FOREVER IS NOT A EVER AFTER

Museum

The next week was as boring as any other week. Anthony wasn’t here yet, guess he is still in vacation with his family. I got to hang a lot with Serch again, we actually got pretty close during Christmas break. Clark has been so busy with Honors classes that I haven’t seen her we agreed to spend next Monday night together and go to the movies or something, and Moore has been busy helping her mother move, turns out she will just stay til the end of this semester and then she will move to Houston with her mother, she got a promotion and it’s a really good thing it’s always been just the two of them. By the time Friday arrived I wasn’t in a mood to go to the ranch but then again I had to help dad with everything there.

I was loading up my car with my bag and some art supplies I got for my latest painting cuz I ran out of when I see Serch approaching me.

“Hey what brings you here?” I ask and look up from the trunk, when I notice he is also carrying a duffel bag.

He scratch’s his neck and looks kind of embarrassed to talk.

“Hey, uhm, could you give me a ride to your ranch? The truck broke down and my sister is at your place so my uncle will be picking us up there, we are staying with him for the weekend. Mom is out giving conferences.” his look is of total embarrassment, I can tell he is not used to this

“Sure” I tell him

“And… can I ride back with you on Sunday?” He gives me a crooked smile

I just shake my head and smile back

“Hop in, we don’t want to get traffic”

We get in the car and head out.

The ride is quiet we just listen to the radio and make small talk just enjoying the road.

We turn up the gravel road and we see a car already parked on the drive way, seems his uncle is already here.

“Thanks for the ride! I will see you Sunday”

He says a bit more confident

“Ok but I leave at 3 pm if you are not here I leave with out you” I tell him half joking half seriously.

He is just getting in the car and shouts “No problem” before closing the door and of they go.

As I lay here in my bed I try not to think much of Antony, not a call or a message in over 3 weeks now, and focus on what I have to do tomorrow morning, I need to help out clean the stalls and bring the colts in from the fields, that is easy cleaning the stalls I’m not looking forward to it. How can he be so cold one moment and so caring the next, he is just so infuriating. I’m not talking to him when he gets back, he can’t pretend to be my friend and then just disappear, but then again he has been like this since the beginning.

Sunday morning I’m awoken by someone tapping at my window, when I look out I see Serch throwing pebbles at it.

“What’s wrong with you!?” I shout as I open the window.

“Didn’t want you to over sleep and miss the 3 pm curfew” he says mocking me

“You crazy it’s 7 am, and a Sunday at that”

He shrugged his shoulders “so you coming down or not”

“Five minutes” I close the window and get some ripped jeans a sweatshirt and my boots.

We headed out to the shed to hear some music and finish up some homework before heading back.

About at 12 we get called in for lunch with my parents and then we decided to head back early.

“Hey do you want me to drive back?” Serch asked “its only fair you drove here on Friday”

I would really love to just sit back and relax every f*****g weekend i do this trip I should be accustomed to this.

“Yeah sure why not” and I slip into the passenger seat. “Since I’m the co-pilot i choose the music” and put on my favorite country station.

I don’t know at which point I drifted to sleep when I felt the car come to a stop.

“Hey we are here sleeping beauty.” I hear Serch call out to me.

Suddenly someone is knocking at my window, “what the f**k!” I jump in my seat and turn around to two ice blue cold eyes.

I get off of the car to meet Anthony’s cold gaze, “i thought you had changed planets or something like that” I tell him crossing my arms. Two could play mad, besides I don’t know why he is mad he is the one that had been ghosting me for the last couple of weeks.

“Why are you arriving with Serch” he points at him and the death glare that he sends his way is unnerving.

“Good to see you too friend” Serch answers coldly “thanks for the ride, I’ll get going the bus is almost here” he opens the trunk and gets his duffel bag, all the time he is met by the cold stare of Anthony.

“Thanks, Serch I had a great time!” I tell him and hug him before he gets going.

I turn around to look at Anthony “what the hell is your problem!?” And I look inside the trunk to get my stuff, close it with a slam, close my car and head into the building with out taking another glance at Anthony.

I’m so mad, who does he think he is! Ok this is my chance I’ll tell him I have a crush on Serch and be done with his dilema of this misters girl. I can hear him claiming the stairs right behind me.

As soon as I reach my door Im pinned agains it, *Oh s**t! He is too close, our faces just inches away from each other* then the word vomit comes “ who do you think you are! You say you are my friend and then just disappear for week and never call back! And guess what you can’t tell me who to like and who not to, I’ve como really close to Serch! May be I have even started having feelings for him!” He just closed his eyes said nothing and took a step back.

After what felt like a lifetime he opened them slowly and looked at me “you are right, I have no right to do this, but I had been waiting to surprise you at my arrival, and guess what I’m the one that got surprised” he looks sad, but its replaced with his usual mocking look. “Well don’t tell me i didn’t tell you but you are getting into a wild goose chase” and then his look turns serious he runs a had throughout his curly hair,

*oh how i wish i could do that, What the f**k, get a grip*

He sighs and then looks at me and just whispers sorry.

“What?” I just look at him like i didn’t understand.

“Said Im sorry” and he gives me an apologetic look

“No way it ain’t going to be that easy” and I turn to un lock my door.

I walk in and he just walks right in behind me “were do you think you are going?” I turn to look at him.

“To say I’m sorry?” And he looks at me like a lost puppy “I brought dinner, and a movie”

*oh how I hate that look!* I just raise an eyebrow

He lifts up a bag i didn’t notice he was holding and pulls out some sushi and a movie

*no way is it?*

“ i brought Three Steps Above Heaven” and he puts the movie back inside the bag

“But I guess if you are too mad, then I’ll go home”

I wanted to squeal and jump on him I’ve been reading the book since it came out, couldn’t wait for the movie.

“Ok you can stay,” I put on my poker face “but you are not forgiven” and we walk to the couch.

We watch the movie and have dinner, then he gets up “Ill be leaving now, tomorrow well see each other at school”

I just look up at him from the couch “and what is this” i point to him and me

“Well if you let me describe it, we are friends, and before you say anything I promise i wont mess up again. If I do you have every right to not talk to me ever again” and he puts a hand to his heart “its a promise”

I touch my chin as in deep thought and I know it’s impossible for me to be mad at him

“Ok, see you tomorrow, but you are un probation” I tell to him as I walk him to the door.

He just laughs and walk out.

Oh god, I need a shower and a good sleep.

Wake up really early and head down to school, clases are going fine and its almost the end of the day, I still have art class and then time to go home.

As I walk in Anthony is already waiting by our usual spot, we take a seat and the teacher comes in.

“Hello kids! Ive talked to the principal and we have permission to go to the local museum for our next assignment I need you to pair up and decide on a theme, we will be working on sculpture!” She looks so exited “we will be going on Saturday at 10 am, so today is your last day to finish your current projects”

*oh great I won’t be able to go to the ranch this weekend!*

I just sigh and get to work

“Hey do you want to pair up with me?” Anthony asks “ please… you know how I suck at this”

Technically I’m still mad at him, but he is right he is terrible and I don’t know how he keeps on with this class, and I need a partner and he is the only one that does not come with ridiculous ideas and I actually enjoy being with “ok fine” I give him a quick glance and see a smirk on his face, then turns around and goes to finish up whatever he is trying to do.

Between schoolwork and homework I barely have time for me this week, called dad and let him know I wasn’t going to make it he was worried because our barn help wasn’t going to be there this weekend cuz he had an accident with one of the colts and my dad had to take 2 horses back to their owners.

Time went so fast that it was Friday night and was exhausted I just wanted to go to sleep, the only good thing is that tomorrow i didn’t had to get up early.

I hear my alarm, and I just can’t get up. *ok I’m getting up* I take a quick shower and get dressed.

A plain black v-neck t-shirt, some low cut jeans and my tenis shoes, yep I got tennis shoes, a light jacket and just some mascara on and a high ponytail. I look at my self in the mirror, not the best but it will do for today. I head out ready to get to my car and there’s Anthony already waiting for me.

He is standing on the drivers side leaning his elbows on the hood “hurry we are going to be late if we get caught in traffic” he tells me as he walks around the car to the passengers seat and opens the door. “Lady’s first” and he makes a little bow that looks kind of funny.

I decide not to fight about this and just give him a kiss on the cheek before sliding inside the car.

We arrive at the museum and not everyone is here yet so we seat down at the benches that are at the front of the building.

Once everyone gets here the teacher explains what we have to look for in the artists that we had chosen befor hand, but first we would make a quick guided visit so we know were to look. After 2 hours of walking around Im so tired, and to think that we have to go back and find our artist and take the notes that are required for the class.

“So, do you want to go have lunch first or we finish up and then go have lunch?” Anthony asks once we are at the reception getting ready to go and take the notes.

“I’m not that hungry, how about we hurry up and then we can go have lunch once we head back to the apartment?” I look up at him, i know he is hungry but I really want to get moving, if we are done early maybe I can head back to the ranch and help tomorrow at least.

“Sure” he just doesn’t look that convinced.

We go back and finish our notes on Duchamp, not my favorite but it looks that Anthony is excited with this type of “ready made sculpture”.

We are walking down to the car when he turns around suddenly I end up crashing on him. His strong hands hold on to my arms.

*I just love his blue eyes*

“So there’s a place I wanted to take you since a while a go, do you want to go?” His eyes just sparkle when he is happy.

I look at him just trying to figure out were, but say nothing.

“Ok, I’ll take the silence as a yes” he turns around and opens the passenger door for me to get in.

I get in and just shake my head and smile, I would allow him to take me to the end of the world, but that’s something he would never know.

We park at an Italian restaurant, it’s almost 2 o’clock and I’m starving.

When we get to the receptionist she looks at him, “so nice to have you here again, table for two?”

He just nods curtly and we follow her inside. Once we are seated a waiter brings two cups of water and the menus. I couldn’t help but notice this does look like a fancy restaurant.

“Is it ok if I ask for the 2 of us” he looks at me hopefully “there’s this entre and some pasta I would like you to try but the size is to share”

“Sure! Why not!” I tell him and set aside my menu.

We make small talk for a while and wait for our food. He asked for a fried eggplant covered in parmigiana cheese with a bit of honey on top, oh my good it was delicious. And we had a pasta with a spinach sauce and it was also delicious. When it was time to leave he just signed a voucher and said we were good to go.

He opened the door for me and we started our drive back to my apartment.

“My dad has a special account there he is friends with the owner and so every week or so he just sends the balance with the receipts and my dad transfers the money, that way he doesn’t need to worry if i eat or not, if I’m out of cash i just come here and take the left overs for my dad. He won’t be getting them today” and he smiles widely

I just stare at him and smile back.

We arrive sooner than expected “thanks see you on Monday!” I wave him goodbye as I make my way to the building. He waves and drives out.

Its late already so I think I’ll leave tomorrow really early, I take a shower and hop on bed put on my earphones and my iPod and just look at the ceiling while I hear the music.

“Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

I'm begging of you please don't take my man

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

Please don't take him just because you can

You could have your choice of men

But I could never love again

He's the only one for me

Jolene

I had to have this talk with you

My happiness depends on you

And whatever you decide to do

Jolene”

And I feel my self start falling asleep as Jolene by Dolly Parton comes to an end.

“Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

I'm begging of you please don't take my man

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

Please don't take him even though you can

Jolene, Jolene”…