Chapter 15: We Can Never Meet Again

(Aisha)

You can do this, I told myself two days later. Just pick up the phone and call him. But, I couldn't. This pep-talk I was giving myself wasn't working.

I'd made a decision. I was breaking up with Roderick. Wind-up Records was a huge record label supporting bands like Evanescence. He obviously wanted this job and I didn't want to be the ball and chain keeping him behind.

There was the possibility of a long distance relationship, but that would never work. I'd be worrying all the time about what he'd be doing and who he'd be doing it with. Besides, we'd only been dating for three months. We haven't been dating long enough for us to test if it would work.

There was a soft knock on my door interrupting my thoughts.

"It's open," I said.

The door opened and Amy walked in.

"You want to explain what happened the other night?" she asked.

"Roderick's been offered a job in LA," I said. "And he didn't tell me."

"And?" Amy prompted, sitting on the couch next to me.

"He wants to go, but he doesn't want to leave me," I said. "So, I'm breaking up with him."

"What!?" Amy shrieked. "Why?"

"He wants this job and I don't want to hold him back," I said.

I stared down at the phone in my lap and thought about how the situation was like something off the set of General Hospital. I suddenly started thinking about the kind of music I would use for this particular scene.

"So, what's with the phone?" Amy asked, pointing at the portable phone sitting in my lap andbreaking my thoughts.

"I've been trying to call him, but I can't bring myself to even pick up the phone," I said.

Amy grabbed the phone out of my lap. "I think what you're doing is stupid," Amy said. "But, I don't want to sit through another moment of this Lifetime movie, so talk to him."

She dialed the number and then stuck it up to my ear. Roderick answered on the first ring.

"H-hi, Roderick," I stammered. "It's Aisha."

"Oh, good," Roderick said. "I'm really glad you called."

"Um, c-can you meet me at the coffee shop later?" I asked. "The one you took me to after the art show?"

"Sure," Roderick said. "I'll meet you there in an hour."

"Okay."

I hung up the phone and sighed. Why was I stupid enough to pick the place where we had our first "sort-of date?" Amy put a pillow in her lap and patted itand I put my head on it.

"Thanks," I said.

"I'm your friend," Amy replied. "It's what I'm here for."

Suddenly myhead started hurting. It felt like something was pressing into my skull.

"Amy, is my head on your engagement ring?" I asked.

"Sorry," Amy apologized, quickly removed her hand from underneath my head.

(Roderick)

I sat in the coffee shop tapping a plastic spoon against my paper coffee cup. I was nervous. I didn't know if Aisha was going to break up with me or if she was going to help me with my decision. I all knew was that if she didn't get the hell down here, I was going to…………….

Before I could finish my thoughts, the bell above the door rang and Aisha walked in. I stood up so she could find me and she walked over. I leaned into kiss her, but she turned her head so that I kissed her cheek. That's not a good sign, I thought.

"Thank you for meeting with me," she said.

"'Thank you for meeting with me?'" I joked. "'What is this, a job interview?'"

I gave a weak chuckle, but Aisha just gave a sad smile.

"I'm sorry," I said. "That's not funny."

Aisha sighed. "You obviously want this job," she said.

"Kind of," I said. "Okay, yes I do. But, I won't go."

"No," Aisha said. "If you want to go, then I don't want to hold you back."

"You could move with me," I said.

"Are you crazy?" Aisha asked. "We've only been dating for three months. Besides, I have a whole life here. I don't want to leave it behind."

"Well, then I'll visit whenever I can," I said, desperately. "We can still be together. We-"

"Roderick," Aisha said in a calm tone, interrupting me. "I don't want to have a long distance relationship. It would make me crazy and I'm sure it would make you crazy, too."

"So," I said. "You're saying we should…………."

I trailed off. I couldn't even form the words. Don't do it, I thought. I don't want to break up.

"I'm so sorry," Aisha said.

And there it was. We were breaking up. I knew it was coming, but I didn't think she would actually go through with it. But, she did.

"Me, too," I said.

Aisha slowly rose from the table. She had pinched her mouth so that it formed into a thin line. I knew she was trying to keep from crying.

"Good-bye, Roderick," she said, her voice wavering.

Without another word, she turned on her heel and ran out of the coffee shop. I felt like I was in a poorly written Soap Opera and I wanted desperately for it to be over. I wanted to go after her and tell her that I didn't really want to move to LA and that I wanted to be with her. But, now it was over and I lost her.

To Be Continued………….

A/N: Chapter 16 is coming soon.