The Break

Chapter 3

Leaving the curtains open last night and it being summer meant that at about 5:00 the sun streaming in woke me up. I knew exactly whose chest I was resting on and bringing my hand up that before was resting on his hip, I drew patterns on his ribcage.

“Morning.” His gruff voice vibrated through his chest under my ear.

“Mornin’” I replied just as roughly.

I looked up and he was staring down at me, his chin hitting his chest in order to see me clearly giving him an adorable double chin.

“You should leave before my parents get up; you know what Pa is like.” I spoke softly wishing I could stay like this forever.

“Uh... Yeah. Sure.”

With a long stroke along my hair indicating I should move my head off his chest, I sat up realising that he went to bed with only his boxers on. As I heard him move over to the side of the bed and rest his elbows on his knees I reached up and took my hair out of its knot on top of my head. Feeling self conscious about not wearing a bra and only wearing his top that barely covered my bum I quickly scrambled out of bed in search of tracksuit bottoms, scooping them on after tripping over them a few times.

I turned around to see George with his head turned towards me, his gaze on my body. Gulping I secured the cord around the waist band, they were his which meant they were too baggy for my waist.

“My trousers right?” He had spun his body around whilst keeping his legs on the floor.

“Yeah” I said with a soft laugh.

He nodded then got up, and as I watched him gather his things I realised just how in love I was with this douchebag. It hurt to think it but I probably will never get over it, and it hurt to think I was just a girl he could go to after he’s had fun with the others.

“George…” I spoke softly, “I need to tell you something.”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.” I said after a long pause. “Like I really, really, really love you and it hurts to think about us not getting together after this break.”

He didn’t say anything and when he looked down at the ground I realised that there could be something worse than him going to other girls – he didn’t even return my feelings.

“Sofia, I really like you”

“But?” I surprised myself with how I kept it together.

“I don’t think I can tell you I love you.”

“Right” I nodded and pursed my lips, tightening the bottom of the shirt in my hands.

“I’m sorry sweetie, I just-“

“No, no. It’s fine,” I lifted my eyes to his then letting him see the tears “just please leave.”

“Sofia let me stay and explain-“

“Sorry George you’ve explained enough.” I said interrupting him. “I understand you can’t say it so I hope you understand that I don’t want you to be here with me.”

We stared at each other and he must’ve found what he wanted in my eyes as again he nodded and sighed, de ja vu all over again.

“It hurts George, and I really can’t have you sneaking into my bed or talking to me if it hurts this much.”

“I see.” He pulled on his top and trainers whilst gathering up his jacket, keys and hat. “Is this whole break thing still on?”

I stopped myself from getting back into bed, surprised by his question. The break? That would mean a possibility of us getting back together. But I couldn’t do that if he didn’t want me. Surely there is no point in it anymore. Then again, what did I have to lose? Maybe after all of this there is the possibility that he does love me like I love him.