Too Little Too Late

Sixteen

We were sixteen when we met.  I was an awkward teenager, Jack on the other hand; he was popular and well-liked by many.  I tended to keep to myself mostly, filling my time with school, work, and in my free time reading. I wasn’t part of the in crowd, we both belonged to different circles at school. In fact, school wasn’t even where I met him, work was. I took a summer job, in a doctor’s office filing papers and occasionally answering phones. The office just so happened to belong to his mother. It’s hard to even pinpoint when our relationship began. Every summer I returned to my job and so did he, after high school graduation I was offered a fulltime position when the current receptionist decided it was time to retire. I took the job and planned to only stay until I had my college plans laid out, but I became comfortable in my position there.  He of course took a job working in his Father’s company after graduation, but we still kept in touch. A text here and there just to say hi. While he busied himself with work and girlfriends, I kept to my same old ways. Not really caring I didn’t have a group of friends to fill my time. 

Flashback

I heard my phone ding from across the room and abandoned the pile of laundry I was currently folding to get it and see who was trying to reach me. It was nearing eight on a Friday night. I had gotten off work hours ago and busied myself with washing my dirty laundry so it would be ready for the coming week.  I saw his name come across the screen and my spirits lifted a little bit.

-What are you doing?

-Laundry. Happy Birthday, by the way. 

-Thanks, you should come out. We’re having a little get together to celebrate.

-I don’t think that’s a good idea. Plus, I’m a little busy at the moment.

Not to mention I was already dressed for bed. My hair was tied up in a messy bun and I had taken my makeup off hours ago. 

-Your laundry will be there waiting for you tomorrow. 

I contemplated in my head what I should do. Given our ‘history’ and the fact he was now in a committed relationship it didn’t sound like the greatest idea. He should’ve thought the same, but he was never one to stay on the side of reason. 

-I can’t, I’m already dressed for bed.

-So, get redressed. Please?

-Text me an address, I’ll be there in an hour. 

I put my phone back down on the dresser and headed to my closet to find something to wear. Next, I headed into my bathroom to fix my hair and apply some makeup. The butterflies were growing in my stomach, I hadn’t seen him since the week before he announced his relationship with his current girlfriend. It had been four months since the day he broke my heart for what left like the hundredth time, and here I am opening myself back up to the same disappointment. It ended the same way every time. Him making his choice and me always being the runner up. I should’ve learned my lesson by now, but what can I say? He was my first and I held him close, having him this way was better than not having him at all. 

A short time later I was pulling up to a house on the outskirts of the city, a group of guys were out on the porch smoking and he caught my eye immediately. He made his way over to my car and opened the door for me allowing me the space to get out and in no time he had wrapped me in a hug. 

“It’s good to see you.” He told me as he let me go out of the hug he had held me in. 

“It’s good to see you too.” I replied to him as I took a step back and moved to grab my keys and purse off the passenger’s seat.

“We’re out of beer, mind if we take your car?” He asked as he held his hands out for the keys. I should’ve said no, I could smell the beer on his breath, but without even thinking I held my keys out to him and made my way to the other side to slide into the passenger’s seat. When I started my new job one of the perks was a pay raise, so I splurged and bought my dream car. A six speed Mustang complete with an exhaust and sound system. Everything else about me was practical, except this car. I watched as he shifted gears as we made our way to closest gas station. I opted to stay in my car while he headed inside to grab the beer because I wasn’t twenty-one yet. I watched as he made his way back out to the car and loaded the alcohol into the trunk. “You know, this car is louder than I thought, it’s not so bad for a V-6.”

I rolled my eyes at him. I knew he was giving me a hard time, so I didn’t take it personally. “It’s not bad at all. I love my car.” I told him. After I turned my attention out the window and sat quietly while he drove us the rest of the way back to the house. I turned forward when I felt the car gaining a higher speed, knowing this was a terrible idea. “You sir, cannot afford getting pulled over tonight.” I told him, seeing the house draw closer, just as we were almost there I noticed the cop lights behind us. 

“You jinxed me.” He stated as he lifted in his seat to grab his wallet from his back pocket.

“You were going ten over, you brought this on yourself.” I told him as I tried to keep a straight face. The officer made his way to the window and asked for his license and registration which I recovered from the glove box and we waited while he headed back to his car to decide his fate. 

“Your girlfriend is going to be pissed.” I said to him as I tried to make small talk. 

“She’ll get over it.”  He replied as he watched the review mirror. The cop eventually made his way back over to us and after talking ended up letting him off with a warning. He got lucky, like he always did, he always knew the right things to say to people.  I finally got out of the car and met him around back at the trunk, shutting it’s top once he had retrieved the beer. I followed him towards the house and the closer we got, the louder the music became. Four drinking games in and was in a state I found myself unable to drive in. I was never a beer a drinker, I preferred a much sweet taste, but when beer is your only option; you compromise.  Once the third drink hit my system; I was no longer the quiet wallflower, I talked to everyone, made friends with many of the girls there, including one I shouldn’t, Sarah, Jack’s current girlfriend.