The Stolen Heart

You aren't just a star to me your the whole damn night sky

Mom made me go home. I was so mad, but I did it anyways. She made me go back home right after me spoke.
I texted Dad to told him I landed about a half hour ago. I'm driving home now.
It feels wrong to not run right to Bradley's house.
But I know I can't.
We're not exactly on speaking terms right now...
I pull in the driveway and get out. Sighing, I walk in the house.
It's not just Noah and Dad.
No, it's Mrs. Scone, Danny, Morgan, and...
And Bradley.
My eyes get wide.
"Run off and you're grounded till you graduate."
My eyes are wide and I swear I'm going to puke.
"I'm eighteen next week." I reply, and then I turn around and run out the door.
I hear Dad say something, and then I hear footsteps pounding behind me.
I run as fast as I can away from whoever is chasing me.
Strong arms lock around my waist and the faint scent of cologne fills my nostrils.
Bradley.
"I know you left because of me. I know your running because of me...I get you don't know what to do, but I'm not going to let one little kiss destroy our relationship. If the feeling isn't mutual, fine, I get it, if it is, wonderful. The only way I'm happy is with you with me. Stop running away from me. We need to talk about this."
I'm breathing heavily and his lips are right next to my ear.
I push out of his arms. "How the hell are you not out of breath?" I pant. He looks over his shoulder at my house, which is only about one hundred yards from where we're standing.
"We were hardly running."
"You fit cunt." I grumble. He laughs, and then I laugh, and then we're both standing there roaring in laughter.
"What are we doing, Ems?" he asks, sitting down on the sidewalk. I sit down with him and sigh.
"I don't know." I whisper. "But I don't like you like me."
His eyebrows furrow.
"Bradley, I think you love me."
He's quiet for a long time. "Well...you know me too well." He whispers. I look him in the eyes. I've never realized how blue his eyes are.
"I don't know what I want." I whisper.
"Tell me what your feeling." He whispers.
"I'm scared." I mumble. "I'm so scared that I'll just lose you like every other guy."
"I'm not every other guy." He whispers. "A break up won't get rid of me. I'm here to stay."
I sigh.
I kind of want to kiss him again. It felt good the last time.
"Bradley! We're leaving!" Mrs. Scone yells.
He stands up and holds his hand down to me. I take it and he pulls me up.
I follow him to my house.
Everyone leaves.
When I go inside, Dad gives me an annoyed look.
"Why didn't you come to me about Bradley?" he demands.
"You're a guy." I say.
"Sexist!" Noah says.
"No I'm not, I'd just prefer Mom. You guys are too overprotective."
"You're grounded until your birthday." Dad says.
I don't even complain because my birthday is the day after tomorrow.

****

By the next day, I've put up so many walls. When I'm in a bad mood, I don't acknowledge it or tell Bradley.
I walk to my table at lunch and Morgan, Danny, and Bradley are already sitting.
Everyone gets dead silent. I look around to see Tyler, who has a cast on his arm, storming over here.
Bradley's eyes narrow.
He stops right in front of me. "I just want you to know, I hate you, you're a whore, a bitch, and a slut." He tells me.
Bradley stands up.
"Fuck you Tyler." I say. "You don't know anything. You don't know me."
"I dated you for six months. I think I know you."
"You don't know me at all. Go wank in a corner."
His face gets red with anger.
He starts raising his hand to slap me. Bradley looks like he's going to pummel him again.
I grab his wrist.
"You have one good arm left. Fuck off or I let Bradley break that one too."
He looks at Bradley and then goes storming off.
Everyone starts cheering.
I sit back down. Bradley does too, his fists clenched.
"Why didn't you let me break his other arm?" he demands.
"Because I don't want you to go to jail again." I say.
"It's worth it." He mutters.
My phone vibrates.
Mom: I know your at school and don't tell dad but I'm filing for divorce and then moving back to Connecticut to be there for you and Noah
Me: really?!?!?!
Mom: yes
I'm grinning from ear to ear.
"What?" Bradley asks.
"Nothing." I say.
The intercom clicks on.
"Bradley Scone, please come to the principals office."
All of us look at Danny because his Dad is the principal. He shrugs.
Bradley gets up and walks off, bringing his stuff with him.
We all wait impatiently to find out what happened.
We make small talk to distract ourselves.
A half hour later, I get a text.
Bradley: Im running away
Me: why?
Bradley: because
Me: why? What happened?
Bradley: come outside
I grab my shit and walk out the doors. He's waiting.
"What happened?" I ask.
He turns around and he looks like he's going to cry.
"Bradley." I say impatiently.
"My Dad." He mutters.
His Dad left when he was six.
I wait, nervous.
"He's back. I'm running away."
He looks over my shoulder. I do too, and I see an older version of Bradley watching us.
"Bradley." I catch his hand as he turns to run off. "Running isn't the answer."
"What is the answer then? I have nothing!"
"What about me?" I whisper.
He sighs.
"Tell me what your thinking."
"I don't have you the way I want you." He whispers. "I want you like this." He leans down and kisses me. It's just a peck, and then he pulls away.
"Bradley." I sigh.
"Just please..." He sighs. "Let me do this."
"No. Just stay with me till the end of the school year. Then we can run away...together."
"I'm not waiting."
He turns around and walks towards his car.
"If you run away I'll kill myself." I threaten, because I can't live without Bradley, and I don't even know why. I will actually do it. To see him walk away from me physically pains me. The bell for next class rings but I don't move.
"I'm going." He says.
"Fine!" I say. He watches me as I storm towards the busy road.
"EMMA!" He screams.
I step right into traffic.
If I have to live without Bradley then I just won't live.
The speed limit here is only twenty.

BRADLEY'S POV

A car slams on the emergency break, going at least ten over the speed limit, and it jerks to a stop right in front of her.
I run over there and pick Emma up, not casting a glance at the driver as I bring her over to where I was standing, hugging her fiercely.
"Are you crazy?" I yell at her. "You would've died!"
"I will if you leave me." She replies.
I knot my fingers in her hair and rest my forehead against hers.
This is a couple thing, I know it is, and she knows it is.
She doesn't pull away.

EMMA'S POV

I don't want to pull away from him.
"Please." He whispers. "Never do that again."
"Are you going to leave me?"
"No. I'm here to stay."
He pulls away first. "But I'm still going home."
"Well so am I." I say. I hug him goodbye and we go our separate ways.

****

Later that night, I'm on my bed, staring at the ceiling in a tank top and red spandex.
How am I supposed to listen to my heart?
I thought it was easy.
Today was different. I mean, I noticed everything we do like a couple.
It's everything. All the things we do are like we're couples.
Sighing, I pull out my phone and google, "quotes on not knowing if you love someone"
I go through the quotes and start reading them.
Waiting hurts. Forgetting hurts. But not knowing what decision to take can sometimes be the most painful.
That is so true.
Why am I so afraid to lose you, when you aren't even mine?
That's not necessarily true. Bradley is mine to an extent.
You don't want an extent!
Fuck you
But my conscience is right. I don't want an extent. I just want Bradley to be mine and I want to glare at every whore that looks at him.
Sighing, I scroll to the next one.
If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally; not only because they love you, but because they are teaching you how to love and opening your heart and eyes to things you would never have seen or felt without them.
I sigh. Today was different.
The thought of losing Bradley today literally ripped my heart out of my chest and threw it at the car that almost ran me over.
The intimate feeling I felt when his forehead was against mine today really distracted me and changed me.
If you know why you love someone, it means that you do not love him.
Well, I know I love Bradley in a way, and I don't really know why.
I feel my phone vibrate on my lap. I pick it up.
Bradley: I know this is quiet forward, but look outside at the sky.
Me: okay...
I look out my window.
Bradley: what do you see?
Me: stars and my neighbors house and grass
Bradley: I have to tell you something
Me: Okay...
Bradley: you aren't just a star to me, your the whole damn night sky
I gasp, my hand clamping over my mouth. Tingles spread through my body and my goosebumps rise.
Tears slip out of my eyes at how sweet he is.
I know right at this moment that I love Bradley.
I love him as more than a friend.
My eyes flicker to my computer screen.
If you have to think about whether or not you love someone, the answer is no. When you love someone, you just know.
I don't even have to think about it.
I'm in love with my best friend.