Author's note: Another chapter, anyone? This is where the plot begins to build in suspense. Enjoy!
Chapter Twelve: Love Hurts
Yet another day at school, yet another quiz, yet another lunch consisting of purely canned foods and cookies devoured. For the fifth day in a row. Because I'm just too darn lazy to put any effort into my packed lunches. Anyway, I'm sitting in my history class now with my textbook open to why the Greeks and Romans were supposedly the most technologically badass civilizations to have ever lived, when I notice a piece of paper being passed to me. I look up and see that it's from Alex. He blushes and smiles at me sheepishly. This can't end well. I look down at the halfway-crumpled piece of paper on my desk now covering up the amusing picture of a dude in a toga holding an Uzi gun and riding on top of a unicorn with laser beams shooting out of its eyes that somebody graffitied in the textbook.
I cautiously open up the note and this is what it reads:
I need to tell you something after school. Meet be at the dismissal area outside. See you there.
-Alex
Well, that's just what I do after packing up to go home at the end of the day. I head to meet him outside near the school parking lot curb when Jayden catches up to me in the hallways.
"Any plans?" He asks.
"I have to go talk to Alex right now, according to this note." I hold up the piece of paper to show him.
"Can I come with?" He requests.
"Sure, I guess." I say. It's not like this is something huge and private, is it? I hope it's not, because I'm just not in the mood to deal with something like that right now.
Outside on school grounds, I begin to see Alex where he wanted to meet me and stroll over there. I get there and he looks elated.
"Glad you could make it." Says Alex. But then he sees who's with me and suddenly looks disappointed.
"Why did he tag along?" Alex protests, pointing to Jayden in an almost whiny manner.
"Because he simply wanted to come with me and I saw no reason why not, so I let him." I explain.
Alex then turns to Jayden, "Can you please go away for a second? I have something private I want to discuss with her." Oh boy, there's no way this can be good.
"Okay, but I like having someone to walk home with, so I'll be over there waiting." Jayden informs, gesturing to the bench about seven meters away. Does he really care that much about walking home with me? He goes over there to sit down, and then Alex starts speaking.
"..okay...umm..." He looks away and then back, obviously nervous. "Will...Will you out with me?" He finishes. I can't believe he just asked me that. I've never been asked out before, and I already know my answer. I know that I'll hurt his feelings. I can imagine being on the flip side of this situation. But, I just can't say yes to this. I can't. In my heart and my mind, I know I love Jayden and not Alex, and I would never be happy with Alex. He's a good friend, but my heart belongs with Jayden. Even if that affection can likely never be returned, it's better than faking feelings towards another person. But I barely even have the strength to tell Alex this. I muster up as much courage as I can to speak.
"I'm so sorry, but..." I look away. I look back, but this time towards the ground. "I just can't." I close my eyes and state in a slightly raised voice, and run off so I don't have to face him. So I don't have to see his reaction. I know I've quite possibly hurt him in some way, but I just forget all that and run. Into the street I run, aiming to get as far away as possible.
I don't even stop to notice the large black van that comes barreling towards me until it's too late and I'm knocked over by it. My head is directly hit as I fall to the cold, hard asphalt in one swift motion. My vision goes blurry and the world I see starts to spin and spin; my head in agonizing pain. One moment, I'm running, and the next, I'm down on the ground so quickly I can barely register it in my mind.
I could at least see that the van had stopped in time so I wouldn't get crushed, and I swear I hear someone screaming my name. People start gathering around me and I see a teacher emerge from all the commotion with a flashlight. She shines it in both my eyes and examines them; a basic procedure for checking for a concussion. I start to feel myself go limp, almost like how I am when I'm sleepy, and the chatter of frantic voices around me begin to tune out and sound like small and indiscernible mumbles before I close my eyes and I'm rendered into unconsciousness.
My eyes open and I gain awareness for a brief moment some time later, long enough for me to discover that I'm being carried by someone. I look up with the little strength I have, and see that that someone is Jayden. I feel his warmth against my body, and it soothes me as I slowly lull back asleep.
