The Crush

Breaking Up is Hard to Do

I decided to confront Lathan about his friends' behavior at the dance. We arranged to meet each other at a nearby coffee shop. I was nervous as I approached Lathan. I had been rehearsing what I was going to say to him all night, but now that the moment had arrived, my mind went blank. He turned to face me, and I took a deep breath.

"Winter, hey," Lathan greeted me with a smile.

I decided to get it over with and not drag it out. "Lathan, we need to talk," I said seriously.

"Uh, sure, what's up?" Lathan asks, his smile fading a bit.

"I want to talk about your friends," I said, my tone firm.

"My friends? What about them?" Lathan asks, looking confused.

"At the dance, they were being really rude to me," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Oh, come on, Winter, they were just joking around," Lathan says, trying to brush it off.

"It wasn't just joking around. They were making fun of my dress and being really loud and obnoxious. And when I looked to you for support, you were dismissive and nothing like the Lathan I know," I said my frustration mounting.

"I'm sorry, Winter. I didn't realize they were bothering you that much. But you have to understand, they're my friends, and we have a certain dynamic," Lathan says, trying to justify his friends' behavior.

"I understand that, but that doesn't excuse their behavior. And it's not just at the dance, Lathan. They've been acting like jerks, and I can't just ignore it anymore," I said, feeling the weight of my words.

Lathan looks down, avoiding my gaze. "I'm sorry, Winter. I didn't mean for it to be like this. Maybe we should take a break," he says quietly.

I felt a pang of sadness but also a sense of relief. "Maybe you're right. I think it's best if we take some time apart," I said, trying to sound confident.

Lathan nods, looking defeated. "Okay, Winter. I understand. I'll give you some space," he says before getting up and leaving the coffee shop.

I sat there for a moment, feeling a mix of emotions. I am sad about the end of my relationship with Lathan. Still, I'm also relieved to have addressed the issue about his friends. I know I made the right decision.

As I was getting ready to leave the coffee shop, I heard a familiar friendly voice. "Winnie," Alex called out with a smile.

I felt a lump in my throat. I wanted to cry. I wanted to still be dating Lathan. Most of all, I wanted Alex not to see me this way. So I ran.

***

The next day at school was filled with avoiding the whispers going around. Everyone was looking at me. Some said I was stupid for breaking up with Lathan. Some said I couldn't handle the pressure. I even heard others say he dumped me.

It was all so overwhelming, and I couldn't help but feel like I had made the wrong choice. After talking to Lathan, I had hoped that things would be easier, but it seemed like it only made things worse.

Walking down the hallway, I could feel everyone's eyes on me. I kept my head down and tried to blend in with the crowd. I just wanted to disappear.

But then, I saw Alex at his locker, and he looked up and caught my eye. He gave me a small smile and waved. I waved back but kept walking until I saw Jordan. Seeing her was a breath of fresh air. It was nice to know that there was someone on my side who cared about me.

I walked over to her, and she greeted me with a hug. It felt so comforting, and I couldn't help but lean into her. She pulled away and looked at me.

"How are you holding up?" Jordan asked with a sympathetic smile.

"Not great," I admitted.

"I'm sorry," she said. "It'll get better, I promise."

I nodded and gave a reassuring smile. "I know," I said. "Can we please change the subject?"

Jordan asked about debate club, which means she was fishing for a subject. It made me laugh. She had no interest in any of the clubs I was in. I was happy about the laugh because as we were talking, Lathan walked past us. His friends, of course, looked my way and started to laugh. The groupies giggled, saying how ugly my outfit was. Lathan looked up at me and smiled, but I was surprised I saw sadness in his eyes. Did he miss me?

Jordan and I talked for a bit longer before we had to head to class.

But that brief moment of comfort was enough to get me through the day.

As I walked into my class, I noticed Alex sitting a few seats away from me. I couldn't help but feel slightly nervous, but I decided to try being friendly.

"Hey, Alex," I greeted him with a small smile.

"Hey, Winnie," he replied, returning my smile.

As the class started, I found it harder and harder to focus on my classes. Every time I heard someone laughing, my mind would go back to Lathan and his friends. You would think those in AP would be above gossip, being high in their studies to get into the best colleges. Still, nope, they were just as invested in the drama as everyone else in the school. It was frustrating to have to deal with such immature behavior.

At the end of class, Alex turned to me. "Do you want to grab lunch together?" he asked.

I hesitated for a moment before nodding. It would be nice to have some company. Jordan usually eats off campus with Marcus.

As we headed towards the cafeteria, Alex took my hand and led me down the hallway that led outside.

"Where are we going?" I said, looking around as Alex dragged me out of the building.

"We are going for a walk," Alex said, walking with a wide smile.

"But what about food?"

Alex chuckled, "We can stop and get something."

We got in his car and pulled away from the school.

I hated eating off campus because I felt it wasn't enough time to get back in time. Sometimes Jordan would beg me, and I would feel nervous the whole time. Jordan would tell me to relax, and my heart would be racing, thinking about how much trouble we would be in if we were caught.

This time my heart raced but in an excited way. "Alex," I giggled. "You are a madman. A madman!"

Alex howled, "No, Winnie. I'm a wolf."

We drove to the local cafe and grabbed sandwiches before walking to the park.

As we walked through the park, Alex and I chatted about everything and nothing. It was nice to have a lighthearted conversation that didn't involve Lathan's drama.

I noticed how comfortable I felt around Alex. He was easy to talk to, and I could feel myself letting go of all the stress from the past couple of days. I wonder why I stopped talking to Alex in the first place. Why do I fight our connection?

We walked with our arms linked around each other, enjoying the warmer weather of today and the fresh air. I was grateful for this moment of peace.

As we sat down on a bench, Alex turned to me. "I know you are here because you need space from Lathan and everything that goes with him, but I am happy you chose me as your distraction," he said, his gaze searching mine.

His confession surprised me, so I replied with one of my own. "You're one of my dearest friends, Alex. I'm confused about how I feel when I think of you, but when I'm around you, I want to stay forever," I said, trying to show that I valued his company. "I wish I had met you before..." I hesitated.

I wish I had met him before Fortmann. I laid my head on his shoulder. Alex comforted me by rubbing my arm.

We finished our sandwiches and headed back to the car. As we were driving back to school, Alex placed his hand over my hands. We drove in silence.