As I was writing this last chapter, I couldn’t help but think about the relationships I’ve seen around me. I’d look at my own for reference, but…I’m very much like Mike in that department (see this chapter). Sometimes I feel semi-hypocritical writing about things I’ve never fully understood myself. Most of my friends say they’ve fallen in love. I haven’t yet, but that won’t stop me from imagining! Anywho if it sounds like bologna, you’ll now know why! On to the gratitude!

Just a Teardrop, No Smoking, Babe, Archiepelago, Maggie Marvel, Saddistic-Cathi, fopldr, Lauren Wolfe, I won’t let you hold me down! Thanks all of you for your support. Please review the last chapter as a final farewell to these guys! I’ll reply this time, I swear! Thanks again, love all around!

Last chapter, sorta long, review por favor!

Life Goes On

“The only relationship I’ve had that could be referred to as serious ended horribly,” I began. “And all the others…well they were just because it was what everyone else was doing, you know?” Jessy nodded, her eyes full of curiosity. “And, I know I haven’t known you for too long, but I don’t think I’ve had more fun with anyone else I’ve ever met. But,” here it comes, “I’ve…er, been talking to someone on the internet, and she…she’s so wonderful. You two actually seem really alike. It’s funny sometimes. But I want to give her a chance you know?” She turned her eyes away, and I felt horrible. Here I had this wonderful, funny, warm-hearted girl that I’m giving up for someone I hadn’t ever even met. But I had promise myself to give her a chance.

“I understand,” she said stiffly, avoiding my eyes as she stood. “You ready?”

I stood up too. I wanted to apologize, to excuse myself, to encourage her to hate me. Anything. But I couldn’t find the strength to. Neither of us said anything as we walked back to her building. I followed her up the steps, to walk her to her door. Suddenly she stopped, one flight short of her floor. Jessy turned towards me, a determined look in her eyes.

“Mike, I have to say this,” she said walking closer to me, “I think its really low of you to drop any chance we might have had for some girl you’ve never met. I just don’t understand that.”

Before I could respond, she had pulled me against her, and my lips were smashed against hers. I couldn’t fight this, she was intoxicating. It was an intense feeling to be lost in that kiss. But there was a sense of desperation in the way her hands buried themselves in my shirt. My arms wound themselves around her, I heard her whimper quietly. I have to stop this, I thought to myself somewhere through the kiss. I can’t do this to her…I tied to pull away from her flushed face, but my body didn’t respond. I was trapped.

Somewhere along the line, my mouth and hers separated, and she rested her forehead on my chest. “I don’t understand,” she murmured. “Why?”

Because she can’t hurt me, I thought sullenly. I squeezed her tightly once, then stepped back. “I’m sorry Jessy. Goodnight.” I couldn’t look at her as I turned down the stairs.

----

By the next Monday, I hadn’t caught PainlessSuffering online. I walked out of my building before the bus had arrived that morning; a rare occurrence for me, and saw Jessy sitting on the bench at the bus stop. She usually rode the bus to school and rode home with her mom. She didn’t look at me as I sat down on the opposite side from her. She didn’t look at me as we filed onto the bus, her sitting in front of James and Harry, who were sitting together (big surprise) with huge smiles plastered on their faces. I sat with some freshman beside them. James looked from me, to Jessy, and back to me with raised eyebrows. Harry didn’t notice as she chattered animatedly to-well, more at than to-her cousin. James leaned over to me and whispered, “What’s up? Don’t tell me you dumped her for that internet chick.”

“Butt out James,” I grumbled as I slumped down into the seat. He was about to keep talking, so I shoved a hand in his face. He pushed it away and tried to punch me. I grabbed his fist and swung at him with the other hand. We carried on like that until the driver started screeching at us. Once we got to school, James and Harry kissed goodbye, and me and James moved off to our customary spot in the cafeteria with our friends. The girls walked off to their usual morning places.

“Okay, explain to me why you dumped that fine piece of intellectual ass for someone you’ve never met,” James commanded as we sat at a table.

“I don’t. Want. To talk about it,” I annunciated clearly, trying to get the point across.

“Looked to me like you were actually enjoying her company. Or are you just afraid you’ll get hurt?” I didn’t answer. “Honestly, Mike that bitch was insane! I seriously doubt Jessy would do that to you.”

“Shut up James.”

“I’m just trying to help,” he griped. For a blessed moment, he was silent. Then… “Didja kiss her?” He couldn’t duck in time to avoid the kick that sent him flailing off his chair. He clambered back up with no sense of grace whatsoever, and said cheekily, “Ah, so it was that good.”

“Shut the fuck up already. I don’t want to think about it.”

“Well you should!” he demanded. “You’re making a mistake, trust me!”

“I don’t care,” I said resolutely.

“The fuck you don’t! You just kicked me off a chair-you never hit other people. You’ve been whaling on me all fucking morning! If you really feel that bad about this maybe it’s a that you made the wrong choice.”

By now we were both shouting. “Fuck you! Just because I don’t have a girlfriend every second of every day doesn’t give you the right to tell me what to do!”

“Don’t even try to turn this shit on me! I’m not the one being a little pansy Russell!”

“Russell?” came a quiet voice. I turned and saw those sad green eyes looking at me questioningly. They must have come over when James and I were yelling at each other.

“His middle name. He used to go by it, force of habit.”

Jessy appeared confused for a moment, then her face cracked into a smile, and she started laughing-loudly. Harry, by her side as usual, repeated the name, then realization dawned on her face. “Are you kidding me?” she chuckled as she covered her face with her hands. “No way!” she laughed as Jessy doubled over with laughter. I was getting infuriated.

“What the hell is so funny?!”

“Heehee…you’re…hahaha, I can’t believe it!” Jessy attempted, but her garrulous guffaws interrupted her again. “You dumped me…for me!” and she could say no more.

I did what?

The End