Gage Cilleti has just begun his junior year of high school, and is becoming more and more involved in his school's activities, considering he'd been playing baseball since he was just seven-years-old.
Elijah McCay has just dropped out of school, du...
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"Elijah." Terrance doesn't seem fazed, only nods his head understandingly, as though he knows exactly how I'm feeling. My fingers fiddle with the door handle beside me, eyes glued to the ground, refusing to meet his.
I'd been avoiding the thought of Elijah. And I'd gone to such extreme lengths, going as far as calling my ex, and trying to suck his face off, while he proceeded to tell me about the boy he loved.
I was so, so pathetic. Because it seemed as though everyone was falling in love with someone, or being fallen in love with—except me. Even Rick had been pursuing the redhead from Terrance's party a few weeks ago.
"Why does he make you feel lonely?" Terrance presses on, leaning closer to me, as though trying his best to make me feel comfortable. I smile faintly at his distant efforts.
Shrugging, I push a piece of hair behind my heated ear. "It's not that he makes me feel lonely, I just—well, I don't know what he makes me feel."
"Yeah, you do," he pushes, deep voice softening as he speaks. "You're just too afraid to admit to yourself, for some reason."
I already know the answer to that unethical accusation, but after the fair, I don't want to admit my feelings any further. I don't want to give my heart any more room to fall for him. Because for someone—I can't seem to stop.
I'd felt these feelings before. It was the same spur of excitement that bundled in the pit of my stomach, at orientation, freshman year. And it was the same damn feeling that I got that night at the candy store.
It was the sort of gut-wrenching feeling—as though with one look at him, I knew that somehow, someway, he'd be important to me. Whether that was romantically, platonically—I couldn't tell back then.
I could now, though. But the issues were still standing proud, and clear. He'd never feel the same way.
"So, I'll ask again," he laughs wholeheartedly, holding a fist to his chest, and watching me carefully. "Why are you lonely, Gage?"
It takes me a moment to gather my answer, as I pluck my cellphone out from inside of my pocket, checking to see if he's called, or even texted. He has. I've got three messages, and a missed call from Elijah.
I want to so badly talk to him again, but I don't want him to think that he can just push me around just because I have a thing for him. What kind of person would that make him? The kind who takes their friends for granted.
Or what about me? The kind of person who allows that kind of treatment from someone they admire?
Pathetic.
"I'm lonely because every guy I'm interested in, is an asshole." I chuckle at my own expense, sliding my cellphone back into my sweatshirts pocket.
He reaches over for the center console of his car, turning down the air, when it begins to nip at our already cooling skin. "Was I an asshole?" His lips quirk a bit at that, although they plunge into a dip—that turns into a guilty smile. Because he already knows the answer to that.
"The very first." I reply, tipping my head back against the headrest, again.
Terrance nods in correspondence, elbow depending on his knee for support. In that moment, I hope that he doesn't treat Rory the way he treated me. I hope he doesn't let his past actions dictate his heart. Because what a waste of love it would be, if so-called Rory would to walk away from him.
Because I'd kill to feel even an ounce of the love he seems to feel for Rory—from anyone. And I wish I could let go of that habit, because truth be told—it didn't my healthiest.
"Are you nice to him?" My words are whispered, so lightly spoken that he almost loses them in the cool, summer air.
"To Rory?" Terrance asks, voice just as light as mine.
Nodding, I scratch the back of my neck, a yawn seeping through my parted lips. I hadn't noticed how tired I'd become, after doing so much talking. "I, uh, I think so. But then again, how nice could I have been, since I got fucking dumped."
I frown, crossing both arms across my surging chest. "He dumped you? Why?"
After the words are spoken, I soon realize that they are too intrusive, and too straight-forward. He doesn't answer right away, only clearing his throat awkwardly. "I'm sorry, you don't have to tell me."
Terrance waves a hand, as though waving it off. "No, it's fine. I don't mind spilling. And I mean, who the fuck else am I gonna gossip to?" He laughs.
"Right."
His face returns back to its saddened, reduced state. "It was a few days ago, actually. I had just left some stupid party one of the guys threw, and I was a little drunk. Things were crazy a-and I don't even remember what the hell happened. I was super spaced out, and I just remember going over to his place, because I wanted to crash there for the night."
I listen intently, ready to listen to the rest of his side of the story. "A-And when I got there, he started yelling and crying, and I asked what was wrong and he showed me some picture of me making out with some girl.
"I didn't even recognize her face, but the night had been so weird, there was no way that I could deny it. I mean, it was right in front of me." He took a moment, eyes squeezing shut, apparently trying his best to stop the memories from bombarding his head.
"Then, the next thing I knew, he was slamming the door in my face, telling me that we were over. The hardest fucking thing I've ever had to hear." He spoke into his clenched fist, words hardly escaping the clasped hand.
I felt bad for him, but then again, I wondered why he would've messed around behind Rory's back, if his feelings were this deep. But I didn't ask any further questions, simply minding my own business, and giving Terrance a nod of acknowledging sympathy.
"I'm sorry, T." I whispered, reaching forward and clutching onto his shoulder. Hopefully, the two of them found their way back to one another, and were able to overcome it.
But for now, I was finally ready to get back to my own. To return back to school the next morning, and face everything I've spent all weekend running from. And now, I was ready to face it head-on.
And I could only hope that good things would come from it.
A/N - I wasn't going to write this chapter this way, but I wanted to give you guys a bit of an insight to Rory and Terrance's relationship. Since lots of you seemed interested last chapter :)
