CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CHRISSIE

I receive a text message from Johnathan: “Would you go to the farewell dance with me?”

I smile and reply: “Yes. Whatever happened to chivalry?”

Johnathan: Chival... – what?

Chrissie: Never mind.

Johnathan: What you doin?

Chrissie: Reading.

Johnathan: Obviously, I am sending you messages.

Chrissie: Duh – no, I am reading an actual book.

Johnathan: Why? Do we have a project due?

Chrissie: No, I am reading for fun!

Johnathan: What have you done with Chrissie?

Chrissie: Shows you how well you know me.

Johnathan: I know you well enough.

Chrissie: Obviously not.

Johnathan: Obviously yes.

Chrissie: You are wasting my phone credit.

Johnathan: Sorry. Enjoy your book. See you 2morrow.

Chrissie: Bye :)

Anne is going with Shaun to the dance. Vincent evidently will be going with Sabrina. Tanya is going with Stephen.

I have some money, which I have saved from my allowance over the summer break and I also have the money I received from Mr. Jackson. My mom and I go out to buy my dress. We go back to the Designer Emporium, and I find the most gorgeous sapphire dress, it brings out the highlights in my hair perfectly, the colour compliments my skin and my eyes, and of course, most importantly, it disguises my ample hips perfectly.

The night of the dance when Johnathan comes to collect me, I invite him in for the traditional photo session and I smile when I notice his tie and cravat matching the colour of my dress.

My dad and Johnathan sit in the lounge while my mom and I stand in the kitchen and my mom says, “Johnathan is very cute.”

“Yes, Mom. He is. Do not embarrass me.”

She turns away from me and switches on the kettle. “I am glad you got over your rebellious streak with Vincent.”

“Mom, please. Not again. I already told you it is over, and it never meant anything.”

“I know. I am just saying I am glad.”

I smile, without wanting to smile and I go back to the lounge. Johnathan stands up when I enter the room, and I ask him, “Are you ready to go?”

He smiles affirmatively, and then my parents walk us to the door.

My dad acts a little more normal towards me with each passing day, but we are still not the same as we used to be in the days pre-Vincent.

We walk out to the car and Johnathan opens my door for me, and then when he gets in on the driver side, he starts his BMW. The CD player loads automatically, and The Great Divide starts playing. I struggle to breathe, shocked.

“Please, Johnathan. I am sorry, but I could never listen to this CD again. I am so sick of these songs; imagine hearing them and singing them a million times over.”

“Sorry.” He smiles apologetically.

He presses a button, and the CD player switches to another CD. I sit back into my chair and breathe out; I feel the air rush over my lips.

We arrive at the venue, and once again, Johnathan opens the door for me.

The theme for the dance is a corny ‘Under the Sea’ production. Fishing nets are hanging from the roof.

Mermaids hang precariously from the roof or they are sitting against the walls on polystyrene shells. Neptune sits on the stage on a throne, his sceptre leaning drunkenly in his hand. Inevitably, there is mainly fish on the menu. Johnathan and I are sitting with our group of friends, and I am having a pleasant evening.

I laugh loudly at one point at a joke Adam tells us, and at that precise moment, my eyes glance across the room to where I know I will find Vincent. Vincent is already staring at me. I stop laughing abruptly and I close my eyes for a moment, feeling that awful pulling feeling at my heart, and when I open my eyes again, he is gone.

Johnathan and I dance and when we slow dance, he holds me close to him, his arms closely around me. I look up at him, and he returns my gaze, smiling his alluring smile.

They unavoidably play The Great Divide, and I think amused, if only they knew what the song is really about, they would not imagine it to be this great romantic ballad, quite the opposite. It is an incredibly sad song of hatred and contempt between people of different race, creed, and colour.

Johnathan and I go out to get some fresh air while the song is playing. He does not realize why I do not like the song, and I pray he never does.

After the dreaded song is finished, a song which will forever cause my stomach to spasm painfully, we go back inside again.

The night is almost over, and I see Vincent walk out through the main door with Sabrina, hanging onto his arm. I know when he walks out of the door, there is a possibility I will never see him again.

He looks across his shoulder and immediately his eyes focus on me. He smiles despondently, and then he turns back to Sabrina and acknowledges something she said.

I turn to Johnathan, who is in a conversation with Adam, and I whisper urgently, “I will be back now.”

He turns to me slightly, and he smiles, kissing me lightly on my cheek, making me feel guilty.

I get up from the table and I follow Vincent hastily, walking fast and then running once I am out the door and into the night.

It had started raining and the raindrops are lashing down from the heavens above. I am drenched within seconds, but I do not notice. I only know my heart is going to burst with pain, the throbbing is unbearable.

“Vincent,” I yell after him, my fear hollow in my voice, and at this juncture in my life, I do not care who hears me, I do not care who sees.

At the sound of my voice, he turns around and he sees me immediately. He moves away from Sabrina and then starts to walk toward me, his feet dragging across the black-top.

He stops when he reaches me, his face level with mine, where I stand on the stairs. Standing in front of me, he whispers softly, “What if my love for you never goes away?”

I see my pain reflected in his beautiful eyes. He takes my face between his hands and brushes his lips over mine softly, briefly. I wish I could stop him, but how could I. I have at this crucial moment in my life no words to explain how much I need him; how much I love him.

Smiling miserably, he starts walking backward, holding my gaze with his.

The rain mingles with my tears as they run down my cheeks unchecked, and I wonder what I will do if his shadow remains with me forever, always in my peripheral vision.

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Continue reading the alternative happy ending for The Great Divide.

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WHEN WE LOVE

The Great Divide series #2

This short story is the alternative happy ending for The Great Divide.

Lynette Ferreira – When We Love

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lynette Ferreira writes sweet romance stories for teens and young adults about first love, really cute boys, kissing and all the drama. She began practising the art of imagining stories from a young age, mostly due to loneliness. Now a full-time writer, Lynette and her family call Northern Ireland home.

Visit Lynette at

Lynette Ferreira

I would love to know what you thought and would appreciate it if you could leave me a brief review.

Thank you!

With love,

Lynette

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