Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2015 15:30:44 -0400
From: Anthony Tony <tunistony@aol.com>
Subject: Starting Over- Chapter 9

Disclaimer: This story is totally fiction and is made up from my
brilliantly imaginative mind.


email: tunistony@aol.com OR tunistony2@yahoo.com


By: Tony


Starting Over


Chapter 9



	Fuck! I'm so happy. I can't believe that confronting Cole in the
library would turn into that. I guess you just never know what's around the
corner in life. I'm not totally sure what the status of our relationship is
but I can tell it's pretty good if the result in the library was any
indication.


	As I was walking out of the school from detention I had a an extra
swag in my step. I probably looked ridiculous but I didn't care, I was in
love...or as in love as I've ever felt before. I just want to see him right
away. I wonder if it's too early to call him just to talk or if I should be
more cool and aloof, maybe let him come to me.


	Just as I was trying to plan how see Cole again without looking
desperate, I suddenly felt a presence near me. All I could think was 'Not
again', because I know whoever it is standing there is probably not the
person I want to see and is going to bring my mood down a bit. Regardless,
I sucked up the feeling of dread and turned to my right and guess who was
standing there... Ava, my old girlfriend.


	I looked right at her and she looked expectant, like I should be
the one to say something first even though she came up to me. I just waited
and stared at her. I noticed that she was wearing a cheerleading
uniform. Of course she's a cheerleader, it only makes since with her 'mean
girl' persona. She's like the quintessential cheerleader.


	She realized I wasn't going to say anything first, she sighed, "Hey
Matt, I wouldn't normally ask this, since I know we haven't really been
talking but..." she said hesitantly.


	I think this is the first time I've ever seen her look unsure of
herself and slightly vulnerable. It was kind of refreshing so I took the
bait. "Ava, what's going on?"


	When I said her name she looked up into my eyes and smiled. "It's
embarrassing Matt, you know I don't like asking for help," she said fondly
as she stepped closer to me and patted her hand on my chest. That action
was eerily similar to how Cole had touched me in the library, but I tried
to push that thought away and focus on what she was saying.


	I touched her hand lightly to move it away from me, "What is it you
need help with?"


	"Well you see, we just finished cheerleading practice," I happened
to look up in time to see all these girls in cheerleading uniforms coming
out of the school and a couple of the girls were looking at Ava and me with
curious glances. "Usually Whitney takes me home after practice but today
she left early and now I'm left without a ride." She started to look up at
me with innocent puppy dog eyes, "So I was wondering if maybe you could
take me home."


	I looked at all the other girls who were starting to get in their
cars. "Why are you asking me to drive you? There's like 12 other girls
around who could take you home." I said while gesturing to all her
teammates.


	She looked slightly miffed that I didn't agree right away. She's
probably not used to people saying no to her. She looked around at the
other girls and then stepped even closer to me,"Well, I'm asking you
because you're supposed to be my boyfriend and also I wanted to talk to
you," she said in a sharp yet hushed tone so that no one around would hear.


	"Why can't you just tell me what you need to say right here?" I
said slightly louder, which I could tell made her annoyed. Apparently when
comes to the truth of our relationship she wants to keep it private.


	"Look Matt, I don't want to fight with you. I just really want to
talk to you and If you just really can't stand to be around me anymore than
that's fine, I guess," She said slightly louder so that the girls could
hear her again and she sounded now on the brink of tears. She probably was
doing that on purpose just to make me look like the bad guy.


	"Okay, okay, fine. Get in the car Ava." I relented.


	She instantly cheered up, "Thanks Matty!" She ran around to the
other side of the car just I had unlocked it and jumped in the passengers
seat.


	I rolled my eyes and got in the driver's side. And for the first 3
minutes it was pure silence, but it was surprisingly not that
uncomfortable, like we'd done that before.


	"Hey, Matt," I guess I was getting a little too comfortable because
when she spoke again it made me jump a bit.


	I looked over at her for a second before I looked back on the
road. "Yes?" I said calmly.


	She huffed a bit like a moody child. "I've been thinking..." Of
course she has. "You probably don't even remember this."


	"I don't remember many things nowadays," I quipped with a smirk.


	She laughed a bit. I was amazed because I thought she might
actually be a robot until that moment.


	"Well I'll remind you. You promised that you would take me to the
Winter Formal. And I know that we haven't really been on the best terms
but... I already picked out a dress and people expect us to go together."


	I stared coldly out to the road and went stiff, "Ava," I said with
an even tone, but I could see out the corner of her eyes she looked
tense. "I promised that before the accident. Things have changed,"


	"I know, I know, you lost your memory but --"


	I cut her off, "No," I raised my voice, "Not because I lost my
memory. We're not a couple anymore."


	She got silent for long enough that I finally relented and looked
over and she looked shocked.


	"I know that we haven't been talking but when the fuck did we break
up?!"


	"Are you kidding! We haven't been a real couple in a while. I
thought that was just a mutual agreement that we weren't together anymore."


	"I just thought you needed some time to adjust after the
accident. I didn't want to be clingy. I didn't think that meant we were
over." She sounded slightly panicked.


	"Look, even if I did agree to go with you, I just literally can't
because part of my punishment is that I'm not allowed to go to any school
events...including dances. It's the principal's orders." I shrugged.


	She looked contemplative, "We could arrange something. I could... I
could sneak you in. Yeah, that would be really cool and everyone would
think that you broke the rules just to be with me." I didn't like where
this was going.


	"Are you insane! I'm a step away from being expelled. I'm not
risking my ass just to go to some dumb dance with you." I rubbed my neck in
irritation.


	She looked like she was about to object when she stopped cold and
stared right at me. I was confused so, naturally, I had to ask.


	"What?" I said sharply.


	"What the fuck is that?" She said while pointing at my neck.


	"What are you talking about?" I said with an irritated tone.


	"No, you don't get to be the mad one right now. Not when you have a
fucking hickey on your neck!"


	I quickly realized why she had an angry and disgusted look on her
face. I guess I didn't realize that Cole had actually marked me.


	All I said was, "Oh," while I tried to cover the spot with my right
hand.


	"All you have to say is 'oh'? So this is why you didn't want to go
to the dance. And this is why you want to break up! Because your cheating
on me!" She said with great offense.


	 We came to a stop so turned my body to fully look at her and all
her anger. But I was angry right back, so two can play at that game.


	"You know what. I'm not cheating on you because we weren't even
together when this happened," I said as I pointed to the hickey.


	"We didn't officially agree to break up until today so when this
happened you were still with me!" When she gets mad she starts talking with
her hands, which makes her look slightly intimidating.

	"Well, we're broken up anyways now so what the hell does it even
matter!" I threw back.


	"Because ever since the accident you acted like I didn't matter at
all and you became even more of a pig-headed jerk. I don't know who the
fuck you are anymore but the Matt I knew, never would've cheated on me!"


	"Me cheating! You're one to talk. I heard that you were fucking
around with Kevin. Who, by the way, was my best friend. That's fucking
low."


	"Hey!" She wagged her finger in my face, "That never happened, you
ass! That's just a stupid rumor."


	I tried to breathe slowly to calm myself and realized we'd just
been sitting in the car yelling at each other.


	"Look, Ava, we were obviously never a real couple. We might as well
just end it now."


	I looked at her and her eyes were glistening. "How the fuck would
you know, you don't even remember our relationship. You're just listening
to what people have told you about us. They don't know. No one knew except
me and you. And now even you don't know." She looked out the window to
avoid eye contact with me.


	I was actually starting to feel guilty. "Ava I --"


	"No save it! You don't get it! You said you loved me, you fucker."
She shook her head, "I guess I believed you."


	I was stunned. Did I really ever have those feelings for her? "I'm
sorry," was all I could think to say.


	She looked out the window again and stated quietly, "You apparently
remembered where my house was." She pointed at the house, "Maybe you
haven't forgotten everything," she said sadly.


	She quickly pulled her cheerleading bag from the back seat. She
stood outside with the passenger door open. "Bye Matt," then she slammed
the door closed and walked to her door.


	I sat in the car outside of her house for about 5 minutes after she
had already went into her house. I was feeling consumed with guilt.


	I feel like I'm starting back at the beginning of my amnesia. I
don't know who to trust around me and if I can even trust my instincts
anymore.




_______________________________________________________________




	I was a little shaken, to say the least, by time I got home. I was
totally consumed in my thoughts I didn't even notice anyone around me until
I heard my sister say, "Hey Matt," I visibly jumped then turned to look at
her at the top of the stairs.


	She descended the stairs to be face to face, "Whoa, you look like
you've seen a ghost." She said jokingly.


	"I feel like I have," I muttered sullenly.


	I pushed past her to go upstairs but she grabbed my shoulder to
pull me back.


	She looked me dead in the eye, "Do you need to talk about
something?" She could tell I was about to protest so she added, "You know
I'm here for you...seriously Matt."


	Times like these I love/hate how determined she can be... I think
it's a family trait.


	Before I could confirm or deny she was pulling me up the stairs and
towards her room.


	"Sit," she said as she pushed me towards her bed.


	 I didn't know what else to do so I sat, but not without protest,
"Christine, I really don't feel like talking about it. I'm confused and
tired."


	She sat down next to me on the bed and looked at me
thoughtfully. "You know you used to call me Tini."


	"Well that's just another thing I can't remember. I'm sorry. I seem
to be apologizing for all the things I can't remember."


	"I didn't bring it up to make you feel bad. I just kinda missed
it. But, it's fine. Now what happened?"


	I looked at her tiredly, "Look, I really don't feel like talking
about it. I just spent the last 20 minutes yelling with Ava. I'm just not
in the mood --"


	She cut me off, "Wait you were talking to Ava?" She looked stunned.


	"Not talking, yelling," I corrected.


	"Now you have to tell me what happened!" She looked morbidly
excited.


	"Why do you care?" I asked genuinely curious about the answer.


	"Because you were talking -- sorry, you were 'yelling' with your
ex-girlfriend. I need to know what happened before the whole school starts
talking about it tomorrow."


	I was shocked that she thinks the 'whole school' would find out
about my business, but I guess it's happened before. "Thank you for saying
'ex-girlfriend' by the way. At least someone understands that."


	"Is that what the fight was about?"


	"Huh?"


	"You and Ava, were you guys fighting because of the breakup?"


	"Oh yeah, well, apparently she thought we were still together. So I
basically just broke up with her 20 minutes ago." I scrubbed my face with
my hands in frustration.


	"Oh my god. Did she seriously not know that you guys weren't
together?" She laughed, more likely cackled, "I mean it's so obvious that
you've moved on." She said while still laughing, however, I got really
quiet and still.


	Was she implying that it was obvious that I was with Cole? She saw
my concerned face, "Calm down Matt, It's only obvious to me because you
told me a couple weeks ago. But if you are trying to hide it maybe you
should be a bit less obvious ... and try to hide that hickey better." She
said with a giggle.


	I quickly put my hand over the spot on my neck, then I quickly went
over to her mirror and turned my head to get a better look at it. It was
bigger than I expected and it was already turning darker into a nasty
looking bruise. As much as I love how it got there, I wasn't too psyched
about wearing the evidence on my neck for days. As I looked at it I sighed
in frustration.


	Christine came up behind me, "You know there's some easy ways to
cover that. Don't worry about it too much right now." She looked at it
contemplatively for a second then looked up at me in the mirror, "So I'm
guessing you and Cole did this pretty recently."


	I turned to her, "Yeah, pretty recent... like today, recent." I
said sheepishly as I sat back down on her bed.


	"Wow, your days are pretty jam packed, aren't they. You always have
something interesting happen to you. I consider my day interesting if Kyle
Ferguson smiles at me." she said offhandedly.


	I instantly perked up at that name, "Hey, don't go near him
okay. He's bad news." Maybe I was exaggerating but I was mad at him for
letting those rumors about Cole slide when he was getting help from Cole.


	"Why are you being so weird. He's a cute guy, not that I really
stand a chance."


	"Trust me Christine, he's a fuckboy. Don't mess with him." I said
sharply.


	"Geez, I wasn't going to pursue anything anyways. I mean he's two
grade ahead of me and he has a girlfriend. I just like to dream. But why
are you so hung up about him?"


	I looked at her sternly, "Doesn't matter, leave it."


	"Okay...well getting back to what we were talking about. What did
Ava say that shook you up? Because I thought you look happy about having
her out of your life."


	"I am relieved that it -- our relationship, is finally over
but... what she said just startled me."


	"What did she say?"


	"Well it's not what she said, but it's more like what I said to her
a couple months ago."


	"How would you remember what you said to her a couple months ago?"


	"Because she told me," I said exasperatedly, "Apparently I
said... I said that I loved her."


	Christine just stared at me for a while, "Really? And you believe
that? How do you know she's not lying to keep you around?" She said
quickly.


	"Christine, I know I have this whole memory problem, but I still
tell when people are lying. I know it sounds crazy to trust because she is
very deceitful, but for once I saw the sincerity in her eyes and that's
what scared me."


______________________________________________



	I couldn't let these weird feelings about Ava linger for too long,
not after I had just had a great time with Cole. I knew that if I didn't
get this off my chest now that it would fester. So I mustered up the
courage to call Cole.


	Normally I'd be ecstatic to call him but I know that instead I'm
about to drop a bombshell on him. I was just about to hang up from my
second-guessing when he answered.


	"Matt? Hey, what's going on." He sounded happy and totally unaware
of what I was about to unload on him.


	"Hey," I said with a slight waver in my voice,I think he could tell
that something was wrong.


	"Are you okay, you sound... different."


	Maybe I shouldn't tell him, it's not like I'm going to act on any
of the things that Ava told me. He doesn't need to know my problems. If
anything it would be selfish of me to tell him, because it would only make
me feel better to talk it out, while it would probably make him more
worried. Yeah, I just won't tell him--


	"Matt, are you still there? You went totally silent." Too late, he
already sounds worried.


	"Oh yeah, sorry. I was just thinking about something, but... it's
nothing don't worry about it."


	"No, tell me. You're starting to make me worried. What's wrong? You
were fine earlier today." He said the last part in a low and sultry tone.


	I was hesitant, "I don't think you'd want to know."


	He was silent for a beat, "Okay, now you really are starting to
scare me. What could've happened between the time that I saw you at school
and now?"


	Here it goes, "I ran into Ava,"


	I barely heard him mutter something under his breath, "What did she
do?" He said with a biting tone. I'd never heard him sound like that
before.


	"Well, I was coming out of detention and she had just finished her
cheerleading practice and she needed a ride."


	"Why couldn't she get a ride with any of her other cheerleading
friends?"


	"Because... well she said... okay I'm not really sure why but she
basically guilted me into giving her a ride because she started raising her
voice and saying stuff like 'I guess you don't give a shit about me'. What
was I supposed to do I didn't want to look like an asshole...again." I said
hurriedly. I was starting to sound defensive.


	"Whoa Matt, it's fine I'm not mad that you gave her a ride. You're
the one who wanted to tell me this story remember." Cole's voice always
seemed to calm me. "Go on, what happened next?"


	"Well a lot of shit happened after I let her into the car. First
she asked me if I was still going with her to the Winter Formal." I heard
Cole take a deep intake of breath. I quickly responded, "I said a firm
'no', don't worry. But then she couldn't believe that I said no, so I had
to explain to her that we weren't even a couple anymore. Apparently she
didn't know that we had broken up so I basically had to break up with her,
right there, in the close quarters of the car. It was horrible. Then she
saw my hickey... which, by the way, I didn't know you gave me a fucking
hickey."


	He laughed at that, "Sorry, are you mad?" He remarked bashfully,
but I could tell he was proud of it, at the same time.


	"No, I'm not mad about it. But, it is gonna be a bitch to cover up,
so thank you for that."


	"You can worry about that later, tell me what else happened, it's
starting to get good."


	"Are you kidding me, this is just when the explosion happened. She
literally looked like she wanted to rip my balls off. Anyway, so she saw
the big mark on my neck and she lost it. She started screaming at me about
how we hadn't officially broken up and I was cheating on her. I told her
that was bull shit and either way we're 'officially' broken up now. Then
she dropped a bombshell on me...which I'm about to drop on you. I don't
know if I should even say it."


	I could practically here him rolling his eyes, "Don't string me
along like this Matt, it's not good for my health. I'm pretty sure I can
handle hearing whatever Ava told you."


	I breathed in, "I told her I loved her." Then I held my breath
waiting for a response.


	I didn't get anything from Cole for awhile. I almost thought he'd
hung up, until he said, "What! What do you mean you told her you loved her?
Like in the car when you guys were yelling you just proclaimed your love!?"


	"No, she told me that I said that to her before the accident."


	"Oh," He said with a sigh of relief, "Well that changes
everything. For all you know she could be lying." He said hopefully, I
could tell he didn't want any of this to be true.


	"Yeah, but for all I know she could be telling the truth as
well. Look, Cole I just don't know what to believe. I mean, everyone's been
telling me that my relationship with her was a sham, but then she tells me
that no one really knew the depths of our relationship. And that honestly
could be true. Maybe we kept our real emotions for each other behind closed
doors. I just -- I just don't know anymore."


	"But how do you know that she's not saying this in a desperate
attempt to get you back. She's not known for being the most trustworthy
person," He said anxiously.


	"Don't worry, it's not like I'm going to act on this or anything."


	"Well you could've fooled me." He said in a whisper. "Why would you
tell me this unless it was to inform me that this has somehow changed your
mind." He sounded sad, I never like hearing him sound like that.


	"Change my mind about what?"


	"About us," He said meekly.


	It finally donned on me why he wanted this to be false, "Oh, no --
no Cole. I'm not telling you this because I want to break things off with
us. I still totally want to keep doing... whatever it is that we're
doing. I just thought you had a right to know about all this craziness that
just happened so that you're not hearing about it at school and wondering
what's up. I didn't mean to scare you. It just... honestly it startled me
because I'd never seen Ava look so genuine before."


	He let out a sigh of relief then giggled to himself, "So you're not
gonna escort her to the Winter Formal?" he said in a horrible British
accent.


	"Oh, don't worry darling. I won't be taking Ms. Luciani anywhere."
I sounded like Austin Powers.


	I love hearing Cole's laughter, I just wish I could see his face
right now. "Well if you're not taking her then maybe we could just wander
in together." He said slyly.


	"I wish I could but even if I wanted to go to that damn dance, I
can't. Part of my punishment for fighting with Kevin was that I'm not
allowed to go to any school events, including sporting events and school
dances. It was part of the agreement so that the Principal wouldn't expel
me."


	"Well, that's fine... I guess we'll just have to make our own fun
that night." He says suggestively.


	"Oh yeah, that sounds pretty good. You wanna describe what exactly
we could do and specifically how many articles of clothing we'd be
wearing."


	Oh shit, are we about to have phone sex? "Well we could..."


To Be Continued...
________________________________________________________________________


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