His expression was soft, so there didn’t seem to be anything to worry about. “Hmmm…..that would be hard to handle. I know you care a lot about what your father thinks of you.” Antonio’s gaze drifted to something over by the door. I turned to look, but didn’t see anything that caught my attention. I turned back to look at him. “It wasn’t anything. I thought I recognized someone. But finish. I’m listening,” he stated.
I went on. “It’s just been really hard, but neither of us wants to give up. It just seems like everyone else is hoping that we do.”
He thought for a moment. “Well, I’m definitely not this guy’s biggest fan, but I know that when you want something you go after it and you don’t stop until you get it. So, as long as you two are determined to make it work. Then it’ll work.” I appreciated his kind words. He put his own feelings aside to help me through this tough time in my life, just like a true friend would do. I smiled at him and decided to drop the subject, fearing that if I went on I’d push him too far. “So, what’s new with you?” I asked
Antonio dropped his gaze to the table as he spoke. “Nothing much.” I knew that he was hiding something from me.
“I know better than that. What is it?” I asked.
He looked nervous as he spoke. “I’ve kinda started……seeing someone.”
My heart skipped a beat, but I composed myself. “Good for you. Is it anyone I know?” I asked hoping that his answer would be no.
“Yeah……Megan,” he replied.
I tried not to show the shock I felt, but that was next to impossible. “Oh, well……that’s nice.”
He laughed at my act. “You don’t have to pretend around me. I know it makes you uncomfortable, but it’s new and I don’t even know where it’s going.”
“No, I’m glad that you found someone…..even if it is someone that I considered to be a close friend once upon a time,” I said sarcastically. He laughed again and I couldn’t contain my own laughter.
“I knew it,” he continued to smile at me. “Like I said it’s still really new, so it may not even turn into anything.” His smile faded a little. “I’m not sure I’m ready for that again yet.” Although I’d never bring it up, I understood that he was referring to our failed relationship and the long term effects it’d had on his heart. After that, he seemed to lose the urge to finish our conversation.
We ate and when he invited me to the movies I asked him just to take me home. The little bit of positive energy that I’d mustered up for his sake was beginning to fade. He pulled up in my driveway and walked me to the door. We stood on the porch and he stared at me for a few seconds. He didn’t say a word as he leaned in and kissed my cheek before turning to get back into his truck and driving off.
Once in my room I pulled off my clothes and climbed into bed. I held my phone to my chest and waited for AJ’s call until I finally fell asleep. The next day I awoke around eleven and found that my hands were still clutched around it. I sighed and rested my head back on the pillow. Much to my surprise, it began to vibrate in my hands. The number that came up wasn’t one that I recognized so I started to ignore it completely, but something told me to answer.
“Hello?”
“Good morning, beautiful,” AJ replied.
My body went numb. “AJ? Where are you?” I asked as I felt my hands begin to shake.
“Karl stopped by this morning to hang out. When I told him everything that happened he left me his phone. He’s gonna let me keep it a while and just use his house phone.”
I was ecstatic. “I didn’t think I was gonna hear from you until we got back to school and then I didn’t even know what would happen from there. What did your dad do when you got home?” I asked.