My Bully

Love You's and Hate You's

Graduation Day

As I'm walking through the halls of the school in my black robes and cap, I see all of the other seniors wearing the same thing. Only one stands out the most, however. That one person is Devon. He's talking to his friends and leaning against the locker. It's been about one or two months since he could come to school and I still haven't had him remember me. He's still wearing my scrunchy though and I wear his pins he gave me every day. I twist the promise ring on my ring finger anxiously.

"Graduation! Ah, only four more years of this and then it's out into the actual world. Excited, Haylee?" Kit throws her arm around my neck as Dya comes into my view.

"Yeah, I am." Kit snorts.

"You sound like it. What's up?" I just stare at Devon. They get the clue. "Oh...Look, he might remember you soon. Just keep trying, okay?" I nod.

                      ————————————-
That was seven years ago. Now, I'm 25. I'm an assistant to the boss at a large fashion company called Heaven, I live in a small apartment that's big enough for two, but perfect size for me and my cat, Violet, and Devon has a girlfriend. I haven't been able to let go of him, so I've pushed away every single guy that has flirted with me. I saw on Devon's Instagram that he had a different scrunchy on his wrist and it wasn't mine. I don't think he'll remember me anytime soon.

Oh, and apparently, his girlfriend was an old friend of mine, Veronica. She told him what I've "done" to her. I guess I bullied her a lot through high school. I know I didn't, but he doesn't know that. So now he hates me.

The worst part? He works in the building right across from mine. He's also an assistant, but to Gadgets and Gizmos, a technology related business. I've seen him occasionally and tried to talk to him, but he ignores me and sometimes say, "I hate you!"

My question is how can you hate me when before the accident, you said you would love me forever?

So, here I am, waiting in front of his door in the apartment complex he lives in. I got his address from Josh. (Yes, we're still friends.) I see a tall, lean, tan skinned human walk towards me with Nike's shoes and I instantly know it's Devon. He stops just in front of me, but I can't bring myself to look at his eyes.

"What are you doing here?" I flinch at the hatred in his voice. I take a deep breath and look up. He's gotten taller. His eyes have gotten brighter, but they're cold looking at me. His freckles aren't even there anymore, or if they are, it's hard to tell.

"We need to talk." I'm surprised at the firmness in my voice considering I'm nervous as he**.

"There's nothing to talk about." He reaches around me to unlock his door. I slip in front of him as he tries to walk inside.

"Actually, there is." I stare at him. He stares back. His eyes soften all of sudden and his muscles relax slightly.

"Fine." I follow him in. He plops down on the couch and I sit beside him. "Talk."

"I don't know what Veronica has told you, but it's not true. I was dumped by her. She abandoned me. I haven't talked to her since 7th grade. Now, I know you don't remember me after the accident, but how you hate me when you loved me before?" His eyes show a sign of pain, a flash of remembrance, but it's gone as fast as it came.

"You're right. I don't remember what happened before the accident. But I remember the after. I remember Veronica being there for me. She's always been there for me. I've moved on. It's time for you to too."

"So this promise ring means nothing to you?!" I hold up my hand and point to the slightly dulled ring, but still as beautiful as ever. He stares at it for a long time. His left eyes twitches, as if he's annoyed. He then hold his head, like he has a headache. Is he remembering something?