Crushing On The Enemy (Crushing on You 1)

Jake pulled his phone out of his pocket and tried to call her, but Alyssa didn't answer.

“Damn it!” he swore as he limped to his truck.

Chapter 15: Alyssa

Alyssa managed to make it to Mattie's house before she dissolved into heaving sobs. Mattie was waiting outside for her and helped her out of the car. She tried to hug her, but Alyssa pulled away.

“I just need some time alone,” she said as she sat down on the steps.

“Okay, I'll be inside if you need me,” Mattie said frowning.

“Thanks,” Alyssa said.

She wrapped her arms around her knees and cried until the tears would no longer come. Her body shook as she tried to gather her wits.

“I did the right thing,” she said over and over.

She lay on the wood floor of the porch and focused on breathing. Alyssa knew it wasn't going to be easy, but she didn't think every inch of her body would hurt after wards.

She gasped and nearly scrambled inside the house when Jake's truck pulled up, but she didn't have the energy.

“Alyssa,” he said as he sat down next to her.

She moved so that her head lay in his lap, but she didn't speak.

“We can make this work,” he sighed.

“I won't take it away from you,” Alyssa cried.

“You're not taking anything away from me,” he said, “I want to be with you. I love you. Even if we go to different colleges it doesn't change that. We'll make it work. Come on,”

Alyssa allowed Jake to help her sit up and then leaned back against him.

“What's it going to be four years?” he asked.

“Maybe longer,” she said.

“We can still see one another. I'll drive up or you can fly down,” Jake said.

Alyssa looked up at Jake and was surprised to see that he was so upset. She touched his face softly wiping away a single tear that he hadn't been able to contain.

“And anyway,” he said, “I won't know anything until Monday afternoon.”

Alyssa nodded, but didn't say anything.

“I just don't want to lose you,” he said.

“And I don't want to lose you either, but long distance relationships never work. Have you never picked up a magazine?” she asked.

“Actually, I don't read girly magazines, but that doesn't matter,” Jake said shaking his head, “It doesn't matter what they say, if it comes down to it, we'll make it work.”

Alyssa nodded and gave him a half smile. She wasn't sure she believed him, but she wanted it to work. Her mother said that she had fallen so hard, because he was her first love, but the reason didn't matter to her. She loved Jake, more than she ever thought she could love anyone.

“I love you, Jake,” she whispered.

“I love you too,” he said gently touching her face.

They met in a brief kiss and then Jake smiled at her. He took his class ring off his finger and slid it onto hers.