Redwood Diary: Book One

Chapter Seven: Emotions

It was 2:45pm and classes were still in progress. It was another session of Biology class where Chloe, Brian, and Collin were. As lab partners, Brian and Collin were working on a class project together.

Chloe's partner was not present, as she was a close friend of Lana Banks, so she was paired with someone else. Her name was Taylor Anderson. Taylor was quite tall, with dark brown hair and brown, glistening eyes.

"So I was thinking that we should--" Brian stopped in mid-sentence. "Collin?"

Collin snapped out of his gloomy thoughts.

"I'm sorry, what were you saying?"

Brian placed the marker he was holding down.

"Is this about the breakup?" He asked.

Collin looked at him with furrowed eyebrows. "How do you know about that?"

"Clarke told me." He replied. "I saw her this morning, and we talked--well, she talked, I listened."

"How was she?" He asked with concern.

"Well--from what I saw, she wasn't OK."

Collin sighed. "Of course she wasn't."

"And neither are you." Brian stated.

Collin didn't say anything.

"Look--I wasn't able to console her about it earlier because I've never been placed in a situation where I had to, but--a breakup is never easy. Something as strong, and as meaningful as a relationship, ending--is never easy--and it'll take time for someone to heal from something like that, but in the end, you will. Just give it time. And besides, not because a relationship ends, doesn't mean the friendship has to. You can still be there for her, and she can still be there for you too."

Collin looked up at Brian, who then looked back at him.

"Too mushy?" Brian asked nervously.

Collin shook his head before smiling at him. Brian returned the favour. He then scratched his head nervously.

"Uhm, so I was saying--"

"Thanks, Brian." Collin interrupted. "I needed to hear that."

Brian nudged him on his arm before smiling at him once more.

-

The final bell rang, but no one was done with the class project.

"Alright. You can bring the project to the next class." Mr. Garrett stated.

Everyone was packing up.

"Can we work on the project tonight?" Taylor asked Chloe.

"Ah--I can't tonight." Chloe responded, remembering the deal she had made with Brian and Miley. "How about tomorrow?"

"I can't tomorrow. I'll be very busy."

"Oh."

"Why can't we do it tonight?" Taylor questioned, placing her bag on her shoulder.

"I--I promised a friend that I would help her out with something important tonight."

Taylor nodded. "OK--"

"But--I guess I could talk to her, tell her that I have a project to do."

"Are you sure?" Taylor asked.

"Yeah--I'm sure she'd understand."

"OK. Uhm, how about we meet upstairs at Rose Café at--6?"