Chapter Sixty-Three

“Hey, Nan, I’m going to catch a movie with Ben.” I told her before leaving to meet Ben.

“What movie?”

“I guess the Notebook is playing, he thought it would cheer me up.”

“Isn’t that romantic.” She said.

“No, Nan. Its not like that.”

“Okay, well have fun.” She said and then I left.

So we went to the grab a bite to eat and then went to the movie. It was a little awkward at first. Well maybe, it wasn’t and I was just thinking it was. I felt weird being out with a guy that Sidney didn’t know. It was okay though. I felt guilty and I don’t know why. I didn’t do anything wrong. I know I didn’t do anything wrong, because I didn’t even touch Ben the whole time. We talked about his ex-girlfriend and I talked about Sidney and school. It was fun and then obviously during the movie you don’t talk, so it was fine. Everything was fine until we got into the car and I looked at my phone (I had it on silence because I’m a good movie watcher and I don’t want to disturb other people) and I had like 6 missed calls from Sidney. As soon as Ben dropped me off, I called him back. It was only 11, so I didn’t think it would be a big deal.

“Hey.” I simply said.

“Have fun at the movie?” He said.

“What?”

“I called you like 6 times and I was worried so I called the house and your Nan told me that you went to see the Notebook with Ben. That’s funny that you let him take you to see that movie, since we have never watched that movie.”

“Its not like you would want to watch that movie.”

“Yeah, and you always said you hated that movie.”

“I do hate that movie.”

“Then why go?”

“Because he was trying to be nice. He thought it would make me feel better.”

“Feel better about what?”

“About everything.”

“I just don’t get why you let this kid take you to a movie that we have never even seen together.”

“Sidney, not a big deal.”

“It’s a big deal to me.”

“Well then fine, we can watch it together sometime.”

“That’s not funny.”

“I’m not trying to be funny. I’m just trying to make you see that this little argument is stupid.”

“Its not stupid because why wouldn’t you tell me that you were going out with Ben tonight?”

“I didn’t think it was a big deal. Do you tell me everything you are doing on your vacation?”

“No, but I’m not with girls.”

“Yeah and Ben is hardly even a boy. He is my friend.”

“Hardly a boy? What the hell does that even mean?”

“I don’t even know. I’m just saying its nothing.”

“So when are you going back to Sewickley?”

“Like June 29.” I said.

“So you aren’t even going to be there when I’m there?” He asked.

“No.”

“That’s stupid.”

“Why is that stupid?”

“Because why wouldn’t you want to see me.”

“Sidney, don’t you think I follow you enough?”

“Whats that suppose to mean?”

“I mean I follow you to Detroit, I follow you to Philly, I stay in Pittsburgh for school because you are near me. My whole life revolves around you, don’t you think at some point you should follow me somewhere? I mean I like how I am suppose to cut my vacation short, not like you could just come back to Pittsburgh. Its not even like you are going to be around. You will be playing golf and being with Mario.”

“What the hell? You follow me every where?”

“Its true, Sidney. I have done so much in my life because of you and its like you never do that.”

“Wow, I don’t even know what to say to that.”

“You know its true.”

“Yeah, probably because I didn’t choose to live here, its my job.”

“Yeah, and I am positive that if your job takes you somewhere other than Pittsburgh you would leave not thinking about how I live here.”

“This is ridiculous.”

“No its not. It’s a legit thing to say. I’m sorry that I don’t feel like cutting my vacation short just so I can go back to a town where you aren’t at.”

“But I will be there!”

“Yeah, for two days. Two days full of golf. Two days. Its not worth it.”

“I don’t get what you want me to do? Follow you where?”

“I just think its time for me to stop making decisions because of you. I love you but I have a life too. And I have dreams too.”

“And I have never told you not to have a life.”

“Yeah, just as long as that life fits into yours. You wouldn’t alter your life to fit mine.”

“I didn’t know I had too.”

“Yeah, and I didn’t know I was always the one to jump on a plane.” I simply said.

“I think that we should just not talk until you get back to Pittsburgh.”

“You want to go that long without talking? Without even texting?”

“Its only 4 days, and yeah I do. Because right now you are acting like I don’t give a shit about you, which is ludicrous.”

“What? And you think 4 days without talking to you is going to make me think you do give a shit?”

“I don’t know. It just seems like you need to clear your head. I didn’t know following me was such problem.” He said and then h e hung up.

No good bye, no I love you. 4 days without talking to him? He wouldn’t care. He was leaving to go back to the Cole Harbour tomorrow morning. Then he would be flying to Pittsburgh the next day. I would get back to Sewickley the day after he left. Oh well, maybe one day he will follow me somewhere. I’m tired of following him everywhere, and I think most people would agree that it takes two to make a relationship work.