently. I thought he was always bad?

Why did I come to a college where people just have piles and piles of secrets hidden within them?

“What do you mean?”

“I was a good person, always have been but last year when I came here I met Damien….” My body shivers at the mention of that asshole’s name. “ He was the first friend I had here well I thought he was my friend. I thought he was like one of those awesome guys that threw the most amazing parties, I didn’t see how he could do anything wrong.” I roll my eyes, Damien doing no wrong? What a joke!

“But Damien was nothing but wrong and dangerous and worst part is I couldn’t bring myself to leave.” He breathes in deeply, “Then I met Amy, Harry and Emily.” It’s only now that it occurs to me what he is about to tell me and I’m not sure if I want to know the truth about Emily. The possibilities running through my head scare me.

“Emily was just like you.” He smiles sweetly, looking into my eyes, “So innocent and pure and most of all beautiful. She was like a rose, no pun intended.” He laughs and so do I. By now we are on the hard ground leaning against the wall in the hallway. I’m sure Amy and Harry have their ears against the dorm door trying to listen in on our conversation.