Follow You Follow Me

Chapter XI: Mary Jane's Last Dance

"Well, I am Ryan Eastwood and I can literally find out anything I want to."

"So, why are you here?" She repeated.

"I wanted to see you, Haven," I confessed softly, deciding not to beat around the bush or anything.

"Why? We were barely friends," She said, turning away towards the fridge.

After getting a water, she turned back and said, "The small time that we were friends was because of my relationship with your brother. Other than that, I can barely even remember a time when we socialized."

"I wish we were friends earlier," I said.

"Well, we weren't. We have always been complete opposites."

"But I always envied you," I admitted with no shame since it was the absolute truth.

She froze and looked at me with a deer-in-headlights look. She opened and closed her mouth a few times before finally saying, "You had popularity, girls trying to be your friend, and guys following you everywhere while lusting after you. How could you be envious of me?"

"Because you were this badass who had no problem calling people out and telling them what you thought."

"It's not that hard. I just didn't think about the consequences."

"Plus, you have to remember that guys would never make a move with me. They were all so damn scared of my two brothers and of James. The guy who gave me my first kiss got his nose broken my Brendon. The guy that I made out with for the first time got nearly beaten to a pulp by those three. Contrary to popular belief, I've never had sex because every damn guy was scared of what would happen to them if they did."

She stayed silent and I sighed before saying, "Look, Haven. I just wanted to see how you are since we haven't talked in the last seven years."

"I'm fine," She sighed out.

"You don't have to lie to me. I was the last one to see you at graduation and I saw the pain in your eyes. I doubt it has changed since then. Plus, I saw those pictures of you and Cason in that bar. A blind man could see the love that still exists between you two."

"Ryan...," She trailed off.

"Haven," I deadpanned.

"Ryan, it really doesn't matter."

"Everything matters, Haven. None of us even really know what happened between you two."

"It was stupid."

"Nothing is ever stupid."

"I was stupid, okay?"

"Please tell me Haven."

"I overreacted about something."

"Why can't you just tell me?" I sighed angrily.

Her eyes lit up with the familiar fire that I remember, and she snapped, "It involved my mother and sister. I should have listened to Cason and let him explain. Instead, I was an idiot and I pushed him away. He was the best thing that has ever happened to me and I was the biggest idiot in the world. I hated guys with a passion before him and he singlehandedly managed to change my perspective."

"Haven..." I trailed off.

"That wasn't all," She said sadly with tears brimming in her eyes.

"What else?"

"I was going to try and talk to him. I was going to apologize."

I sucked in a breath of surprise and my eyes widened as I asked, "Why didn't you?"