The Stroud Family and I

Chapter: 9

Chapter 9: A fresh start

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I can't get my mind off of her. I literally can't. Ever since her best friend called me, I can't focus, I can't sleep, she is all I think about. I know that probably sounds obsessive and creepy and overly weird, but I'm not joking. The fact that I now know that she has a boyfriend and is trying to move on with her life makes my heart actually heart. I know all of this is my fault. I started this situation because my stupid, uncontrollable mouth got in the way. I have to do something, I can't just sit here like I said I was going to do.

Ever since Sidney told me about her getting with Kale I tried to look at other girls and imagine me being with them instead of Cleo, but every time I try, I always end up just comparing them to Cleo, and in the end, Cleo always wins. I'll look at a girl and there is always something off about them. Oh, she's not as short as Cleo. Her smiles not as perfect as Cleo's. I can't control myself when it comes to Cleo. I love her, I really, truly do. She is my everything, I can't let her get away from me and I don't know what to do. Finally deciding on my best option, I picked up my phone and quickly dialed Sidney's number. She picked up on the third ring.

"Colton."

"Um...hey Sidney."

"Why are you calling me Colton?"

"I need your help...with how I'm going to try and win Cleo back."

"Oh. It took you a whole freaking week to finally realize? I thought you'd never call me back, I was actually getting a bit worried there."

Rolling my eyes, I said

"Okay, no need to rub it in, what do I do? I have no idea what to do. We both go home in less than a week for Christmas break. We have three weeks off, and that Kale guy lives in California so she's probably going to be hanging with him most of the time."

"Dude, Colton, come on, have you lost your charm or something? She fell for you for a reason! Just make her fall for your charm again."

I rubbed my face in irritation.

"It's not that easy! That's why I'm talking to you. I don't know what to do."

"Aw, poor little helpless Colty asking for my help. I don't really feel like helping."

"Come on, please, I really would like your help."

There was a laugh on the other end of the phone.

"Oh alright, you don't have to beg, gosh. Anyways, it's not that complicated. Just do something she would like."

"Like give her flowers and stuff?"

"No! God, you're more helpless than I thought. She didn't fall in love with you because you were a cheesy guy who did cheesy stuff for her. I mean for gods sake, you took her horseback riding, you made her go skydiving, you took her teepeeing! You're the guy every girl wants because you're the guy who lives on the edge. You make her live. So now just make her live again. She's with Kale, a guy who takes her bowling and on little ice cream dates. While shes in California at the same time as you for break, take her and make her realize what she's missing in not being with you."

I nodded my head and thought about it for a moment. She did make some sort of sense in a way.

"Okay, okay, that sounds good."

"Oh, and do something about yourself."

"About myself? What do you mean?"

"Like, I don't know, change something about yourself that she'll notice."