Love Song

Amy

It had been weeks since I found Peter with Audrey. I cringed every time I thought of her. Mostly because it was close to the name Aubrey. But that’s another story, I story I don’t feel like getting into. But the point is, I was still hurting.

I was full aware that the idea of falling in love at sixteen was absurd, but there Love was, shoving its ugly head in my face.

Then I remembered something…If it had been love that we’d felt for each other, would he have fallen for Audrey’s seduction? Sadly, I couldn’t even humor myself with a lie.

Luckily, Jordan said I’d be helping her with her band’s album again, which meant I’d be touring again, which meant money for college and medical, which meant I’d be able to become a heart surgeon, which meant I’d be away from Peter and all the other bullcrap that seemed to always find me in the past four years. So it’s true that life is one big cycle.

I was putting my cello back after class and about to head out the door when Peter came up to me, blocking my way.

“Move.” I growled.

“Not until you talk to me.” Peter said firmly.

“I already talked to you Peter. A couple weeks ago. Remember?” I said, trying to be as calm as I could possibly be. I shoved Peter out of the way and started walking towards the parking lot.

“Amy…You told me you loved me. I thought-”

I whirled my body around. “Notice how you worded that Peter.”

“Amy please, I love you.” he pleaded. My hand seemed to control itself as I slapped him across the face.

“Screw. You.” I grumbled, trying to hold back tears.

He put his hand over his cheek where I’d slapped him, but still didn’t go away.

“If you really loved me, you wouldn’t have fallen for Audrey’s little plan.” I added.

“Plan?” Peter asked, an amused smile spread across his face, like I were crazy.

“You do realize that Audrey was using you to get to me, right?”

“No…” Peter mumbled.

“Of course you didn’t.” I let out a small laugh. I turned and walked out of the gates of the school. I got to my car to see a guy look up at me. He was turning his key, unlocking his door.

“Hey.” he said.

“Hi.” I said, smiling.

“You ok?” he asked softly, running his fingers through his golden brown hair, revealing his gorgeous blue eyes. They were…powder blue? Sky blue? I had no clue. All I knew was that he had light blue eyes that weren’t that creepy almost white color.

“Um…I’m fine. Just…you know, difficult break up.” I laughed.

“Oh, that’s terrible. I’m sorry.” he said sympathetically.

“It’s fine. And your name is…?” I said.

“Sean.” he laughed.

“But…you’re white.” I said, raising an eyebrow.

“My mom isn’t white. I just took after my dad. My sister looks exactly like my mom and she has a white name.” he laughed.

“Sean…” I said, giving a faint smile.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Amy.” I replied.

“That’s a pretty name.” he said, giving me a smile.

“Thanks.”

“I may seem rude by asking but…do you think I could take you out sometime?”

My lips spread into a large smile that I just couldn’t help.

“Sure. I’d like that.” I said, my smile getting bigger.

“Can I have your number so I could call you?” he asked, opening his car door and sticking his body inside. He came out with his cell phone in his hand. He walked over to me and handed it to me. I flipped it open and entered in my number and handed it back to him.

“Thanks. I’ll call you tonight.” he said.

“Yeah…” I mumbled, not sure what to say. He walked back over to his car and got in. I stood and watched him as he pulled out of his parking space and drove away. I couldn’t help but stare at the now empty parking space he left behind.

I snapped back into reality and got into my car and drove home.

Sean did call me that night. He asked me out and of course I’d said yes.

In my mind, I felt like Sean was just a rebound guy because I was feeling vulnerable and depressed about Peter. But my heart was telling me the exact opposite. Jordan always told me that hearts don’t make decisions, the mind does. And for so long I’d agreed. But now that I thought about it more, maybe this was one of those crazy rare moments where maybe she was wrong.

I wiped my eyes and fell back on my bed. And I couldn’t help but compare Sean to Peter, as stupid as that was.

Sean had that vibe that he wouldn’t even squish a spider. He radiated compassion with merely a smile. Whereas Peter looked like the typical jock who attracted all the girls and drank too much. Even though two out of those three descriptions weren’t true. He wasn’t a jock and he didn’t drink.

Sean had asked me to spend the day with him the next day. It was Friday and tomorrow would be Saturday.

The next day around lunchtime, I heard a car pull up my driveway and I ran outside to greet Sean.

“Hi Amy.” he greeted cheerfully, his blue eyes standing out against his tan skin.

I adjusted the clip in my hair as I ran over to his car and got into the passenger seat.

“So I’m taking you to Olive Garden for lunch.” he announced.

“I love Olive Garden!” I exclaimed. He laughed at my excitement, but didn’t take his eyes off the road behind him as he pulled out of my driveway.

“So Amy, tell me about yourself.” he said, his eyes staring straight ahead.

“Ummm…I’m not sure how to start.” I said. He gave me an amused smile without looking at me.

“I play the cello and sometimes my friend Jordan has me play in her songs.” I said.

“Jordan?” he narrowed his eyes, trying to think of who I was talking about.

“You’ve heard of the band Poisonous Innocence?” I asked.

“OH! Jordan as in the leader singer?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

“You’re FRIENDS with her? And you’ve PLAYED the cello in some of her songs?”

I nodded. “I’ve gone on tour with her too. You like that band?”

“Yeah they’re really cool.” he said, smiling.

“I can have you meet her one day, if you want.” I said, knowing she’d eventually meet him anyway.

“That’d be great.” he said, smiling.

We pulled into a parking space by Olive Garden and walked inside. The lady put us in a booth in the back of the restaurant. There was so little noise and it was nice.

“I’m so glad the lady put us over here.” I said, letting out a sigh of relief.

“I know. You can’t eat when there are a bunch of little kids with no parent discipline screaming and crying and running around.” he scoffed.

“I know.” I said, scrunching my nose. I watched Sean grab a pair of square, black rimmed glasses from his pocket and put them on as he opened his menu.

“You have glasses?” I asked.

“Oh, just for reading.” he laughed, sliding them up his nose.

“I used to wear glasses. But I’ve got contacts now so…yeah.” I chuckled at how I could barely talk around him.

“I’m glad. I can see your eyes better.” he said, smiling. “You have such pretty eyes.”

“You’re so sweet. Wrong, and obviously blind, but sweet.” I laughed.

“So…tell me about this ex-boyfriend of yours.” Sean said, closing his menu and putting his glasses back in his jacket pocket.

“Oh, his name was Peter.” I mumbled.

“Peter Wellington?”

“Yeah.”

Sean raised his eyebrow at me. “He’s a jerk.”

“I know.” I murmured, holding back tears that were forcing their way out of my eyes.

“Hey, I’m sorry. I won’t talk about him anymore.” he said softly, reaching out and wiping the tears away with his index finger.

“It’s fine. Really, it is.” I said, reassuring him that I wouldn’t let Peter be a delicate, touchy subject that was closed off forever. I wanted to move on. And that meant being able to talk about him.

After lunch, as we walked back to Sean’s car, he surprised me by grabbing my hand. I turned my body to face him, but wouldn’t let him let go of my hand.

“Sorry.” he said.

“Don’t be.” I said, trying to a hide a smile.

“Would I be too forward if I asked for a kiss?” he asked softly.

“No. Of course not.” I whispered. He leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. We seemed to fit like two puzzle pieces. It was nothing like kissing Peter. When I kissed Peter it felt like he was comparing me to other girls the entire time even though he said he’d only dated one girl before me, which was Valerie.

Sean’s kiss felt genuine and real. The way his arms gently wrapped around my waist. The way he broke the kiss and stared deeply into my eyes.

“Come on, let’s take you home.” he said, kissing me once more. I got into the passenger seat and as he drove, he held my hand and grabbed the steering wheel with his other hand.

When he pulled up my driveway, he led me to my porch and I had that strange flashback of the freshman welcome formal that I’d gone to with Peter. I was happy then too.

“Lunch was fun. Let’s do it again sometime.” he said, his hands in his jean pockets.

“Totally.” I agreed.

He leaned down and kissed me again. I didn’t want that kiss to end, but eventually it did anyway. Sean walked down the steps of my porch, not taking his eyes off of me as he waved good-bye.

Maybe Jordan WAS wrong. Maybe this time, I’ll listen to my heart instead of my mind. Maybe my heart can do more for me this time.