Free The Time Until by Casey Ford

with has been in
a relationship with him.   He’s a very
passionate person, someone who loves freely, but rarely finds love.   He’s usually the one to get dumped. The most
common complaint lodged against him?   Too clingy.   I always
feel terrible for him, Sam usually goes and has words with the offender while I
sit around and comfort Ethan.   Halo is a
good distractor from break-up pain.
    “Sounds serious,” I prod.   He shyly nods his head.
    “Lauren is awesome.   I can’t wait until you meet her.” He says
this a little apprehensively.   If I
didn’t know better, I would say he’s not dating her yet.   I raise my eyebrow.
    “Why isn’t she here right now?” Ethan balks when I
ask this.
    “Well,” he starts and pauses, “we haven’t
officially started dating yet.   But!   I’m working on it.” I give a short
laugh.   Ethan having trouble getting a
girl to date him is like the sun having trouble trying to burn.
    “No really.   She’s has this issue about relationships.   I’m still trying to figure it out.” It
definitely sounds like a story.
    “Besides, she’s kind of my boss.” My eyes grow
wide at that.
    “You definitely have to tell me that story when it
finishes.” Ethan smiles slightly.
    “Definitely, bro.” We
bump fists, our traditional greeting and acknowledgement.
    Suddenly we’re back in silence.   I can see Ethan trying to figure out what to
talk about.   I throw him a small bone.
    “You want to stay here tonight?” He looks up
quickly, not sure how to answer the question.
    “You can tell me all about the new girl,” I
add.   “Then you can come with me tomorrow
to see Sam.   I have a feeling I’m going
to need a friend.” He smiles a sad smile and nods.
    The nurses bring in a cot and a deck of cards for
us.   We stay up talking about Lauren and
other things that come to mind, eventually falling asleep in the early morning.

 
 

Chapter Eleven

 
    5 Years Ago (Age 15):   February

 
    Sam is glaring at me.   She’s not allowed to glare at me.   I mean, it’s not like I was cheating on her
or anything.
    Ethan has been talking non-stop about Saturday
night at the club.   Favorite topic:   Me and Katelyn.   Apparently, Sam doesn’t approve of Katelyn
since the stories Ethan has been telling have progressed from dancing to full
on making out on the dance floor.
    Though, I guess he isn’t too far from the truth
on that one.
    We were getting a bit carried away by the end
there, though we never groped each other — like Ethan is describing — and we
didn’t even kiss.   It was still one of
the best nights of my life.   It was
different, liberating.   A part of me
wishes I could have that with Sam, but another part knows it’ll never be like
that with her.   My feelings for Sam are
like a warm day.   Nice,
comfortable.
    Katelyn is fire, passion.
    I can admit I’m selfish and say that I want
both of them.   I doubt I’ll ever have the
passion and heat I have with Katelyn with Sam, but that’s not the problem.   Problem is , I’ll
never have Sam.
    She doesn’t want me.
    Which is why I’m pissed off
at her for being mad at me about Katelyn.
    Why shouldn’t I see other people?   I can’t pine for Sam all my life, watching
her date and get married.   Having kids.   It would
kill me to do that.   So I find a nice
girl who seems to actually like me and I see where it takes me.   How is that any
reason for her be giving me the evil eye?
    It’s almost like I don’t know her anymore.
    We used to be so close.   How could so much change after only one
incident?
    I feel a tap on my shoulder as I lose myself in
my thoughts.   I turn and notice…   Katelyn.   I didn’t even know she went to our school.
    “I was hoping I would see you today,” she tells
me playfully.   I love it when she bites
her bottom lip like that.
    “Wow, I didn’t know you went to this
school.”   She smiles that “I know
something you don’t”