Last To Know *COMPLETED*

Last To Know- Chapter 17 pt. 1

Chapter 17- pt. 1-

"I've..." Dakota began, tears running down his face. "I've... been in your situation. My first love, Julia, cheated on me with my best friend."

I said nothing, but I thought he was going to tell me the story. Instead, he got up and walked into the kitchen, still crying. He came back with two glasses of water. He handed one to me, and I apologized immediately.

"I'm so sorry. There was no reason for me to come tell you all of this, but in my defense, I had no clue."

"I don't talk about it for this reason." He said, gesturing to his face. He smiled ruefully and leaned back in the chair. We were quiet, just thinking about our lost love, I guessed. And then he started to tell me the story.

"I met Julia on a fishing trip. My dad, Jill, and I had gone to the lake to fish, and I was sixteen years old. Julia happened to be there, fishing just a few yards away with her family. I didn't think much about her, just that she kept looking at me, and I at her.

"We didn't speak to each other, but the connection was clear. I didn't see her for months, but I ran into her one day in a store... I don't remember where, but it was just me. I'd just gotten my license and was exited about hanging out with friends that afternoon.

"But, of course, when I saw her, we spoke for a few minutes, and then it was clear I was hanging out with her that afternoon instead. I lied to my parents, told them the other plans were still on, and went to her house.

"We didn't do anything, but we became inseparable after that night. My parents liked her, but they had no idea how much she meant to me. We dated until I was twenty. And like you, I'd never thought to propose, mainly because I was too young.

"It wasn't until I was out with some friends that I saw what she'd been hiding. At a bar, right after my twenty- first birthday, I saw her with my best friend, Harlem. They were, as you guessed, together in the most physical way, right in front of me. And of course, I wanted to kill him.

"I didn't, but I haven't had a serious girlfriend since then. There's no way I ever could." He said, crying pitifully now. And my tears kept coming as well. There was nothing I could do for Jill; she was, in fact, a lost cause to me. I sat, thinking about that, about the proposal, about the relationship, and I wanted her back.

I wanted Jill Brewer back in my life so much that it hurt.

Jill Brewer, and Aaron Stewart; Us, together, for years to come. That's what I'd always thought it would be. That's what I'd wished for.

And when I thought of that, I realized that I'd never planned out my life with out her. I'd never thought of a substantial job, a good home by myself, or kids, for that matter. How could I ever fall in love again?

As we both sat there, absorbed in our thoughts, I saw that there was no one else I could have told besides Dakota. There was no one else I'd rather talk to about this. And he'd shown me that I was not alone. I was not alone with my problems, my fears, because he'd been in the same place at one time.

"You know what?" Dakota suddenly said, leaning up and smirking. "We need a night out. There's an awesome bar, and you and I both need something... you know?"

I said nothing for a minute. His smile faded. "Come on, let's go. I'll drive."

Because he was my friend, and because I would never let him go alone, I got up. Or maybe it was because I needed this, too. It didn't matter, because this was turning into a night I will never forget.

We made it to the bar, and there was nothing I wanted more than to lose my self with a can of beer. I had drunk before, but never in excess, and today was the day to do it.

Dakota handed me the beer, and before I knew it, we were wasted. I had trouble even walking, much less doing anything else. We laughed and toasted, joked around, and before I knew it, I was making out with some girl I'd never noticed.

She wanted to go farther, and I was going to let her, but Dakota stopped me. He was more stoned than me, but even he knew not to give in. He told me it was time to go, of course in a slurred voice.

I agreed, walking, well, staggering out to the car. No one stopped us, even though there were people on the street. I've thought about time and time again, that if someone had said, 'hey, take a cab', or offered us money for one, maybe Dakota wouldn't be dead.

But we both got into the car, and since I'd had less to drink, I was going to drive. Dakota looked at me before I started the car. "You know we s-shouldn't d-do this, r-right?"

"Who cares? We're...uh... just going straight home..." I said, and started the car.

It wasn't long before Dakota wanted to go somewhere else. "We can't go home, m-man. Your... your chick Jill won't like you being drunk and all."

"Let's go to your house, t-then." I said, turning onto his road.

"No man, l-let's go out of town. The Interstate's safe." He said. I've never heard such a lie in my life.

He pressured me until I turned onto the Interstate, and we cranked up the music and sped up. I had to be pushing eighty miles an hour, but I can't be sure.

I remembered the song that was on, looking at Dakota's face for half a second, trying to speak.

And then the glass surrounded us, and the car flipped.