Cheated - Chapter 6

The next day was Saturday.  I spent most of the morning in bed.  I was so miserable and confused.  Why did I have to go through all of this to keep a secret I didn’t even mean to make?  Why do I have to cheat on Dan?  I love him, I don’t want to love anyone else and he should know that.  But if he sees me with James I know he’ll think otherwise.  
My cell phone beeped.  It meant I had a text so I picked up my phone from my dresser and opened the text.
“We’re meeting at the mall to peruse prom outfits.  Wanna come?”  it said.  It was from Phoebe.  All though it was near the start of the year, Phoebe has a knack for making sure everything is organised way before hand.  
I really did want to do something and get out of bed.  And it would be good to have something to do just in case James called.  Suddenly, I got another text.
“Dan will be there…” It was from Phoebe again.  A day at the mall with beloved boyfriend and my best friend looking for our perfect prom outfits.  It sounded like an awesome day.  I opened up the reply screen and typed back
“I’ll totally be there!”  and hit send.
I then put on a cute pink top and some of my comfortable jeans and threw on some sandals.  I pulled my hair back into a plait and grabed my purse and walked out the door and what do you know but James was waiting for me.
“I had an awesome night last night.  I think we could repeat the end,” He said smugly.
“I’ve got plans,” I said not making eye-contact with him.
“Well then cancel them.  Because in case you hadn’t noticed,” he grabbed my arm hard.
“You better keep me happy…or else.”
“Or else what?”
“Or else I’ll tell.”  I knew exactly what he was talking about.

I didn’t end up going to the mall with Phoebe and Dan.  I went to the movies with James to see a horror film.  It wasn’t scary at all.  The effects were totally fake and the acting was horrible.  James drove me home and walked me up to the door.
“Hope you liked the movie,” James exclaimed.  He knew I didn’t.
“I didn’t,” I said fatly.  James gripped my arm again.
“What did I say before we left?” he was looking at me hard now.  His eyes bored into me and even when I looked away I felt them locking on me.
“Hey, Alex!”  I looked over to find Dan getting out of his car and walking over to me.
“Dan!” I said cheerfully.  I hadn’t seen Dan outside of school since the incident at the mall.  I wriggled free of James’ grip and ran over to him.
“What are you doing here?” I said putting my arm around his neck.  He put his arm around my waist.  It felt good to be in his arms again.
“I got to go, Alex.  I’ll see you around…or else,” James said sulking off, giving me one more evil stare.
“What was all that about?” Dan asked as we walked to my house and went inside.
“I made a fun bet with James and he just wants what I promised him but I don’t have it yet.  It’s nothing big.”
“Okay,” Dan said unsure.
We went inside and I fixed a milkshake for us to share.  
“I got some really good news,” he said as I sat down.
“Cool.  What is it?”
“Well, you know college applications are gonna have to go in soon?”
“Yeah,” I said sipping the milkshake.
“And that my grades are some of the best in the year?”
“Well…dur!”
“Well, the principal wrote me an early recommendation letter to Yale and I sent my application into Yale early as well and they got there together.  When the principal heard they had got my application early, he called up Yale and asked for an early decision and judgement to see if I got in.  They said they couldn’t be sure of anything but I visited the principal in his office today and he said he was really good at reading voices.”
“Fasinating,” I said sarcastically.
“And he said that I’m going to Yale next year.”
“What?” I asked really surprised.
“I’m going to one of the top schools of America and maybe the world.  I’m going to Yale University!”  I could tell Dan was really happy about this but for some reason, I just wasn’t.
“So you’re just gonna pick up and leave next year.  And not even consider how far away you’re gonna be from me!  What about us!?  Are we going to break up?!”
“What!? No we don’t break up!  We make it work.”
“It’s kind of hard to make it work when you’re half way across the country!”
“Why are you making a big deal out of this!?  I got int…”
“Yes!  I heard!  You got into Yale!”
“Then why are you mad?”
“Because,” I started to cry.
“You’re going to Yale and I’m stuck with a really big secret that will probably keep me here because I can’t get rid of it anytime soon!  And certainly not in time for college!  And probably not in time for it to ruin my life!!!!”

Dan left half an hour later.  We had screamed and shouted at eachother until our faces were blue and we had had enough of eachother for one night.  I didn’t know what to do.  I really wanted to tell him but I couldn’t!  I had to do something though…and fast.  

The next few days past slowly as they could ever go.  Phoebe was still trying to find out who I was going out with but I still wouldn’t tell her.  James was getting more and more on my back and it was becoming hard to get anytime to myself.
I suddenly realised that the only way to save my relationship with Dan was to tell him the truth so I invited him over for a movie night at myplace and I would tell him there.  It was Saturday night.  I had ordered pizza and had rented some of Dan’s favourite movies.  It was six thirty when I heard a knock at the door.
I opened it…but didn’t find Dan standing there waiting for me.  But I did find the slug that is known as James.
“What do you want?” I asked impatiently.
“I wanna come in,” he said smirking.
“Well, I’ve got a date tonight.”
“Yeah, I know.  With me.”
“James!” I started annoyed.  James walked into my living room.
“James…leave!  Ever since my fight with Dan I havn’t had anytime to myself…no thanks to you!  All I want is this night by myself with my boyfriend, my real boyfriend!”
“I can’t let you do that,” James said.
“And why n…,”
James started to kiss me.  I was so angry!  I wanted him to leave I wanted him to go!  I pulled away and turned around to find the biggest horror of my life.  Dan was standing in the doorway completely stunned.  He gave me one look, and walked out.
I followed him out onto the lawn.  
“Dan!” I called after him.  “Dan I was going to tell you tonight.  Let me explain!”
“You could’ve told me sooner Alex.  I didn’t’ have to find out like that.”
“I know that but if you let me explain you’ll see why…”
“Why you lied to me and cheated on me?!  I waited for you for four years and when I finally have you I lose you!”  Dan started to walk away.
“Dan, wait!”
“NO ALEX!  I’m tired of waiting.”  Dan turned around and walked off into the dark.

TWO YEARS LATER

He was perfect.  The room was perfect.  The dress was perfect.  And as I watched her walk down the aisle, I realised that that wasn’t me walking down the aisle to marry Daniel.  We had been through so much in only two weeks.  He loved me and cherished me and all I did was hurt him.  But I also realised that if I had just talked to him about it sooner, that could’ve been me walking down the aisle towards the man of my dreams.  But I didn’t and I guess that was my choice.
Love is a funny thing.  Some go through so much hurt from it to find that one person who won’t hurt them and some it’s just the first guy they ever fall in love with.  It’s so hard to own and so hard to keep.  But we all want it because it’s the closes thing we have to magic.  I realised one more thing.  Through all those four years and those weeks with him, I never said three very important words to him.
I love you.