Another Love Story (editing)

Chapter 5: "Chances"

The next morning, I intentionally came to school a bit later than usual. If it meant I could avoid Ed, I'd take it. I snooped around which made me look like I was stalking someone, or maybe a criminal trying not to get noticed; I could even have been compared to some kind of paparazzi following a controversial star.

I saw Eddie on the staircase talking with someone, but I couldn't quite figure out who it was. So much for avoiding him, right? So instead, I loomed a little closer and eavesdropped.

"I don't understand her. I know I was blind, but now I can clearly see that she's the one. But isn't she supposed to be happy? We both like each other, what's there to think of?" I heard Ed say.

I inched a little closer, careful not to be seen. "Steven?" I accidentally muttered out loud. I immediately smothered my mouth into my fist. But I was far too late. They both turned and saw me.

"Addie?" they said in chorus.

I let out a breath and straightened up, frowning at Ed as I did so.

"Come on Steve, leave the guy alone," I said, tugging his arm. He looked at Ed, shrugged his shoulders and gave of a loud sigh.

"I guess you know what the problem is; more importantly, WHO the problem is," I said as I glared at Edgar. I tugged Steve to someplace we could talk without Ed being around.

"Sorry dude," he turned to Eddie, "gotta run." I kept on walking I didn't know where to go but my feet didn't stop. All I knew was that tears were threatening to leak from my eyed, and I was desperately making a way to get Eddie out of my sight. I forgot that Steven was following me.

"So he's the reason?" Steve said grabbing my elbow.

"Yes! Are you happy now?" I said glaring at him. I blinked to try and force my tears back. No way was I crying when Ed had the chance to see me.

"I'm so sorry," he said as he calmed me down, "I'm sorry, I just couldn't stand watching you cry. I felt helpless because I didn't even know what to do," he said, defending his actions.

"Wait, what? I don't remember ever crying in front of you." My jaw tensed as I looked at him.

"Yesterday, I bumped into you, you were crying." He was looking at me with sad eyes. "I tried to talk to you, but you just walked past me. I wanted to know what was wrong. But you have fast feet." There was an almost smile on his lips before he feell serious again. "But now that I know, I become even more confused. I don't understand why you cried, or why you stay away from Ed. Didn't you want him to love you back?"

I shook my head. It wasn't just that simple. "I do want to love him back. I really do, but I've already trained my heart to try and not love him." I stepped back, feeling a lump forcing its way up my throat and I had to breathe before I'd leak. "I thought I didn't have the chance to win his heart, believed that I was building false hopes. I got over him." A hollow chuckle left my lips as I shook my head. This was I wanted. So why was I so afraid? Why was I so scared now that this was finally happening? "Man!! Was I blind?" I spun around, waving my arms in the air to express my rage (at myself, mostly.) "I saw how extra sweet and considerate he was to me. STUPID!! I'm so stupid. Why didn't I see this coming?" I said to vent the pain and confusion.

All of a sudden I felt a different kind of warmth. It made my blood run faster and sent shivers down my spine. It was almost tempting to relax into the arms that was holding me. I turned to see who it was. "Ed?" I raised my voice, "Wha...?"

"Shh..." he interrupted. "You're not the stupid one, I am. I didn't realize what magic we had until the moment it struck me, until I realized that I've fallen for you. I was there, obsessing over some chick I had only met once. You were here, happy enough to provide what I ask. But at some point, I realized it all changed. At some point, it became less about Lin and more about you. Could you give me a second chance? Just one chance?" he said as his dark brown eyes stared into mine.

As I tried not to stare back, I turned to Steven for a split second. I looked back into Ed's eyes, "Fine, You have ONE chance."

I called Steven and grabbed his arm again. Really, there must be some kind of freak occurrence where I had to turn to the school trouble maker for comfort.

"What did he mean by 'chance'?" Steven asked when Ed was out of earshot.

"I really don't know," I answered "whatever it is, he mustn't waste his chance." Steven was kind enough to lead me to my classroom. As soon as I arrived, I directly went to my seat and sat down. But not before muttering a small goodbye to my friend.

Somehow I felt empty. I felt like I needed something. My heart just felt like it was out of fresh blood. I couldn't concentrate in class. All I did was doodle on the empty pages of my notebook. Before I even realized, it was already lunch time. Gigi called out my name, Terence right beside her. We head towards the cafeteria, or so I thought. "Where are we going?" I asked both of them, noticing that we already passed the cafeteria.

"We're gonna eat at the OB for a while." Terence said.

"OB?" I wondered out loud.

"It's short for Old Building, the abandoned one beside the soccer field. The group decided to eat there just for the day," Gigi explained.

I was unsure about the idea, but I had no choice. I didn't want to eat alone. Soon enough, it was right in sight. The OB. I didn't really get the point with having to walk all the way to the other side of the school for this.

"Oh right!" Gigi exclaimed as if she forgot something, "I'll be right back." She sounded a little too perky to be convincing.

"I'll come with you." Terence said, following her.

I simply shrugged and turned around to follow them back but Terence quickly blocked the way. "You go on ahead," he nodded towards the old building.

I frowned, already suspicious. But I doubted they'd let me come with them. Stubborn bunch, my friends are.

"Just go inside the building and follow the hearts!" she said as they broke into a run.