Chp 11 – Decisions

Kirstie got ready for the day and headed out of the apartment. She waved bye to Scott and Mitch who were both sitting at the kitchen table eating. Avi had left a while back. Kirstie headed over to her old apartment and knocked on the door. Aaron answered and said, "Hey Kirstie."

"Hey Aaron, I came to get some of my things together if that's okay. I was just going to box everything up and hopefully will have everything out today. I'm going to rent a storage room if I can't get an apartment today. I am going to see available ones today," Kirstie said.

"Okay, whatever," Aaron said walking away from the opened door. He went in and sat back down on the couch. Kirstie looked around and saw glasses and plates scattered throughout the apartment along with some trash, dirty clothes, and she thought that it didn't take him long to make a mess.

"So, how is your slumber party going with Scott?" Aaron asked sarcastically.

"Very funny, Aaron," Kirstie snapped.

"You and Scott start something yet?" Aaron asked, this time more seriously.

"No, I have a lot to think about right now, so I am taking things very slow," Kirstie said not really knowing why she was talking to Aaron about all of this.

"What are you thinking about? We broke up, you obviously like him and he loves you, so, date him," Aaron said.

"It's a bit more complicated than that," Kirstie said, wanting to stop talking about this. Aaron could read her so easily.

Aaron noticed something in Kirstie's tone and wondered what else was going on, "What's going on, Kirst, what aren't you telling me? The only reason that you and Scott aren't already dating is because of someone else. I know it's not me, so, does he still have a thing for Esther or something."

"No, he doesn't like her like that," Kirstie snapped not realizing how she truly felt about Scott liking someone else.

"Hmmm, do you happen to like someone else?" Aaron asked.

Kirstie looked down at the floor and then said, "I'm going to start packing my stuff now."

Aaron stood up and walked over to Kirstie, "You little vixen, you. You just like everyone now. Who is the other guy now?"

Kirstie shot a look at Aaron and said, "You act like I planned for all of this to happen, I didn't. It just happens sometimes."

"I'm only giving you a hard time, Kirst, I still love you, you know. If you were to say, Aaron, let's get back together, there's no one else, I would say, yes in a heartbeat," Aaron said sincerely this time.

"I am sorry that I hurt you, I think that you know in your heart that we aren't meant to be. If you really looked inside yourself, you know that we wouldn't make it," Kirstie said.

"I know," Aaron said.

"I do want to be friends," Kirstie said.

"You know that we will be nice to one another in the hall, but we aren't ever going to be best friends, Kirstie," Aaron said.

"I know, I am sorry though," Kirstie said.

"I know, I'm sorry too," Aaron said.

They hugged and then Kirstie started going through her things and getting them into piles. After about an hour or so, Aaron walked into the room and was amazed at her progress, and said, "You should take a break, I can make some lunch."

"That's nice of you, okay," Kirstie said.

Aaron went into the kitchen to see what he had and then came back into the room saying, "Grab your stuff, we are heading out to eat."

Kirstie grabbed her stuff and headed out the door with Aaron, something she did a thousand times before. She was happy that he was being so nice now. They got into Aaron's car and headed out to a nearby sandwich shop. They walked in and placed their order at the counter and went to a table outside to sit and wait. Kirstie looked at her phone and scanned messages while Aaron did the same. The food came and they both started eating. They were laughing about something when Avi walked up.

"Hello you two," Avi said.

Kirstie, almost choking on her bite of sandwich, said, "(cough cough) Hi (cough) - uh, hi Avi, what are you doing here?"

Aaron noticed the immediate tension between Avi and Kirstie and wondered if this was the other guy who Kirstie liked and knew that it was by the way she was acting.

"I was grabbing a bit to eat, I have to say, I'm surprised to see you out together," Avi said without a smile.

"I was packing up my stuff at the apartment and we were just getting a bite to eat," Kirstie said.

"We aren't on a date, if that's what you are concerned about," Aaron said.

Kirstie looked over at Aaron and knew he figured it out already and she sighed. Avi looked over at Aaron and said, "Why would I care about that?"

"Avi, I can tell you have a thing for Kirstie and by the way she's acting, she likes you too. I just didn't want you to think that we were getting back together or something like that," Aaron said.

"Thanks Aaron for your concern, but I don't think that I will be getting together with Kirstie anytime soon either," Avi said walking away.

Kirstie stood up and said, "Aaron, seriously, are you trying to ruin everything."

"What, I didn't say anything, I was trying to help you out, seriously, Kirst, what did I say?" Aaron asked.

Kirstie walked up to Avi and stood right in front of him where he had to stop. He looked down into her eyes and Kirstie said, "Why are you walking away?"

"Because, I am realizing how I am right now and I don't want to be this jealous guy, I can't stand to see you even having lunch with your ex before I turn into a monster, so I am just walking away," Avi said.

"I am going to have friends that are guys, I have four guy best friends as we speak, you are one of them," Kirstie said.

"I know that, I don't want to mess anything up. Besides, I think that I know something about Scott that you don't and it really has given me something to think about," Avi said.

"What do you know about Scott?" Kirstie asked.

"It's not for me to tell you, but he cares for you so much, Kirst, you know, he wants nothing but your happiness for you, he doesn't care who you choose. But, I care. I want you to choose me, plain and simple; I'm being selfish in that aspect," Avi said.

"Kirstie, I need you to make your decision, do you see a chance at all with us?" Avi asked.

"You want me to decide right now, this minute," Kirstie said stunned.

"Yes, right now, do you see us together?" Avi asked.

Kirstie looked at Avi and said, "I can't decide right this second Avi, I'm sorry."

"I will make it easy for you; don't choose me, because if you can't choose me right now, in this moment, then I know that we aren't going to be together. Now, think about this before you get all upset about what I am saying, if I were Scott and said the exact same thing to you, would you have said something differently?" Avi said.

"Scott would have never asked me like that," Kirstie said softly.

Avi regretted his words instantly and said, "I'm sorry, Kirstie."

"It's okay, maybe I was a fool to think that I could take my time deciding who I wanted to be with, when ultimately, in the end, I would be hurting one of you," Kirstie said.

"Kirstie, you have no control over your heart and how it feels, but maybe we are better as friends, this way, I can always keep you in my life, as a best friend," Avi said.

"I like you so much Avi," Kirstie said.

"But, I think we both know that you might possibly love someone else," Avi said thinking of earlier of Scott's comments about Kirstie. Avi could tell that Scott loved Kristie in that moment. He wasn't sure if Kirstie loved Scott, but he didn't want to stand in their way if they did love each other.

Kirstie looked at Avi and he smiled and said, "I'll see you later, okay. Go back to your lunch with Aaron."

"Okay, see you," Kirstie responded.