LTTA-Bad Choices

Bryce had never been more happy for the winter to end so suddenly. The last snow fall they had was three weeks ago, then the temperatures shot up to fifty degrees every day since. He was called into work the second week of March. Raking dried leaves wasn’t his favorite task but it got him out of the house. Dalila and Bryce hadn’t talked since they broke up, even though he wanted to hear her voice so bad. He some how got roped into a night out with a couple of the guys from work, one of those stupid college parties. Bryce really had no interest in going but he had already agree to go.

“We’ll pick you up at eight, Bryce!” Jerry yelled across the lawn. “Be ready!” Bryce nodded and went back to work.

He tried to think of a way to get out of going and a way to leave early since they got there. None of it had worked and now Bryce was the designated driver. It only seemed fair since he was under age and no real urge to drink. He just wanted to avoid all the people he didn’t know and all the couples that littered the house. It made him miss Dalila more, like he needed to do that. He finally found a less populated area with a free seat. He sat back in the chair hoping the guys wouldn’t want to stay long.

“Hi” a sweet voice said.

“Hello” Bryce nodded, looking at a pretty girl looking at him.

“Is this seat taken?” He shook his head. “These things get so crazy, I don’t really enjoy being here.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean.”

They sat in silence for a few moments and Bryce contemplated getting up but decided against since he probably wouldn’t be able to find a different spot. He sighed heavily as a drunken couple standing near them started making out, spilling their drinks all over, trying to find a wall to lean again.

“I’m Jean by the way.” and extended her hand.

“Bryce” he shook it once gently.

“Would you like to get out of here?”

“What?” he blinked.

“Like go for a walk or something? I hate just sitting here, drinking isn’t my thing and watching all these people kinda sucks” she laughed and stood up, waiting for Bryce.

“Oh. Sure, I guess.”

Once outside the sky was dark with thousands of stars shining bright and a light cool breeze. Over all not to bad for a end of March night. They walked a little ways, still hearing the music from the party. He looked over at Jean who had goose bumps and her lips was trembling, from the cold presumably. All she had on was a short sleeved tee shirt, jeans, and flip flops. Without thinking Bryce shrugged out of his jacket and offered it to her.

“Thank you” she snuggled into the jacket.

“Welcome.”

“You’re a man of few words, huh?”

“Yeah, I suppose.” Truth was he just didn’t feel like talking or really being there.

“I like that in a man” she chuckled. She glanced up at him, batting her long eyelashes. She had shoulder length blonde hair, brown eyes, and at least six inches shorter than him.

Before he knew what he was doing, Bryce closed the distance between them and kissed her. There was no fire works, time moved just the same, there was no exotic taste. It was just a kiss, but something exploded through him. His hands were on her hips pulling her right to his body as lust burned through him. When he pulled back he looked down at her now cloudy eyes. Guilt ripped through him while the roar of lust was getting stronger.

“My apartment is right around the corner…” she whispered.

A little over an hour later Bryce rolled out of the strange bed and left Jean. He quietly pulled his pants on, he ran a hand through his hair and over his face. He looked back at the bed to see Jean now sitting up with her knees pulled up to her chest., her eyes were heavy with the desire to sleep.

“Leaving so soon?” a small smile crossed her lips.

“Uh, yeah.” he paused. “I’m DD, I don’t want them to try to drive.”

“Oh” she frowned. “Can I see you again?” Bryce buttoned his pants, tugged his shirt over his head. He looked at her again, her eyes hopeful. Before he replied to her, he finished getting dressed.

“Sure.” he said slowly. He knew the chances of him going through with it was slim to none but he couldn’t tell her no. He’d used this girl to take out his frustrations for another. He felt like scum as he took the paper she handed him with her number on it.

***

Dalila jumped on her laptop in between classes to check her email only to find one from Bryce. She held her breath as she clicked open. This is the first contact they had since breaking up a month in a half ago.

Dalila-
I really need to talk to you. Can I call you sometime?
Bryce.

She hurriedly typed a reply before having to run off to her next class.

Bry,
Sure, anytime after eight is good for me.
Love,
Dalila.


Her phone rang that night at eight o’five and her heart pounded. She was anxious and nervous to hear his voice again, that and every part of her missed and ached for him.

“Hello?”

“Hi…” his voice was bleak. “It’s been a little while, huh?”

“Yeah” she said with a half giggle.

“Look, I know that we broke up but I feel like I have to tell you…” he paused.

“O…k…” she said slowly.

“The guilt it eating away at me. I feel like I have to tell you.” He was silent for a couple minutes but it felt much longer to Dalila. “Last week I went to a party with a few guys from work,” he paused. “There was this girl…”

Dalila’s fingers went cold, there was a sudden sharp pain in her chest, and a burning lump in her throat. She didn’t know what to say, she wasn’t even sure she could talk. Bryce is a free man she told herself, he’s allowed to be with anyone he wants.

“I wish you two the best..” she said quietly.

“I’m not dating her… It was just sex…”

It hurt, more than hurt. It was crushing. Her heart was breaking, all those mended pieces she pulled together over the last month were shattered again.

“I’m sorry Dalila… I miss yo…”

“Don’t” she said sharply. “Don’t say it”, she pleaded now. Tears welled up in her eyes, she swallowed hard trying not to break. “I have to go… Home work, ya know?”

“D, wait..”

And she hung up. The tears spilled over, her breathing became ragged, and she curled into a ball on her bed until morning. The pain and sorrow from last night turned into anger, she needed to distance herself from him for awhile.