Rekindled (Part 2)

"Wow." After two whole boxes of tissues and curling up into a ball against the counter, Parker was totally pale and speechless. He'd managed to get through my entire store on only two energy drinks.1

Even I knew I was a lot to handle.2

"So he just left you like that?" Parker asked, totally shocked. Even he looked a little hurt, and were those his fists clenching? Thoughts were racing through my head a mile a minute. 3

"Just like that." I responded flatly against the cold counter. Someone had carved a heart with "F+M" in the middle. It made me sick to thing of love at that moment. Didn't "F", and "M" know that their love would soon run dry, catch fire, and burn into a crisp? Love wasn't meant to last forever, I was apparently oblivious to this fact. 4

Parker rose and walked to short expanse to the freezer section. "Soda?" He looked at me, and for a second I couldn't speak. His eyes, so blue, and so bright, were deep with... what? There was happiness, sadness, pain, sorrow, love... it was breath-taking. 5

I shook my head, thinking of how much his eyes reminded me of Jareds. His too, were so deep, I could get lost in them for hours. "Dr. Pepper," I told him weakly. 6

He tossed the bottle at me then grabbed the keys from a small metal hook. "I gotta lock up here. You need a ride home or somethin'?" When he looked at me, I wanted to shatter into a million different pieces. Jared could have never looked at me that way. 7

"Yeah, I sorta got ditched." My voice hitched just slightly on the last word, and I felt so stupid, so lost. Like a puppy someone lost interest in, and just left to fend for itself in the world.8

Parker turned off the lights in the station shop, put his arm around my shoulder, and walked me to his car. As he pressed a button on his keys, and a sleek black BMW responded by blinking its front lights, my jaw dropped.9

"Dude, you have a BMW!?" It was brand new, I could tell. He pressed another button the hood slid back slowly. 10

Convertible..., I thought. Nicceeeeeee.11

"Dad owning a gas station chain does have its advantages," He laughed. It was funny. Even though he was probably loaded beyond his wildest dreams, you would've never guessed it. He didn't show off at all, and he dressed like any middle-class kid. 12

Parker opened my door for me, than ran over to his side. As he peeled out of the parking lot, and sped onto the highway, my heart leaped into my throat. The wind threw my hair into a thousand different directions, and I could smell the fresh sea air, the salt lingering on my lips. It was nice, driving by the beach. 13

"Invigoratin, huh?" He smiled at me. He laughed at me, digging my nails into the seat, and holding on for dear life. 14

"Never..drove..convertible..before." I managed, swallowing repetitively. My mouth was so dry, I felt like someone filled it with cotton. My face was flushed, I could see my reflection in the rear-view mirror. My eyes were glassy, almost like I had a fever. 15

Yet, I have having so. much. fun.16

Slowly, the BMW slid off the freeway, and we were winding calmly through the sidestreets. It was weird, I'd never even given him directions to my house, but here we were, in front of my parent's home.17

"Uhmmm, thanks a lot Parker, I don't know what I would've done if it wasn't for you." I smiled weakly, then looked down at my hands. I had gone from ghostly white to a rosey pink in a matter of seconds. 18

"It was nothing, really." He assured me, rubbing the back of his neck. 19

I laughed nervously. If this were a date, he'd suppose to be kissing me right now. 20

And it was at that moment that I felt his lips gently press against mine. He caught me off guard, but I couldn't help but get lost in the trance. The way his lips caressed mine, the way we clicked, it was ideal. His lips were so soft, much better than Jared's.21

Jared....22

I pulled away instantly at the thought. I cringed. I could already feel the tears springing from my eyes and rolling down my cheeks. 23

"Oh my god Emily, I'm so sorry. He reached out to touch my arm, but I veered away.It was just so much emotion as so much. It was like a giant wall had just crushed me. I needed to breathe. 24

"Don't be, I need to go. I'll talk to you soon." I opened my door, and rushed to the house. Thankfully my parents were out at dinner with friends. I fumbled with the keys for probably minutes until the knob finally turned successfully. I ran up the stairs to my room, throwing my face into the pillows. 25

Why did Parker have to remind me so much of Jared? Why? Why? WHY!?26

I cried and cried, consistantly looking up at the picture of my and Jared at Disney World sitting on my desk. I remember the day perfectly. The annoying tourist lady kept pushing us to take a picture in front of the "magic" castle. I was totally against it, but Jared kept pushing me to do it. Finally, I gave in. I thought I looked high, but he insisted we looked cute. So there it was, on my desk.27

I don't think the castle was magical, but what me and Jared did after after that day was.28

I flung a pillow at the picture, knocking it to the floor. The carpet cushioned the blow, keeping it from cracking. 29

So what could stop my heart from doing the same? 30

Right now all I could do was cry and cry and cry, but whenever that question popped into my head, the only answer that came to me was: Parker