It Must Have Been Love

Lay a whisper on my pillow, leave the winter on the ground.

I wake up lonely, there's air of silence in the bedroom and all around.

Touch me now, I close my eyes and dream away.

It must have been love but it's over now.

It must have been good but I lost it somehow.

It must have been love but it's over now.

From the moment we touched 'til the time had run out.

Make-believing we're together, that I'm sheltered by your heart.

But in and outside I've turned to water like a teardrop in your palm.

And it's a hard Christmas day, I dream away.

It must have been love but it's over now,

it was all that I wanted, now I'm living without.

It must have been love but it's over now,

it's where the water flows, it's where the wind blows.

-P. Gessle

Chapter One

Shelby walked briskly down the street. Traffic bustled by and store windows beckoned to shoppers. She was happy, yet still dreading what was to come. It was July and the weather was beautiful. She was heading down the street to her boyfriend Kevin's apartment. She was going to a family picnic later with him and his family. Her own family was back at home, in her hometown of Spruce Grove. She had lived with them for 2 years after leaving Mount Horizon at age 17. She had worked hard to leave for after Scott had left there was nothing for her to stay there for. Unfortunately, she hadn't seen him since then either. But Shelby prided herself on moving on, even though she still wished she could see him. Now, at the age of 19, she was going to school and trying to boost her marks so she could start university and study business. She turned the corner and arrived at Kevin's apartment building. Kevin was standing there, waiting for her.

"C'mon," he said, twirling his keys. "Let's go." Shelby followed him to the parking lot and got in his silver mustang. Shelby hated that car because it was Kevin's pride and joy- he loved it as much, if not more, than her. That was why she needed to talk to him. Kevin pulled out of the parking lot.

"Can you grab me my sunglasses?" he asked, gesturing to the glove compartment. Shelby pulled them out.

"Listen, Kev, we need to talk," she said, handing the glasses to him.

"Of course we do babe. We've got a future to plan," he said, flashing a smile at her. Shelby sighed. He never listened to her. It was obvious that she was nervous. She glanced at the promise ring on her finger, the ring that Kevin had given her weeks before. She had truly loved him then. Now she wasn't so sure. He was nice and cute, but he wasn't what she needed in a relationship. She felt as though she were a hobby of his, that if something else came up, it was ok to put her off until later. Shelby sighed.

"We need to talk now," Shelby said forcefully.

"All right, all right," Kevin sighed. He pulled the car over. "I'm listening, but we need to hurry. Terwillegar Park is still more than 50 km away and we need to be there in 10 minutes." Shelby glared at him.

"It's fine. We don't need to stop," she said quietly.

"What? I didn't catch that, babe,"

"Its FINE," Shelby insisted. "Let's just keep going." She crossed her arms and looked out the window.

"Ok, no need to be bitchy about it," Kevin muttered, starting the mustang again.

Shelby looked up at the clouds, bored. She could hear the kids running and screaming through the park and the adults talking nearby. She heard someone walking behind her and she turned around. It was Kevin.

"What's up?" he asked, concerned.

"Nothing you want to hear about," Shelby muttered.

"What's that?"

"Nothing. Everything's fine." Kevin sat down beside her and lifted up her chin with his hand. She pushed it away.

"I can tell when something's bothering you. What is it, Shelby?" he asked.

"Can we talk about this later?" Shelby said.

"Whatever you need to say, you can say it right here," Kevin was obviously getting annoyed.

"Fine," Shelby snapped. "I'm sick of being second best, of always being left behind or put aside for something else. I'm sick of this relationship, Kevin. I've thought about this for a long time and I've made a decision. I want us to be over." Kevin looked stunned. Suddenly, his thin lips turned into a snarl. He lifted up his sunglasses and placed them in his dark brown hair.

"Do that then," he said. "We can be over, but if that's so, I'm taking you home now."

"Alright. I'm going home then," Shelby shot back. "But I'll take the bus."

"No," Kevin said darkly. "I'm taking you home."

Next Chapter:

Shelby's relationship takes a turn for the worst and she meets someone from her past.