CHAPTER 9

I slowly sat down by Ethan. He has still as handsome as when I last saw him. There was something else with him though. He looked tired or sad.

"Mady, I am so sorry," Ethan said quietly.

"Yeah?" I questioned.

"Yes, I felt horrible. I still do."

"Well, I have been horrible too. I cried at my parents house for three months, Jinger even moved into your dad's house after a while. I couldn't do anything for a year. Finally I ran into Melissa and LeAnn and got an apartment with them. That's where I have been for six years," I replied a bit harsh.

Ethan looked down and put his head in his hands. I felt guilty, here was Ethan and he was trying to make things better and I shot him down. "Ethan, I am sorry. That was mean to say. True, but still mean."

"No. No. I deserve it. Really I do," Ethan replied a bit later.

We sat in silence on the bench for a few minutes saying nothing.

"Mady, do you want to go get some coffee or hot chocolate at the Diner afterwards? So we can talk better," Ethan asked a while later.

"Sure, that would be nice. So meet here afterwards?"

"Yeah."

I walked back into the gym to find Melissa, LeAnn, and Nora. I spotted them by Jay, Hans, and Georgia. "Hey what's going on?" I asked.

"What happened? Tell us everything!" LeAnn yelled excitedly.

"What do you mean?" I asked confused.

"You. Ethan. We were waiting outside the bathroom and Ethan told us he would wait. He wanted to talk to you," Melissa filled me in.

"Oh, that. Well, we talked a bit. I was a bit harsh, but he wants to talk to me at the Diner later."

"Really? Are you going to?" LeAnn asked.

At the same time Melissa asked, "Can you handle that?"

"Well, I am going to go. If I can handle it? I hope so," I laughed.

Our class talked to each other and got informed of their new lives and families, we had a game of relays, and then they turned the music on and we could dance and have a good time with the 'Oldies' music. Melissa and Hans danced a few times-as friends. LeAnn and Jay also danced a song. Nora and I mostly went around talking to everyone. Everyone also asked me what happened between and Ethan and me, but I just answered, "I don't really know." About eleven thirty everyone started leaving.

"Mady, if you need a ride let us know. But I assume Ethan will drop you off. Good luck," Melissa hugged me.

"Thanks gals. I don't know what I would do without you two," I looked around the corner and saw Ethan sitting on the bench. "Well, he is waiting, so talk to you later."

"Hey, are you ready?" I asked walking over by Ethan.

"Yeah. Do you have a coat or anything?" he asked.

I shook my head no.

We walked by Ethan's car-still the blue ford mustang- so I assumed we were walking to the Diner. It was a whole two blocks south. We walked in silence and Ethan held the door for me going inside. 'Wow. It was almost midnight so only a few people were there.

Kristi Walzer, who is the oldest waiter, led us to a corner booth. "It is so nice to see you two together again," she smiled.

"Thanks," I half smiled back.

"May we have two kiwi-strawberry smoothies?" Ethan asked Kristi. He remembered my favorite smoothie! Then he turned towards me. "You do still like that right?"

"Yeah, of course," I smiled. "So what do you want to talk about?" I asked.

"Well, I thought I should tell you what happened that day after graduation."

"Hmm. Okay. I want to know what really happened. Did I do something? Did I say something?" I asked.

"No, you did nothing. It was completely my fault. I went to a party after the graduation and I had too many drinks. I wasn't thinking at all the next day, especially when I called you. I remembered what I had said to you though. 'I won't bother you anymore.' I decided to stick to that because I hurt you. Even though I hurt myself, I promised to not make things worse. Allie and Ellie called me after a while and chewed me out, but I still stuck to that promise."

I couldn't say anything and Ethan could tell, so he continued, "Mady, I don't see how you could have believed me. Saying I never wanted to see you again. Did you really believe I didn't love you anymore?"

I wasn't sure I could speak so I nodded.

"Why?"

"Because.. I always thought you would want a pretty girl. I was just a nerd and average girl. I didn't see why you liked me in the first place," I sobbed.

"What? Mady, you never did see yourself clearly," Ethan smiled. "You are beautiful and being smart is excellent. Look where it has placed you. You are almost a doctor."

"You are just saying that," I whispered.

"Okay, I get it. I will go. I should have stuck to the promise and not have come back. I am really sorry though," Ethan said starting to get mad. He stood up and started putting on his coat. I couldn't believe Ethan came here to apologize and now he was leaving. Because of me. 'Mady this may be your last chance to see Ethan-the guy you have loved and missed and waited for your whole life. Get it right,' a voice said in my head.

"Ethan, wait. Sit down, please," I grabbed his wrist and pulled him back down. "Ethan, I am sorry I am being so rude. I just can't believe what you are saying. I never knew why you broke up with me so I just figured you moved on or found someone else. I started telling myself you were just waiting around to find someone else and you did."

"Mady, I never loved anyone more than you. After I broke your heart I didn't find anyone as funny, cute, or sweet as you. You are the last girl I have dated," Ethan said taking my hand and pausing for a second. "Can we just drop this discussion and talk more?" he laughed.

"Yes, please!" I smiled.

"So, how are your parents?"

"They are good. Dad retired a year ago and Mom still works at the library. I haven't seen your dad in about a month. How is he? Have you seen your mom?

"That's good. Yeah, dad is still himself," Ethan laughed. "As for mom, I haven't seen her since our high school graduation. Ellie and Ally said Jinger went to Geral College for vet school. Is she married yet?"

"Oh, wow, that was thirteen years ago! Yes Jinger is at vet school, this is her last semester. Jinger has been dating Quint for a year now. No talk of marriage yet."

"Ellie is getting married next June. June twenty-fourth to be exact. And Allie has been dating George for a few years now."

"I heard about the engagement. Tell her congrats for me," I smiled. "It seems like you know a lot about your family. Have you been here a lot since college?"

"Yeah, I come back every month. I have seen you a few times. Umm, sitting at your desk at the clinic, shopping, at your parent's house."

"Really? You said you come back once a month. Where are you working at?"

"I live in Kaville now, working for my uncle and aunt at their auto-body shop. After college I joined the National Guard and went on some natural disaster requests, but after a year I decided I needed to settle down."

"The National Guard?" I asked shocked.

"Yeah, it was hard work, but a good time," he looked at the clock. "It is almost one. We should let the Diner close. May I?" Ethan asked holding out his hand.

I hesitated for a moment, and took it. It felt warm. Nice. It felt like nothing had changed, we just skipped ten years. We walked over to the register to pay. "Ethan, let me pay my share," I said.

"No, no I got it."

Ethan walked me to the passenger seat in his old blue mustang. "I can't believe you still have this! It looks great!" I exclaimed.

"Yeah, it does," he agreed.

"Umm. My apartment is on Gennies Street."

"Yeah, it is the only apartment building in this town," Ethan laughed.

"What did you think of the reunion?" I asked.

"It was good. Some of those guys I haven't seen since graduation. What did you think of it?"

"I was interesting," I smiled.

Ethan pulled into the parking lot for my apartment. He got out first and came around to my side. He opened the door and took my hand.

"Thank you Mr. Krebson," I smiled again.

"Madison, Mady, this was my best night in years. Thank you," Ethan said looking into my eyes. Ethan leaned towards me and kissed my cheek. "Will I see you again?"

"Yes, you will. How about tomorrow?" I replied.

"Perfect! I will pick you up at noon," he said turning towards his car.

"Wait! Where are we going?" I called to him.

"It is a surprise. Good night!"