Chapter Four
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While I was waiting for my food at this breakfast restaurant, I grabbed Charlie’s book again and scanned these things that I put sticky tags onto. I focused my mind and got out my inner teen reporter. I need this interview to be as unbiased as possible and that I should get myself out of the book’s leading lady. I need it to be the same way when I first read it, when I didn’t know it was based on my personal first love story.
‘And he glanced at her for the last time, tears running down his cheeks. He wished high school for her didn’t have to end, he wished that he can just go with her wherever she goes. He wished that it didn’t have to end. She was his forever and forever for him is something that would never end.’
“That’s what I thought too.” I muttered. Then the waiter came with nice bacon and eggs and latte. “Thank you.” I mumbled to her.
I swiped my phone open and read the message Evan left for me. “I don’t know why but I feel really uncomfortable without you here, I miss you babe. I just gave my request for leave and they are currently processing it. Fingers crossed. XO” I smiled, even though he may seem like an uptight person because he’s a doctor, he is not. He is childish that every text I got from him always has a ‘xo’ in it. I just wish that his colleagues won’t see it. I want my childish Evan to myself.
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I finished my breakfast and head to the next boutique. One more boutique until I get to Michigan.
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“Yellow?” Charlie’s sweet voice greeted.
“Hey Charlie, it’s me again. I am at the borderline of Michigan right now” I paused, “and now I’m here. So, when and where do you want to conduct the interview?”
“Hmmm, let’s just meet somewhere close to home.”
“You are not living in a dorm?” I asked surprised, if she isn’t then they moved back.
“Nope, my mom figured that I should just live in our old house since it was never mortgaged nor opened for business. What about Three Breadsticks?”
I want to ask if she’s living by herself or someone else with her but I didn’t want to sound like I was asking for his brother so I didn’t press it, “Three Breadsticks it is!” I said and we hanged up.
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I went in the infamous ‘Three Breadsticks’. I sighed as the breeze of the past came rushing. I sat at the seat near the bar, where I my usual spot was. It didn’t change much.
I still recognize the red and yellow curtains and the tip jar that hold not more than $10. The counter is still the same with ashen wood and the wooden menu that is chipped on the side still hang on top. The food is all the same, just had minor changes.
“Good Evening ma’am, do you want to order now or are you waiting for someone.”, the waitress greeted.
“I am waiting for someone but I’m kind of hungry.” I looked up at the menu, “I’ll take a clubhouse sandwich and a latte please.” I smiled at her and she went to fetch my order.
After sending the needed files for the prom issue to my partner I checked my e-mail, and there was one from my mom: ‘Evan called to say that he is trying to get a day off from work this weekend, why did Evan say that? Are you in Michigan right now? Why didn’t you call earlier? Your dad and I went to this resort with his retirement friends. We’ll be back tomorrow or a day later. Check in some hotel first.’
With all that I could forget!
I hurriedly called the office to tell my situation and demanded to get me some info on the hotels nearby, and my late lunch came.
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‘He wished she could look her in the eye as she says that, as she leaves him, because he didn’t believe a single word. Love doesn’t disappear overnight, does it? He went on and on and gave her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she is just confused right now, maybe she is just adjusting through college, maybe she just needed some space to be comfortable in her new environment.
He could give her that, space. But he is not buying it when she says that she doesn’t love him anymore, or she doesn’t love him like the way she used to anymore. Their love is stronger than that. They didn’t even need labels to prove that they are perfect for each other, because they are awesome like that, because they are perfect together like that.’
As hard as I try, as hard as I want to, I still can’t remove myself from the book; feeling like what is written here is intended for me from him. I wish what he thought was true that I just needed space to settle down on new environment, but that is not the case.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. No, I cannot respond to the book like this. I can’t be emotionally attached to all this. I should be a book critic, I should be an interviewer as Charlie is the interviewee and her book is just an object of our discussion and not the past and the future it might indicate.
What happened in the book will never happen in real life. I am perfectly happy right now and if Sterling shows up in this minute then I guess we’d be just be good friends and nothing more.
I sipped my coffee and returned to the book after sighing and mentally noting myself to focus as a book critic.
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Another half an hour later someone that sounded awfully familiar called me, “River? River Young?”
Now I wished I didn’t thought about him earlier. I mentally smacked my head.
I pushed my glasses up and looked up, “Yes?”
I looked into his deep blue eyes, eyes that have always been full of intent, full of spark. It didn’t change. His eyes are still beautiful. “Are you waiting for my sister?” he said in the same deep, husky voice.
I nodded, still not expecting to be seeing him here. I should’ve asked Charlie after all…. But wait, why do I even care? It’s all in the past now, I shouldn’t be uncomfortable with Sterling.
I put down my glasses and offered him the seat and asked if he wanted anything.
“Nah, I just got ingredients for white pasta later this evening. Have you been waiting for so long? Charlie must’ve gotten into something. She’s kind of cramming through her dissertation. It’s just fortunate that she is not my student or else…” he playfully rolls his eyes.
“You’re a teacher now?” I exclaimed, now that is how you break the ice Sterling! Hooray for your resilience of me!
“Didn’t Charlie tell you? She must’ve not like the idea of her and I being on the same school again. Who would’ve thought, huh? How about you? What’s new?”
I smiled as I sipped my half empty coffee, “Well, I am a writer now. A writer in a teen magazine! I didn’t know how I got in the biz but I am hoping to not be a teen mag writer my whole life.” Of course I’m hoping to have that one masterpiece so I could move on from a teen magazine writer to an actual literary writer for RD or Times.
“Well, you’ve been always great. I know you’ll be whatever you want to be.”, and like that he is encouraging me again, always lifting my hopes up. Always there to support me.
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March 10, 2008
Dear S.W.
This is by far the best Monday of my life!
NYU loved my essay and I got an early acceptance!
Of course, I wouldn’t want to share my happiness than you. You were always there to lift me up whenever I am down and feeling like I can’t be in a good college anymore.
I know I am quite ambitious but what is an ambitious me to a supportive you. I am so glad that I have you through all these senior things. I know you should support your brother more but I feel like I’m getting more of the special treatment and I am not complaining.
I just wish that you are in my batch as well, but hey no worries. I will wait for you in NYUor until spring break then we’ll have the greatest vacation of our lives.
With all of your great qualities, you, being my ultimate fan and being the supportive guy ever will be the thing that I’ll miss the most. I just wish I could pack up as well and just be with you whenever college is bringing me down.
To be honest, I’m quite nervous to be in a different environment, but I was always been excited for this. And I am not saying you are holding me back or anything, I just wish that we’ll get out of this neighbourhood together.
Yours,
R.Y.
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