I do not own the characters of October Road or the song White Horse by Taylor Swift
Say you're sorry, that face of an angel
Comes out just when you need it to
As I paced back and forth all this time
Cause I honestly believed in you
Holding on, the days drag on
Stupid girl, I should have known
I should have known
I'm not a princess, this ain't a fairy tale
I'm not the one you'll sweep off her feet
Lead her up the stairwell
This ain't Hollywood, this is a small town
I was a dreamer before you went and let me down
Now it's too late for you and your white horse, to come around
Baby I was naive, got lost in your eyes
And never really had a chance
I had so many dreams about you and me
Happy endings, now I know
I'm not a princess, this ain't a fairy tale
I'm not the one you'll sweep off her feet
Lead her up the stairwell
This ain't Hollywood, this is a small town
I was a dreamer before you went and let me down
Now it's too late for you and your white horse, to come around
And there you are on your knees
Begging for forgiveness, begging for me
Just like I always wanted but I'm so sorry
Cause I'm not your princess, this ain't a fairytale
I'm gonna find someone someday who might actually treat me well
This is a big world, that was a small town
There in my rearview mirror disappearing now
And it's too late for you and your white horse
Now it's too late for you and your white horse, to catch me now
Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa
Try and catch me now
Oh, it's too late to catch me now
Eighteen year old Eddie Latekka sauntered through the cafeteria of Knights Ridge High School, lunch tray in hand, knowing most every eye was on him and he loved it. He was after all, one of the most popular seniors in attendance. The guys wanted to be him and the girls wanted to be with him and he relished in the attention.
"Did you hear?" Ty asked as Eddie set his tray down at the lunch table filled with football players.
"Hear what?"
"Lacy and Mike broke up." Alex informed him and a grin crossed Eddie's face.
"Oh really?" Very causally, Eddie turned his head to the left. His eyes quickly settled on a table in the far corner where Lacy was sitting with her best friend, Janet. Eddie broke up with his girlfriend, Rory a couple of weeks ago and since then he had set his sights on Lacy. She was tall, thin and a red head. The fact that she was unavailable made him want her that much more.
"You're going to make your move aren't you?" D.J. asked and Eddie turned back to his friends.
"If that's your play Eddie, you need to rethink it." Josh added.
"Why is that?"
"Abby told me that Cara told her that Lacy said that she doesn't want another boyfriend for awhile." Nate added.
"She obviously didn't know that I was interested." Eddie informed his friends.
"Take my advice or don't take it but if I were you, I would lay low for awhile. Abby heard that she was serious. " Nate told his friend.
"And what happens if I lay low and someone else moves in? Huh? Then what?"
"Then you knock them out of the way and move in yourself." D.J. said with a laugh.
"I gotta tip for you Latekka." Josh piped up.
"What's that?"
"The way to Lacy is to make nice with her best friend. Shawn Davidson dated Lacy when we were freshman and Lacy made it clear that Janet was part of the package." Eddie returned his gaze back to the table across the cafeteria.
Lacy and Janet had been friends, probably since they were born. The rumor mill states that Janet and Lacy grew up on the same street as each other and before they could crawl, their mothers had them together for play dates. Since Knights Ridge wasn't a huge town, they had all gone to the same schools their whole life and whenever Eddie thought of Lacy, he thought of Janet Meadows, Lacy's best friend because wherever Lacy was, Janet was there as well.
Lacy and Janet were as different as night and day. Lacy was the popular cheerleader who was outgoing and had lots of friends and she played volleyball and softball. Janet wasn't as popular as Lacy. Janet was a little on the chubby side but that didn't mean she was ugly. Where Lacy had straight red hair, Janet had dark curly hair. Janet played the flute in the band and the one activity they shared was softball. Lacy played first base and Janet was the catcher with an amazing arm. The two girls were totally opposite but they were connected at the hip. They were the definition of best friends.
"I could make nice with Janet." Eddie mumbled as a plan formed in his mind.
"Come on Janet. Let's get our picture." Lacy said to her friend.
"No way. The pictures are for couples." Janet informed her.
"We are a couple. A couple of single gals out to have fun." Lacy linked her arm with Janet's and drug her to line for pictures. Tonight they were attending the winter formal dance. Since neither Janet or Lacy had a date, the two best friends decided to go stag together.
The gym was packed with students all dressed up looking great. The middle of the gym was full of students who were dancing to a fast song and the outskirts of the gym is where everyone who wasn't dancing was standing around talking and laughing. Lacy and Janet got some punch and made their way through the gym.
"She's here. Did you see her?" Adam nudged Eddie in the ribs.
"Yeah I saw her. I'm not blind."
"Who's here?" Owen asked.
"Lacy Burkett."
"Nice." Owen complimented.
"What's nice?" Nick asked joining the group.
"Eddie has his sights set on Lacy."
"Poor girl." Nick quipped and Eddie slugged his friend in the arm.
"Come on Nick. Dance with me." A slow song had begun to play and Nick's girlfriend Hannah wanted to dance. Nick knew it was pointless to argue so he took Hannah's hand and led her to the dance floor.
"Eddie, do you want to dance?" Eddie turned to face Lauren McCormick.
"Sure. Why not?"
"Do you want to dance Lacy?" Tim Marks asked. Since he didn't even acknowledge her best friend standing beside her so her immediate response was no. Janet giggled as Tim walked away with a defeated look.
"You could have said yes. You don't have to hang with me all night." Janet said.
"I didn't want to dance with him. Caitlyn told me that he has two left feet."
"Since you and Mike broke up, every single guy here will be asking you to dance tonight."
"So what? I want to hang out with you tonight. Not some bozo who can't dance."
"Lace, lf you want to dance then dance. Don't stand on the sidelines just because no one will ask me to dance."
"Shut up Janet. You look amazing tonight and I am sure that there is a smart guy, somewhere in this school who has the brains to ask you out." Janet snorted.
"Is this your first day at Knights Ridge High School? None of the guys here have brains."
"Silly me. What was I thinking?" The slow song ended and a fast song began. Lacy grabbed Janet's hand. "Come on." The two friends went out onto the dance floor laughing.
Towards the end of the evening Janet was getting some punch since she had just come off of the dance floor after a couple of fast songs and she needed to rehydrate. Lacy remained on the dance floor slow dancing with Jason Thompson.
"Looks like you could use this." There was a cup of punch being handed to her. When Janet looked up and saw the owner of the hand belonged to none other than Eddie Latekka. He smiled at her and her heart began to pound furiously. Like every other girl who attended Knights Ridge High School Janet had a crush on Eddie Latekka. "Do you want it?"
"I…uhhh…yes. Thank you." With a shaking hand, something she hoped Eddie didn't notice, she took the glass. This is the first time he has ever initiated a conversation with her. She did not run in the same circles as him and his friends.
"Saw you out on the dance floor. You've got some moves." Eddie complimented. Janet was thankful it was dark so he wouldn't see her blush. She nervously gulped her punch.
"I…uhh…Thanks." Suddenly Janet forgot how to speak without the word "uhh."
"I don't do the fast dancing. I'm really bad at it."
"I'm sure that's not true." Finally. She was able to form a normal sentence.
"Trust me. It is." Janet giggled. The two stood next to the punch table, silently and somewhat awkwardly until the current song ended and a new, slow song began. "Would you like to dance Janet?" Janet's eyes grew wide with surprise. Eddie Latekka just asked her to dance. She knew she had to snap out of the stupid, drooling girl routine. She smiled and turned around, like she was looking for someone behind her and Eddie laughed.
"You better go chase down the girl you just asked to dance because apparently you freaked her out and she ran. She is nowhere to be found."
"I was asking you." Eddie held out his hand. "What do you say?"
"I've been told I have two left feet. Are you sure you want to take that chance?"
"I'll risk it." He took her hand in his. "Let's give it a whirl."
The non-couple made their way to the dance floor. On their way, they received some questioning looks but Janet didn't see them because she was looking at the floor and Eddie just ignored them. He knew what they were thinking and he didn't care. He knew why he was dancing with Janet. She was a means to an end. He strategically placed them on the dance floor. They weren't right next to Lacy and Jason but they were close enough that Lacy would see them.
"You know, you look really pretty." Although that statement wasn't going to hurt his chances with Lacy, that's not why he complimented her; he really meant it. She was wearing a red, off the shoulder ankle length satin dress that really flattered her figure and her curly hair was pulled up on top of her head.
"Thanks." She whispered shyly. "You clean up pretty well yourself Latekka." Janet flirted. He looked really good in his dark blue suit.
"Thanks…I think." The two laughed and then finished the dance in silence. Once the song ended the D.J. announced the end of the dance and everyone made their way off of the dance floor. Eddie kept his hand on the small of Janet's back, guiding her off of the floor. "Thanks for the dance Janet."
"Thank you." Eddie smiled at her. When he turned to walk away from her, back to his friends he caught Lacy's eye and she smiled at him. "Score one for me." Eddie thought.
"Did I really just see you dancing with Janet "The Planet" Meadows?" Owen asked, walking up to his friend.
"Don't call her that." Eddie hissed with a glare.
"Whoa. I didn't realize that The…errr….Janet was a sensitive topic with you."
"It's…she's not. It's just not cool to call her "The Planet." It's stupid and immature."
"I won't call her "The Planet" anymore only if you tell me why you were dancing with her. She really isn't your type."
"Her best friend." Owen looked more confused than normal. "I want to go out with Lacy and the best way for that to happen is to make nice with her best friend."
"You are a bastard, getting that poor girl's hope up but you are a genius bastard." The two guys laughed and then Eddie saw that Nick was headed their way.
"Look keep your mouth shut and don't say anything to Nicky about this. You know how he is."
"Yeah, he's not a bastard like you."
"Everyone is talking. Were you really dancing with Janet?" Nick asked.
"Yeah. I was dancing with her."
"Why?" Eddie shrugged.
"Why not? Come on. Let's get out of here."
"Really Janet? Are you ever going to stop smiling?" Lacy asked as the girls as they got ready for bed later that night.
"No. Why should I? Eddie Latekka asked me to dance and I danced with him." Janet giggled.
"You looked like you were floating."
"He told me that I looked pretty. I can't believe that he told me that." Suddenly a panicked look crossed Janet's pretty face. "Why would he say that?" Lacy hit her in the arm.
"Because he has eyes Janet. You are pretty and you looked beautiful all dressed up."
"Every dance that I have ever been too, I have imagined dancing with Eddie and tonight, it finally happened." Janet sat Indian style on the bed across from Lacy. "What do you think it means? "
"It may mean that he knows what I have known my whole life."
"And what's that?"
"Just that you are an amazing and beautiful person that any guy would be lucky to have"
"You really think?"
"Why couldn't you and Eddie become a couple?"
"Because he is Eddie Latekka and I am Janet Meadows."
"And your point?"
"I just told you my point."
"Oh my. What would the world come to if Eddie and you started dating?"
"He didn't ask me for my phone number."
"So? It's a small town. You can easily be found or he may ask you on Monday." With a happy sigh, Janet flopped back onto the bed and recounted, again the dance she shared with Eddie.
By the time Monday rolled around, Janet hadn't heard from Eddie and she wasn't stressing about it. She had the memory of the dance to keep her happy. They had two classes together and Janet couldn't wait until third period when she would see him. She made sure that she looked extra cute. She and Lacy went shopping and she spent her entire allowance on a couple new really cute shirts, shirts that Eddie would notice.
Janet was sitting in third period English Lit, waiting for Eddie to come in. She got out her book, and pretended like she was reading but through the cover of her hair over her face she was able to watch the door. Twenty seconds before the bell rang Eddie strode into the room and took his seat. The instant Janet laid eyes on him her heart began to pound and she felt her face turning red. As she was deciding whether or not to turn around and smile the teacher started class so her decision was made for her. Throughout the class Janet barely paid attention since she was daydreaming about Eddie and the possible future between them. She was so into her daydream that she jumped a mile when the bell rang. She was gathering up her books when she felt a presence beside her desk. She looked up and there was Eddie.
"Hey Janet."
"Hey Eddie." In her nervousness, she knocked her pen onto the floor and Eddie leaned over and picked it up and handed it back to her. "Thank you." Eddie smiled in response.
"Where are you headed?" Eddie asked as she stood up.
"Math with Mrs. DeGeorge." She made a face and Eddie laughed.
"Don't like math?" Eddie fell in step beside her.
"Hate it."
"I actually like math. This English BS is what I hate. If you ever need help with math, let me know."
"Thanks. I appreciate it and I will extend the same offer to you for English. I rock at English."
"Maybe I will take you up on it."
"Janet wait up." Janet and Eddie froze so Lacy could catch up. "I am totally going to bomb this math test."
"You and me both." Janet agreed with Lacy and both girls laughed. Eddie continued to walk with the girls until they reached their math class.
"I'll see you later Janet." Eddie told her as she stared walking into the classroom.
"Yeah. I'll see you later."
"Bye Eddie." Lacy added.
"See ya Lacy." Eddie said, like it was an afterthought but it was part of his carefully laid out plan. He knew they girls always walked to their math class after Janet's English class so by walking with Janet, he would be with Lacy and then he made it a point not to say anything to her because if he started to talking to Lacy the minute she joined them then Janet would have suspected he was just using her to date her friend and he didn't want that. Janet was a nice girl and he didn't want to hurt her.
"Oh my God. He walked you to class." Lacy gushed as they took their seats.
"I know. I was there." Janet had that big dopey smile on her face again as she sat down and her eyes were shining with happiness. It really seemed to be happening. Her dreams were starting to come true.
Over the next few weeks, Eddie walked Janet to her classes following the classes that she shared with him. There were a couple of days that Lacy was home sick and on those days, Eddie sat with Janet. Since she barely passed her last math test she shyly asked Eddie for help and it turns out he is pretty good at math. He made it easy for Janet to understand and she aced the next test. Since Janet always went to the Friday night basketball games to watch Lacy cheer and once he learned that little fact Eddie made it a point to go and sit next to Janet. During those games, the two spent more time talking than actually watching the game. Eddie was slowly discovering what a great girl Janet was and he was really enjoying, getting to know her. His primary goal since befriending her still hadn't changed, he still wanted to date Lacy but he realized that becoming friends with Janet wasn't half bad.
Janet was loving every minute that she was spending with Eddie but she was so confused. He never asked for her phone number and the only time he spent with her was at school. She thought he liked her, Lacy thought he liked her but she just couldn't be sure. He has made no move on her. He hasn't tried to kiss her or told her she was pretty since the winter formal. If she was brave, she would ask him what was going through his mind but she wasn't brave. She didn't have the guts to ask him so she decided to just wait it out and see what happens.
"Looks like you missed your chance Latekka." D.J. told him as he took his seat next to him in second period.
"What are you talking about?"
"Lacy."
"What about her?"
"I heard that she started dating Matt Lausch." Eddie rolled his eyes.
"I've got nothing to worry about." He said confidently. "I give two weeks, a month tops."
"Why is that?"
"Mainly, Lausch is a tool." D.J. nodded in agreement. "And secondly, he isn't too fond of Janet and remember, unless he makes nice with Janet, he doesn't stand a chance with Lacy and trust me, I don't see that happening."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah. I have an in with Janet. I have made nice with her and can put a bug in her ear about what a tool Matt is and she can pass on that information to Lacy and that will be the end of Matt and Lacy."
"Then you can move in."
"Well she will need comforting won't she?" The bell rang and class began but Eddie wasn't paying attention. He had a lump in the pit of his stomach.
The more time he spent with Janet, the more he started to like her. His primary goal when he began his friendship with Janet was to nab Lacy but lately, he seems to have shifted away from his main goal. Lacy has been without a boyfriend now, for a few months and Eddie has had numerous opportunities to move on Lacy but something was holding him back and that something was Janet. He knew, no matter how he played it, Janet would be hurt and he didn't want to hurt her. Whenever one of friends asked him, why he was dragging his feet he made up some kind of excuse, blow them off and change the subject. He felt lost. Eddie Latekka was confused. In his heart he wanted to be with Janet but in reality he knew he couldn't. Someone like him does not date someone like her. It just doesn't happen.
"Are you sure you don't want to come out and celebrate with me and Matt?" Lacy asked Janet.
"No. I'm good."
"Are you sure?"
"Oh yeah. I'm sure."
"You don't like him do you?"
"Not really. He's a tool Lace. I think you could do so much better."
"Why do you think he is a tool?" Lacy looked a Janet through the mirror in the locker room. Both girls were standing there, putting on their makeup.
"Because he is a jerk to everyone else but you."
"Is that you or Eddie talking?"
"Excuse me?"
"It's no big secret that Eddie hates Matt." Janet put her makeup back in the bag and turned to face her friend.
"It's me talking. Sure, Eddie has expressed his dislike of Matt but I think that he is a jerk. I always have and you've known that Lace."
"I know. I'm sorry Janet. I didn't mean anything by it. Matt is my boyfriend and I want my best friend to like my boyfriend so we can all hang out together."
"Sorry but I don't think that will happen."
"Well that just sucks." The girls laughed and started to pack their uniforms up. "So what are you going to do?"
"I don't know. Go home. Watch a chick flick and have some cheese puffs."
"You and your cheese puffs. Come on. Let's go."
"You go. I've gotta grab my purse. Call me later."
"I will. See you." Janet grabbed her purse but didn't go outside right away. She stalled for a couple of minutes simply because she wanted to avoid Matt. After five minutes Janet left the girls locker room.
"I was starting to wonder if you were ever coming out of there." Janet jumped in surprise at Eddie's voice.
"What are you a stalker?"
"Just a fan. You played a hell of a game Janet. That out that you got at the plate in the third inning was amazing and then when you threw the ball to tag the base runner, wow."
"You saw the game?" The Knights Ridge High School girl's softball team played a playoff game that they won which is taking them to the state championship game.
"It was an important game and my friend was playing in it."
"I'm glad that you were here."
"So, what are you up to today? Is the team celebrating?"
"I guess everyone is celebrating on their own."
"I saw Lacy and Matt leave a few minutes ago. Are you meeting up with them?"
"Nope. "
"So what are you doing?"
"Nothing spectacular. Chick flick, cheese puffs."
"Sounds spectacular but maybe you can save those chick flicks and cheese puffs for another day."
"Why would I want to do that?"
"So you can hang out with me." Janet raised her eyebrows but remained neutral even though her heart was pounding.
"Well I don't know. It's really hard to compete with chick flicks and cheese puffs." She answered casually.
"Trust me. I will make it worth your while." Janet pretended to think it over.
"All right. Show what you got Latekka but I'm warning you, if you fail to meet the chick flick-cheese puffs expectations, there will be hell to pay."
"You're on Janet. " Eddie took Janet's athletic bag out of her hand. "Do you want to ride with me or follow?"
"I didn't drive today so I guess I will have to ride with you."
"How were you getting home?"
"I was going to walk."
"Really?" Eddie was leading the way to his car.
"It's not a long walk." Eddie opened the passenger door and Janet climbed in. Eddie then opened the back door, tossed Janet's bag in the back seat and then he got behind the wheel.
"Okay, let's get this party started." He said with a smile as he started the car.
"What do you want to do after high school Janet?" Eddie asked. The two of them were at the lake, having sandwiches on the hood of Eddie's car after a rousing afternoon of Laser Tag.
"I'm going to college. I have been accepted at BU but I don't know what I will major in."
"I think you would make a good teacher."
"You think?" He nodded. "I hadn't thought about that."
"Maybe you should."
"Maybe I should." The two smiled at each other. "What about you Eddie? What do you want to do?"
"Move to Hollywood and become a famous actor." Janet laughed. "You don't think I can?"
"Not hardly."
"You're right. I can't act." He shrugged. "I don't know what I want to do. I have been accepted at The Duf but I don't know if college is my thing."
"Why isn't college your thing?"
"I'm not smart enough for college."
"Are you kidding? You are smart Eddie. I actually understand math now and that's because of you."
"Math is the only thing I am decent at."
"You could do it if you put your mind to it."
"Now you sound like my mom."
"She must be a smart woman."
"She is and so is everyone else in my family. I'm a dunce. My older sisters are super smart. Cassie, she is in med school and Amy is a pre- law major. They got the brains and I got the brawn. My thing is sports or football."
"Well you definitely are good a football."
"Thanks."
"Look, you shouldn't let your sister's successes keep you from doing what you want. You are smart Eddie and you can do whatever you put your mind too. If you want to be a doctor, a lawyer, a teacher or garbage man you can do it."
"A garbage man? Really?"
"Hey, the world needs garbage men."
"Thanks Janet."
"For what?"
"For reminding me that I'm not just a dumb jock."
"That's what I'm here for." They sat in silence for a couple of minutes, staring out at the lake before Eddie spoke.
"I guess we should go." Eddie slid off the hood.
"Yeah. We probably should." Janet slid off of the hood but she wasn't as graceful as Eddie was. She tripped over her feet and fell forward into Eddie's arms.
"Whoa there girl." Janet turned red.
"I am such a klutz." The two of them straightened up but Eddie didn't take his arm off of Janet's waist. They were looking into each other's eyes and suddenly, Eddie was leaning forward, closing his eyes and pressing his lips against Janet's.
Instinctively, Janet wrapped her arms around Eddie's neck as his arms tightened around her waist, pulling her closer. Their mouths opened and their tongues entered each other's mouths hesitantly at first but the instant their tongues connected, they couldn't get enough. They broke apart when they couldn't breathe. They looked into each other's eyes, breathing heavily and then they were joining again.
"Wow." Janet breathed when they broke apart for the second time.
"Yeah wow." Now came the awkward phase. They weren't quite sure what to say to each other. "Uhh, we should probably go."
"Yeah." The drive home was passed quietly. No conversation, just the radio kept the car from being totally silent but one thing was different. For the first time ever, Eddie held her hand.
"So…uhh…thanks for the laser tag."
"Was it better than chick flicks and cheese puffs?"
Much better. Especially the kiss." Janet told him bravely.
"I thought so too." Eddie leaned forward and kissed her again, a kiss that lasted at least five minutes, not counting the short breathing breaks they had to take. "So can I call you?" Eddie asked when the kiss ended.
"I would like that." Janet reached into her purse, found a scrap piece of paper and nervously scribbled her number down.
"I had fun Janet." He told her when she handed him her number.
"So did I. I'll talk to you soon." It every bit of self control that Janet had not to skip joyously into the house in case Eddie was watching her. As soon as the door shut behind her, Janet twirled around the living room. She had never been happier.
Eddie was a mess. He knew that he shouldn't have kissed Janet. He knew it before he actually kissed her but he couldn't stop himself and once his lips touched hers, he felt something unlike he had ever felt before and he wasn't sure what it was but he liked it. He screwed up; he knew he screwed up and Janet was going to be hurt. He couldn't date Janet. He wished he could but he couldn't. He spent the entire evening trying to come up with the best way to break it off with her without hurting her.
The following day he had a plan in place and he went to see Janet to break things off with her but once with her, he couldn't do it. She was so excited about the upcoming softball championship game that he couldn't dampen her spirits and ruin the game for her so instead he took her to the movies. He figured that if anyone saw them there it would be easy to explain; everyone knew that the two of them were friends so seeing them together wouldn't be abnormal; he was simply taking a friend to a movie. He did see a few familiar faces so throughout the movie he held her hand because putting an arm around her would have given too much away but holding her hand, in the dark wouldn't be seen. After the movie, he took her home but before she went inside, they spent twenty minutes in his car, in her driveway kissing. He really liked kissing her and he was pretty sure she liked kissing him.
During that next week, while at school things remained the same. He walked to some of their classes and he never hugged or kissed her but Janet never thought anything of it. With the other girls he dated he never was one for public display of affection so to Janet, it was normal. The only major change was he picked her up for school and drove her home and that's when they shared their kisses. As soon as she got in the car, they kissed and when he dropped her off they kissed, again. Eddie couldn't get enough kisses from her.
Eddie was going to break up with her once the softball game was done whether they won it or lost it but he changed his mind after they won because she was so happy and he didn't want to forever taint the memory of the win for her so he put off hurting her for another week and when that week came to an end, he couldn't go through with it but when talk of prom started throughout the school, he knew he had no choice. Janet had been dropping hints about prom and there was no way he could take her.
"Do you wanna come in?" Janet asked Eddie as they sat in her driveway after school.
"I need to talk to you." A smile crossed Janet's face. She knew he was going to ask her to the prom.
"Sure. What's up?"
"I…well…I've done some thinking about…us."
"Yeah."
"We are almost done with school and when that happens you will be leaving town to go to BU and we won't be able to be together."
"What are you saying Eddie?"
"I think you know. I would rather end things now, when it's easier `for both of us since we haven't gotten in too deep yet."
"But Eddie you don't know that a long distance relationship wouldn't work."
"Long distance relationships never work Janet. Things are good with us and that's how I want it to stay.
"I understand." She said quietly, fighting back tears.
"I want to stay friends Janet. Can we still be friends."
"Yes." She whispered.
"I'm truly sorry that I hurt you."
"I'll be okay." She reached for the door handle. "I should probably go."
"Can I kiss you goodbye Janet?" She shook her head.
"I don't think that's a good idea." She opened the door and stepped out of the car. "I'll see you around Latekka." She shut the door, turned her back and let her tears fall.
It had been a month since Eddie broke things off with Janet. She took it well. Of course she cried a lot during the first couple of days after it happened and Lacy was right beside her, comforting her. When Monday came Janet returned to school with her head held high. Things between the two of them were awkward at first between them but eventually the awkwardness dissipated. They remained friends but the relationship had changed.
"I think that I'm going to ask Eddie to the prom." Janet was in a bathroom stall and perked up when she heard Eddie's name.
"He's already got a date." Janet bit her lip to keep from crying.
"Who?"
"Lacy Burkett." Janet placed her hand over her mouth to keep her gasp silent. It couldn't be true.
"Lucky girl." The girls giggled as they walked out of the bathroom while Janet sat on the toilet and cried silently.
Later on Janet was in the lunch line when her heart was broken for the second time that day. She was in line behind some of the football players. Her mind was still reeling from hearing that Eddie and Lacy were going to prom together when she heard the guys talking about Eddie and Lacy.
"I can't believe Lacy agreed to prom it up with Latekka."
"He played it just right."
"How did he play it?"
"He made nice with Janet. That's the key with Lacy. She doesn't date anyone who doesn't like Janet. Why do you think it didn't last with Lausch? He didn't like Janet. But Eddie, he made it a point to like Janet and when that happened of its own accord, supposedly, Lacy was hooked." Janet couldn't listen to any more. Without making a scene she left the lunch line.
"Janet what's wrong?" Lacy stopped her.
"I…I…have a headache." She couldn't get into anything at school, in front of everyone. "I'll call you later.
"Okay, feel better." Janet nodded. When she got to the doors she turned around and saw her best friend sit down next to the boy she liked. She turned and raced out of the school.
Janet spent the afternoon and early evening putting her entire relationship with Eddie under the microscope and she discovered things she didn't see before because she had rose-colored-Eddie glasses on. Now that she put everything together, she was hurt and angry and right now anger was the strongest emotion. Finally, not able to sit still any longer, she grabbed her purse and made the short walk to Lacy's. Maybe the gossip mill was wrong. Maybe they weren't going to prom together. Maybe sitting next to Eddie at lunch was innocent. She hoped her maybes were true because she needed her best friend but when she got to Lacy's what she saw on the front porch told her that her maybes were so wrong.
"What do we have here?" Lacy and Eddie quickly broke their kiss and pulled away from each other with guilty expressions.
"Janet." They both said at the same time. Janet walked up the stairs and directly over to Lacy.
"How could you? You were my best friend. You knew how I felt about him. You held me when I cried after he broke up with me. You told me he was a jerk. How could you Lace?" There were tears in Janet's eyes but she refused to cry. She refused to show weakness in front of them.
"You cried?" Eddie whispered and Janet whirled around to face him.
"Shut up. I am not talking to you."
"Janet I am so sorry. It…Eddie and me, it just happened."
"You broke the cardinal rule Lacy. You never date your friend's ex-boyfriends." Janet shook her head. "I can't believe it took me so long to realize that you aren't my friend."
"I am your friend. I am your best friend." Lacy cried.
"Not anymore. We are no longer friends." Janet turned away from Lacy and walked over to Eddie. He looked absolutely miserable but that didn't stop Janet. She reached out and slapped him across the face, hard.
"I deserved that." He admitted, rubbing his cheek.
"That's the least you deserve Eddie." She walked down the steps but Eddie followed her.
"Janet…please…wait."
"Go away Eddie." He reached out and grabbed her arm to stop her. He spun her around so he could look at her.
"I'm sorry Janet. I am so sorry."
"For what Eddie? For breaking my heart? For making me think that we had something special when it clearly wasn't."
"It was Janet." She ignored him.
"Or are you sorry that you used me just so you could get close to Lacy?" A look of shock crossed his face. "Yeah Eddie. I know all about it. You were only nice to me so you could hook up with my best friend."
"Janet…I…"
"Are you going to try and tell me that it's not true?" She challenged.
"I'm sorry." He repeated.
"For getting caught?" He was speechless so Janet began to walk away.
"You're right. I became friends with you so I could get a date with Lacy but in the end, that wasn't what it was about."
"Yeah sure it wasn't. You got what you wanted. I just saw it on the porch." Eddie reached out for Janet's hand but she jerked away from him.
"It started off as a ploy but Janet; I really, really ended up liking you. Couldn't you tell?"
"Were we dating or was kissing me just another part of your plan?"
"I thought that we were dating?"
"Then why didn't you ever kiss me in public; put your arm around me or hold my hand?" Eddie looked at the ground and Janet got her answer. "You make me sick Eddie."
"Janet I like you. I really like you."
"You have a funny way of showing it."
"I really liked being with you."
"Then why?" He knew what she was asking.
"Because I don't date girls like you. I date girls like Lacy."
"And girls like me don't date guys like you." Janet thought that she saw tears in his eyes. "Thanks for reminding me the way the world works."
"Janet…" She turned and walked away from him.
The last few weeks of high school proved to be miserable for Eddie, Janet and Lacy. Janet refused to speak to either of them, no matter how many times they tried to call her. None of them went to the prom. There was no reason to because none of them could go with the person they wanted to go with. Graduation wasn't a fun experience for any of them either. Janet tried to get out of it but her parents wouldn't allow it. Since they were all seated alphabetically, Eddie was only a few seats away from Janet but she never looked his way.
The day after graduation, Eddie was driving past Janet's house when he saw her loading suitcases into the trunk of her car. She was leaving and from the looks of it she was leaving for a long time. He pulled his car to the side of the road, jumped out and ran over to her car. "Are you leaving?"
"Looks that way." She snapped, slamming the trunk closed.
"Where are you going?"
"None of your business." She was going to stay with her grandparents is Rhode Island until her classes at BU started.
"Janet please stay. I don't want you to go."
"When we were so called dating in secret, I felt like a princess in a fairy tale. All of my dreams were coming true or so I thought. I dreamed about us being together; walking into prom hand and hand, kissing after we got our diploma; watching the 4th of July fireworks together; I had so many dreams of you me but you know what? They were just dreams, not reality." She shook her head. "I was so stupid. I was naïve. I got lost in your eyes. I should have known … I should have known that I am not a princess; that this is not a fairy tale and there are no such things as happy endings in real life." Eddie fell to his knees and grabbed her hands.
"I am so sorry. I was so wrong. Please Janet, please forgive me." He begged.
"Wow. Never thought that I would actually see you on your knees, begging for forgiveness. It's too late Eddie. It's too late for you come riding over on your white horse. I will not be swept off my feet. I'm sorry Eddie but I can't forgive you. You and Lacy broke me. I used to be a dreamer but not anymore. You took my ability to dream away."
"Let me help you get it back. Please, Janet don't leave." She pulled Eddie to his feet. It was pathetic seeing him on the ground like that.
"I have no reason to stay. I lost you; I lost my best friend. Why should I stay?"
"You haven't lost me. I am right here."
"I can't trust you. I am leaving this town and starting my life over, without you in it." Standing on her tiptoes she kissed his cheek. He reached out and cupped her cheek.
"I'm so sorry I hurt you. I never wanted that." He whispered.
"Goodbye Eddie." She pulled away from him, got into her car and drove away. Through her own tears, she looked in her rearview mirror and saw Eddie and the small town she had grown up in growing smaller and smaller. She was tempted to turn around but she kept on driving towards her new life and away from the town and people that had hurt her so badly.