I looked up, spotting Jess in the crowd. Anger replaced my tears. “Sorry, Brian.
I need to talk to your girlfriend, Jess,” I said, my tone sharp. I walked away without waiting for his reply. “She’s not my—” Brian called after me, but I didn’t care to hear the rest.
I reached Jess, holding up the letter. “Care to explain this?” I asked, my voice firm. Jess looked at me, guilt flashing across her face.
“Amelia, I… I don’t even know where to start,” she said. “How about with the truth?” I replied, my words steady. Jess hesitated, then sighed.
She took my hand, surprising me, and led me toward the school bleachers. Those old seats held so many memories of our friendship. We used to sit there and dream about the future.
Now, it felt like a place to uncover the past. When we sat on the old, worn bleachers, Jess took a deep breath, her shoulders slumping. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice low.
“Sorry isn’t enough,” I replied, my tone sharper than I intended. “Why did you do it?”
“Why?” She gave a bitter laugh. “Don’t you get it?
I wanted to be you.”
I stared at her, confused. “What? That’s ridiculous,” I said, laughing out of disbelief.
“You don’t understand,” Jess said, her eyes meeting mine. “You were perfect, Amelia. You had it all.
You were smart, you had great parents, and you had Brian. I wanted something of yours, anything. I didn’t even like Brian that much.”
“You didn’t like him?
Then why—?” I started, but she cut me off. “I wanted to take something from you. It made me feel better, like I mattered,” Jess admitted.
“We broke up three weeks later. It wasn’t even worth it.”
I shook my head, trying to process her words. “I thought you two were still together,” I said.
“No,” she said, wiping her face. “He just gave me a ride today. That’s it.”
I looked down at my hands, my voice softening.
“I loved Brian. I thought he was the one. I thought I’d marry him.”
Jess nodded.
“He loved you, Amelia. That’s why he reacted the way he did. The rumor about you and Malcolm—I made it up.
I didn’t care what happened as long as he doubted you.”
I shook my head again. “Malcolm is married now. To his husband,” I said firmly.
Jess let out a shaky laugh. “No one knew that back then.” She paused, her voice quiet. “I don’t know how to make up for it.
I don’t think I can.”
“You can’t change what happened,” I said. Jess hesitated. “I’ve missed you.”
I looked at her.
“I’ve missed you too,” I admitted after a moment. “Would it be okay if I started reaching out? I don’t expect you to trust me yet.
I just want to try,” she said. I studied her face, seeing the regret there. “I still have the same number,” I said finally.
Jess smiled. “Thank you,” she said softly. We sat there for a while, not saying much.
Then Jess nudged me, pointing toward the field. “He’s not looking for me,” she said. I sighed and climbed down the bleachers, my steps slow and uncertain.
When I reached Brian, my mind raced, and I almost forgot how to speak. Before I could say anything, he started. “Amelia,” he said, his voice steady.
“First, I want to make one thing clear. Jess isn’t my girlfriend. I haven’t seen her since high school.”
I nodded.
“I know,” I said, my voice quieter than intended. Brian glanced at me, then down at the ground. “The locket you put in the capsule—is it the one I gave you?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said. “It’s funny. Back then, I thought when we dug it up, we’d already be married.
I imagined it being this sweet moment.” I paused, my chest tightening. “But…”
“I was an idiot,” Brian said, cutting me off. “I didn’t give you a chance to explain.
I let myself believe something that wasn’t true.”
“We were kids,” I said, trying to sound indifferent, though the hurt still lingered. “But we’re not kids now,” he said, his tone softening. “Amelia, I’ve thought about you for years.
I told myself it didn’t matter anymore, but seeing you today, I realized I was wrong. I felt something I haven’t felt in a long time.”
“It doesn’t matter, Brian,” I said quickly. “I live in New York now.”
“So do I,” he said, a small smile forming.
“And I’d like to take you on a date.”
I hesitated. “I don’t know—”
“Just one date,” he said, looking at me earnestly. I sighed, then smiled a little.
“Fine. But only if you win me a new locket. This one’s turned black,” I said, holding it up.
Brian laughed, his face lighting up. “It’s a deal.”
🤷🏻♂️
Source: amomama
