Long Shot

Comeback

Breakups are usually glorified in the media. On TV, it's this big spectacle. Yelling, throwing chairs against the wall, impulse kissing. I've never broken up with anyone before, so that was my premature expectation of what it would be like. In reality, breaking up with someone does not just happen all at once. There's buildup. Like a test you know you failed. Even before you get the grade back, it's clear that you won't do well no matter what.
For a while, Charlotte and I had been like Charlotte at the gym. Not working out. We both knew it, too. The spark was gone. I was in love with Kaylee now.
I told Charlotte I wanted to meet her after school in our "private fun" corner, as she called it. It sucked knowing that Char had no idea what was coming.
I adjust my shirt about a thousand times. I take Charlotte's hands, to comfort her, but also myself. "Char, I need to tell you something."
"Let me guess. Your mom signed you up for ballerina camp again?" She said, laughing obnoxiously.
I bury my hands into my face and run them through my hair. "No, no not that."
"I bet it's that you got butt injections because your butt totally looks bigger than normal today."
"CHARLOTTE!" That seemed to calm her down. "I can't do this anymore, Char."
"What do you mean?" She asks, pouting her lip.
"I'm breaking up with you. I don't think our relationship is working out how either of us wants it to."
"You can't be doing this to me. AND on our 3 years and 47 day anniversary of our relationship?!" She screams.
I'd tell you what the heck the significance of that milestone is, but I stopped keeping track at the 40 day mark.
I sigh. "I know this is hard. I just feel like we don't feel the same as we used to." I pause.
I then close my eyes, and see Kaylee. Her face helped me remember why I was even breaking up with Charlotte in the first place.
I look at Charlotte as she's crying loudly. I never noticed this, but she kinda looks like a hyena. "We can still be friends." I say, petting her hand.
"Wow, you really think I'm so trash that you're literal dumping me?? Some guy you are!"
She rolls her eyes dramatically. "You're just doing this because you're screwing with that girl Kaylee."
Correction: I want to be "screwing" with "that girl Kaylee." I want to take her on long car rides and blast music out the windows. I want to look at her and know that she's all mine. I want to grab her and hold her waist and pull her in close.
The one thing I don't want is Charlotte.
"I should go." I say, grabbing my neck.
Charlotte finally calms down. She twirls her hair. "I don't want to, but I guess we have to."
We stand there for a moment, until I turn around and leave.

I couldn't wait to see Kaylee. Finally, I had no stupid boundaries. No Charlotte, no Luke, just the two of us.
I go through the double doors that I have entered a million times before. I spot Kaylee in the distance, and wave. God, only she can look so fucking hot without even trying. In fact, she's even hotter than usual when she plays basketball. Thank you, basic rules of physics.
At one point, Kaylee misses an easy shot. "If only you were a frog, then you'd make more jump shots." I tease.
"Shut up!" She shoves me playfully, and I push her back. "You don't exactly have hops either." She jokes back.
"Really? Try me!" I jump up and knock the ball aggressively out of her hands. But, instead of moving to get the ball, I stay there in front of her. Our eyes meet. I'm suddenly super aware of how close our heads are, I don't think they've been this close since dance class in fourth grade. I soon focus on her lips. I start to kiss her, and oh my God, did she lose her wings or something because this is literally heaven. Don't get me wrong, Charlotte was fine, but boy was I missing out.
You know those songs that have a good melodies, lyrics, and chorus, but you just can't get into them? They don't seem to have any depth or resonance. Now, think of songs that have soul. Real meaning. You can listen to them over and over again and they never lose their touch. That's what kissing Kaylee feels like.
Then, as if out of nowhere, Kaylee pulls away. I'm smiling like a dope, but she looks gloomy. Kaylee whispers something about me having a girlfriend, and I scrunch my eyebrows. I told her me and Charlotte are breaking up. That seems to comfort her, and we end up talking for a really long time about who-knows-what. Life, I guess. Us. It felt like sixth grade, when we would sit in the gym for hours and blabber about basketball statistics. Her eyes would light up as she spoke, which I always thought looked super pretty.
Huh. Maybe I've liked her for a longer than I thought. Whatever, doesn't matter now.
I look over to Kaylee, now resting on my shoulder.
I kiss her on the forehead. "Kay, we have to go. The gym is closing." I whisper.
Her eyes flutter. "Do we have to?"
I glance over to the janitor across the room, who winks at me. I grin, then shrug. "Nah."