~chapter twenty-one: always
The hall was so silent that the words echoed back to Brian's ears, taunting him and reminding him that Dana could make or break everything that mattered in his life within a matter of seconds.
She stopped dead in her tracks, too hurt and confused to really hear the dedication and honesty in his voice.
It was like she was holding a knife to his heart, ready to suck out all the life in him. Brian didn't breath for the entire silence, watching, waiting for the moment he was positive that was coming. She would turn, and run to him, and say 'I love you, too' and everything would all be okay.
Shaking her head, Dana sniffled. Her back was still facing him, and he watched her shoulders quiver and shake for a moment. Finally, with resolution in her heart that she was doing the right thing, Dana lifted her chin stubbornly and kept walking.
The shocked crowd of people that had gathered were all staring at Brian, waiting for a reaction. He was so empty from all that had happened that he just stood and stared. He covered his forehead with one hand, and scrunched his eyes closed for a second.
Fatima, oblivious to the drama that had just gone down, poked her head into the hall. "Guys, lets go! We don't have all night."
People filtered back in to the rehersal hall, and Brian just stood, rooted to the floor.
"Hey, I'm really sorry," Faith offered with a sweet smile. "Maybe you two just wasn't meant to be."
Brian balled his fists, and supressed the urge to scream. Instead, he lowered his voice and refused to give Faith the satisfaction. "You asshole," he whispered, not believing that one person could be so cruel. His voice broke from crying, and his chin trembled. "You absolute bitch."
Faith dropped her jaw, and opened her eyes wide. "Brian!" She clasped one hand over her heart. "Calling a fan a bitch... how scandelous," Faith whispered back, using her favorite phrase for the second time in one day. She winked again, and walked out of the hall.
He just stared at them empty end of the hall that seconds ago had been filled with dozens of people.
"Brian?" Nick eyed his friend worriedly. "Are you okay?"
Brian didn't say anything for a few minutes. He sniffled, and wiped his nose on his sleeve childishly. Turning around, he stared at Nick loosely, his whole body exhausted.
Nick couldn't imagine the thoughts that must have been racing through Brian's head. He stepped towards Brian a bit. "It'll be okay," he promised weakly. Nick waited for a response, knowing that this was one of those times when you just have to listen.
"She's gone," Brian whimpered in total disbelief. "She's gone."
- -next day- - -
Brian pulled his car in to the social sciences parkinglot and cut the engine with resolution in his voice. After persuading the registrar to spill the info he needed, he had managed to find the building that Dana was in. At this very moment her 'Indigenous Peoples' class would be wrapping up. He had planned long and hard for this, spending most of the night staring at the dark sky and thinking. His plan was to catch Dana on her way out of the class, go somewhere private and work it all out. There was no way he was losing her because of Faith.
Pulling a pair of sunglasses on, Brian stepped out of his car. He crossed the expansive quad and opened the door swiftly. The class had just been let out, he observed, as a few dozen people walked into the hall. More and more people came out of the room, and the face he searched for still eluded him. A girl walked out of the room, and Brian decided to double check and make sure this was the right class. "Excuse me," he interrupted.
She looked up, surprised. "Yeah?"
"Is Dana Commons in this class?"
She nodded. "Yeah..."
"Okay, thanks." The girl walked away, and Brian sighed. He waited a few minutes more, then checked his watch. Nobody else was coming out of the classroom. He tapped his toe impatiently, then checked his watch again. Finally, he looked at the closed lecture hall door. Stepping forward, Brian peeked through the window, and scanned the rows.
- - -a few minutes earlier- - -
Dana clutched her pen tightly, and scribbled a few more notes on the paper. She was practically alone in the back of the lecture hall, and gratefully so.
"Okay, we're done for today I think..." The professer surveyed his pupils. "I'll see everyone next Tuesday."
Dana sighed and slammed her books closed. She pulled her hoodie over her head, and started the long trek down the stairs.
"Dana!"
She tilted her head slightly, and turned to face the voice. When she realized who it was, she smiled a bit. "Hey Rob."
He caught up to her. "What's going on with you? I haven't seen you in a while."
"Nothing worth mentioning," Dana said sadly.
"Are you okay?" Rob knitted his eyebrows in concern.
Dana swallowed, considering whether or not she should tell him what was happening. "No." She shook her head. "Not really."
"Why?" He waited patiently for Dana to respond.
She paused. "It's just not been a good week."
"D'you wanna talk about it?"
Dana nodded, and lowered herself in to one of the chairs.
Rob sat down next to her, and eyed Dana worridly. "So?"
"I had a bit of a falling out with my boyfriend, nothing big." She rubbed her head, and laughed a little. "Well, it is something big. And now it's just like 'What do I do?', you know? I'm lost..."
He nodded sympathetically. "That's too bad." He slipped one arm over her shoulder, and pulled Dana into a hug. She nestled her head comfortably in his shoulder. "Don't worry, guys are a dime a dozen," Rob whispered reassuringly.
"Not really," she murmured.
- - -meanwhile- - -
Brian stared in disbelief at the scene unfolding in front of him. The guy kissed the top of Dana's head lightly, and she closed her eyes. 'They look awfully intimate,' Brian thought doubtfully. It killed him to watch this guy hold her, and whisper things in to her ears. Saying things that were his words, hugging her the way he was supposed to be hugging her. It wasn't fair.
This Romeo is bleedin'
But you can't see his blood
It's nothin' but some feelings
That this old dog kicked up
It's been raining since you left me
Now I'm drowning in the flood
You see I've always been a fighter
But without you I give up
Now I can't sing a love song
Like the way it's meant to be
Well I guess I'm not that good anymore
But baby that's just me
And I will love you baby
Always
And I'll be there forever and a day
Always
I'll be there 'til the stars don't shine
'Til the heavens burst and the words don't rhyme
I know when I die you'll be on my mind
And I'll love you, Always
Now the pictures that you left behind
Are just memories of a different life
Some that made us laugh, Some that made us cry
One that made you have to say goodbye
What I'd give to run my fingers through you hair
To touch your lips, to hold you near
When you say your prayers try to understand
I made mistakes, I'm just a man
When he holds you close when he pulls you near
When he says the words you've been needing to hear
I wish I was him 'cause those words are mine
To say to you 'til the end of time
And I will love you baby, Always
And I'll be there forever and a day, Always
If you told to cry for you I could
If you told me to die for you I would
Take a look at my face, there's no price I won't pay
To say these words to you
Well there ain't no luck in these loaded dice
But baby if you'd give me just one more try
We could pack up old dreams and our old lives
And find a place where the sun still shines
And I will love you baby, Always
And I'll be there forever and a day, Always
I'll be there 'til the stars don't shine
'Til the heavens burst and the words don't rhyme
I know when I die you'll be on my mind
And I'll love you, Always
Always
~chapter twenty-two~
~chapter index~
