Chapter Three: But the World Keeps Spinning Around

"I wasn't expecting this," I say. She is standing right in front of me, with her curly hair and her small smirk.

"What did you expect? After all, I do live here." She sounds a little sarcastic.

"I know. I mean, I thought Loren would be the one answering the door… Not that I'm not happy to see you because I obviously am…" I try to sound coherent but alas, I cannot when I am stunned like I am now. "So, Nora, how are you?" I ask her.

"I'm fine," her answers are short and to the point. "What are you doing here?" A feeling of being totally uninvited washes over me.

"I called my dad a few minutes ago. If you want me to, I can just leave…" I am still trying to find a way to escape.

"Your father told me you called, I didn't know you'd come over too... but I'm kind of happy to see you. Come in." She opens the door wider and lets me in.

The house is the same, as homey and warm as it was before. New picture frames are scattered around the place and I see some traces of my dad living here but most of it has stayed untouched. I wonder if Loren's room is intact though. I have been there so many times that I probably know every corner by heart, I remember the exact emplacement of all her knickknacks and I even got accustomed to the empty wall where used to lay my poster. I can still smell her perfume floating in her room and I can almost see her dancing around without music just for the sake of it. Now I do not even know if she still lives here or not.

My dad is in the kitchen with his usual cup of coffee. He looks at him with dark eyes; I am almost intimidated by him. If I was not his son, he would probably have tackled me by now.

"Max, you didn't tell me Eddie would come over," Nora states to my dad.

"I wasn't sure if he'd show up. Still don't know if it's a good idea or not to have him here." My dad is still pissed at me; I can sense it in his mumbling voice.

"Of course it is! Eddie, do you want anything? I have coffee," Nora turns to me.

"I'm fine," I stop myself. "Actually, do you have tea?"

"Sure," she hesitates. She knows that I was never the type of guy to drink tea; that was Loren's thing. "Earl Grey's fine with you?"

I nod, not really knowing what to say to my step-mother. It is actually weird to think that she is; for me, Nora Tate will always be my girlfriend's – ex-girlfriend's – mother, I thought that one day maybe she would become my mother-in-law. I guess life does not always go as planned.

My dad moves from the kitchen counter to the couch and sits down after putting his cup on the coffee table. "So why are you here?"

I cough and try to find my words. "Loren… is she here?" I see my father hesitantly staring at Nora. She looks startled and opens her mouth to say something but closes it again, then goes back to making my tea. My dad takes a slow sip of his coffee and looks at me.

"I told you it's not a good idea to see her."

"But you told me to come."

"I know. Should I regret it?"

"Dad, I – "

"Eddie," he puts his mug down once again. "The thing is I'm afraid she won't want to see you. I am majorly mad at you for hurting her like you did, and I can't even start to imagine how painful it must have been on her. She has become like my daughter and to know that the one who hurt her is actually my own son is unbearable. Do you have the slightest idea how much – "

"I know! You told me! I know I hurt her, so very badly. I know that I'm the worst man that's ever walked on this planet. I know that she deserves so much better, but I want to redeem myself, really. I may have forgotten about the chance of dating her again, but I at least want to try becoming her friend again. I don't care what you think, this is what I want. And for once I want to be able to make my own decisions," my bad temper is coming back. It is obvious where I got that from. "I'm serious about this… I swear on mom's life."

My father glares at me with rounded eyes; he looks like he really is about to kill me. But before he can do anything, Nora jumps in. "Eddie, here's your tea. Careful, it's hot." I take it and calm myself. The feeling of having my fingers wrapped around a warm cup is soothing. Taking my first sip, I burn my tongue. It stings and numbs me, and all three of us end up staying in an awkward silence for a few seconds. Nora is rubbing my dad's shoulders, trying to reassure him as well.

"Eddie, you know how much you mean to me – to us. I'm not your mother and I'll never be able to replace her but be aware that I love you like a son, as much as your father loves Loren," Nora takes a deep breath. "Your dad and I never knew why you two broke up and it honestly doesn't matter, but at the time I was very angry at you for leaving. I thought maybe it'd be easy for all of us to move on when you moved to New York but it wasn't. We are family, and losing you was like losing a son. And for Loren… well I don't even know how she must feel. You were her first true love…" I look up from my cup of tea, its steam gently warming my face. Nora continues, "After Trent left, I thought I wouldn't see her honestly smile again. Sure, her friends have always been there for her and she's had some great times with them, but you were the only one who was able to break down the walls she had built around her. She could finally love again. She opened up her heart for the first time when she met you and I don't know if that's a good thing or not. Because of that, you saw how strong and vulnerable she can be. And it became way too easy for you to break it again."

I lower my head. I am ashamed of myself; I did not realize just how much my selfishness affected her. And not realizing this is another proof of it.

"Sweetie… I'm ready to forgive you. Now the only thing that's left to know is if Loren is too."

• • •

After a long talk with my dad and Nora, I am ready to leave. Everything Nora said just makes me want to apologize even more; there is no excuse to be made, nothing can stop me now. Before I walk out the door, my father grabs me by the shoulders.

"Eddie, I know you are sorry, and I get that you love her. I just don't want you to hurt her even more than you already did, if that's possible. Just… please don't make the same mistake again." He breathes in. "I'm not proud of what you did," I bow my head. "I am ashamed, even, but I'm still proud to call you my son. You'll always be my son, remember that; and no matter how tough I can be on you, no matter how mean I seem, I love you, and so does your mom. She's watching over the both of us." He looks almost teary. "Now before you go, I have to tell you that life has changed around here, the world kept on spinning after you left. I wasn't kidding when I said that Loren has moved on. Don't be surprised."

I nod and he pats me on the shoulder. He brings me close and pulls me in an embrace; his warmth comforts me, I feel like a child again. "It's nice to see you again. You should come back soon." "I will," I promise him.

Nora comes by and hands me a tiny piece of paper, folded in four. "Here, you'll need this. Don't tell her it's from me," I chuckle. "And don't lose it."

"I won't. Thanks, Nora, for everything." I hug her as well, and it feels like home.

I get into my car and I am relieved. I am glad that I did not back down just an hour ago, I would have regretted not coming to terms with myself and not having my dad and Nora's forgiveness. I feel like I just lifted a weight off my shoulders and it frees me from the dark clouds covering up my thoughts. Quickly, I remember the note Nora gave me and unfold it. I cannot help but smile.

1461 Highland Ave. App. 502
She still loves you.


Author's Note: There you go! Again, sorry for taking so long, but school has started a few weeks ago and I'm already really busy. I just finished this chapter tonight and I hope you like it! For those who thought Loren was at the door, I am so sorry. But believe me, next chapter (coming in a few days, or weeks maybe...) will be about Eddie and Loren, promised.