Chapter Eleven

                                    

                                          
The dressing room slowly comes into focus. I sit there for a moment, thinking about what I had seen. My heart beats fast in my chest and my stomach ties itself in knots. I can hear my mom and Lis oohing over the outfit she chose. 
                          
I look around, there are at least ten more outfits to try on and I don't have the time. I grab the black leather jacket off my second pile and pull it on. The outfit doesn't look too bad and I'm out of time.
                          
"Ash, you look hot!" Lis says when she catches me walking out of the stall.
                          
"Very cute honey, "My mom nods in approval.
                          
I lie, "This is my favorite outfit of all the ones I tried on. This is the one." I smile when I say it, hoping they will think I look more excited than I felt. 
                          
"Well let's get some lunch and head home?" My mom suggests,
                          
My mom buys the outfits, while Lis and I chat by the store's entrance. 
                          
Lis is eyeing me, "You feeling okay Ash? Your cheeks look flushed."
                          
Mentally kicking myself for not being honest, "Yeah, I'm good. Just a little bit nervous, that's all."
                          
She smiles, "It's going to be great! I'm serious, think about that kiss in the hall, maybe there will be more of that tonight." She wiggles her eyebrows and giggles.
                          
I playfully swat her arm, "Lis."
                          
"What are you girls talking about?" Mom asks while approaching us.
                          
Lis and I share a look, "Nothing." We say in unison.
                          
It was a short drive over to the restaurant, we chatted about our hair and makeup. We pull up to the restaurant. My mom circles the parking lot to locate the perfect space. My mom and Lis open the doors and begin climbing out of the car. My vision blurs. I'm losing focus on the scene in front of me. I hear my phone chime, a new message. The timing perfect.
                          
I manage to get the words out, "I'll meet you inside." I don't hear a response but I can see two figures moving away from me. My head is spinning. A dull, aching spreads over my forehead. Spiraling out from the center. A tingling sensation crawls across my skin and I taste blood in my mouth. A bitter scent fills the air.
                          
We are standing in the middle of the park. As the sunsets, the temperature is dropping. The wind whips my hair in my face. With the gust of wind comes a chill so deep it reaches my bones. I'm standing here with the boy I love, but I'm terrified. My hands shake and I cross my arms over my chest.
                          
"I can't do this anymore. We are moving too fast and it's scaring me," I tell him. Wet tears stream down my cheeks. My heart aches.
                          
He looks down tears pool in his eyes. He opens his mouth and closes it again. A few moments pass us. He says, "Riley, I love you."
                          
I look at Xavier. His green eyes sparkling with tears. I run my hand through his night-black hair. "I know and I love you. I need time. I need to process things and consider the things that are important to me."
                          
Xavier slumps his shoulders and turns his back to me. I watch him walk away. Feeling of regret surge to the surface, but I push them back. He turns around, "Are you seeing someone else?
                          
Taken aback by his question, feeling unsteady. Of course, he would jump to this conclusion. He was in love with me. I shake my head and answer his question, "Of course not."
                          
His face contorts, "You are lying to me. That's the only reason you would end this. You are everything to me. I don't know what to do without you." He rushes back to me and grabs my arms. His grip tightens and tears spring into my eyes. His eyes no longer hold a hint of sadness. They are full of rage. I can feel the anger radiating off of him.