Love Lies

Sparks

        When Gia asked me if I wanted to be friends again, I didn’t know what to say. It came as a total shock, given our history. So, I told her I would think about it. But, for some odd reason, she kept asking me throughout the day. So, gave in and said yes. But, I’m still gonna have an eye on her. I still don’t believe she’s pregnant.

        A couple days later, I invited Theo to come over so we can work on the lab and hopefully get to know each other better. I think it would be awfully weird if we just worked on the lab together in full silence. Plus, he’s new so I’m pretty sure he’s looking for a friend to have for guidance.

        While I’m setting up the the living room table with snacks and drinks, Chris texts me saying, ‘Hey, babe. I miss you! Can I come over?’ I want to respond but decide not to. I don’t know why but I just don’t

        The doorbell rings and it I see Theo holding a small bouquet of flowers.

        “Hi… What’s up with the flowers?” I ask.

        “Hi,” he says with that charming, wide smile. “I bought these for your mother. Back at home it was always respectful to bring the Mrs. of the home when it was your first time over. Is she here?”

        “No, but it’s very sweet of you,” I say with a smile.

        “Well, then, I guess these are for you.”

        He hands me the flowers and I sniff them. He gets more and more charming the more we hang out.

        “Oh, uh, come in,” I say with a gesture. I guide him to the couch and tell him to get comfortable while I put the flowers in water. I can’t help but smile while I look at them.

        When I walk back in the living room, Theo is snacking on some chips. I sit next to him and offer him something to drink. We sit there in silence for a couple of minutes. This is exactly what I didn’t want to happen. I think of questions to ask and we both say, “So-”

        We laugh and I say, “Go ahead.”

        “I was just going to ask if you could tell me about yourself?”

        “Well, what do you want to know?”

        “I don’t know, uh, what’s your favorite color, I guess?”

        I giggle and say, “Green. What about you?”

     “It was purple but then, I saw the color brown your eyes were and it changed,” he says with a wink.

        I grin but then realize, I have a boyfriend. Although I enjoy it, the flirting has to stop. But, I really don’t want it to.

        “Look, Theo, you’re really sweet and cute, but I have a boyfriend,” I say with dismay.

        “You think I’m cute?” he says with a slight grin.

        “I’m serious, Theo. The little flirty gestures need to stop. Okay?”

        “Alright. It’ll drive me mad but, alright. So tell me about him, then. Who is he?”

        “His name is Chris. He goes to our school but I don’t think you’ve met him yet.”

        “How long have you been together.?” he asks even though I’m pretty sure he really doesn’t want to know.

        “Well, it’s kind of a rollercoaster. A pretty long story actually,” I say realizing how much has happened in the past two months.

        “I’m all ears,” he says eagerly.

        “Ok. Well we started dating again about a week ago but, before that we took a break, I guess.”

        “Again? A break? I’m lost!”

     “Well, my best- ex-best friend Gia, the girl that bragged about being pregnant the other day, told us she was pregnant after she learned that Chris was cheating on her with me for about 2 ½ weeks. And me and Chris didn’t talk for the past two weeks so, that’s where the break comes from, I guess,” I say in one breath.

        “Wow. That’s, uh, a lot. Why are with him exactly? It just seems like if you were with him behind your friend’s back, you must not really mean that much to him.”

       “I love him,” I say. But, when I do, I begin to question myself. Then I say, “I mean, yeah we began to date while he was with someone but, I’ve liked him since before they started dating. Being with him now is a dream come true.” I had to say that out loud. Just to reassure myself that I was with the right person.

        “Well, whatever the backstory may be, I still think you could do better. Honestly, if I were you I would date someone else. Someone British maybe,” he says while winking.

         I laugh and say, “ Theo… I told you to stop that. Let’s just start this lab. I think we’ve had enough procrastination for one day.”

        “Alright, but it’s never bad to look at other options,” he says while taking his Chemistry textbook out of his bag.

        As we begin working, I think about what Theo said. He could be wrong but I don’t think he is. The pros to cons ratio of Chris and I’s relationship is about 1:5. Did I make the right decision? Should I be with Chris?