Soulmates

Chapter 2

One of the jocks says, "Oh my god, its Emily." Everyone starts whispering to each other. Once everyone calms down, Emily-I mean Ms. Bates says, "Hello. A lot of you may recognize and remember me since I went to school here. You may have known me as Emily back then, but now its Ms. Bates to you." After that I tune her out as all the memories and feelings hit me at once. I feel like I'm going to be sick and is it just me or is it getting harder to breath.

"Ash" Ozzy says, "Are you ok?" "I-I...I'm fi-" I try to speak, but I feel like I'm suffocating. I get up and run out of the room. Once I'm in the hallway, I use the wall as support as I catch my breath. The door opens and I turn my head to see Ms. Bates. She gives me a few minutes to catch my breath. Once I'm not leaning on the wall and breathing normally, she asks, "Are you ok Ash?" "I'm fine" I say. Ms. Bates says, "Are you sure? Because if you're not, you can go to the-" "I said I'm fine" I say interrupting her.

She looks at me and knows that I'm lying but says, "Ok." She opens the door and I walk in followed by her. I walk back to my seat as Ms. Bates goes back to explaining the rules and her expectations. "Are you ok" Troy whispers. "I'm fine" I whisper back. A few minutes later, I feel my phone vibrate. I see that I got a text from Lacy 'Are you ok?' I look over at her and see her worried expression. I smile and text back 'I'm fine.' She text back right away 'Are you sure? You just had a panic attack.' 'Positive' I text back.

She looks at me and I smile. She smiles back. The rest of class, I watch the clock count down the time before lunch and just think. We are going to have to talk sooner or later. Might as well be now. I can finally ask her why and get an answer, some closure. Maybe if I get closure, I can finally move on and stop thinking about her. Maybe it's time I told Ozzy and Troy the truth, I mean I can get it off my chest. And besides they won't drop this til I tell them the real reason why.

The bell rings knocking me out of my thoughts. While everyone grabs their things and begins leave, I wait. "Ashton" Ms. Bates says, "Stay after class." "We will meet you in the cafeteria" Ozzy says. I nod and they walk out. Once everyone has left, Ms. Bates closes the door and looks at me. I stare back at her emotionless. "Hello Ash" Ms. Bates says, "It's been a long time." "It's Ashton to you" I reply, "And I have nothing to say to you." "Ash I-Ashton...first off, are you ok" Ms. Bates asks. "Like I told you earlier" I say, "I'm fine. Now cut to the chase, what do you want?"

"I do want to make sure that your really ok" Ms. Bates says, "You did have a panic attack earlier." I sigh and say, "Yes, I'm ok. I really am." "Ok, I believe you" Ms. Bates says, "Ashton...I'm truly sorry for everything I did." "Why" I ask. "Honestly" Ms. Bates says, "Because I was scared and wasn't ready to come out." "So, you decided the best thing to do was break up with me" I ask, "Your unbelievable."

"I know what I did was messed up and I regret it" Ms. Bates says. Even though I'm pissed, I take a breath and say, "What's done is done." "I realize now that I should have handled everything differently" Ms. Bates says. "You should have" I reply. Well at least I know why and maybe now I can finally move on. Ms. Bates says, "Ash, I-" "I said its Ashton" I say interrupting her. "Ashton..." Ms. Bates says, "I really want to give this another shot." "Are you kidding me" I say, "No way in hell will I have ever date you again."

Ms. Bates looks like she is going to cry, "Ashton, I still love you." "Can I leave now" I ask trying my best to keep a straight face. "I miss you Ashton" Ms. Bates says. "I can't do this again" I say. Before she can reply, I grab my backpack and walk out of her classroom. I walk around the corner then slide down the wall sighing. The bell rings signaling that lunch has started.

Instead of walking to lunch, I walk out of school and to the hangout me and my friends discovered a year ago. I drop my backpack on the ground and collapse onto the grass. The memories from my freshman year of high school that I have tried so hard to forget come rushing back. Emily, Emily Bates. My first kiss, my first girlfriend, my first time, and...my first heart break.

I was a freshman and she was a senior. She was the girl that every guy wanted to date, but for some reason she chose me. We met a few weeks into the school year, and nothing was ever the same. We started to date, but in secret. Everything was fine, actually everything was great until that fateful day. It was the day Emily graduated and was officially a high school graduate. It was supposed to be a joyous occasion, but it turned into one of the worst occasions ever. It was the day Emily broke up with me out of the blue and without any kind of explanation and just disappeared.

This is the first time I have seen or talked to her since she graduated and disappeared. Instead of giving me an explanation that is long overdue, she has the audacity to tell me she wants me back and that she misses me. And honestly, I have no idea what to do. My head is a complete mess and I have so many different emotions running through me. On the one hand I'm still very angry with her and want nothing to do with her. On the other hand, I'm confused as to why she chose now to try and talk to me when she hasn't tried to contact and talk to me over the past three years. And a small part of me misses her and still loves her.

But no matter what I do, I can't give in to her, no matter what.

Thanks for reading.  What did you think?  What do you think will happen next?  What do you want to happen next?  As always votes and comments are appreciated.