Maybe It's Time

APRIL, 2003 - PART TWO

Stefani's POV

Bradley was scared of losing my friendship. We kissed, once... Twice... And it ended there. I am glad nothing more happened when I was younger because I was not mature enough for a relationship, specially with him.

He asked me to go out with him to eat. I found that weird. We never really done it before, at least not alone, but I accepted. He told me he was going to move. I wanted to scream and slap him in the face.

A part of me was happy and proud of him. The other one was my selfish part being jealous and wanting him to stay around me forever. I had no hope anymore that we could have a story together.

On the way back home was very awkward. As the coward I was, I said nothing that I wish. "Hey you dumb slowpoke, can't you see me here?"

"Hey... Mmm. You know I have the prom and... I was wondering if you could be my partner..." He smiled and looked quickly at me, since he was driving.

"Of course I will go with you. Yeah!"

I smiled back at him, feeling like I was going to melt. When he became so hot out of the sudden? He was probably working out.

School was like a nightmare and I was excited about ending it. Although my parents wanted me to go to the university, I was not sure that was for me. Making a living off my music was everything I could wish. But I was thinking about the idea of not stop studying to make them happy. I used to be a good kid and liked to make them happy.

I said I used to be a good kid because I did a lot of wrong things when I grow up and disappointed them a lot. Thankfully, some years later I was able to fix my life. Bradley helped me a lot.

The days passed and Brad moved permanently. I didn't let my parents see I cried for like one hour after he said goodbye. It sucked not having him around on weekends just to talk and complain about my teenager life or even giving me a beer when the adults when not watching us.

I forgot all the drama some days later, although it was very difficult to not remember him at least once a day. In that year I got that fancy Nokia 1100 so at least we could text but he was not always available. A goodmorning text from him was enough to make my day and when he had time he used to email me a long letter telling his adventures around New York.

Finally the day of my prom came and I just went to it because my mother really wanted me to go. She even made me go to a beauty parlor and months before it she bought the nicest dress for me. Ain't gonna lie, I was really pretty in that light blue dress. I was tanned so it fit well on me.

Bradley called me one day before it to make sure I was really going. He was the only one who knew I never felt well in my school. My parents worked so hard to send me there that I never mentioned the problems I had there.

My mom was helping me to put my dress on when I heard the doorbell. I sighed and

looked through the window. He was standing there in that suit. I think it was the first time I saw him on one of those.

My dad opened the door for him and I took some time to show up in the living room where they were talking. I put my shoes on and walked to the living room some minutes later. I was really shy because he never saw me so well dressed.

He smiled at me and I smiled back. It was very awkward, specially because my parents were there. He just hugged me and said nothing. I think he was too shy to say anything as well. Right after saying goodbye to my parents, we went outside. He made sure my parents were not watching and he looked at me again.

"You look great... And taller".

"Of course you can't compliment me without making a joke".

"Sorry". He laughed. "But I am serious. You are stunning".