Chapter 6: The Unexpected Kiss 2

"Hey Adam, it's me. I'm going to be out tomorrow at noon so come by around dinner time. I'll make dinner. See you then!"

I left the message on his machine and hoped he got it before he left for class in the morning.

"Oh Madeline, what are you doing?" I asked myself a dozen times that night.

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I woke up at 10:30 Monday morning to my alarm screaming on my bedside table. "Yeah, yeah. I'm getting up." I slapped at the alarm, in a desperate attempt to turn it off. After a few slaps, it finally died and I rolled over.

After what seemed like only a few minutes, I rolled back over and glanced at my clock. "11:50! I've got to shower!" I jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom to get ready.

After taking a quick shower and putting on some makeup, I grabbed my purse and ran out the door with only fifteen minutes to get to the restaurant.

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"Mae, you made it!" I heard when I walked through the door. I smiled and walked over to where Billy was sitting.

"I thought I asked you to stop calling me that." I said quietly after I sat down.

"I'm sorry," he replied sincerely. "I guess it's just an old habit. I'll try harder."

The waitress came by and we ordered lunch; then sat in silence. What did he want to explain? He better hurry up and say it…I'm starting to get annoyed.

"Look, I know you don't believe me, but I'm honestly sorry about what happened. I am. I don't know how it happened. One minute I'm head over heels in love with you and I can't wait to find a way to return to Earth to be with you. The next minute, I'm in love with her." He said the last word with a hint of disgust. I guess there's trouble in paradise I thought, then immediately apologized to myself for even thinking it.

"Mae…Maddie. I…I want to stay here, on Earth. But…Cestria…she can't stay here, not for long anyways. I don't know what to do."

"Why are you asking me? I mean… shouldn't you talk to someone who isn't…involved with the situation? Like Jason or Tommy?"

"No, because they'll give me some story about not being able to help. You're always honest, whether it hurts or not," he smiled. "And right now, I need you to be honest. Should I stay here, or go back with her?" Again, that hint of disgust when he referred to…her.

"I…I still don't think you should be asking me this. I…"

"Maddie, please? What do you think?"

"I…I…" Damn Mad. Just answer him! Tell him! "I think that…" I took a deep breath. "I think that if you want to stay, you should. She shouldn't control what you want to do."

"What do you want me to do?" He glanced at me and met my eyes. I watched as the emotions fought in his eyes; sadness, nervousness.

"What? What does that have to do with this conversation? Why do you care about what I want you to do?"

"I just wanted to know. Maddie, no matter what, your opinion matters to me, it always has. We've been friends forever. I don't want that to change."

"Billy. We…we can't go back to what we used to be. Not after all that we've been through. I'm sure you still want to be friends, but…" I sighed. "I don't know if I can do that. I…I still…Billy, I still love you and I don't think I can go back to being friends with you. We've gone through too much." For what seemed like the hundredth time in the past three days, I felt my eyes fill with tears. I attempted to blink them away furiously. I dropped my gaze to my lap and studied my fingernails. I heard Billy stand up and move to sit next to me.

"Madeline, I'm so sorry. Please don't cry. Mae…" His arm wrapped around me.

"What are you doing?" I asked angrily through my tears. "Billy you can't do this. You broke up with me. You can't just… you can't…"

"Maddie, please. Let's go somewhere else and talk. Somewhere private, I don't want to ruin any one's lunch with an argument." I nodded and Billy went to tell the waitress to make our order to go.

He got our food and we walked out of the restaurant. "I'll drive, since you don't seem to be in a state to drive." Billy smiled and led me over to his car. He helped me in and placed the food on the back floorboards. Sitting in the front seat, I thought of how many times I had ridden in his car with him. We shared our first kiss in the front seat; it's where he told me he loved me.

We drove to Angel Grove Park and he set up a little picnic. I hadn't spoken a word since we left the restaurant. Billy kissed my hand as he sat me down on the blanket. "Remember our first date?"

"Do you have to do this?"

"Mae…Maddie, it…yes. You aren't going to believe me when I tell you this, but I have to say it." Billy brought his hand to my chin and lifted it so my eyes met his. "Madeline, I still love you. I never stopped. Now I'm back on Earth I realize that. I don't know why I did what I did while on Aquitar. But I realize now that I love you…Cestria…she…all of them… They don't know how to appreciate someone. I haven't gotten a compliment since before I left. No one has thanked me for helping them; no one has even acted like I mattered. This is why I want to be here. I want to be with you. You always made me feel like I mattered, even when I did something stupid."

"What if I don't want to be with you? You broke my heart! Billy…I…" I just stared at him. What was I supposed to do? What was I supposed to say?

"Mae, I'm sorry. I know I was awful. Can't you give me a second chance? We never broke up once while we were dating. Please?" Billy pleaded with me.

"I…I need to think this over. Can you give me a few days, please? I don't think I should make this decision so fast."

Billy smiled at me; a sweet, genuine smile. It was the first time in a long time that he smiled at me like that.

"So, do you remember our first date?" I asked, smiling at him. "How could I forget? I was terrified. I thought you'd change your mind once we left your house. I figured you'd see me for what I was, a computer nerd."

"You weren't a computer nerd. You were just a shy guy. That's why I was surprised when you asked me out. I…you really surprised me…" I smiled shyly and picked at my lunch. I wasn't hungry anymore.

"Did you like me? When we first went out?"

"I don't know. I guess I just thought of you as a really good friend. I didn't expect anything more. Why'd you ask me out?"

"I…I had a crush on you. I figured, what could it hurt? The worst that could happen was you say no."

"And I didn't. That must have made your day."

He smiled. "Yeah, it did. We certainly surprised everyone when we finally started dating."

"Yeah…" I trailed off, immersed in my thoughts. "All the memories came back to me when I sat in your car." I felt my cheeks redden with the thoughts.

Billy laughed. "We certainly did have quite a few in that car. Hey, it's getting late. I should probably bring you home. She'll be wondering where I've gone off to."

"Do you love her?" I asked boldly, and suddenly regretted the statement. I stared at my hands in silence. I heard him shift his position and sigh.

"I don't know. I think so, maybe; maybe not. She wants me to, I know that. I do know that I love you more than I could ever love her. Please think about what I said. I'll leave you alone for a few days, to think about it." He grabbed my hands and pulled me up. "Come on, let's get out of here."

We cleaned up the picnic and walked up to the car. He opened the car door for me and I slid in. He always was a gentleman. Billy drove me to my apartment and stopped the car.

"Want me to walk you up?"

"No. I'll be fine, but thank you." Imagine, Adam asked me that just last night, after he kissed me. I made to get out of the car, but Billy grabbed my arm.

"Mae." I made to protest that name, but he looked upset. "What?" I asked.

"I…" I spun around and looked at him. "What? You're staring at me."

"Mae, I'm sorry. I wish this had gone differently. I just wish I had come back alone." He glanced out the window then back at me. Billy leaned in closer, and I felt myself lean in also. I shut my eyes as his lips softly touched mine. All thought vanished from my mind as he kissed me. I felt myself relax and lean into him. Ever trouble vanished and it felt right to be kissing him.

Billy pulled away and starred at me. "I'm, oh Mae, I'm sorry." I grabbed my purse and ran away from the car. When I reached my apartment, I collapsed and cried.