Brian's Heart

chapter2

Lunch came around. I couldn't wait to see Amaya.

This has been a long day with Brooke tailing me and the guys teasing me because they think that I have feelings for Amaya and choosing Brooke instead. They aren't wrong, but I'll never tell them before I tell Maya myself.

"Brian, I know you didn't keep me in the dark about this!" Her voice boomed at the sight of me. A small smile crept onto my face as I heard her. She's always loud, but I love it.

I opened my arms, engulfing her frame in mine.

"There she is! You know I was just wondering where you were, so I could tell you the news. My best friend always knows first" I smile, she huffs and pushes me aside.

"You Liar, but anyway, where is Brooke? I have to congratulate her not to say that she needs it when she's doomed anyway."

"Ouch! And what do you mean congratulate her we aren't together" I assured her; I didn't want her thinking that I was dating someone because it's only her that I would ever want truly. I have a fair share of flings here and there, but I never took anyone seriously. Call me cheesy, but I wanted Amaya to hold the title as my first and last girlfriend who would eventually upgrade that title to life partner.

I'd act the way I do because I had my needs to, but still, I needed her to know that no girl was ever going to take her spot in my life. Ever.

"Why does the whole school think that you two are a thing now? Literally, that's all I've heard since second period, and I'm annoyed because you didn't even think to tell me first. I mean I did tell you she was going to ask and, as your best friend, I deserve to, mmhm"

I covered her mouth with my hand. I adored it when she rambled. It was adorable, but not when she was angry, because then I'd feel her wrath.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you first, but we aren't dating. I promise." I held up my right hand.

"Cross your heart and hope to die?" She eyed me suspiciously; I chuckled and crossed my heart and kissed it up into the air.

That was our oath. Once we crossed our hearts, then we knew it was the truth, not that I would lie to her.... if I didn't have a good enough reason to do it, that was.

"Alright then you might want to stop the rumors, they’re getting out of hand" she walked past me to a table nearby. I sat down and turned to my side to face her.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean like their saying things that I already knew wouldn't have happened, but I had to be sure of it." She shrugged without telling me, I flicked a strawberry from her lunch tray at her nose and her eyes widened.

"What did you do that for?!"

"Because you’re not telling me the rumor, dumb one! Spit it out!"

"Okay don't get your panties in a twist," She mumbled and turned her attention to me. I huffed and rolled my eyes at her.

“Rumor has it that you and Brooke were seen together outside of school shopping…" She trailed off.

"Oh, yeah we ditched a few periods, that's it" I shrugged and took a piece of orange from her tray.

"For baby clothes?" She asked. I spit the orange out and stared at her horrified. Who would make up a lie like that?

I'm way too young to be a father and I don't plan on raising a child until I'm older and much more ready for a kid.

"f**k! no! Who told you that?!" I exclaimed.

"No one and I've already tried to track down the one that's been making these rumors, but I can't seem to find out who it is, but when I do, he or she is going to get it!" She seethed with rage. I knew my Amaya had my back through whatever and this might be just a rumor, but if it gets back to my parents, they'd probably send me off to another country like they did with my brother after he had his first kid in high school. I can't leave Amaya.

"Don't worry Maya, I'll find out who it is, but I need a favor from you.”

"I want to help! You're my best friend. I can't just have these rumors spreading about you! And if your parents try to send you away like Calvin, I’ll be there kicking and screaming at the airport!"

I smiled and pinched her cheeks. She hates it when I do that, but I love it when she gets angry and tells me to quit doing it.

"You're such asshole" she glared at me, slapping my hand away from her ruby-red cheeks.

"I'm your asshole. Anyway, don't tell Brooke where I am, she's been up my ass all day." I tried to convince her with my smile, showing all my pearly whites. She's always told me she appreciates guys with a nice smile, so I made sure to take care of my teeth for her.

I've always had good teeth, but I wanted them to perfection. I made sure my parents knew how much those medal contraptions meant to me at eleven and was taken to our orthodontist a week later. They tortured me for all of three years before the dentist took them off saying I didn't need them anymore, my teeth were strong, straight and healthy, but I still wore a retainer after that. Not anymore, but for some time.

"Anyway! I'm hanging with you today after school, so don't you dare think about leaving after lunch" she declared as she ate a piece of her orange as well.

"Thought you had cheer practice?"

"Change of plans… Brooke told Amber practice was canceled today. I guess she's in a good mood.”

"Cool, I'll see you later than baby." I stood to take my exit.

"Bye loser" She responded. I chuckled and kissed her cheek before walking away. Even though I didn't plan on having Amaya over today, I'm glad I can be with her today and have our usual talks about everything.

Once every week or so, we meet up at the clearance of an abandoned site in town.

There we found a space to dedicate our time and have privacy from snooping parents and friends. Somewhere we could just be Amaya and Brian, just the two of us catching up on each other's lives and issues.

I remember when I found it. I suggested we take a joyride one summer when my parents made the conscious decision to gift me my first ever car in the eighth grade. They made sure I knew the safety of driving and made it very clear not to drive at night before I was older. I was never one to listen to rules, despite the excitement and freedom of having a vehicle, while all my friends wished they had parents such as mine.

I texted Maya and told her I’d pick her up and when to sneak out of her home in time to meet me. When she got inside the car, we played Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ on repeat and drove until we were lost in a place we had never visited before. Amaya was scared as she thought a serial killer would find us out in the dark and murder us with a butcher’s knife, but once I spotted the abandoned cabin, I knew then we’d come back to check it out later. That night we experienced our first ever ‘Friends meeting’ and from then on it stuck.

******

After school, as promised, Amaya hopped in the passenger of my F-TYPE PREMIUM JAGUAR 2017, an all black convertible, and we went off to the forest. Some could call it a tree house; we called it our safe space, where we could let everything out and express our feelings without anyone knowing. What happened in the forest stayed in the forest.

Climbing up the side of the cabin that resembled a tree house and securing the lock from the inside just in case, Amaya turned on the Christmas lights she brought five years ago that seemed to still shine bright, the place lit up, and the once dark area was now ignited with beams of light. The countless teenage posters and coke bottles sprawled everywhere as decoration while the familiar smell of wet grass from the forest surrounded us. It was good to be home.

"So, what’s new" I asked as I sat down on my life-sized beanbag with open arms for her to take her place in between my legs. She immediately obliged and sunk deeper into my chest, playing with the laces of my van sneakers.

"You and Brooke are together, and I'm happy for you- "

At the mentioning of me and Brooke, I grabbed her face, turning her towards me, so she stared directly in my eyes.

“Me and Brooke... Not a thing” I stated firmly with honesty in my eyes.

“I was just going to say I’m proud of you for not being an asshole and doing much worse to her.”

If she wanted me to do much worse to Brooke, I would. I’d tell her as soon as tomorrow I don’t really want anything with her and that we couldn’t hang out ever again if that’s what Maya expected from me.

“I need to get something off my chest though. We’re best friends and I haven’t been as open as I should have been with you.”

Is it happening? Is she going to tell me that she's been in love with me and that she wished I had asked her! Oh, I hope she does.

Please do!

"Go ahead" I quickly said and leaned forward, bringing our faces closer.

"Well, I like this guy." She looked away from my gaze. My heartbeat went faster as her brown eyes regained their attention back on me and stared at me dead in the pupil.

"Yeah," I leaned forward again.

"And he's... not really what you'd expect." I smiled softly, waiting for the words to leave her lips. The words I’ve been dying to hear.

“I'm just going to say it...I like Greg” my smile faded, and I blanked, rapidly pulling back from our intimate position.

She likes Greg. Wait, Greg?

"You’re talking about Greg the geek with the four eyes?" I asked, bewildered. She can't be talking about him, but I don't know any other Greg.

"Yes. And I know he's not-"

"No, he's not what I expected!" I yelled. I was furious. How could she like that nerd?

He’s a freak, him and his group of geek friends just chuckle obnoxiously in the cafeteria at lame comic book jokes!

"He's kind, caring and very smart. He's cute in a unique way."

"You can't like him; you both are complete opposites. He's a geek Amaya your-"

"What! The delinquent that destroys everything in her path, I bully helpless kids and skip class. Well, I don't want that anymore, Brian, I'm trying to change. Can't you tell I've been going to class and doing my work." She stood to attention and so did I. We have never fought in the tree house ever; this will officially be our first.

"I thought that was because you didn't want to hang out with Amber anymore, but you’re saying it's all because of him!"

"Yes! I want him to notice me and if that's changing the way I am, then so be it, but I can't go back to the person I used to be. We have to grow up sometime."

I stared at her stunned. I didn't know that she had a thing for Greg or that she would even change herself for some guy that she barely even knew. My heart raced rapidly. This time it sunk into the pit of my stomach. I finally realized that she wouldn't go for a guy like me. I'm too much of a f**k up for her and what she deems good enough.

"I didn't know you were into geeks. Have fun with your four-eyed lover." I quickly climbed down the latter and made my way to my car. I was seething, and my heart was broken. All this time I spent making sure I gave signals and signs and waited for her to see I was who she needed in her life. I understood her when no one else did, I was there to pick up the pieces each time, making it my life’s mission to bring her joy and a peace of mind. Now she tells me she likes some f*****g bore.

What is life!

"Brian! You better not leave me here!" She shouted, but I was too consumed in my own rage to care.

I jumped inside my car, reversing out of the clearing before she could make it safely down the latter and drove aimlessly home. Once I made it, I stormed into my room and shut my door loudly before dropping on the bed.

I looked at the side of me on my nightstand sat a picture of us at the carnival last year. I remember that day like it was yesterday. She looked so beautiful and happy. We spent that whole night terrorizing anyone and everybody we could. I thought she was happy. I see now that she likes good guys. I pulled my phone out and texted her with anger still seeping from me.

'Look who's a Walking cliché now.’

I threw my phone across the room and laid there. I hated this.

Why didn't she tell me that she was into the good guy type?

I could have tried to become her good guy. I was her ‘best friend’ and she didn’t even tell me this until now.

Tears pricked my eyes when I thought about her and Greg. She's my Amaya and yet he, out of all people, gets her attention. He's the least known in the entire school, and yet he catches her attention. I can't believe this. He gets the girl and I get s**t but a heart break. The world is f****d.