(A/N) I struggled with this chapter for the longest time! I knew how I wanted to end it, but I didn't know how to get there. lol. I had three versions, and I settled on the simple take on it. I really hope you guys like it! (:
Thank yous: Mrs. Bridget Vreeland Richman, Deranged Calling, jasmineflower001, cupcakeofdoom, Gabriella Kim, kahleluv, and xx.Nicolee! Thank you so much for the support – here's some virtual cookies for you! (:
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It may have been a nice night out.
The moon may have been huge, the crickets may have been singing, and the stars may have shone with the brilliance of mega watt light bulbs. But, in all honesty, Eric didn't notice. Because that night, he was much too preoccupied with the beautiful dilemma walking next to him along the dusty road back to camp.
Their hands grazed several times, since neither could walk too straightly. And each time, Eric's nerves jumped.
"Eric?" Lexy's voice was soft, harmless.
"Yeah."
"Can I say something?" Softer, less harmless.
"Go ahead."
"I'm attracted to you, Eric. A lot."
Eric inhaled sharply, not daring to make a sound. How can this girl be interested in me? He couldn't wrap his mind around it. "I have a girlfriend," he finally murmured, as if reminding himself.
Lexy shook her tousled hair. "I know. I understand. I'm not trying to break you guys up. I just…had to let you know." She sighed.
Eric squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for what he was about to say. "I know, Lexy. I know how you feel. Trust me. And hypothetically, if…if we just get it out of our system, do you think we'd get this silly infatuation over with?"
Slowly, as his words registered in her head, Lexy broke into a smile. She looked at him. "I'm dying to run the bases with you, Eric Richman."
"Hey." He stopped walking and smiled sadly. "We're at soccer camp."
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In actuality, it was a nice night out, Eric realized later, as he sat with Lexy St. Clair in his arms. The thin blanket couldn't hide her tan calves, her bare back, or, most importantly, his disappointed face. Indeed, Eric was disappointed in himself.
He was disappointed that he had let this girl get under his skin in the course of a couple of days. He was disappointed that he had fallen for this stranger that he barely knew. And of course, he was disappointed that he had let Bridget down.
He and Lexy had gotten their desires out of their systems. He had experienced Lexy in all her splendor, as, undoubtedly, many other guys had. Now their infatuation would be over. Right? Eric knew the answer, and it scared him that it wasn't the one his heart told him was so. He was a jumble of emotion, once again.
I have to get out of here, Eric thought to himself. I have to get out before I get way in over my head.
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The door of his cabin creaked open.
"Who's that?" Andy's usually deep voice cracked, unattractively.
Eric couldn't help chuckling. "It's just me, Andy."
"Oh. Where were you? It's been three hours."
He hesitated, then said, "With Lexy."
"With Lexy? Oh. Oh. How was it?"
Eric shrugged, made his way over to his own bed and pulled out his duffel bag. He didn't want to talk about it. Because talking about it would make it more real. Talking about it would only cement the fact that he, Eric Richman, was one of those guys that used someone and then left them. He had always hated those types of guys. He had never imagined that he would be one of them.
Eric opened the first drawer and pulled out his shirts. Then he opened the second. The third.
Finally, Andy realized what was happening. "Hey, man, what are you doing?"
"I have to leave, Andy. I'm sorry. I can't do this. I knew coming back here was a bad idea." He folded his clothes haphazardly and zipped up his duffel bag. "Tell Lexy I'm sorry. She's going to have to coach the kids alone for the rest of the summer."
Andy sat up, pushing his covers off. "But you just got here! Why are you doing this? You're going to miss everything – the first game, the bonfires, the field trips…" He shot Eric a disappointed look and shook his head, "Man, you're not even going to know your kids' names."
But Eric only smiled. "There's someone that's more important to me than any of that. But you know what?" He extended a hand to his roommate. "It was great meeting you. Man."
--
"Hello?"
"Bee?"
"Eric?"
"It's me." Eric smiled sadly at her voice and realized how much he missed her.
"Is everything okay?"
Define okay…"Everything's fine. I really want to see you."
"I really want to see you." Bridget's longing was so intense, Eric could feel it pulsate through the tinny speakerphones in his cell. Together, they made plans to meet at her house the next day.
"I love you," Bridget said.
"I love you too," Eric replied, meaning it. He really did. Everything that happened prior to that moment dissolved into a faded memory.
Simply Bridget's voice, like a pair of shiny scissors, cut away Eric's shameful affair, cut away the memory of one Lexy St. Clair, cut away everything he wanted to forget.
And in that moment, Eric knew.
The only girl that really mattered to him was waiting for him back home.
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(A/N) How was it? I hope you liked it! The whole fic, in fact. So I officially am done with all the stories in my account. woo (: I will be posting one soon, so look out! Thanks for reading and feel free to drop me a comment/question/anything! (: