Afraid to Love

Chapter 14

It was finally Monday. I rushed to school and ran straight to Brent's locker. "Hey there he said. "Um hi" I said. "So, your probably don't know many people yet. How about I help introduce you?" I said as I dragged him across the hallway pointing at people while telling him their names. "Why are you doing this?" He asked. "I'm just helping you meet new people" I simply stated. I could tell he didn't believe me. He led me to the roof of the school. We were all alone up there. "Why did you bring me here" I asked while my heart was beating fast. No Catherine! Just no. You can't like a guy again. It will just end up hurting you. For some reason, my heart kept beating like that though. Brent handed me a rose and said "I brought you up here to ask you a serious question" oh no, was all I could think. "Catherine, you're beautiful and amazing and smart. And quite frankly, the girl of my dreams. The question I am asking is Catherine will you be my girlfriend?" I felt my heart beating fast and my mouth hanging wide open. Of course I wanted to be his girlfriend. I liked him. I really did. But I didn't want to get hurt and that's why I was trying to find him a girlfriend, So that I would end up just forgetting about him. But all of a sudden the thought of getting him a girlfriend went out of my mind. I wanted to be his girlfriend. But I couldn't, I'd just get hurt again. I didn't know what to say. "Brent that was the sweetest thing anyone's ever said and I like you. I do. But I- I don't know." I stuttered. "I promise I won't hurt you like Cole. Not all guys are like him Catherine. Please give me a chance and take a risk. Please trust me. Be my girlfriend." He said sympathetically. I stared at those piercing blue eyes of his. They were full of sympathy. My subconscious shook me out of my thoughts, no Catherine. I know he has those charming blue eyes and that dazzling brown hair but you can't like him. Do you want to be hurt again? No. Please trust yourself and don't do this. It's for the better. I came back to real life when Brent said "soo?" "Oh.. Um... Look Brent. This isn't going to be easy and I'm.. Um.. Really sorry, but I have to say no."  "You're a nice guy and a great friend. It's just I'm not ready for another relationship. I have to trust my subconscious. I'm really sorry Brent but I have to say no." I continued. He just stared at me for a second then he went "damn it! I really like you. And I thought you really liked me. But I guess I rushed this I shouldn't of asked you right now. I should've waited. It's because of Cole isn't it?! That jerk! He ruined you" he practically screamed. The words went straight to my heart. The more I thought about it, the more I wondered, maybe Cole really did ruin me. Maybe he really did make it so I can never love again. Maybe he made it so I was afraid of love. Brent must of saw the hurt on my face because the next thing he said is "Catherine I'm so so sorry. I overreacted. Can we please forget this whole thing ever happened and just go back to being normal friends?" He asked. "Of course we can" I smiled weakly while the words he said still tore through my chest