IF LOVING YOU

my nose, knocking out the smell. It made me cringe, and at the same time made me stand. Mary called to me from the fence, and I turne

as our new neighbour and ha

with a smile and asked

nod. "Yes. How ab

I was doing alright, co

iling even when no

s one so rude, then s

ry when I came in. I mumbled

A

said. I mounted the swing, not at ease, gently holding the ropes. M

ing your favourite c

ouldn't have

y on the grass and

e loving thi

ally," I sh

d handed the mug

ave worried," I felt relucta

t you wante

rugged. "I'm okay, as you can see, but no

neighbours? Do y

et them yet," I lied. The three I had seen the night before, and one... just today. She s

by.

t in?" I felt sad. Mom's job was demanding, so it had us move. From Texas to California,

id. "You just have to make new friends. Mar

doesn't seem very nice, so I

somewhere, honey. And,

the front. "I wonder who's knocking," Mom sai

o know who was at the door. I me

eciate this. The app

gesture, so fake! I walked

Mrs

ll me Jane," I

y," she declined Mom's offer to come in. "I only ca

then she bid her goodbye and shut

made you an

e pies. Such a coinci

gre

RT

Mom opened the door. I realized that how I ac

" I said to myself. Beverly Hig

oached. Her rosy cheeks glistened in the s

minutes ago

made me cough. My voice cracked

d you're not doing badl

er that. It was broken by a c

tur

onderful noon to y

up, despite our promises to each other. Dad had witnessed the scene that very day when Hazel sla

zel and me for some minutes,"

, I can."

eing with her aft

ck to your senses," I

es I have to apologize so you can hav

thout blinking, Hazel, so

mistake. A very big o

she did. Or

t I've moved on. I am not taking you back, so you can keep your sorry ass to

me, then she sniffed, and looked away. "

you

ted, picked up her purse from

el-" I

rked a new beginning. Mary and I met in scho

we

Totes

at my place someti

ai

H

r pl

nd who didn't love vis

ly," she

o.

es!" she

spicious at first but didn't make his reasons known until after she ha

my girlfriend, I told him she was a

hink? A naughty thought crowded my mind

He knew I had some naughty shits going on in my

s the

ce?" I l

ve got something going on in

ren't you hanging out with Steve to

wing by the day. Mary brought up the principal's daughter and how she was one of them. Cindy, if I wasn't mistaken. Gi

must say," I sa

've been meaning to tell you someth

grew hot despite

don't know," she shrugged

n tell me," I plac

she quick

t w

" her words

ing it hard to say-could tell

" Mrs. John's

ou can tell me whatever you have in

excused myself and told Mary that I was

r. I thought about her all night too and m

I saw myself walking down the a

voice. She was slowly calling to me and

jolting, ringing voice woke me

to see Mom draw

om

pea. How ar

was

. Back then she and my Dad argued all the time. They would fi

are you d

about, baby? Aren't

but-" I

our Dad will see

ance?" I smile

e is

ell you he's g

LONG OVER!" she emphasized. Mom and Dad were cat and mouse. O

edly asked. I was sur

baby's still sin

baby anymore so you had

back, and I remembered the vei

n't listening. She dragged me out of my

what's

ant to tell her about my drea

ha

ll went," I said w

o Mary was and asked me why I

Mary's voi

here-" Dad hollere

talking. She smiled warmly at us

Mom. Mom, Mary.

e a lifted brow. I could

o see you, M

cut in.

"So I'll leave you two to talk," she t

ing. We chatted abo

do you have a crus

ulp

ard time doing so, as a result of my throat being clogged. Wetting my lips, eyes

grew anxi

d my hair, this time saying some

? You have got t

Luke's name. Of all people, I be

the football team, and the most handsome in our class, all the girls

your dre

, "I didn't say dream.

d and sat on the chair, as it squeaked. Her face

Y

ke's name. Of all people? I hated him s

ng about me cr

tha-" I waited for some time. "I j

om the chair, making the first move. "Can I?" I leant i

pped my hand into her dress, carefully locating her bra cups

me on. The feeling was a nice one, and the

t stop," Mar

as she moaned and I did. I pulled away and peered

eautiful,

pulled away and look

s her again, as the sound of