Chapter 2

"What happened yesterday?"

Someone sure was not wasting time to get to the questioning.

"Yesterday? What happened?" I asked back, feeling truly puzzled.

But Bryce obviously was not pleased with my answer. He ran a ran through his hair while staring incredulously at me through those brown eyes of his.

"Stephanie, yesterday was my family dinner which you promised to be at."

Shit! And now, I could only manage a small, "oh."

I knew I forgot something yesterday, but I could not really place what.

"That was yesterday? I am so sorry, I forgot. You should have reminded me."

"I would have if your phone was going through," he snapped.

Why was he so angry over such a small thing? I really did want to go, but I forgot. Ok, maybe 'really' was too big a word for how I felt about the dinner. I mean, seriously, was there anyone who'd be thrilled to meet their boyfriend's family?

The only reason I agreed was because I would been putting it off for months now. So, when he brought it up again last week, it was really hard to turn him down, so I agreed to go to the dinner.

Nah, that was a lie.

Of course, I turned him down again. But for some weird reason, he did seem kind of hurt by it, so I agreed to go. But yesterday, I left my phone at Beckham's place, and I just got it back today. Now, how's that my fault? What had I done so wrong? So, I tried reasoning with him.

"I am sorry, I forgot my phone at Beckham's. Besides, there's no need to get so angry over that, it is just a dinner."

But his reply definitely was not what I was expecting.

"It is just a dinner?" He boomed.

Yeah, was not it? I did not get why he was making such a fuss.

"Stephanie, my entire family was there, and they've been dying to meet you. You made me seem like a total idiot!"

I knew I should be thinking of what he was saying, but all I could think of was how weird it was to watch Bryce being angry at me.

"And I said sorry," I fired.

"I am sorry, I would have been there, but I forgot. So, why are you getting so mad over it?"

"Because this isn't the first time you've done something like this. You do not seem to care about things that are important to me."

For a second, I did not know what to say. Where did he get such an idea? Which was precisely why I found myself saying, "That is not true. Tell me one time I did that."

"You never go with me to watch car races."

Who would?

"You always make up one excuse or another not to go. When We are on dates, you are always too busy taking pictures or checking your I*******m, that it seems like I am on a date with myself," he finished, angrily if I might add.

On a date with himself? Well, sorry that I wanted to capture the moments. He was really beginning to make me mad. So, when my next words ended up coming out much louder than I intended, I was not surprised.

"And what's so wrong with that? I did not know it is wrong to take pictures when on a date. And sorry for remembering We are not in the stone age, and that there's actually a device which we call a phone. Besides, we do lots of things together."

"Like what?"

"Well...we go to a lot of parties together. We even went to Kayla's party together last week, remember?"

"We went together. Stephanie, you basically told me there was no need to pick you up, and that you could come yourself. You know, the same way you do at every other party. It is like you do not even like me coming to your house."

He did not just say that.

"So, now you are mad that I do not want you coming to pick me up for parties?" I snarled.

"Bryce, the 18th century is over, so do not expect me to wait for you to come get me in a carHollandge so we can go to some royal ball."

"Stephanie, you know That is not what I mean!" He drew out a breath before continuing, but in a much softer tone this time.

"You know That is not what I mean. I want to pick you at your house not because you do not have a fleet of cars to drive yourself in, I just want to do it because I care about you. You are my girlfriend, Steph, and I want to do these little things for you. But sometimes, it feels like you do not want me getting too close to you, and I do not like that, cupcake."

Despite myself, I could not deny that there was reason in what he said. But what came out of my mouth was, "That is not remotely true. When have I ever given you the idea that I do not want you getting too close to me?"

"Seriously, Stephanie? You are really asking me that?"

Well, someone sure was losing his cool again, and fast.

"Take these parties for one. What exactly do we do there? We Jacksonce, drink, play games."

Isn't that what parties are all about?

"And none of that is our thing, they are just things we do with our friends. And then after all that, let's say we get to spend a few minutes alone together, what next? You just up and leave, turning down any offers I give to drive you home. And not just that, you do not seem invested in things that we do together. When I bring up going to the movies, then you will complain that it is just not your style; that it is an overrated couple activity. And geocaching? It is fun but too tiring. Then laser tag? That one's fun but just too time consuming. You just find a way to pull back anytime I try to pull closer. Everything is always about you!"

I opened and closed my mouth, but no words came out. I never thought about it like that. Yes, I would canceled a bunch of dates, but I did not think it was a big deal. I did not think it meant I was making everything about me. But Bryce was not quite done yet.

"Like this dinner – we talked about it all through last week, but what happened? I guess it was not even worth remembering. You forgot as though it was nothing! A relationship has to be two-way Stephanie, it can't be all about you. But you do not know how to do that."

He must have noticed my stunned expression because his voice dropped notched lower now, eyes assuming the warmth which I would always known them to have.

"Stephanie, I love you. And when you love someone, you put their feelings into consideration. And maybe That is the problem, cause I do not know if you feel the same. In all the time we've been dating, you've never even told me you loved me."

How was a girl supposed to deal with this sort of situation?

"I...well I...I.."

He chuckled dryly, and was I imagining the glossiness in his eyes? I was definitely imagining that, right.

Because it would be awkward if I was not. "You see? Stephanie, I can't be the only one doing all the loving, it has be both ways. And in our relationship, That is not the case, and it gets really frustrating sometimes."

I heard somewhere that in an argument, saying the first thing that came to mind was not always the best idea. I was pretty sure my mum said that. Ever since she turned all churchy, every conversation with her, became a motivational speech. I saw the truth in her words the moment I found myself saying, "then why are we still doing this? I really like you, Bryce, but I can't be your Juliet, reciting poetry and being all lovey. And if you find that frustrating, I do not know why we are still trying to make this work."

Bryce stared at me, a flash of surprise running through his face, and was that...hurt? But he was quick to cover it up with a chuckle.

"I do not know either. Maybe it is time we stopped trying."

I know I hinted at it, but hearing him say it, stung. But me being me, played my poker face well.

"Yeah, maybe it is time we stopped trying."

"You are right. We've tried and failed too many times, we should stop here now," he mused.

I could only nod.

"Well, I have to go now."

And throwing me a small smile, he walked away, leaving me standing behind the bleachers to stare after him like a loser. And That is saying a lot, because loser and I were like heaven and earth - polar opposites.

If I was Juliette or any other regular girl, I would probably get teary-eyed right about now. But over the years, I would come to the conclusion that I would run out of tears. The last time I could remember crying was when I was six, and I was seventeen now. I was not lying when I said I really liked him.

He was funny, popular, sweet, and he cared even when I did not. I liked him.

'Stephanie, I love you...you've never even told me you love me.'

Maybe I should have just told him that I loved him. But then, did I?

Bryce and I have had a number of breakups, but this one seemed so...final.