My Forever

Chapter 12

It was the day before Christmas break. I was late for school. I had managed to sleep right through my alarm. After checking in at the office, I made my way to the library. I needed to grab a few books for the break.

As I headed to the back of the library I heard a familiar voice.

“So you can come to my family's Christmas Eve party?” Chase said.

“Of course, baby, I would’t miss it.”

I made my way closer to the voices, only to see Chase with his ex-girlfriend Sylvia.

I watched as she ran her hand down his chest.

“What excuse did you give uhh Heather?”

“Harper …. Her name is Harper and I didn’t tell her about the party.”

“When are you going to break up with her? I miss us.”

I watched as I tried to swallow the bile in my throat.

She dropped to her knees and began unbuttoning his pants. I expected him to stop her, but instead he placed his hand on her head and I turned and left. I didn’t need to see the rest to know what was about to happen.

The rest of the day, I was on auto pilot and managed to avoid Chase at all cost. But I knew I had to deal with the situation. I walked into the cafeteria at lunch and saw Caleb, Lisa, and Chase. He saw me the second I walked in the room and gave me a smile that normally would make my knees weak, but today it makes me sick to my stomach.

I couldn’t help but look over to the table where Sylvia sat with her mean girls. She seemed uninterested and completely focused on her phone.

“There’s my girl.” Chase said, standing and pulling me into a hug. “Where have you been all day?” He tried to kiss me but I quickly turned my head.

I just smiled at him and then looked over at Caleb. “So, Caleb, will you be going to Chase’s Christmas Eve party?”

Caleb choked on his pizza and looked quickly over at Chase. “Wwwhat party?”

I smiled sickly at Caleb and back to Chase.

“What party?” Lisa asked, completely unaware of what I was talking about.

Lisa and I had become very close and I knew she had no idea what I was talking about.

“Babe, I’m not having a Christmas Eve party.” Chase said, trying to put his arm around me.

I stepped away and looked right at him. “Really? I was in the library this morning and I guess my eyes and ears deceived me.”

I watched as my words sunk in. “It’s not what you think.”

“Right.” I went to turn and he grabbed my arm.

“It’s just my Dad is going to ask his girlfriend to marry him and I didn’t want to take away from his night by bringing my girlfriend and everybody wanting to meet her. Plus, my family would expect your family to attend and I just thought it was too soon.”

“So the blow job in the library was for my benefit too?”

He didn’t say anything as I turned and left the room with Lisa right behind me.

“Come on, we are going to your house. I will call my Mom on the way and she can call us out for the rest of the day.”

I was still on auto pilot and followed her to my car. She took the keys and I sat in the passenger seat.

Once we got back to my house I changed into a pair of joggers and made my way to Declan’s room. I pulled out one of his hoodies and pulled it over my head. The smell of him engulfing me.

I made my way into the kitchen where Lisa had made grilled cheese and tomato soup.

“I would ask if you were OK but I already know the answer.” She said, setting the food in front of me. I didn’t have an appetite but I knew I needed to eat something.

“What is wrong with me?”

“Nothing is wrong with you!” She said, rushing to my side.

“There must be. Luke seems to have cut me out of his life after us going out one time. Chase is embarrassed to introduce me to his family and cheats on me and Declan leaves his own home.”

“First you don’t know why Declan left and you need to talk to him. Luke is an i***t and maybe he got worried because you work together. Chase is a child and you can do better.”

I smiled at her, knowing it was fake, but didn’t know how to respond.

“Have you even tried to call Declan?”

“No.” I said, shaking my head.

“Call him right now.”

“What?’

“Pick up your phone and call him. Find out what in the hell he is thinking.”

Smiling, I grabbed my phone and pressed call. I was so surprised when he answered after the first ring. I didn’t know what to say.

“Harper!” He sounded relieved to know it was me calling.

“Hi Declan.”

“I am so happy to hear from you! Did Luke finally get your phone replaced?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I have been calling every day since I left but your phone never rings and Luke said you were having problems with the service and they were working on getting it fixed. Didn’t he give you any of my messages?”

“I’m sorry Declan, I don’t know what you are talking about. And no he didn’t give me any messages.”

“What about my emails?”

“I got your work emails.”

“It doesn’t matter right now, I am just so happy to hear from you. I miss you.”

“I miss you too.” I couldn’t believe the works left my mouth.

“Listen, I’m sure Luke explained everything to you and I should be back after the first of the year, but I really don’t like you spending Christmas by yourself.”

“Oh it’s ok. I’m actually used to it.” I wanted to tell him that Luke told me nothing but I held back.

“Not this year. How about you fly here? I promise to have you back home before school.”

I sat in one place without moving. I wasn’t sure if I could even breathe at that moment.

“Harper?”

“Yeah….I’m here.”

“So what do you say?”

“I don’t want to impose.”

“You wouldn’t be. In fact, my family knows all about you.”

“Ok.”

“Great! I am booking the flight right now. Then I will have a car service pick you up. Can you be packed in 2 hours?”

“I think so.”

The rest of the call was him booking my flight and sending me the emails I would need. As soon as I hung up, I explained to Lisa what was happening and we rushed to get me packed.