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Chapter 26
Months Later
Danielle's View
"Are you ready honey?" my mother asked walking into my room and looking over my suitcases.
"Yeah I'm ready," I said zipping up my backpack.
"You'll be gone for 2 weeks right?" she asked.
"Yes, no longer. I'm only going to Brian's wedding Mom. I'm not moving there," I said.
"I know I was just checking. How's Jason?" she asked more softly.
"I guess he's doing alright," I shrugged.
"When was the last time you talked to him?"
"Yesterday," I said.
"How did he sound?" she asked.
"Mom, he's going to be fine. Our break up isn't going to kill him!" I exclaimed sitting on the bed.
"Honey, you know how much your father and I love him. He's like a son to us, we're just looking at for the both of you. I don't even totally understand why you broke up with him," she said.
"I didn't break up with him..."
"He broke up with you?"
"No...we kind of made the choice together," I said.
"Ohhhh, I see, so he pretty much is going to get over you quickly since it was both of your guys decision to end it?"
"No...Mom we went out for how long? 5 years? I'm not even going to get over him quickly," I said.
"Tell me why exactly you guys broke up," I said.
"I kind of told him something..." I said.
"This something being?"
"I can't tell you, you wouldn't really approve."
"Try me."
"It's just that this thing has been bothering me for a long time and it just didn't feel right if I didn't tell Jason. When I did tell him, he got really upset but tried to understand. We got to talking and we decided to just take a break and just be friends for the time being. He was real understanding, he told me he wanted me to be happy, and if it wasn't with him then so be it. I still love him Mom, I'm just not with him."
"Danielle...is this thing bad? Because if it is, I have a right to know."
"Yeah...I mean no...I mean, I don't know," I said quietly.
"Tell me honey," she said calmly.
"I kind of...like someone else...I know I shouldn't when I was with Jason and that's why it got to me so much! I love Jason so much but I can't be with him if I think of this other guy all the time! I just can't, it's not fair to Jason."
"Who's this other guy?" my Mom said moving my hair behind my shoulder.
"Brian," I mumbled.
"Say that again, I didn't hear you," she said.
"Brian," I said more clearly, facing her.
"Brian?" she asked surprised. I just nodded my head.
"The Brian that is getting married? The Brian who is your best friend?"
I just kept nodding my head.
"Danielle, you broke up with Jason over Brian?"
"I didn't break up with him Mom! We're just taking a break!" I exclaimed. I was getting frustrated. It seemed like she cared more about Jason's feelings than mine.
"Sweetie calm down. I just don't see why you ended a serious relationship with someone you have loved and known for pretty much your whole life over someone you have known for at least a year."
"I can't help my feelings Mom! I like Brian, what do you want me to do?"
"Try to get over him. Stay with Jason...you at least know that Jason will love you back and that he will be there for you. Brian is already taken, he's getting married. You can't stop that from happening. He has already found who he wants to spend the rest of his life with...I think you have too."
I looked down and frowned, "I can't just get over Brian so fast Mom."
"I know Honey, but I think you should try. Are you doing OK though?" she asked rubbing my back.
I nodded my head and said, "I'm doing alright. Jason is too, he knows that I love him and always will. We're just going to be friends...you'll still see him around."
She nodded her head and smiled lightly, "Well, I'm sure you guys know what you are doing. Are you sure you two are fine?"
"Mom! Jeez, we're fine! It's not like we hate each other and aren't going to talk. We're still REALLY good friends, I'd rather have that than nothing at all. Don't worry about me or him, we're completely fine. Sure, we're still a little upset over the break up cause we were a couple for so long, but we're going to be alright. We're always gonna be friends, we always have been. Nothing's going to change that so don't think I'm all depressed cause we aren't together and that we aren't going to talk to each other again because I'm not depressed...I'm going to be fine. So is he..."
"OK OK, I'm just looking out for the both of you," she said.
"I know and thanks but try not to worry so much, I'm not gonna kill myself over it," I laughed lightly. She just smiled and patted my back.
"All right, I'll let you finish packing. Get to bed early cause you have an early flight tomorrow," she said getting up.
"Yeah yeah yeah," I mumbled. She looked at me once more and then left the room. I sighed and got up, finishing up my packing.
The Next Morning
"Come on slow poke! You're running late!" Darlene exclaimed from the bottom of the stairs.
"I'm coming! Hold on," I yelled down to her. I looked around the room one last time, checking to see if I had everything, and then picked up my backpack.
"Hey, are you ready?" Darlene asked looking up at me as I walked down the stairs.
"Yeah, where's Colleen?" I asked.
"She's out in the car...come on!" she said grabbing my hand and pulling me out the door.
"Bye Mom! Bye Dad!" I yelled from outside. They came to the door and waved after me.
"Remember to call me," my Mom said.
"I know!" I said setting my suitcases in the trunk with the rest.
"And stay out of trouble," she said.
"I know," I said slamming the trunk closed.
"And if you go to a party, get your own drink!"
I opened the car door, looked up at her, and said, "Mom...I know!"
"Sorry, have fun baby," she smiled at me. I smiled back and said, "I will, I love you!"
"We love you too," my Dad said. I closed the car door and turned on some of the music. Darlene pulled out of the driveway and started toward the airport.
"You guys excited?" Colleen asked from the back seat.
"Yeah! I so can't wait!" Darlene smiled.
"Me neither," she smiled. "I get to see Nicky again!"
"You are so lucky girl, you have a Backstreet Boy as a boyfriend," Darlene giggled.
"Yeah I guess I am lucky," she grinned.
"Danielle, why are you so quiet?" Darlene asked nudging me. I looked over at her and said, "I guess I'm just tired."
"Nuh uh, you aren't tired. I know when you are tired...what's wrong?" she asked. I just shrugged.
"It's about the wedding isn't it?" she asked slowing down to a stop.
"No, why would you think that?" I asked.
"Oh I don't know...maybe it's cause you only started to get sad when we left for the airport...and from there we will see Brian and Elizabeth wed and he'll be taken forever."
I groaned and said, "Is it that noticeable? I should have just stayed with Jason. At least then I had someone that liked me back."
"Don't sweat it, things will turn out OK," Colleen said.
"You sound like Nick," I mumbled.
"Why thank ya," she giggled. I rolled my eyes and just said, "I'm just gonna suck it up and be the best damn brides maid there ever was. I'm gonna stick a big fake smile on my face and be all happy and giggly...just watch."
"You shouldn't hide your feelings so much," Darlene said pushing down on the gas.
I shrugged, "What do you expect me to do? Go down the isle crying my eyes out? No! I'm not going to ruin Brian's wedding."
"Chill, I'm just saying it's not that healthy. I'm not saying you should show all your emotions at the wedding but you shouldn't hide it so much."
"OK OK, lets just drive in peace now. I'm going to go insane on all these lectures," I whined. Darlene nodded and then turned the music up higher and continued toward the airport. I wasn't really looking forward to Brian's wedding. I wanted to be happy for him, but it's just so hard to accept the fact that he doesn't love me...that he loves Elizabeth and that in less than 48 hours, he was going to be a married man. In my dreams, he would marry me...but he isn't going to be married to me, he was going to be married to Elizabeth. I used to think that dreams could come true and it just down right sucks that the one dream that I actually want to come true...won't...and that some other girl has the same dream and it actually is coming true...it just isn't fair...Life isn't fair.
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