When you're dreaming with a broken heart
The waking up is the hardest part.

-Dreaming with a Broken Heart

___________________

'It's funny how things change,
Weird that what we once
thought was true
Feels nothing but strange'
_______________________

Braydon parked his car on an unfamiliar street and I frowned, I didn't even realise when he took the opposite turn. I must be really out of it, maybe Leah is right, I've become mental.

"Where are we?" I inquired, clutching my bag against my chest.

"Chill out, Colours."

"Oh, god! Are you kidnapping me? Shit- oh god. Listen Braydon-"

"Will you shut up? We're at my place. Now get out." He bellowed, and I complied. The neighbourhood looked pretty decent with trees aligning the streets and almost all houses looking the same, Braydon walked up the flight of stairs to an archaic style house. Honestly, it looked breathtaking from outside. It had Victorian styled pillars, a pastel door with elegant candle stands to rest beside it. I was in complete awe of this place.

"I love your place," I whispered, looking at Braydon.

He gave me a small smile, and at that very moment, the door flung open.

"Braydon you're late, I tell you-"
The lady standing in a green blouse and black long skirt, stopped mid sentence when she saw me and I immediately felt conscious of her gaze.

"Hi." I squeaked out.

The lady, who I think was slightly older to be Braydon's mum, shrieked out and engulfed me in a big hug, surprising me and causing me to look at Braydon who just winced.

"Graças a Deus. I thought he was a gay. Let me look at you," she cupped my cheeks and looked at me affectionately. I couldn't hold back, I smiled and held her hands gently. "Linda. You've beautiful dimples."

"Thank you," I said, blushing at the compliment and still trying to figure out what language she was talking in, seemed like Spanish.

"Avó, please. Can we just come inside? This is so embarrassing." Braydon pleaded, his expression was close o desperation and I wanted to laugh, but the look on the woman's face was of complete astonishment.

"You bring girl to my house for first time, and I can't even see her properly? Neto," she shook her head and guided us in. "You've become no good. Bad."

Braydon sighed looking at me and continued, "Colours, this is my grandma."

I was shocked, to say the least, the lady in front of me looked too young to be a grandma.

"Pleased to meet you, ma'am, I'm Arabella," I said with an added polite smile.

Braydon's grandma smiled. "Nonsense, call me Rosie. You've a beautiful name, my child."

"Thank you, Rosie."

"Okay if you guys are done, Avó, we're both going to work on the competition," Braydon said while walking towards, what looked like the study room, I quietly followed behind him after assuring Rosie that I was comfortable and didn't need anything.

"I hope work is the only thing you do, Neto. I don't mind though, just remember-"

Braydon walked towards the study and shut the door with a loud thud. I, on the other hand, enjoyed the show a lot and I could tell that Braydon was growing increasingly irritative about it. He would just have to suck it up, I guess.

"So," he cleared his throat. "Shall we see how we're going to kick Leah's sorry ass?"

_________________

I spent a good two hours working with Braydon, which wasn't easy because he needed all his pictures o be 'perfect'. We bickered a bit, and at last reached a conclusion, that the field trips alone were going to get us nothing. So we decided to go out on a day trip to the neighbouring town next week, which was essential since our town didn't have much to offer anyway. I also learnt from Braydon that the foreign language his grandmom was muttering was Portuguese since his mum was from there.

He's bilingual, that's so freakin' hot!

Shut up!

The next three days flew by rather quickly, with a couple of assignments and tests being slapped on to us. I was yet to talk to Jake properly, and I had finally decided that I would meet him today. Along with the others, of course. The football tryouts were over on Wednesday, and I'd learnt that Braydon had also given them. I wasn't surprised by that since he did play soccer once, and it was only fair that he gave his share of try too. Jake and his team were meeting up at the bowling alley today, and the rest of us were going to meet him there in the evening too.

We had spoken for a good seventy-five minutes last night, and it pained me to know that he was in fact, leaving on Saturday now, instead of Monday, since he had to report by Monday. Saturday meant tomorrow, and tonight was my last night with Jake.

Tomorrow. He's leaving tomorrow.

As much as I willed myself not to, I had cried last night on the phone. It felt stupid crying and talking at the same time, what surprised me was that Jake didn't ask me to stop or consoled me over the phone, all he kept repeating were "I'm sorry's" and "I promise to keep in touch." I knew he meant the former, the latter I wasn't sure about. It wasn't like I was going to cut ties with him, I don't think I could ever do that. I just didn't know how long will we stay in touch for, without actually seeing each other.

I got out of my bed shaking my head, walking towards my closet I opened the door and scanned the entire wardrobe.

Great, I have nothing to wear.

Deliberating on dressing up casually or more provocatively, I finally chose to go with bad-ass. I picked out my black ripped shorts and a white V-neck t-shirt and headed for my bathroom. Once I was out, I glanced at my clock, which read 6:30 p.m. so I proceeded to rush. I teamed up my outfit with my black lace up boots and wore my bands just for an exaggerated effect.

What can I say? I like looking good.

My mum was still working and hadn't returned yet, and Jasmine was staying over at a friend's, so I didn't have to worry about informing anyone. As soon as I got behind the wheel, I called Nina.

"Hello?"

Since when did Nina's voice become so hoarse and...breathless.

"Uh...Nina? Who's this?" I asked, trying to figure out who the male was behind that piece of technology that was supposedly owned by my best friend.

"Sorry, you- you've called the wrong number, Bell."

I glanced at my phone and groaned, I had been stupid enough to mistakenly call Nathan.

"Shit Nate, I'm so sorry. Oh, wait. Why are you panting?" I asked curiously. A part of me scolded myself for asking such a dumb question because I kind of knew the answer.

"I-uh.-"

"Babe, who's it?"

I scrunched my eyebrows up in shock and spluttered out, "Nathan Brown, is that Nina?"

"Umm...no?"

"What the fuck you guys?" I yelled.

"Bella calm down. It's not-"

"Really? How long have you guys been keeping this from me? From everyone?" I shouted while fiddling with the ignition, I was so pissed off. As if on cue, I heard a 'shit' from somewhere behind Nathan and I groaned.

"Give her the goddamn phone, Nathan," I said in a deadly calm voice.

I heard some shuffling from the other end, and then after hearing those two idiots whisper yell at one another I finally got Nina on the line.

"Hello?" She squeaked out.

"Seriously Nina?"

"Oh Hi, Bella! Umm, Nathan and I are just on our way to the alley."

"You have some serious explaining to do," I said, with a serious expression.

Nina sighed and continued, "I'll tell you when I meet you. See you in 10."

With that, she cut the call and I proceeded to head towards, what could be called a rather uneventful night.

______________________

It was nearing 9 o clock and I was just lying down on the grass and staring at the sky. Jake was sidled up next to me, and he tried holding my hand, but I won't let him. I couldn't get any closer to him than I already was. After we finished our game at the bowling alley, we proceeded to head to Allie's, a small place was like dinner cum dancing arena. I hung out with Nina most of the night, pestering her with various questions about Nate. Apparently, they didn't want to tell anyone until they were sure of this, so I let them be and promised not to tell anyone. The place we were at, had a beautiful garden, and I was currently lying down flat on my back, star gazing while the boy of my affections was staring at me.

"Stop staring," I muttered.

"I'm sorry."

"Stop saying that, it's getting on my nerves."

"I don't know what else to say." He looked at me sincerely and gave me a tentative smile.

I shook my head smiling. "Are you scared?" I asked looking at him.

"More than you can imagine. What if I fail?" He said in a low voice, I almost didn't hear the last part.

I squeezed his hand and kissed his cheek. "Then you'll get back up and fight until you win. You're strong Jake. You'll do it."

He shut his eyes. "God Bella, I wish I could take you with me," I muttered.

I gulped, partly scared that he even thought about such a thing and partly because I didn't know how to respond to that. I knew Jake really liked me, but the truth was, I don't think I liked him as much as him. Or enough to go with him, at least. 

"Jake-"

"But that would be selfish. I can't let you do that because what we have isn't worth that risk."

I looked at him, shocked to hear him say such a thing. It was another thing when people doubted our feelings for one another, but hearing it from Jake, it just made it all the worse.

"Don't look at me like that. Bella, I know you and I can't thank you enough for giving me this chance, and the most beautiful 3 weeks of my life. But...I know that I'm not enough...for you."

"Don't say that-"

"I've liked you since a year Bella, I think it suffices to say that I'm in it too deep. But you have your entire life ahead of you, I'm sure you'll find someone...worth the risk."

I blinked at him, once and then again. Not sure what to say, I lay my head against his shoulder and held his hand more firmly.

"You have soccer. You'll always have soccer." I whispered.

"I do, and I am willing to risk anything for it because my love for the game goes beyond everything else. I hope you understand?" He asked, his eyes pleading.

I smiled and nodded. "Of course I do."

Jake kissed my forehead and then proceeded to get up, helping me up in the process.

"So, I guess we should go inside." He said, still holding my hand.

"I guess we should. I don't think it's a good idea to spend more time." I mumbled, looking away from him.

He pulled me to him and hugged me. I immediately returned the gesture, holding on as tight as possible.

"I'll miss you." He mumbled.

"I'll miss you too," I whispered back.

_______________________

And that is officially the last of Jake that you would be witnessing.

This just sucks, because I hate to send him off, he was such a sweetheart.

Any thoughts? What do you guys think?

Since the competition ends in roughly, say, 20 days, I am going to pace things up now.

I hate writing about partings and saying goodbyes.

<3,

S~

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