85· · ·
For acaylee ~
Because even if he hasn't said the words out loud, it doesn't mean he doesn't love you.
i. Just because he cares.
"What do you mean; you're not going to prom?"
"Um, it means: I'm not going to prom."
"But you have to come!"
"Why?"
"Why not?"
"Don't even try to start a glaring competition with me. You know I'll win."
"I thought it was every girl's dream to turn up to prom, looking like Cinderella, on the arm of her Prince Charming."
-murmurs- "Not if Prince Charming's already taken."
". . . So, you're not going to prom because of a guy?"
"What?! No! I just . . . don't feel like going."
"Tell me who it is and I'll bash him."
"Don't be stupid. There's no one."
"It's Travis, isn't it?" -darkly- "You can never trust a guy who worships Edward Cullen."
"No! It's not him, it's . . . never mind."
"Aha! So you admit – there is a guy involved."
"Yes. No. Maybe."
"Gavin, then? I've seen him leering at you from behind his 'limited edition Chemistry 101' textbook."
-shudders- "God no."
"Aaron? Nathan? The guy who served you at the checkout yesterday?"
-exasperated- "Stop it."
"Not until you tell me who he is."
"No."
"Okay then. Is it Jason O'Connelly? You girls always fall for that guy-next-door crap."
-incredulous- "He's twelve."
"Just making sure."
"How about the new librarian? Or the hobo down the road?"
"Just stop!" -grits teeth- "Iwanttogowiththisguybuthe'salreadygoingwithsomeoneelse."
"Whoa, slow down."
-deep breath- "There's this guy . . . and I sort of . . . like him . . . a lot . . . but he's got this perfect girlfriend . . . and he'll never, not in a gazillion years, ever see me in that way."
-pauses- "Is he blind? Or stupid?"
"Um, no."
"He must be if doesn't see you in that way."
"That was sweet. But let's be realistic here. If you already have perfection, why would you want anything else?"
"But you are perfect . . ." -under breath- "For me."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing."
"No. After 'perfect'. You said something."
"I didn't say anything. You must be hearing things."
"But I could have sworn . . ."
"Nope. Must be the wind."
-shakes head- "Anyway, why do I have to be at prom? You'll have Tracey to keep you busy all night."
"We broke up."
"You what?!"
"We broke up. It wasn't working."
"You broke up."
"Affirmative."
"B-But, she's perfect."
"For someone else, maybe – but not for me."
"Oh."
"Anyway, so now that we've established that we're both dateless, and I'm still going to prom, you have no excuses."
"You've already bought your tickets."
"Note the word 'tickets'. Plural. Since I'm not going with Tracey anymore, I have one spare."
"Save it for someone who actually wants to go."
"Isn't it enough that I want you to go?"
-bites lip- "It's not like anyone's going to care whether or not I turn up."
"I care."
ii. Just because you're always on his mind.
"So I was passing through the markets the other day . . ."
"And?"
"And I got you this."
-squeals- "Oh my gosh! This is just too adorable!"
"I knew you'd like it."
"Hey! Wipe that smirk off your face. It's not that cute."
"Well, I guess you won't mind if I take it back then –"
"WAIT! Okay. Fine. Maybe it's kinda nice . . ."
"Kinda nice?"
"Alright, alright. It's the cutest thing I've ever seen in my life."
"That's more like it."
-frowns- "But . . . my birthday isn't for another three months."
"So?"
"So why'd you buy me it then?"
-shrugs- "Just because."
"Haha funny. No, seriously. Are you going to break up with me now or something?" -nervous laughter-
"What made you think that?"
"I don't know. Don't guys usually buy nice gifts for girl's they're about to break up with, thinking it will soften the blow?"
-shakes head- "I bought it because when I saw it, you were the first thing I thought of."
iii. Just because you're his kind of beautiful.
"I'm coming in!"
"NO! Don't you dare!"
"I brought you a tub of your favourite ice cream and my mum's famous chicken noodle soup. You're sick. You need it."
"Exactly! I'm sick! It-it's contagious you know! You don't want to get it too."
"I've already had the chicken pox remember?"
"I look hideous okay? Just leave."
"I'm sure you're as breath-taking as always."
"I'm being serious here! Apart from the ugly, red splotches all over me, I've got a runny nose, bloodshot eyes and a puffy face. Not to mention the fact that I haven't showered in two days, my hair resembles a bird's nest and I'm wearing my Spiderman pyjamas dammit! . . . Are you laughing at me?"
"What? No! Of course not!"
"Yes you are! Just because I'm sick doesn't mean I'm deaf!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It was the Spiderman PJs that did it."
"Look. Just go home and relax. I'll be fine." -mutters- "Sitting here watching infomercials and blowing my nose all by my lonely self."
-he opens the door-
"What are you doing?! I told you not to come in! Don't come any closer! I'm being serious here! Take another step towards me and I'll . . . I'll . . . throw my snotty tissues at you."
-dryly- "I'm terrified."
"That's it. You asked for it."
". . .Were you throwing that tissue at me? Because I'm standing a metre away on you're right, not ten metres to your left."
"So my aim was a little off."
-he smiles- "Just a little."
-she smiles- "Shut up."
"What were you talking about before? You look gorgeous."
-snorts- "Right. Which is exactly why my brother walked in here five minutes ago and told me I look like 'the monster little kids think hide under their bed at night'."
"Maybe to him. But you're just my kind of beautiful."
iv.Just because it's you.
"I told you to turn right at the intersection!"
"No you didn't! You said turn left!"
"I know what I said, and I said turn right."
"I distinctly recall you saying left!"
"Well you distinctly recall incorrectly!"
"God, you just have to be right all the freaking time don't you?! Why can't you just swallow your stupid pride and admit you're wrong for once?"
" . . . Excuse me?! Says the stubborn jerk who refuses to get a GPS like a normal person because his ginormous ego allows him to think he's all Mr. Geography, when really he can't tell the difference between left and right with his head so far up his ass!"
"Trust you to start something like this now, when we're five minutes from my boss's house. It's just like you to be so goddamn selfish."
-gasps- "That's it! Stop the car!"
"What the hell are you doing?"
"What does it look like, Genius? Getting away from you."
"Y-You can't just walk out –"
"– oh believe me, I can."
-deep breath- "Get back in the car."
"No."
"Look. I know we both said some things we didn't mean –"
"– Sounded like you meant every word, to me."
"No I –"
"– Why don't you just get back in the car and leave me here. I'm selfish, remember?"
-sighs- "I was angry. I didn't mean it." -softly- "Hey. You are the sweetest, kindest girl I've ever met. You bake cookies for the homeless and volunteer at the local nursing home. If there was one word to describe you, it would be anything but selfish. And if I hurt you by calling you that, I'm sorry."
-grudgingly- ". . . I guess you're ego isn't that big."
-laughs- "Do you remember the time you twisted your ankle during the school marathon?"
"Why?"
"Do you remember?"
"Yes. You were coming second but one of the runners came and told you I'd taken a bad fall. You ran back and piggy backed me to the finish line."
"You know why I ran back?"
"No."
"Because even back then, you meant everything to me."
". . ."
"And you have to know, I'll always come back for you."
"Even when I'm sitting on the side of the road, sulking, after calling you an egotistical jerk with no sense of direction?"
"Of course. Only because it's you."
v. Just to see you smile.
"Why so glum?"
"Don't get me started."
"Bad day?"
"More like bad week."
"Want to talk about it?"
"Not really."
"That bad, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Hey! Turn that frown upside down! I'll buy you a double choc fudge brownie?"
"No, not today."
"Not in the mood for a brownie? Wow, did your house burn down or something?"
". . ."
-winces- "Sorry. That probably didn't help."
-sighs- "Don't bother. Just let me wallow in my misery."
"No. I can't do that."
"What? Leave me wallowing in my misery? It's easy. Just sit there. End of tutorial."
"Nope. Sorry. Can't do that either."
"What are you talking about? Of course you can . . . what are you doing?!"
"Standing on this table."
-hisses- "People are staring! Get down from there!"
"Got anything I can use as a microphone?"
"Huh? No . . ."
"Hm. This salt shaker will do."
"Why do you need a micro–"
"– Attention all patrons! As a regular customer of this splendid cafe, I thought I would pay tribute to the owners of this wonderful establishment and brighten up your afternoons with a little light entertainment. . ."
"Oh. My. God."
". . . Feel free to sing-a-long. I'm sure many of you will recognise the songs. . ."
-mutters- "Someone please kill me now."
". . . And I'd like to dedicate my first song, Hit Me Baby One More Time, to my gorgeous girlfriend – without you, I wouldn't be the man I am today!"
-she snorts-
-singing off key- "My loneliness, is killing me . . .And I . . . I must confess, I still believe . . . Still Believe . . ."
-she groans-
"When I'm not with you, I lose my mind. Give me a sign – hit me baby one more time!"
-she smiles-
"You do realise that we can never show our faces at that cafe ever again?"
"Says who?"
"Says the red-faced manager and two surly employees that just booted us out of the premises."
"Clearly they have no appreciation for the celebration of music."
"More like the total annihilation of music."
"Hey! You have to at least admit, I threw in a couple of mind-blowing moves."
"If you consider gyrating your hips and the Macarena, mind-blowing."
"Well, I got a laugh out of you, didn't I?"
-grins- "Yeah. You did." -wistfully- "On the downside, that place does make your favourite choc-chip muffins."
"It was a sacrifice I was willing to make."
"Along with sacrificing your pride?"
"It was worth it – just to see you smile."
vi. Just so he never forgets.
"Can I borrow twenty bucks? The new Taylor Swift CD's come out and I really need to buy it!"
"Yeah. Sure. My wallet's on the table. Help yourself."
"Thanks! I'm so excited!"
"Really? You hide it so well."
"Easy on the sarcasm there, mister."
"You've only been counting down the days since what? A decade ago?"
"Don't exaggerate! It's only been one year, three months and fifteen days!"
"Only?"
"Shut up. Stop laughing at me!"
"Can't . . . breathe . . . laughing . . . so . . . hard . . ."
"Alright. That's it. I'm holding your wallet ransom."
"Wait, what?"
"Oh! A hundred dollar bill and a credit card! Looks like someone's going to be getting some serious retail therapy today! Another credit card? Aren't I a lucky girl! Hey . . . what's this photograph – "
"– Give it back!"
"Ha! Too quick for you! You're no match for my nifty fingers."
"Okay. I'll stop laughing. Just give back the wallet."
"Not until I see who's in this mysterious photo that you're so keen on hiding from me!"
"No."
"I don't think you're in any position to be telling me what to do."
"Alright then. Fine. Go ahead. Look."
"Okay then. A little drum roll if you don't mind. Ladies and gentlemen, I can reveal to you all, that this lovely photo is of . . . me?"
"Why so surprised?"
"I just . . . I didn't . . . I don't remember you taking this photo . . ."
"Two summers ago. We were supposed to meet at the park and I was late, as usual. By the time I got there, you were sitting on a bench watching these two kids argue over the slide. You just had this expression on your face of . . . I don't know . . . happiness or something. This glow. And it just got to me." -sheepish- "So . . . yeah . . . I took a photo."
". . . They reminded me of us."
"Who?"
"The two kids arguing. Don't you remember? Growing up together, fighting over the littlest things?"
"We still do."
"Yeah. You just don't paint my hair blue or pour juice boxes down the back of my shirt anymore."
"Hey! It was an accident!"
"Uh huh. Just like how cutting my ponytail in third grade was all an accident."
"Those scissors had a mind of their own."
"So, anymore secret photos I should know about?"
"No."
"You said that way too fast. Hm, let's see . . ."
"Are you going to sit here and rummage through the entire contents of my wallet or are you going to go and buy your CD?"
"The CD can wait. This is too much fun to pass up."
-mutters- "For you. But not for me."
"Aw . . . are you embarrassed?"
"Shut up."
-laughs- "Oh! A movie ticket. Wasn't that out like three years ago?"
"Maybe."
"So any particular reason why you have an ancient ticket stub in your wallet?"
"It's the movie we saw on our first date."
"Oh."
"Yeah. Oh."
"I liked the movie."
"I don't even remember what it was about."
"Was the date really that bad?"
"No. I was too busy freaking out over whether or not to put my arm around you to pay any attention to the screen."
-grins- "Really?"
-under breath- "I can't believe I just admitted that."
-teasingly- "Is that a hint of red on your cheeks I see?"
"What?! No!"
"Gosh! You really are blushing!"
-scowls- "Alright. You've had your fun. Now give back the wallet."
"Not yet. One more thing."
-mutters- "I don't think my ego will be able to take one more thing."
"Sorry, I didn't quite catch that. Could you repeat it?"
"You're really enjoying this, aren't you?"
"More than you can imagine."
"You're lucky I'm so tolerant."
-snorts- "Tolerant my ass. So, what's with the mistletoe?"
"What mistletoe?"
"The mistletoe tucked between the photo and movie ticket."
"Oh that mistletoe."
-rolls eyes- "Okay Einstein. Care to explain?"
"Not really."
"Don't make me call your mother and tell her that ninety percent of all the 'sick days' you took off school were just an excuse to go skateboarding."
"Gee woman; you sure know how to drive a hard bargain."
"Stop avoiding the question."
"Think you can handle the truth?"
"Where's the phone?"
"Okay, okay. I'll tell you." -swallows- "We were standing underneath that mistletoe when I first worked up the guts to kiss you."
"You kept it? After all this time?"
"Yeah."
-quietly- ". . . I never realised you were so sentimental."
"I'm not. But where you're concerned, I do a lot of crazy stuff."
"Why bother to keep all this?"
"So that no matter what happens, I'll always remember."
vii. Just because he loves you.
"Plane number A137 to New York, now boarding."
-mutters- "Okay. I can do this. I can get on that plane and start my brand new, awesome life in New York. It's what I've always dreamed of. I can do this. I'm completely, one hundred percent ready for this. Forget about everything else. I have the job I've always wanted. I just need to get on that plane and the rest will be a piece of cake."
"Did you know that talking to yourself is the first sign of insanity?"
"W-What are you doing here?"
"Oh, just thought I'd go for a little stroll."
"Around the airport?"
"Why not?"
"Seriously. Why are you here?"
"Why do you think?"
"I don't know what to think."
"I came here for you."
-sighs- "I thought we agreed it wouldn't work?"
"Yeah. Well, I changed my mind. No deal."
-softly- "It's too late."
"It's never too late."
"Look, this was a joint decision –"
-angrily- "– Are you saying you can just walk out on us. Throw away all these years together?"
"No! I'm not . . . I just . . . please, don't make this any harder than it already is."
"Baby, it can't get any harder than this."
" . . . " –she shakes her head and starts to walk away-
-he catches her hand- "Wait. Don't go. Just answer this one question. You at least owe me that much."
-pauses- "Fine."
"Do you still love me?"
-stutters- " . . . I – I can't do this right now. My plane's about to leave and I – "
"Answer the question."
" . . ."
-murmurs- "Do you still love me?"
" . . . Of course I love you dammit! God, I just had to fall for an egotistical imbecile who thought it would be hilarious if he turned up, right before I leave the country, to remind me that I'm still crazy in love with him and – "
"You're babbling."
"I know I'm babbling you impudent cow! It's not like I want to stand here babbling on like an idiot, whilst my plane is about to leave to New York where my dream job is waiting for me, which I should be overjoyed about, but for some reason I feel like crap, like someone's ripped my heart out and run it through a paper shredder or something and God, why am I not happy?!"
-kisses her- "I'm going to miss this."
". . . Me too."
"Why can't we make this work?"
"Because long distance relationships never work. It starts off all hunky dory but then someone forgets to call or email and then you meet someone else and the jealousy starts and – stop playing my hair like that! It's really distracting!"
"What? You don't like me touching you?"
"I do. I mean, wait, no! I don't! . . . Oh, wipe that stupid smirk off your face will you?"
"So you don't think it would work?"
"No. I don't. Didn't I just say so a second ago? We'll drift away, you'll find someone else, I'll be so busy with work –"
"Which is exactly why I'm coming with you."
"And you'll be busy with your work and . . . wait, what?!"
"I'm coming with you."
"B – But how? You can't! What about your job . . . apartment . . . your entire family lives here! You can't just leave!"
"Got a transfer, sold the apartment, and my parents told me that if I didn't get off my sorry ass and come after you, they'd disown me."
" . . ."
-teasingly- "If I knew this would get you to shut up, I'd have tried this ages ago."
"A – Are you absolutely sure you want to do this? I mean, New York is half-way around the world! It's not that I don't want to be with you, I just . . . I just don't want you to feel pressured into this."
"Baby, I'd move heaven and earth just to be with you."
-grins- "Honestly, I'm two seconds from leaving and then you go all cheesy on me."
"Cheese is good. I like cheese. My favourite's cheddar."
-rolls eyes- "Funny."
"I know. I'm hilarious."
"But why would you do all this, for me?"
-he smiles-
"Just because I love you."
A/N: Summary is a quote from the gorgeous novel: On The Jellicoe Road by Melinda Marchetta. Read it :)