The Boy Next Door

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

"Good morning," Evan greeted Thursday morning as I walked outside. He'd met me on my driveway.

"Hey." I smiled. Inside of my stomach I could feel butterflies fluttering around. I had come to see him in a romantic way over the past week and was starting to think I might say yes.

"Ready then?"

"You're driving me to school?" I asked. He didn't usually because he had to be somewhere early. And tomorrow was the last day of school before spring break, which was amazing.

"Yep. I finally got to sleep until six-thirty this morning." I shook my head in a silent laugh and walked over to his car. On the road, he brought up how much fun he'd had with Madelyn on Saturday.

"I don't usually do things like that with her." I agreed. "It was nice to spend some time bonding and playing with her. Maybe she'll actually miss me when I leave for college."

"Of course she'll miss you."

There was silence then. "Evan," I started.

"Mhm?" He was simple, I liked that. He wasn't trying too hard to pay close attention to me.

"You remember that question you asked me Saturday?" He nodded, waiting anxiously for me to continue. "I think I decided."

"You have?" His voice was urgent; he wanted an answer that second.

"Yes, I'll go out with you."

He smiled brightly. "That's great. Tomorrow night then?"

I nodded, a smile lighting up my face too. "Sure."

"I'll come pick you up at seven." It was then that we pulled up to the school and I got out of his car, feeling light. But there was also a nagging feeling.

I had to tell Brianna.

"He--he what?" She choked out.

"Yeah. Evan asked me out."

"And what did you say?"

I didn't answer and looked up at her through my eyelashes. She stumbled backward and sat on her bed. "You said yes?"

I nodded sheepishly.

Her tears made me almost rethink my decision. "How could you? Do you have any idea how attached and hurt I still am? It's been months since he broke up with me. Months. That's it."

"I'm sorry, Bri. I know how much he hurt you--"

"You don't seem to get it!" She shouted. "You've done nothing but take from this relationship! I sacrificed being with you all afternoon on weekends, coming over to your house for lunch occasionally, talking to you at school and church sometimes, and you've done nothing but take more and more. I let you talk to him, I let that be okay. I let him drive you back from school because I know how much you hate the bus. Have you once thought of anyone but yourself? Have you?"

"I gave up a lot too, Brianna."

"Please, enlighten me."

I took a deep, calming breath. "I have, in the past, given up being with you when you were dating some guy that demanded all your attention. You practically ignored me whenever he was around. Do you know how much that hurt me? To have no one but my family to even talk to? It may seem like a small thing to you, but that cut me deeper than any knife could.

"I've given up going to activities because of you too. When your parents wouldn't sign the permission slip to let you come on field trips, who stayed back with you? I never even mentioned how much I wanted to go on those trips, because I knew it would only make you feel bad. I have not only taken things here. You've taken as much as I."

"Out. Get out." She threw a pillow at me.

"Gladly." I stalked out of her room and sighed. Why did that go like that? Why did she have to be so angry with me?

Outside, I felt tears falling down my cheeks and knew I couldn't go back home. Nor could I go to Evan's house, he didn't need to see me now. I decided to go to the clearing I'd followed him to before.

I found it again, with little difficulty. The tree didn't seem to be a hazard anymore, I thought as I stepped out into the grassy area.

Somewhere nearby I heard a bird chirp. This was exactly what I needed. Sereneness, silence, and above all, to be in the calming presence of my heavenly Father. Sitting down by the tree, I closed my eyes and laid back against it.

My tears were drying, but I didn't feel any better. I could just see my string of friendship with Brianna being cut in half.

"You come here too?" My eyes snapped open when I heard Evan's voice.

"Sometimes," I said, my voice dry. "Why are you here?"

"Parental trouble," he sighed. "Are you okay?" As he came closer he could see my tear-stained cheeks and puffy red eyes.

"Brianna wasn't too happy with me when she found out," I mumbled. "It's a good thing I'm friends with you and Scotty then, right?" I actually hadn't talked to Scotty but a few times, and he seemed nice. Perhaps I'd become closer friends with him now that Brianna and I weren't friends anymore.

"Sorry about that. She may have been talking just out of shock. In a few days I think you should try talking to her again."

"You think so?" He nodded. I took a breath and nodded. "I guess. So, what did you mean by 'parental trouble'?"

It was his turn to sigh then. "Oh, Dad and I get in arguments every once in a while. It's nothing, really."

I let the topic drop and smiled. "Well, I had better be going. I have a date to get ready for."

He smiled too.

"What should I wear?"

"Anything. But you might be comfortable dressing up."