The Choice

Chapter 4

I went home that night and immediately had to tell someone. After the whole Ethan thing I couldn't tell my mom. So, I grabbed my phone and was about to dial Gwen's number when someone knocked on my door. Before thinking, I lightly yelled for them to come in. Should have guessed it was Ethan.

"Why are you ignoring me?" Ethan asked.

Ethan seemed angry yet sad. I couldn't really answer him. I was a little shocked because my mind was traveling. My mind was set on Saturday. It seemed rude of me to not answer but I didn't care at this point.

"Why?!" he started to yell.

"You made me angry; I am sorry for having feelings." I said coldly.

"I realize you have feelings but why are you angry?"

"Oh, isn't it obvious?!"

He looked at me, confused. I was taken back a bit but still said,

"Okay, when you figure it out, come see me."

He was silent and still confused.

"One more thing; don't wait to long." I whispered softly.

I wasn't sure he heard that last sentence. Those words were more for me. I left him and headed for the kitchen. Before I entered, I heard my mom yelling on the phone.

"Yes Edward, she is safe! Why wouldn't she be?! You know, I can take care of OUR daughter! Just let me have one last GOOD summer with her!"

She hung up and slammed the phone down. I hated when they fought.

"Why can't you two just get along?" I said suddenly as I walked in.
I must have startled her a little because she jumped. I leaned against the door frame (okay, I was just at the doorway) and gave her a sad, angry look. I just saw the tears running down her face.

"I don't need this from you too."

"I am sorry, mom, but I hate hearing this all the time. Sometimes you guys start arguments about nothing. You guys are my parents! If you can't be together, could you at least be friends?!"

"I don't know! I really don't know..." she trailed off.

"Or do you do know and don't want to tell?" I said with a little bright side to the mood.

She grinned slightly through her tears. I went closer to her and sat beside her. I said quietly,

"Why is it so hard for you guys?"

She whispered through her tears,

"We fell out of love."

I didn't really understand and I don't think she did either. I hugged her and said,

"You guys may not be IN love anymore, but you will always love each other."
I smiled at her and she hugged me. I left her feeling a bit better. I walked out the door and went straight to Gwen's. Her aunt opened the door and so did Gwen's ten year old cousin, Lucas. Of course, I already knew them because I used to watch Lucas.

"Hi Mrs. West--"

"Claire, you should know to call me Sofia." she smiled and hugged me.

She motioned me in and showed me where Gwen was. I headed down the hall and to the study. I heard her voice and started to grab the handle of the door. Then I heard a man's voice, I knew who's it was.

"Look, you came here to explore and be with your friends, NOT to be with some guy! Your father would never approve." the man said.

"My father has no power in my love life! Neither do you! You guys can't pick my guy for me! You pick some poor bloke who will always love someone else and expect us to be together!" Gwen yelled back.

"He is a fine gentlemen and at least he listens to his parents!"

"The only reason he listens to them is because they said they would take away his money for college. Plus, he hates to disappoint his parents. My parents and his parents have had these plans since forever. Why can't you just lay off?!"

I knocked before I could hear anything else. The door opened to Gwen's face. She was relieved and still kind of angry all at the same time.

"Claire, nice to see you." she said, relief filling her voice.

I waved to Norris as Gwen quietly said to him,

"We'll be up in my room, Uncle Norris."

We walked upstairs and went to her room. As soon as we got in there and shut the door, she asked,

"You heard our fight, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Look, I would've told you all that but I thought it would just eventually come out. Plus, it was better for you not to get involved."

"First, just tell me who this guy is that you met!" I said excitedly trying to get her happy.

"His name is Brice. I met him a few days ago. He's so nice and sweet."

"What about the other guy? I am still fuzzy on him."

"Well, when we met, our parents practically put us together. I mean, I did like him and he liked me, in like middle school, but it was just a little crush. We didn't really like each other. I still have feelings for him but more like friendly or sisterly feelings. He only keeps this whole charade up for his parents. He is trying to keep it up until college but he fell in love a long time ago."

"Wow, who is he?"

"Uh...a friend from London. You wouldn't know him." she said quickly.

I brushed that off and remembered why I was there.

"Quick change on the subject: I think I want to try again with my old boyfriend, Logan."

She quickly thought and said,

"Okay, but what about Ethan?"

"Ethan? I have waited to long for him. If he felt something, he would've done something by now."

She looked a bit confused but said with a sigh,

"Alright, good for you. You should do whatever your heart is telling you to do."

Gwen seemed excited but at the same time, disappointed. I didn't understand why and suddenly asked, to change the subject,

"So, tell me more about Brice."

Her face lit up and she said,
"Well he's a bit taller than me, has beautiful golden brown eyes and has shaggy brown hair. He lives here and just came back from a trip with his friends. When I was walking the other day, the day in the park, I had just left him and spotted you."

I sort of stared at her in thought. Everything she was describing sounded familiar. So, I asked,

"What's his last name?"

"Uh Dougal, why?"

I jumped up excitedly and sat back down with a grin.

"Brice has been sneaking around with you! I was wondering why he wasn't there that day I went to Uncle Ty's! I didn't want to ask Uncle Ty and be rude."

"What are you talking about?" Gwen asked completely confused.

"Brice, Brice Dougal, he's my cousin."

"I had no idea."

"It's no big deal, I don't care I just wondered where he was that day."

"Oh I didn't know, at all."

"Is it a bad thing that he's my cousin?" I asked wondering why she kept repeating herself.

"No...no...he just left that part out."

"Well, is that bad?"

"I guess not, but I mentioned you and he didn't say anything."

"We're not super close, we're just close enough."

"Oh okay."

She still didn't seem completely understanding everything. To lighten the mood I said,

"Do you want to come to a party with me on Saturday? You can invite Brice."

She smiled lightly at me.

"Where?" she asked.

"Music store, downtown; if you meet me at my house, I'll show you where. Of course, I think Brice knows the place."

"Maybe, I don't know yet."

"Alright, that's good enough for me."

I got up and hugged her. Then I asked,

"Are you sure I don't know that one guy? I might if you tell me his name."

"No, you never met him before." her voice cracked.

Her voice always cracked when she was lying but I didn't want to bug her about it. So, I said,

"Well then..." I couldn't figure out what to say.

"He's a nice guy, I just don't feel that way for him. He's in love with someone else anyway. Though, he would never admit it. He still hasn't seen that he loves her a lot. He feels like we have to be together, you know for his parents. He doesn't like to let his family down. He is pretty persistent."

"Sounds like this guy has got to let go. He needs to grow up; his parents can't control him forever."

"Maybe so but he acts like they can. I know he doesn't love me. I see the way he looks at that girl."

"Well, he'll eventually come to his senses."

gave her another hug and left. I felt sad for her but I was happy. I was finally moving on from Ethan. That made me happy. Still, I had one thought that kept bugging me. Who was that other guy?