Worth Waiting--Chapter 3
And when you’re gone you can listen to this song
To remind yourself that it was worth waiting
The next time you see him is your winter break during the middle of your sophomore year of college. You come home from college for a month of vacation after a stressful first semester, you’re glad to be home and away from all the tests, reading, papers, and homework. Your parents decide it would be fun to plan a holiday party and invite some friends, neighbors, and family members over for a gathering a few days before Christmas.
You’re busy decorating the house when the door bell rings. You’re on the ladder putting the angel on top of the tree when you hear a familiar voice from the doorway. You almost tip the ladder as you lean out, trying to see his face. Your mouth moves into a huge grin when you see his familiar blue eyes and spiky hair from the doorway. After you’ve completed the top of the tree, you shakily move from the top step to the bottom step of the ladder and walk towards the door. You look down at your jeans and black sweater and nod happily to yourself, finally feeling okay with your body.
He grins at you as you move towards him, “What’s going on? It hasn’t been 4 years!” He cries in shock as he pulls you into a hug.
You laugh with a smile, “I know…it’s like weird. I think we need to get away from each other for another 2 years…” You joke as you breath it all in.
You can tell he’s looking you up and down after you break away from the hug, a smile is played across his face and he’s kind of just staring at you. You break the silence, “So how’s it going?” You question him, bringing him back to reality.
“I’m doing really well. I’m playing a bar in Chicago a few days after Christmas, you should come…” He suggested as he took a seat on the couch and motioned for you to do the same.
You nod with a smile, “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
You sat there with him until long after the party had ended, talking about the last year of your lives. You learned he had been dating a girl for a few months and that he really liked her. You told him about a guy you’d seen a few times, but wasn’t seeing anybody special. You talked about your classes and your decision to become a teacher. He told you he’d thought you’d make a great teacher someday. He talked about potentially recording an album and you reminisced about you believing he was going to become a star, way back when. It was a perfect night and you never wanted it to end. You missed him more than you’ve realized and were glad you’d see him in a few days for his show.
The night had finally come for Lee’s big performance in Chicago and you’re so excited to hear him sing again. You’re getting ready and your cell phone rings from your room. You let it ring as you continue to apply your makeup. Not 2 minutes later it rings again, this time it’s a text message. Giving in, you walk back to your room to retrieve your phone. Looking at it you smile a little.
Hey-just wondering if you needed a ride tonight? Let me know. Can’t wait to see my oldest friend watch me become a rockstar lol-Lee
I texted him back with a laugh-I’d love a ride from a rockstar haha. I’ll be ready soon.
You go back to the bathroom to continue getting ready, butterflies already lining your stomach. You keep telling yourself that you’re only friends and that he has a girlfriend as you fix your hair. Giving up, you shrug your shoulders and grab your purse from your room. Making your way downstairs, the doorbell rings, perfect timing you think. You open the door to him, but there’s someone standing next to him…a girl.
“Hey!” You say to him as you eye the girl standing next to him, she’s the complete opposite of you, skinny, blonde, and tall…you suddenly feel really out of place.
He pulls you into a quick hug, “Hey…you ready?” He questions as he pulls away. “This is Holly…my girlfriend…” He explains to you, motioning towards her with his left hand.
You nod towards her, putting a fake smile on your face, “Nice to meet you Holly…” You say to her and she shakes your hand.
She smiles, her 100 watt smile lighting up the room. You can understand why he likes her. “It’s nice to meet you too…I’ve heard a lot about Lee’s oldest friend,” She says as she grabs for his hand. Your eyes move towards their embraced hands, you take a large breath as you watch; this is going to be a long night…
You walk to his car in silence and the car ride to the bar is about half an hour in which it’s completely silent as well. You half way through the drive when you wonder why you’re even coming in the first place. He’s got the girl of his dreams in the front seat, someone who will look good next to him when he makes it big. To him you’re still the 6 year old he met when he moved in next door to you all those years ago. A few tears come to your eyes and you push them away before he can see them.
You’ve finally made it to the bar and Lee’s whisked off to get ready for his set and you’re left with Holly. You tell her you have to go to the bathroom and head off, far from her. You see a cute bartender eying you from the bar across the room and make your way over. You’re only 20, but you figure flirting might get you some drinks that you’re desperately in need of. You introduce yourself.
“I’m Will…” He says as he shakes your hand. “Have you been here before…because I think I would have remembered you.” He replies with a big smile on his face, wearing the low cut top was a good idea you think to yourself.
“Nope, this is the first time I’ve been here. One of my friends is playing here tonight…” You explain to him as you touch his hand which is placed on the bar. Just a few more minutes of this and you’ll be golden.
“Cool. There’s been a lot of good acts in here lately, hopefully tonight’s the same…” He says looking you in the eyes. You’re still stroking his hand, wishing, and hoping there wouldn’t be too much longer before he gives into your beauty.
“Lee’s amazing…I’ve known him since I was 6 and have been calling him rockstar ever since,” You say with a laugh, your eyes never leaving his.
“You want something to drink?” He questions you with a goofy grin. You nod asking for a vodka tonic. He makes it for you and hands it over. “So…do you think I can get your number?” He questions, you can tell he’s crossing his fingers.
You shrug, why not? It should buy you a few more drinks. “Sure…” He hands you a pen and you jot your number down on the top of his hand. You nod to him as you take your drink and walk back to where Holly’s standing. You can see Will’s eyes following you as you do so. You laugh a little as you shake your head. Lee’s just come on stage. You take a seat next to Holly and wave to him.
Holly leans over to you, “God…I can’t believe he’s even friends with you. You’re such a slut!” She whispers, her eyes not leaving Lee’s from the stage. The anger is starting to rise in your blood, she had to be watching the way you got your drink.
You roll your eyes, “The only reason I have to be a slut is because there’s girls like you in the world that ruin it for every other plain Jane in the world!” You’re louder then you expect and you take a big swig from your drink.
She laughs evilly, “Hahahaha…very funny. You’re just jealous that I’m fucking him and you’re not!”
You’re getting angrier by the second and want to punch her in the face, but you resist. This is Lee’s night. You roll your eyes as you walk back over to where Will is bartending. He pours you another drink and you down it faster then he can pour another one. You watch as Lee is strumming away and singing his heart out. He’s amazing and the crowd can’t get enough of him.
“This next song goes out to my girl Holly….its only been a few months, but you’ve been amazing baby…” Lee explains as he starts the next song. Your heart hurts as you grab another drink from Will. You look back over to where Holly is sitting and she’s staring right at you with an evil “I got the guy” look.
Your eyes focus back on Lee and you can tell he’s been watching you from his place on stage. He looks sort of pissed and you look away, angry tears coming to your eyes. You down the rest of your drink and thank Will for everything as you grab your coat and make your way from the bar.
The night is cool and it hurts to breath as you walk out into the cool Chicago street. You look up and down the street, not recognizing a thing. You sigh, tears stinging the sides of your eyes as you lean against the brick building, allowing yourself to fall to the ground. Your head is in your hands and the tears are running freely now. You don’t know how you let it get this bad. This isn’t you. You don’t depend on alcohol and you certainly don’t depend on a guy to make you happy. You sit there for several minutes, trying to regain your composure. The vodka is hitting you now and you’re beginning to become dizzy. You try to pull yourself up, but you’re unsuccessful. You shake your head and realize you’re just going to have to freeze out here.
The next thing you know you’re waking up in a bright room, wrapped in blankets. You open your eyes which are still blurry and your head is still spinning. You look around at the familiar room and know where you are. You roll over to see him laying there next to you. Tears are creeping to your eyes again as you begin to remember what went down the night before. Before you can run, he’s stirring next you. You silently want to crawl in a hole and die.
“Well well…” He says sleepily as his dreary blue eyes look up at yours.
You place your hands over your eyes as he moves to sit up next to you on the bed. You can’t cry you keep telling yourself as you pull the blanket tighter around yourself. “I’m sorry…” Is all you can let out and you peek through your fingers at him.
He pulls you into a hug and you rest your head on his shoulder, “You know I can’t keep rescuing you from alcohol…” He says with a laugh as he rubs your back.
You fake a laugh, “I know…I don’t know why I drink.” He pulls away from you and you look him in the eyes. “Did I ruin your night?” You question, hoping his answer isn’t yes.
He shakes his head, “Never. But I think you may have ruined Holly’s…” He drifts off, pushing the hair away from your face a little.
You blush, remembering what you said. Then you remember what she said, “I’m sorry…but I just don’t think she’s right for you. She’s just using you…she knows you’re going to make it big and she wants to be the girlfriend of a rockstar…” You let it all out all at once. “Sure she’s beautiful…but so so stupid…you can’t let yourself fall for someone like that! I mean, come on Lee…Holly?” You question with a laugh. You watch as he moves away from you and his eyes begin to get cold.
He shakes his head and gets up from the bed, “How dare you judge her like that! You were drunk last night and you know nothing about her. She’s amazing….smart, beautiful….” He stops talking for a moment, trying to come up with the words. “…and nothing like you,” He finally decides on.
Your heart falls and crashes into a million pieces. Of the millions of things he could say at that exact moment; that had to be one thing that broke everything. You push him away from you and you gather your things, trying to figure out what to say next.
“Well I guess this whole thing between us was just that....nothing.” You say with emphasis on the last word. “Nice knowing you Lee. Good luck with everything…” You say as you walk out of the room. He doesn’t try to stop you and you don’t try to apologize.