Happily Ever After Comes At A Price

Chapter 12: You Have Been Warned

    Another day passes by, and yet I am in awe of all the events that have managed to intertwine me in them within a mere three months.

   Starting fresh in a new country, finding Eli, making friends with Josh, getting acquainted with a completely new education system, and of course, everything that has happened with Trey...

    It seems feels like a lucid dream, a mindless euphoria that showers me with more uncertainty than joy. I'm happy that Trey sees something in me.

    But what does he see in myself that I don't?

    Right now, all I know is that he needs me to be there with him, for him. As a human being, that's the least I can do for anybody. And for Trey, I'll be willing to do anything to keep that brightness in his dark eyes...

***

   "Hey... Lee? What's up with you? Why do you seem so distant today?"

    Eli's voice was dripping with concern and my heart clenched at that. She was worrying about me while I questioned my self-worth... I needed to tell her everything, I don't know from where else I can clear my... dubiety.

    "Eli..." here goes nothing, "I have something urgent to tell you. Meet me at recess, near the empty bleachers, okay?"

     She nods assent, and I leave trying desperately to arrange the whirlpool of thoughts in my head, wondering why I felt this acute need to confess everything to her.

***

   "Trey took me out on a date." I blurt out, avoiding her eyes, carefully inspecting the dirt underneath me.

    "What???" Eli coughs out on the chocolate milk she had been sipping through our silence, her eyes must be flaming with incredulity.

    "Yeah... You didn't come yesterday, we went to the park, he made us a picnic. We went on to talk for more than two hours. And now I'm so confused about what to do..."

    I dared to look up through my lashes, only to find out her gaze steadfast on the grey sky, her face contorted with... pain?

    "Why did you have to do that Lee?" she finally breathes out after moments of stifled silence.

    "Why him?" she repeats in a whisper that I could barely catch.

     And all of a sudden, the air between us humidifies. I don't know where she's going with this but I can already feel my defenses going up.
  
     "What do you mean?" I reply with an unnecessary hiss.

     Eli sits up straight this time, her eyes clearly accusing me."Tell me Selina, why Treyton? Why not Josh? Or any other guy? Why him, in partcular?"

    "I like him and from what he says, he likes me too."

    "Oh, he does, does he? He doesn't talk to anybody in this school and out of the blue, he can't live without seeing you one day...? Is that what you're implying? His sudden obsession turned your head? Or having someone like you turned your head so much that you can't think, that you can't see the problems in front of you?"

    "What the heck Eli? You can't talk to me like that." She shouldn't talk to me like that.

    "Oh, no. I can talk to you any way I want to. Because, dummy..." she slaps the side of my head, "I'm not letting you get hurt. I've known Trey since we were kids... he's trouble... and with him, I know you'll get hurt. I'm don't wanna see you anywhere near him. Please. It's for your own good. I've seen what he can do. Things which I'm sure he won't tell you. He'll say he's protecting you from his past, and knowing you, you'll let it slide. You can't let emotions mix with people like him. It's too... dangerous..."

    Huh?

    "You have to give me a reason why, Eli..." I say, timidly. Trying to hold back my frustration.

    "I-I... I can't..."

    That hits my nerve.

    "Oh, so you want to me to avoid someone who I like and who likes me back, and you won't give me one darn reason why?" I scoff, eyeing her, "What? Do you want him for yourself and now you're jealous of me getting close to him? Huh?"

      And in that instant, all the fuming rage she had about my misadventures seeped away. It was now replaced with out hurt and anguish.

     "Listen Selina..." her voices cracks slightly, "All I want for you to be happy and safe. It's not my place to tell you what Trey has done wrong or is doing wrong. You're one of the few people who... who's accepted me for me, without questions. The last thing I want is to hurt you, but please..." she takes my hands in hers, "Please, listen to me this once and don't fall for Treyton. You'll only get hurt. You need to put a stop to your emotions right now, before it's too late. No one else will warn you. So, listen to me..."

      But no.

      The problem with smitten teenagers is that they never hold back when it comes to defending their emotions.

      They forget friendship comes first before everything...

      So did I.

      Hence, I did the worst possible thing anyone could do to their best friend.

      "You want me to hold back my emotions? Is that really this simple? Who are you kidding? You're not even a proper girl. What do YOU even know about emotions?"