Younger - 2

Saying that shocked was an understandment. Justin had kissed her for only a few seconds when Alice pulled off roughly. 1

“A-al!” Justin’s voice was really hoarse. “Why-y??”It looked as if he were about to break. But- 2

‘This is not the time to sympathize. I would be damned if he gets his life spoiled by some silly crush!’, thought Alice, vehemently.
Justin tried to grab her hand again, but Alice only took seconds to move back. 3

“You know why, Justin”, said Alice, trying to sound as calm as possible. She wanted to get the message through to him. “You are not supposed to go off and kiss someone like that. Especially when that someone has been your friend since you were a toddler and is currently seeing someone else.”4

Justin gave a sobbing sound and said, “Why, Al, why me? Why are you doing this to me?”5

“Isn’t that my line, Jus?”6

For the first time in years, Alice saw tears falling from Justin’s eyes. It broke her heart, and made her feel guilty to no end. She just wanted to rush to him, hug him tight and say that it was all okay, that she loved him more than anything or anyone in the world.
But she knew she couldn’t do it. The consequences wouldn’t be good if she did that. ‘Yes, everything will be okay in the end. He will just forget about this, and move on.” And it made her want to drop dead then and there, when she thought that. 7

“What-t d-do you want-t me to do, Al-l? Would-d you accept-t me if I worked harder, Al? Shoulld-d I make myself mor-re romantic, Al? Build my body? Study harder? Please, anything, Alice, I will do anything for you? Pl-please.. Please don’t push me a-away.”8

Alice let her tears flow freely. This was pathetic! Justin was acting pathetic! Oh, god, oh that poor little thing. ‘Exactly! That’s exactly what I mean. He is so small, so vulnerable. He doesn’t even no the world yet. I have to protect him. Protect him from myself’, thought Alice, crying even harder. She wiped of the tears, roughly. “Don’t,” she said, “Don’t Justin. Don’t do this, sweet heart. You’re only making it worse. You have to calm down, Jus. You are not thinking clearly. And you don’t mean what you say.”9

“No! –”, Justin started protesting. 10

“You don’t ‘know’ that, Justin,” said Alice sternly. “You only ‘think’ you do. There is a difference. Now just go down, go home, and calm down. Get some rest and we will talk later.”11

“P-please...” started Justin again, but stopped when Alice walked to him and hugged him tightly, at which he sighed sadly. 12

“It will be alright, Justin,” Alice said and thought, ‘This is for the best’. 13

Alice broke from the hug, and Justin crossed the room to the road. She almost didn’t heard what he said next before he left. 14

“But it wont change anything, Alice, I’ll still love you.”