Why My Life is Better than Dawson's Creek- Short Story #1

Still working on this story- shameless chick-lit I know. :P

When a boy has a crush on you, you always know it. Always. Guys think they're all so clever, hiding their true feelings, but honestly a boys heart is a transparent as glass- and just as easily broken.
Those are some of the more important reasons I'm just ignoring my friend Seth's giant crush on me. Those and the fact that I'm not even sure if it's a crush or it's really something I should worry about. Like what if Seth loves me? Sometimes I think that might be it, sometimes I'm almost sure that is has to be love I see in his face when he looks at me that way. You know the way- like he's trying to figure me out, or like he's hoping he'll see something he wants to see if he just stares long enough. I'm worried about it. Really worried. Why, do you ask? Not because of Seth himself- Seth is a really nice guy. He's like all the "good guy" characters you've ever seen on television combined with all the best "bad" ones. Seth is Dawson mixed with Pacey, Adam Brody combined with James Dean thrown together with Jess from Gilmore Girls.
And I don't want to deal with someone like that being in love with me. I'd rather keep my drama confined to Dawson's Creek, thank you. So I'm avoiding him. It's incredibly easy, school being out for the summer and all. So what if Seth is my next door neighbor? I just won't go outside. Piece of cake. Unfortunately, this plan has resulted in me spending lots of time with the TV set. I'm invested in all the teen soap classics- Dawson's Creek, of course, The O.C., Laguna Beach, Gilmore Girls- even Degrassi: The Next Generation if I can catch it on.
Dawson's Creek is my absolute favorite though. Pacey is the cutest- I'm a little bit in love with Pacey, to be honest- but I always root for Dawson. I guess because Dawson is just so good, and I've always been a sucker for the good guys.
I'm taking out the trash and mentally calculating how many hours of my life I've spent so far watching Joey's, when Seth runs up to me at the trash can. He just runs out of his house and stops right next to me, watching me again with those green eyes of his. Nobody on television, or in books, or even in the movies has eyes like Seth Grayson. Nobody.
"You've been avoiding me," He says. Seth doesn't put a question mark on the end, or even an exclamation point- he just states it, the way a normal person says something like, "I'm getting a glass of milk."
I mentally debate the options here. I could lie, which of course he would see right through, or I could tell the truth and sound like a complete ninny. I choose the latter- WWJD, What Would Joey Do?
"Yeah, so?" I keep my eyes on the trash can I just emptied. It's safer that way.
"Uh, I'd like to know why, please." This is complete sarcasm on Seth's part, of course. It's the Jess coming out in him I suppose.
"You know why," I say ominously. I actually don’t know if he knows, but I like the response. It sounds very mysterious.
Seth appears nonchalant. “Yeah, and? It’s never bothered you before, why now?” Yes, Seth is always that blunt. If you think seeing him say that was a surprise, never ever watch a movie with him.
Still, even I am a little surprised at this latest revelation. Seth knows that I know that he loves/has a crush on/ is infatuated with me? Wow…
I once again mentally review my options here. When it comes down to it, there are only three choices for what I can do with the Seth situation.
a. Blow it off, ignore it and be “friends” again with Seth. Worry about the inevitable love bomb at a later date.
b. Blow it off, go inside, and continue ignoring Seth. Live in denial and worry about the inevitable love bomb at a later date.
c. Get it over with so I can go inside and watch Dawson’s Creek in peace.
I choose C. I already have a headache, so I suppose I might as well add to it with the misery of a Seth-less existence.
“Okay,” I sigh miserably, “Just so we’re both clear, what’s the reason I’ve been ignoring you again? Refresh my memory.”
“I’m in love with you. I’ve always loved you,” Seth says bluntly. “And I’ve been dropping hints about it lately so you finally figured it out.” Seth says all this to me forcefully, like he’s making himself spit it out before he loses the nerve. He’s staring at me so intensely I’m afraid he’ll singe my T-shirt unless I move away. But at the moment I’m too insulted to do anything but yell.
“What do you mean you had to drop hints?!” I yell. “You didn’t think I could figure it out myself?!”
“Well, seeing as how I’ve kept it a secret for seven years without even trying, no.”
Oh whatever! This was just the last straw. Seth was implying that I was ignorant even as he declared his love for me? God, what a jerk! “God, you are such a jerk!” I yell loudly.
“Christina,” Seth raises his eyebrows at me, “I’m trying to be really nice here, but your making it a little hard for me. Could you try to be quiet for a second?” Seth’s saying all this like he’s trying to convince a little girl to go to sleep at bedtime. But at least he’s being nicer. I sulkily nod my head and cross my arms.
Seth takes a deep breath. “Okay then.” He takes one of my hands- against my will, might I add- and holds it. “Christina, I love you and everything about you. I love your smile, and your laugh, and the way you wear way too much makeup-“
I open my mouth to protest this, but he coves it with his fingers. I look up into those eyes and wonder what it would be like to kiss him- just out of curiosity, of course. Seth smiles at me and continues.
“-Even though you’re so gorgeous you know you don’t need any. I love every little thing about you, and I know you better than anyone does.” His voice softens considerably at this point. He’s not kidding, I suddenly realize. Seth really does- love me. Which is an astonishing though, in and of itself. I take his other hand off my mouth and hold it, so I can talk. Seth doesn’t seem to mind.
“So, um, does this mean we’re getting married or something?” I joke, trying to lighten the mood. Seth doesn’t smile.
“No, I think we should be together, though.” He says, looking at me again. I’m beginning to think we should be together myself, but I don’t say anything. I just take one step closer and look up at him, my whole heart living in my eyes. Seth smiles at me, very slowly, and the he kisses me. It’s wonderful.
I guess he isn’t such a jerk after all.
“SETH!” I yell loudly, running up the stairs to his bedroom. “COME HERE QUICK! HURRY!” Yeah, so I don’t really have to scream that loud, but come on! It’s not like anyone’s home (besides Seth) to yell at me back. I know, because there weren’t any cars in the driveway when I sprinted up his lawn with my spare key. “YOU HAVE TO COME NOW!” I slam on his door with my fist, which doesn’t really feel that great, but whatever. I can deal with bruised knuckles, but I can’t deal with being ignored all day. By someone who supposedly loves me. Sheesh.
“Christina! What happened?” Seth finally opens the door, looking all disheveled and rubbing his blonde-ish hair with a towel. Oh. So that’s what was taking him so long to answer me. “Seriously, Christina, are you okay?” He puts a hand on my shoulder and looks at me, all worried and adorable. See, this is why I keep him around- not only is he the cutest guy God ever deemed worthy of cuteness, he’s sweet too. Except when he’s being sarcastic. Or mad, which he definitely does not look right now.
“Um, no, I’m not okay. My parents are getting a divorce. And you were too busy with your personal hygiene or whatever to answer any of my, like, forty calls.” I cross my arms and look down at the ugly gray carpet. I learned a long time ago that you can basically say whatever rude/mean thing you want to as long as you look down when you say it. I don’t usually try it on Seth, but this time he kind of deserved it- I mean my life was basically falling apart and he was directing my calls to voice mail. Not exactly the nicest thing he’s done for me lately.
“Christina! What are you talking about? I called you like 6 times, but the line was busy! I was trying to tell you I changed my number. Is that a good enough excuse?” He looks at me again, this time with a hint of a “stare down” in his eyes. Ugh, I HATE it when he’s right.
This all started- with my parents, anyways- when I was around six and my mom had a miscarriage. She never really got over it I guess, and my parents have been screaming at eachother ever since. I used to hide in the closet, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve developed more sophisticated coping tactics. Like pillows, and very loud rock music. I always felt bad, but I never really thought they would split up- I mean, hadn’t they stayed together this long? So, of course, as soon as they told me at dinner last night I started sobbing. And sobbing some more and some more, and then following up with the rock music. It’s still kind of hard to believe- sure it sounds stupid to me now, but I never thought I would be the kid with the split up parents. But I suddenly am that kid.
The line was busy because I was talking to my best friends Stacy and Annabelle on party line. It got a little over the top after the first hour on the phone, but if my parents were going to do this to me, I was going to guilt them with every possible tactic. Maybe I could even end up with a credit card after this.
“Sorry, I guess. I can be a little self absorbed if you haven’t noticed.” I give him my very best “I’m-sorry-please-forgive-me-you-love-me-remember?” smile and he melts, of course.
“Look, I’m really sorry about your parents, okay? But I wish you would have told me sooner, because I sort of signed up for this thing this week…” Now he looks guilty, for some reason.
“What thing? This is my crisis time right now!” I put my hand on my hip and then immediately remove it. Bad habit of mine.
“I’m visiting my mumble-mumble-mumble.” Seth shuffles and looks at the ground.
“What?”
“I’m visiting my ex-girlfriend okay?”