Sabrina spent the next five days in her apartment. She called CJ to give him the news, but had no other contact with the outside world. Sabrina knew she’d done the right thing for herself and Josh, but she didn’t know it would be this painful. “Good morning Heartache, you old gloomy sight. Good morning Heartache, thought we said goodbye last night. I turned and tossed until you had gone, but here you are with the dawn.” Billie Holiday sang mournfully from her stereo. This song had always been Sabrina’s favorite of Billie’s standards. Now more than ever, she understood the song’s personification of heartache. It was a living, breathing being, pressing against her chest. “Good morning Heartache, here we go again. Good morning Heartache, you’re the one who knew me when. Might as well get used to you hanging around. Good morning Heartache, sit down.”
A knock at the door brought Sabrina out of her reverie. Hoping it was Josh and hoping it wasn’t, she opened the door. “Leo.” “Hi. You haven’t been to class all week, I got worried. Are you sick or something?” “Or something. Josh and I broke up.” “I’m sorry. Really, I’m very sorry. I hope it wasn’t because of me.” “No, it wasn’t. It’s something that needed to happen.” “Well, I copied my notes from class, would you like to get some coffee and go over them? It’ll do you good to get out of here.” “Ok. I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”
Sabrina emerged from her room in twenty minutes, freshly showered and dressed. Leo was flipping through her CDs. He smiled when he saw her. “My dad loved Otis Redding too.” “Really?” “He named our dog Otis after him.” Sabrina smiled. “Mom named me after her favorite artist, so Dad named our dog after his. It was only fair.” He was rewarded with an even brighter smile.
Leo let her into his car and ran to the other side and let himself in. As they talked, Sabrina noted that he was listening to Dave Brubeck. The syncopated rhythm of ‘Take Five’ danced through her head. Leo purposely kept their conversation light, though Sabrina was sure he was dying to discuss their kiss and her break up with Josh. He parked in front of a Starbucks. Leo held the door open and the first person Sabrina saw when she entered was Josh. He and Ellie were kissing at the counter. She tugged at Leo’s arm. “Let’s go somewhere else.” Josh heard her voice, looked up and followed Sabrina outside. “Bri, wait. Let me explain, that kiss was…” Sabrina stopped, turned and took Josh’s ring off her finger. She held it out in front of her. “No, that’s yours, I don’t want it back.” “Josh please.” He reluctantly took the ring from her. “It’s really over, isn’t it?” Sabrina nodded and took Leo’s hand. Leo quickly took Sabrina to his car and drove. Ten minutes passed until Sabrina realized they weren’t headed for her apartment. “Where are we going?” “For a run and then St Ben’s. I’m not going to let you feel sorry for yourself. Besides, it’ll do you good.” He was right; Sabrina had a great time that night and every night after that.
Over the next two months, Leo was always at her side; they ran together, studied together, she’d even become a regular volunteer at St. Benedict’s.
One night, Sabrina went to Leo’s apartment. They cooked dinner together and planned to watch ‘The Apartment, Leo’s favorite movie, later on. They cleaned up the kitchen together when a familiar song came through Leo’s stereo. “Come away with me in the night. Come away with me and I’ll write you a song…” Sabrina took Leo’s hand. “Dance with me.” She put his hands around her waist, noting the surprise in his eyes. She put her arms around his neck and rested her head against his chest. Sabrina smiled when she heard Leo’s heartbeat accelerate. “Come away with me and we’ll kiss on a mountain top. Come away with me and I’ll never stop loving you…” Sabrina pulled Leo to her and they kissed. It was long and sweet.
Leo lost himself in Sabrina’s kiss. He didn’t know what brought it on, but he’d wanted this too long to question it. They were breathless as they pulled away. Leo’s heart was in his chest. “Sabrina, what does this mean? I need to know.” “It means that I’m tired of pretending that all I feel for you is friendship. It’s always been so much more than that.” He smiled as she played with his hair. “Really?” “Really, really.” They kissed again, basking the happiness they’d found together.
Josh excused himself from dinner early and went to his room. He changed for bed and checked his email. He was about to sign off, but decided to check the Grobanite message boards. In the main forum, there was a thread titled “JOSH, PLEASE READ!” He clicked on it and the message almost made him laugh. “Josh, I saw you sing the National Anthem yesterday. You sounded great as usual, but…you looked awful. Please don’t take offense, I’m just concerned for your health and well being. Please take good care of yourself.” There were quite a few responses agreeing and speculating as to the reasons why he didn’t look himself. Josh wrote a reply thanking them for their concern and promised to get more rest. As if that’s what he needed. What he really wanted to say was that his girlfriend broke up with him and he feels miserable. Josh still kicked himself for attempting to rebound with Ellie. She actually had feelings for him and he used her to dull his pain. The kiss they shared was a mistake. He loved Sabrina and hated being without her.
Early the next morning, Sabrina stood in front of Leo’s mirror, straightening her hair and dress. “Sabrina, you’re beautiful, relax. You weren’t this nervous about meeting my mother yesterday.” “Yeah, but that was when she was meeting me as your friend. Now she’s meeting me as your girlfriend. That’s something altogether different.” He kissed the back of her neck. “She’ll love you.” He took her hand and set her on his bed. “I have something to ask you. Mom is giving me two tickets to Italy for Graduation. I’m staying in a villa in Tuscany that belongs to a friend of hers. She’ll be out of the country all summer, so I’ll really be house sitting. Would you like to go with me?” It was too good to be true. She was finally going to Italy; her dream was coming true and she’d be with Leo. “I’d love to!” She put her arms around his neck and kissed him.
Minutes later, they were on their way to the gas station. Leo went inside to get some water while Sabrina pumped the gas. “Bri?” Sabrina smiled. “Hello Josh.” “You look beautiful.” “Thanks. I’m meeting Leo’s mother today.” Josh didn’t try to hide his disappointment. “Oh, so you’re dating?” Sabrina couldn’t help but smile. “Yes.” “Are you happy with him?” “Yeah, he’s a great guy. Are you seeing anyone? What happened with Ellie?” “I’m not seeing anyone.” He said sadly. “I really don’t have time for a relationship. It took losing you for me to realize that.” There was something so sad about the look in his eyes that tugged at her heart. She kissed his cheek. “ Be happy, Josh. I want you to be happy.” ‘Then come back to me’ he thought. He managed to force a smile. Leo walked up and put his arm around Sabrina’s waist. “Everything all right?” “Fine.” Josh said. “We’ve never met. I’m Josh.” Leo shook his hand. “Leo. My mother loves your music.” “Thanks.” “We should get going.” Said Sabrina quickly.
Josh was a wreck by the time he got to David’s studio. David walked in
with a pot of coffee, which he almost dropped when he saw Josh. “What’s
wrong?” “I ran into Bri this morning. She was with her new boyfriend.
They’re visiting his mother who loves my music.” David’s face
fell. “I’m sorry Josh. I don’t know what else to say.”
Josh went on as if he hadn’t even heard David. “You should’ve
seen this guy, David. Hell, I’d rather date him than me.” “Josh,
I’m changing our schedule for today.” David shuffled through some
papers. “You have a gift for interpretation and I want you to give me
everything you’re feeling right now. All your love, all your anger, all
your hate. Don’t hold anything back.” He handed Josh the sheet music
for a song called ‘Broken Vow’.
