24. Impossible Choice
It's official, I'm seventeen years old. I started my day off by cleaning the dentist office. My sister
made me a chocolate cake when I got home. She also got me a bunch of new clothes. I've almost
outgrown all of mine, now that I'm standing at six foot two. She also cooked me my favorite meal,
lasagna. She pleaded with me to tell my friends that it was my birthday. She eventually gave up,
because she knew that it'd do no good. After eating and spending time with my sister, I decided that
I would go workout. Her boyfriend was coming over anyway. I've stayed consistent with the weights
ever since the summer. I've worked especially hard since school started back. It helps to keep my
mind off of things. There was no one in the weight room, which was how I preferred it. Someone
burst through the door as I was in the middle of my workout session. I searched frantically for my
shirt, but I couldn't find it in time. Hayley appeared in the weight room, soon followed by Candace
and Carley. They all began singing Happy Birthday at once. Luckily, they wouldn't be able to tell that I
was embarrassed, because my cheeks were already red from my workout. "How did you guys know
that it was my birthday?" I asked shyly.
"We stopped by your house to tell you something and your sister told us where you were and she also
informed us that it was your birthday." Candace informed me.
"How did you know where I lived?"
"I sort of took a peek at your address while I was being an office aide. I didn't have enough time to find
anything else. I was just curious about you." Carley said sheepishly.
"Well, what was so important that you decided to stop by my house and tell me?" I questioned.
"So... we were all hanging out today and one thing led to another... and we all eventually confessed to
liking you. We told each other everything. I guess we all felt kind of guilty about keeping it from each
other. We've decided that the best way to approach it is to let you decide which one of us you want to
be with and we'll accept whomever you choose and still be friends. The two that you don't choose will
also not try to steal you from the one you pick." Hayley said with a hint of enthusiasm.
"We each have our suspicions that you like us." Carley added.
"If we are wrong, and you don't like any of us, then we're just going to pretend like this never
happened." Candace added to top off their pitch. I looked at them dumbfounded, unsure of what to
say.
"You don't have to decide right now. We'll leave you to your thoughts. We just thought you should
know. Just remember that we won't be mad, no matter who you pick. We just want you to be happy."
Hayley assured me as the three girls danced away. I barely even had time to comprehend what was
going on when Hayley walked back in the room.
"Sorry, I forgot my phone." She said as she picked it up off a bench beside two others.
"Are you going to get the others' as well?" I questioned.
"I'm sure they'll want to get it themselves." She said as she began walking towards me.
"Why would they want to do that?" I asked stupidly.
"You'll see... You know... this is another dream of mine. Kissing a ripped guy with sweat glistening off
off his attractive body... I just want to make one final case for why you should pick me." She said as
she gave me a look that I knew all too well. I instinctively bent down and placed my lips against
hers, unable to resist. I wrapped my arms around her, closing the distance in between us. She wildly
grabbed the hair on the back of my head as our lips began to move wildly. We pulled away
breathlessly and she gave me one last wanting gaze.
"Now, that was a kiss. I really didn't want it to end, but I know they'll grow impatient. At least it's
something for you to think about." She said as she gave me a wink before dancing out the door.
I managed to get a shirt on before Carley came in to retrieve her phone. She too, came walking over
to me. "I could feel something special in that kiss we had last night, but I was angry. I want you to see
what it feels like when I'm not." She quietly spoke as she leaned towards me. I met her lips slowly.
This kiss was much more careful than the one from last night. It was slow and passionate. Our lips
were perfectly in sync. We gave each other one last peck after we pulled away. She slowly walked
towards the door, giving me one last smiling gaze before she left. I was sure that Candace would be
next, but she seemed to be taking longer than the others. She hesitantly walked towards the door
and grabbed her phone. She started to walk back out, but decided against it. She turned around and
made her way towards me. "I don't know if I can compete with those other two girls or not, but I have
to try, because we have something. I can feel it. I'm sure that they both kissed you, but I want you to
see all of your options. I know that our first kiss was awkward, so you don't have to kiss me if you don't
want to." She assured me as she lowered her head. I softly pulled her chin up with my hand and
gazed into her deep brown eyes. I softly placed my lips on hers as they interlocked like a puzzle
piece that didn't quite fit. She was hesitant at first, but then she caught me by surprise as she
pressed her lips harder to mine. This was definitely better than the first time. Her lips felt great
against mine. We kissed longer than the other two, but it was no less sweeter. Our lips eventually
slowed as they caressed one another.
"I guess you really do have feelings for me." She said with a huge smile as she pulled away. Soon, she
was out the door to leave me with my thoughts.
It was extremely hard to concentrate on my workout, but I powered through it. My mind kept drifting
to the decision that I had to make. A decision that I never thought I would have to make in my entire
life. A near impossible choice between three beautiful girls. I knew I would have to choose one of
them. It was the only way that I could move on with my life. I could probably be happy with any of
them, maybe just as happy as I would've been with Leah. I've grown so close with each of them
over the school year. I really don't want to damage my relationship with any of them. I figure it would
be better to choose one and have the possibility of losing the other two, rather than not choosing at
all and losing all three. I have no idea how to choose though. Not one of them has an advantage
over the other in my eyes. I might as well just pick one at random.
Desperation set in as I pulled in our driveway. I decided that I would ask my sister for advice. Of
course, her boyfriend was still there when I got home, so I asked her to speak in private. I told her all
about the situation, but I left out a few details, such as the kissing.
"Wow, you've really made a mess of this." She said shaking her head. She was right. I've really
handled everything poorly. I would blame it on my inexperience with girls, but surely I could've
found a way to handle it better if I hadn't of let my emotions get so involved.
"I know, but you know that I wouldn't be talking to you about this if I wasn't so desperate." I assured
her.
"Are you sure that you don't like one better than the other?" She looked at me skeptically.
"I'm sure."
"I think that you need to think long and hard about it, but ultimately go with your gut instinct. Just be
extremely careful with this. They've been friends longer than they've known you. I don't care what they
tell you. This very well could damage their friendship, and I would hate for you to be responsible for
that. I also would like to see you happy, so if being with one of them makes you happy, then you'll just
have to deal with the consequences that follow." She assured me.
"I'm guessing you're not going to tell me who to pick."
"No, that is a decision that only you can make."
"I'm going to shoot some basketball outside. Maybe that will help me think." I said as I headed out of
the door.
It was cold and raining outside, but I didn't care. I kept the hood up on my raincoat that was draped
over my sweatshirt. One of my shots bounced off of the side of the rim and rolled towards the
woods. A figure quickly popped out of the shadows. It was Leah. She was wearing a tank top and
track shorts with no shoes. It must be nice never getting cold. Her sleek black hair was soaking
wet. Steam came flying off of her skin as the water hit. This gloomy day didn't seem to dull her
unmatched beauty. I think that it even advanced it. She looked like the world's top model doing a
photoshoot in the rain.
"I don't have much time to talk. I'm supposed to be on patrol. Leave your window open tonight. I need
to talk to you." She whispered out with her smooth melodic voice. She was out of sight just as
quickly as she had appeared.