Slytherin4ever: Isn’t it a waste of time? Personally, I think it’s a little weird that we’re still talking when you say that you’re interested in someone else. Either you’re not that interested in the mystery girl, or you know you don’t have a chance with her, and you’re keeping your options open.
Is that what I’m doing? Keeping my options open?
I scoff as the questions filter through my mind.
Not even close.
Saylor’s it for me. I might not know how to show it to her, and I might not know how to voice it aloud to my sister, Nora, but it’s true. She’s the one I want. She’s the one I’ve always wanted. Even time and distance couldn’t change that. I just don’t know how to convince her to give me another chance. Scraping at the scruff along my jaw, I type my response.
OD: Or maybe I could use your advice.
Slytherin4ever: About mystery girl?
OD: Yeah. Like I said, I keep saying the wrong things. How can I earn her trust after I wrecked it into a million pieces?
Slytherin4ever: Maybe you can’t.
OD: Gee. Thanks.
Slytherin4ever: It might not be your fault, though, Owen.
How the hell does she know my name?
Maybe she’s a bigger football fan than I’d initially pegged her for? And maybe I’m naive to think that I can fly under the radar by not mentioning my real name while still posting pictures of myself. It wouldn’t take a genius to do a quick Google search, especially when I’ve chosen my initials for my username.
Satisfied, I reply.
OD: Then, who’s fault is it?
Slytherin4ever: No one’s. It’s just…a repercussion from choices. She isn’t going to forget the pain you put her through. If she’s wise like you say she is, then she learned from it, and she’s determined to never let herself feel that pain again.
Well, shit.
OD: You say that like you’ve experienced it.
Slytherin4ever: Maybe I have.
OD: And?
Slytherin4ever: And it isn’t something you come back from.
Knocking the back of my head against the headboard while feeling just as lost as before I started this conversation, I sigh.
OD: So…because I broke her, she’s destined to stay that way? Even though I’d give anything to fix it?
Slytherin4ever: Anything is a strong word, Owen.
OD: Well, I mean it.
She doesn’t respond, and her silence grates on me.
OD: You doing okay today?
Slytherin4ever: Fine. Why?
OD: You sound grouchy. And…distant, if that makes sense.
Slytherin4ever: Sorry. Had a bad day at work.