All Gone Wrong

Chapter Two

“Get out,” Preston said.

“What?” I asked, taken aback.

“You heard me, get out,” he repeated.

“B-but I just got here and-“  I started.

“Go! I can’t have someone like you getting in the way of us!” Preston shouted.

I was so surprised. I’ve never seen Preston act like that before. He was always so nice and so happy. I never thought that anyone would think that I was “competition” for pretty much anything. Especially when it came to romance.

“What do you mean ‘get in the way’?” I asked.

“You know very well what I mean,” Preston snapped.

“Not really. How could I possibly get in the way?” I asked again.

Preston gave a frustrated sigh. “I know you well, Mat! You’re the outgoing type! Once your mind is set on something, you do it. You’re going to steal Rob away from me…” he answered.

That was the second time I was called outgoing that day. What gave people that idea? Are people misinterpreting me? I’m not as great as I may seem.

“Well, good for you then, because my mind isn’t set on getting Rob. I would never do anything to hurt you or any of the other guys. I may have in the past, but that was just me being desperate,” I said. It was the truth. My friends were the most important thing in my life. To be honest, more important than my family.

Preston hesitated for a second before saying, “I trust you Mat. I’m sorry for snapping. It’s just… Rob is the best thing that’s ever happened in me. He’s my life; he gives me purpose on this world. I can’t imagine a life without him.”

My heartache doubled. I felt bad for finding out that Rob was dating one of my best friends, but the thought that I somehow could make Preston’s world collapse killed me on the inside. I was so selfish to think that my meaningless existence could never affect anyone so dramatically.

“I’m sorry too,” I whispered, tears starting to fall from my eyes.

“For what Mat? You have nothing to apologize for anything,” Preston said. He walked into my room and silently shut the door. The moment he saw me crying, he sat down next to me and started rubbing my back.

“I was going to confess. That’s why I went downstairs so soon. But then I saw you and Rob…” I explained.

“I know that I was super pissed just a little while ago, but I was overreacting. I can’t get mad at you for telling the truth, and I’m sure Rob can’t either,” he assured me.

“There’s a one in a billion chance that Rob would like me back, but what if I confessed and he left you? It’s such a harsh thing to say, but what would’ve happened? Maybe 20 minutes ago I would be fine with it, but I know now how important Rob is to you. I’d be the one responsible for taking the most important person in your life away. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself,” I said.

Preston was taken aback. He sat silent for a while before he started crying too. “I guess… If he was h-happier with you than me I’d be okay with it,” Preston said, stumbling over his words.

“Don’t lie to me Preston,” I replied, almost harshly.

“I don’t know, I don’t know. I already said it and I can say it again, I can’t imagine a world without him,” Preston answered truthfully.

In my head, I decided to fly back to Canada. Preston and Rob didn’t deserve anyone in the way of their relationship. Preston needed time to think about what I said, maybe even explain it to Rob. The thought of Rob knowing terrified me, but I guess it was bound to happen sometime, right?