Massie
I awoke to the sunlight streaming through my bedroom window and I had to wonder how I got there. I had no memory of dragging myself up the stairs and into my room. I looked down to see I had changed too. I sighed thinking of the irony of the situation. It was only a few weeks ago that it was the beginning of summer and Alicia had come barreling into my room with every intention of making me forget about Derrick Harrington. Look how well that turned out.
So much could change just in a short amount of time. A few weeks ago I was on my way to trying to get over Derrick and here I was still head over heels for him. Yet he still had broken my heart. Again.
All that I wanted more than anything in that moment besides for everything to go back to normal was Alicia. She would know what to do. As if conjured up from my thoughts there was Alicia standing by my bedside. It took me a second to realize that it really was Alicia. She must have kept that key I had given her.
"Alicia!" I cheered. I pulled off my blankets and held onto her for dear life like if I let go she would fade away.
She chuckled. "Hey Mass." She hugged me back and I looked at her to make sure she wasn't a dream. I had missed her so much.
"What are you doing here? I thought you didn't want to speak to me," I said to her as she let go.
"Yeah well Josh told me what happened since Derrick showed up at his doorstep last night and told him the whole thing," Alicia replied sitting down on my bed.
I sighed. So Derrick had found a place to sleep. I hadn't been worried about that last night. I just wanted him out of my sight. Out of my house.
"But you said for me not to come crawling back to you if this happened," I pointed out.
Alicia smiled a sad smile. "Mass you're my best friend. I don't want you to get hurt. I just said that because I couldn't watch him do this to you again. I knew what you were getting into and I knew that you couldn't be talked out of it. But I'm here now and won't leave again."
I smiled at her. "I missed you so much Alicia."
I pulled back into a hug and didn't let go. I couldn't let go. She was finally here to stay.
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Derrick
I stood on the stoop of Massie's house wondering if I was doing the right thing. I had a feeling that she didn't want to talk to me after what had happened last night but I had to set things straight. I had to make her understand.
I pushed the doorbell and prayed that she would answer the door but when the front door finally did open it was not Massie who stood there. It was Alicia.
A scowl crossed her face and she instantly put her guard up.
"What do you want asswipe?" Alicia asked coldly.
"Alicia please I just want to talk to Massie. I want to explain," I replied.
"Why? Just so you can make up excuses and hurt her all over again? I don't think so." She crossed her arms over her chest and I knew that there was no getting past her. So I did leaned toward the right then the left and watched as Alicia mimicked my moves. Finally I faked her out and got inside.
"Massie! Mass!" I called up the stairs.
"Get the hell out of here! I swear to god Derrick I will call the cops!" Alicia screamed behind me.
Massie appeared from the kitchen door looking like a train wreck. Her hair was sticking straight up, her makeup streaked all over her face and the ratty t-shirt she was wearing looked like it could be torn to shreds with a pull of a thread.
"It's okay Alicia," she croaked out. "Let him talk."
Alicia huffed but did nothing. "Fine I'll be in your room when you're done." With that Alicia scampered up the stairs and slammed Massie's door.
"So? Start talking," Massie said as she headed for the living room. I followed behind her.
"Massie I…" I suddenly had no words. Everything that I was going to say suddenly slipped away from me and I was left with nothing.
Massie tapped her foot impatiently waiting for me to talk.
I sighed. "It's complicated…I love you but I…"
"Love Claire too?" Massie imputed.
I shook my head. "No that's not it. I love you but this just couldn't work out. I've hurt you enough already and I just don't want to be responsible for that anymore. I don't want you to hurt."
Massie laughed bitterly. "You don't want me to hurt?"
She crossed her arms and pushed her hair back. I knew that I was in for it.
"You've been hurting me Derrick!" she roared at me. I flinched.
"You've been hurting me for an entire year. You choose Claire over me, your best friend! That hurt so freaking bad. I was so messed up after that. So when finally I'm ready to move on you come back but your broken and you expect me to fix you. But Derrick honey…" she trailed off for a moment.
She sighed and she looked on the verge of tears. I couldn't believe I was the cause of this.
"You're too screwed up to fix. I can't take your highs and lows. I thought that maybe, just maybe this could be our chance but you've just proved to me once again that all you're gonna do is hurt me."
The more I listened to her talk the more I wanted to punch myself for causing her so much misery. I never meant to do that. I never meant for things to go this way. She was right. I was incredibly messed up.
"So Derrick do us all a favor and just leave." Massie's voice broke.
Her words cut through me and I took a step back. "You don't mean that."
She nodded. "Yes I do. Please just leave me alone. Don't call me. Don't text me. Don't come back here. Ever again."
I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. I knew her words were honest but I didn't want to believe it. I refused to believe it.
I turned around and walked out of the room through the door and to my car. I didn't start the car at first. I sat there and took this all in. Maybe I should take Massie advice.
Maybe I should leave town and never come back.