Chapter 11

I was obviously very annoyed, but also sad at the same time. Either way, I knew I'd done the right thing, even though it didn't go quite as expected.

As hard as I tried not to, I still cried because I just couldn't help it.

I broke Emily's heart, even though I didn't mean to. She just wouldn't understand that we weren't just meant to be.

Well at least Adam would be happy now.

I tried forcing myself to sleep but I just couldn't. I couldn't stop myself from thinking about Emily. She'd gone through a lot in her life and I wasn't even helping matters. I knew I loved her, so why did I say I didn't? What was wrong with me?

I laid on the couch, thinking for what seemed like ages to me, before the door opened and my parents walked in.

"Hi mom. Hi dad." I said, trying not to show any emotion.

"Hey son." My dad said gloomily.

"Hi Daniel." My mom said in the same manner.

"What's wrong? Why do you guys seem so sad? I actually thought you two would stay longer at work."

"Daniel, you have to pack. We're moving."

"What? You're joking, right?!"

"Daniel, your dad has been transferred to his company's headquarters, and we all have to move there. Everything has been set up. Its all ready; the house, the car, virtually everything we'll be needing." My mom said.

"Oh no! But can't dad decline the- "

"I can't. We either have to move or I lose my job, Daniel. We just have to move. That was what the meeting was all about. I'm so sorry." My dad said.

"So what happens to this place? My school? My friends?" Emily?

"The company's gonna take care of the house. But as for your school and friends, I'm sorry there's nothing we can do about that." My mom said.

"But... But what about your new job, mom? We're just leaving everything behind and leaving? I mean, this makes absolutely no sense!"

"Daniel, I've already quit. Besides, the salary I would have been earning isn't up to one third of your dad's salary, so we can't live off that. We can't stay here, Daniel. I've given up my job for thus, you have to give something up too."

"I know its not easy for you but that's just life. You just have to keep surviving no matter what." My dad said.

I sighed multiple times.

"Alright dad. I... Okay." I said, sniffing.

And it was settled. We were moving the next day, so we had to pack our things in advance.

But why did my life have to be so unstable? Why could I just... Just be allowed to make friends that I would stay a long time with? We were always moving from place to place and I always had new people to meet, to introduce myself to.

I wonder how many times in my life I've had to introduce myself to someone else. Why? Why was life so unfair to me? And what about Chloe? I'd just started to like her and... I now I can't see her anymore. And as for Emily? Was that the end?

As I packed, I kept regretting the things I'd said to Emily, because I know she'd never forget it.

I had to tell Brian what happened. The first and only friend I had since I started Brain Builders'. He would be devastated, but I had to tell him anyway.

★★★

The next day, when the bus arrived, and my parents were doing the final packing, I told them I wanted to go see Brian to tell him goodbye and they agreed without hesitation.

I ran to Brian's house that was just across the street. I knocked and knocked but no one was answering. I knocked one final time and the door opened. I was expecting to see either his mum or dad, but he opened the door. Good.

"Hey buddy! I really wasn't expecting you. Why'd you come?" He asked.

"Hey Brian. Listen, I don't have much time. I just came over here to let you know I'm moving, and- "

"Wait what? You're moving? Are you being serious right now?"

"I'm serious. My dad got transferred from his place of work and now we all have to move over there."

"Wow. Just like that?"

"I guess. But u want you to do me a favour."

"What is it?"

"I want you to tell Emily that all the things I said to her, I didn't really mean it. I just said it because I was angry and frustrated. Tell her I really loved her and I take back everything I said about her."

"Alright bro. So you're leaving already?"

"Yeah. I'll miss you, Brian."

"Same here, dude."

He pulled me into a warm hug, and after that I left, running back home to my parents waiting for me.

And that was it.

That was the end.

*10 years later*

There I was, walking back home from lunch with Ashley, my best friend. She'd asked me to lunch earlier and pleaded and pleaded before I finally accepted. Don't get me wrong though, I do love Ashley but she could be a little clingy sometimes.

We'd met years ago, when I moved close to her own house, and fate had it that we also went to the same school. We became friends when I had bumped into her at the school café, spilling her food and drink on her dress. We had quite a quarrel then but later bonded when we found out we lived adjacent each other and had a bunch of things in common. Back in school, I was one grade ahead of her but we still never missed a moment together, apart from when we had classes.

"Hello!" She said when she realized I wasn't paying attention.

"Huh? W- what?" I asked.

"Seriously? You weren't listening?" She raised her eyebrows.

"No...not... Alright, I wasn't."

"Really? What's up with you being moody all the time?"

The truth was, I hadn't been able to forgive myself for what I had done years ago- treating Emily so bad, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't forget her. I couldn't help but think about what state she could be in, what Adam could be making her go through and what I had done by telling her I didn't love her. It was ten years now but the memory was still as fresh as ever in my head.

"You're thinking about that Emily girl again, aren't you?"

Of course I'd told her. She was my best friend after all.

"N- no it's just- "

"Don't you lie to me, Daniel. You were thinking about her."

"Okay. You caught me. So can we change the topic now please?" I just didn't feel comfortable talking to her about Emily.

"Alright. If you say so. Anyway, I was telling you that I'm going shopping tomorrow at St. Alberts'. It's such a posh place. I was thinking...maybe you'll want to go with me?"

"Ashley, you know I've got work and I can't just keep following you around. Sorry, I'm busy."

"Please?"

"I can't."

"Please?" She begged again.

"No."

"Pleeeeeeease?"

"No."

"Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?" She puppy-dog-eyed me.

"I...ugh, okay I'll go with you." I gave in.

"Yay! Thanks a lot, Danny." She said, slipping her arm around my waist as she hugged me.

I just sighed.

★★★

The next morning, after I had freshened up, I called Ashley and told her to come over so we could go to St. Alberts' together.

In less than 30 minutes, she was at my door.

"Good morning Mr handsome." She beamed when I opened the door, shirtless.

"I've told you to stop calling me that. I have a name, you know. It's Daniel."

"Yeah yeah, handsome suits you more."

"Whatever. Just come in."

When she did, I jammed the door.

"So, we're going to St. Alberts'. Yippie!" She sat on the couch.

"Yeah. Yay. Hurray." I said sarcastically.

I sprayed on my body spray and slipped on a shirt, buttoning it.

"Daniel, can I uhm...ask you something?"

"Sure, go ahead." Just don't ask me anything about girls.

"Why don't you...like...have a girlfriend or something? Cause since I've known you, I'm the closest to you."

Just great. It just had to be about that.

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing."

"But you should really get- "

"Do you wanna talk or we go shopping now?"

"Okay. But one of your buttons are loose."

"Where?"

She stood up.

"I'll help you with it."

Alright. Geez, how strong your perfume is, Ashley.

"There. All done." She said, tapping my chest lightly.

"Yeah thanks. Can we go now?"

"Definitely."

We left home, for St. Alberts'.

★★★

It was a twenty minute drive from home, and in the car, Ashley kept talking about her ex boyfriends and why I should really get a girlfriend for myself. It just couldn't happen.

I didnt't just see me falling in love with anyone.

After twenty minutes of Ashley's 'lovetalk', I was finally happy to step out of the car, having heard enough of Ashley's voice.

We walked in, hand in hand into the shopping mall.

Wow. It was really a posh place as Ashley had called it. It smelled really...posh like?

"You know, we should do this more often." Ashley suggested.

"Not happening. We just had lunch yesterday, and I'm here with you today and you still want us to do this more often?"

"Daniel, it's just...I really like your company."

"Alright alright. I'm all yours for today but after now, it'll be a month before I go out with you again."

"Hey! But- "

★clank! My cart jammed into someone else's.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I..." Didn't she look familiar?

"Wh- Are. You..."

The woman gasped. "Daniel Robinson!"

"Emily?"