***Chapter Sixty-One***
November came in hot with all of us being completely swamped with work. Not only were we swamped with work, but we also had mid-terms this past week. It's like Halloween was our last chance of real fun before being hit with reality. It felt like I hadn't even studied with the amount of fun I've had. Thankfully, I managed to somehow pull it out. Doesn't make it any less stressful.
On top of all that I've been continuing to avoid Drew at all costs. It's been hard to see everyone because of it as well. Any time he would come over I'd immediately get up. If he were stopping by to say hi, I would walk away until he was gone. Certain situations made it impossible to avoid him. Though he'd excuse himself from time to time as well. There's no telling how long either of us could keep this up though. Not only is our relationship ruined but it's ruining the dynamics of our friend group as well. There had to be an end at some point.
Alas, I wasn't going to break first. It wasn't my idea to begin with and as much as it hurt, I'm not cracking. No matter how much I miss him and his delicate way of touching me. The way he was so attentive that last day we saw each other replayed in my mind. It's like he knew exactly where to go and how to please me. Still, Annabelle Lee will never crack! Not even for Drew.
Break hit and I rushed to meet Dillon at the coffee-house. We were also accompanied by Cameron who has been a hot topic as of late. I still remembered what Kayla said to us. It didn't make sense that he was waiting so long to ask her out. They've been talking for a while now. The least he could do was take her on a date. The girl liked him a lot and he was wasting time.
Grabbing a table, it didn't take long for Dillon and me to start scolding him.
"You're going to fuck up your one chance to be with someone great!" Dillon yelled at him.
"What's holding you back from taking her on a date?" I asked him genuinely curious.
He sighed hating that we were pushing him so hard. "Nothing honestly," he says.
Dillon and I look at each other than back at him. "Then what's the problem!" We both yell.
Again, Cameron sighs with a sad look on his face. It was a personal issue, or he was just worried about screwing up. It didn't change the fact that this girl has been desperately waiting for Cameron to make a serious move and he's been lacking. How else are they supposed to progress in their relationship? It would be best to let her know where his head is so Kayla can decide what to do.
However, I could understand what he meant. There were times where I didn't know what to do with my relationship with Drew. At some point you must buck up and face your fears. Expressing my feelings for Drew was hard, but eventually I did it. Cameron was going to have to do the same thing. Whether they have good or bad feelings. Kayla deserved the right to know what was up.
His head shakes. "Maybe I'm a little nervous," he admits. "I haven't exactly had girls interested in me like this before."
I smiled, understanding where he was coming from. "I get it, but don't let this stop you from experiencing something great."
"Exactly, you might just drive her away if you don't do something." Dillon adds.
Cameron looks between us. "What should I do? Where do I even take her?" He questions.
That was hard to answer since we didn't spend much time with Kayla. Cameron would know her tastes better than any of us. So long as it was something she liked, it'll go over well. Keeping Kayla happy was essential to keeping Cameron happy. It's obvious he liked her just as much but didn't know the right way to go about it.
"Something you know she'll like," Dillon crossed her arms. "Just do it quickly before she changes her mind!"
Cameron laughed. "Alright, alright. I'll get on it."
We all chuckled before talking a bit more. It was nice getting to spend a little bit of time with them. We've been so swamped with studying and coursework that this small amount of downtime was wondrous. Things could have been more enjoyable had someone not shown up. Wanting me to avoid him but showing up everywhere I was didn't help the case. Whenever he shows his face, he makes it hard to forget everything that happened.
There Drew was strolling over to the table. Normally I'd be excited to see him. Mesmerized by his lustrous green eyes. Today that was not the case. I was more annoyed than anything. I'm also trying to do what everyone has been telling me. As much as it hurt, I'm moving on and not worrying about Drew anymore. He wanted us to not talk then that's how it was going to be.
Getting to the table, I could feel his eyes linger on me for a second, but I didn't look. "Hey what's going on," he says aloud.
Immediately, I look at Dillon ready to get out of there. "Isn't there somewhere else that I need to be?" I asked her sarcastically.
She shrugs. "No, but if we're going to be this petty about it let's go."
Saying bye to Cameron, we walk away not sparing Drew another glance. He wanted things to be like this, not me. If it were up to me, he'd just tell me the truth about what was going on. He already told me some of it, why not the whole story? If Julie saving him meant he signed his life away, why can't he just say that? It'll make a lot more sense why he acts like he can't break up with her. At least it'll give me closure instead of just thinking he doesn't want to take the next step with me.
As soon as we were out of ear shot, Dillon decided to pick my brain. She was never opposed to me dating her brother. It made her feel weird because I found him attractive, but I'd say she was rooting for me. Dillon is the one person who knows how I truly feel about Drew and understands why. I've battled so long with just getting him to notice me. Was I really going to let him end our relationship like this? Yes, I am.
"How long are you going to keep this up?" Dillon asked me with a snicker.
I roll my eyes. "What am I supposed to do? You heard him, he wants me to forget everything," I wasn't caving.
She looked at me like I was being irrational. "Come on, you and I both know he didn't mean it," she read the situation well. "He was crying Anna. He never cries about anything."
"Just because he showed a couple of tears doesn't mean he didn't mean what he said," I argued.
Deep down I knew he didn't mean. It was the principal that was stopping me from getting him back. I'm always the one chasing after him over every argument. This time I wasn't going to do that. I'm following his rules and doing what he wanted. Well, to the best of my abilities anyway. If he wanted to fix things, then he would have to come after me this time. I'm done being the chaser. It was Drew's turn.
Still, Dillon wasn't willing to let me give up. "Anna, you spent forever, and I mean *forever* waiting for Drew to talk to you," she stops us.
"What's your point?" I say, unfazed.
She groaned. "Think about what you're giving up. I know he's hidden some things from you but it's for a good reason." She sides with him. "I don't agree with the way he's going about it, but he's, my brother."
I nod. "Yeah, he is," I didn't want to hear it but that never stopped her.
"And you're my best friend," she smiles. "The only time Drew seems genuinely happy is when he's with you. If you don't see that then you need to get your eyes checked."
She made some valid points. I don't know if he was happiest when he was with me, but he was more himself. Whatever he said was merely a ploy to get me to leave him alone. It did hurt and it did work, but if Dillon saw right through it then I was right, and he didn't mean what he said. That still didn't mean I would eagerly take him back. I'm not going to run to fix this. This is what he wanted it to be.
Standing my ground, I didn't change my stance on the matter. "Either way, he wanted to stop communication, then that's what we're doing."
"But Anna—"
"No buts, Dill. I'm not going to keep putting myself in a situation where I'm the second choice." I'm not changing my mind.
Dillon sighs, understanding. "Fine. But if he comes apologizing, you'll hear him out right?" She asks for reassurance
Rolling my eyes, I nod my head. "If it'll get you to shut up." I joke.
She laughed pushing me slightly before we headed to our other classes. If Drew did want to come and apologize, I would listen. He had his reasons for doing things the way that he did. That I simply couldn't fault him. If Juliana held so much power over him, who am I to push him to go against it?