The Love Story - Chapter Eight

~Chapter Eight~1

“Seriously, she should cut you some slack. I know your telling the truth.”2

“Thanks Cliff. I just…I don’t know, feel bad about it.”3

“Feel bad for telling the truth to try and protect her? That’s bullshit. Don’t feel bad!”4

“Mmm…I’ll try not to. Thanks for everything.”5

“It’s only because I love you! So much!”6

“I love you more than you will ever know. You have saved my life; if I hadn’t found you when I did…I would of…”7

“Would have ended up with James. I know you would of, and I think you would have been happy.”8

“No! I wouldn’t of! He was with Katie remember? Anyway, I am so much happier with you then I could have ever been with him. You are gorgeous, sweet, romantic…”9

“Yeah, yeah I know! I am so great!” Laughter came from his end of the phone.10

“You are! I mean it!” I protested.11

“You are beautiful. I love you so much Mel. I always have, and I always will.”12

“I love you too!”13

“I love you more!”14

“No way! I love you more! I love you the most you can love someone!”15

“No, I love you more! You know I do!”16

“No way! Crap, I gotta go my mums calling me…”17

“Okay, bye gorgeous. Love you.”18

“Bye, love you more!” I quickly hung up the phone and laughed at our totally cliché conversation. If this was any other couple, I would make fun of them, but with Cliff…I just loved our conversations. The more cliché and soppy, the better! 19

“Mel! Hurry up! I have been calling you for the past half an hour! Now GET DOWN HERE!” My mum yelled down the hallway to my room. 20

“Coming!” I replied, smiled to myself again as I placed the phone on my desk and wandered out of my room dreaming of my perfect boyfriend. 21

“Mel! What’s wrong?” Shawnee’s loud voice brought me back to reality.22

“Huh? What? Why would something be wrong?” I asked, confused. She laughed.23

“You have been staring at that same tree for like…ten minutes! What’s up?”24

“Nothing! I mean…I had a fight with Alex…but Cliff made me feel better. So yeah, everything’s totally cool.” I smiled at Shawnee. I was at the bus stop, the next day. I was still mega stressing about Alex, but I decided not to show it. Cliff was probably right; maybe I did do the right thing. I just really wasn’t looking forward to seeing her, but seeing Cliff was enough of a reason to make me go to school. 25

The day went by in a blurr…nothing standing out as important, just embraces and comfort from Cliff and death stares and bitching from Alex. Nothing interesting really happened…really just the expected shit. But after school, something was different.26

“Heya Melanie!” Helen smiled.27

“Hi Helen.” Helen was a girl who I was close with a few years back. She was plump, but pretty and was one of those ‘friendly-to-everyone’ people. 28

“I didn’t know Alex and James were a couple!? It shocked me!” Helen laughed. What? I turned away from Helen, and walked quickly to our group’s usual hangout. Just as Helen said, there was Alex, holding hands with James. Benny was about 10 metres away, giving James a look that could kill. My heart went out to him. Cliff saw me, and started heading my way. 29

“Melanie. I don’t know exactly what happened, but apparently Alex told James she liked him too…and broke up with Ben in first period. Then James dumped Katie and they were going out by lunch time.” Cliff explained. 30

“Whoa. This is weird.” I looked at Alex, and caught her eye. She turned to James, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, right there. She knew I was watching. I looked at Cliff, as my eyes filled up with tears. I didn’t even know what I was crying about. My best friend, my ex boyfriend…It was all a confused mess in my head. Then Cliff took me into his arms, and held me while I cried, whispering sweet nothings into my ear.31