So Sunday morning Bethany and I decided to go to the campus mall to get away from the boys for a bit. It was the first time I’d left the dorms without Morgan since I’d first met him, but then again for most of the week we were the only two around so... that has to count for something. We were walking there since the only person of our little group that had a car was Morgan.
Beth kept looking at me funny with this weird grin. “What?” I asked her... “you’ve been quiet since we left, and you’re never quiet unless you’re thinking something.”
“So you and Morgan, huh?” she asked me.
“What about us?” I rolled my eyes... it was going to get to this sooner or later, might as well have it out now and be done with it.
“When did that happen? HOW did that happen I should say,” she clarified.
“It was kinda weird; he saw me on the court one day and then he saw............. something that I don’t really want to get into detail about; and then I told you about that whole tease thing... after all that he still wanted to be around me, so I figured I could hang out with him. We played ball together and... well you’ve seen how he plays, he’s almost as good as... well you know,” I answered simply.
“Cain... he’s almost as good as Cain. That’s not what this is really about is it?” Bethany asked me, she had a slight edge to her voice.
“What do you mean?” I asked her.
“You only spoke about two days together, and one of the first things that comes to your mind is that he’s good at playing basketball... you and him... this isn’t about Cain is it?” Bethany asked bluntly.
Just hearing his name tore open some old wounds. “Bethany... that was a year ago, I’ve moved on,” I answered... I really didn’t want to talk about my ex-boyfriend right now, not when I had this super great almost-boyfriend.
“Have you? Then why is your game face the same. It takes Morgan an entire half an hour to FINALLY coax a smile out of you and by then he’s running on fumes... you used to love playing the game, but then when you and Cain split you got this determined look. I understand, the boy used you to get better at the game; I just want to be sure you’ve moved on,” Bethany pressed me.
“I have,” I bit back.
“Have you told Morgan about Cain?” she asked me... now we were in dark territory.
“No... it’s none of his business,” I answered quickly.
“None of his business? Don’t you think he might want to know that you have a history with Cain... I mean... they’re bound to meet each other eventually; wouldn’t you rather tell Morgan yourself then give that jerk the pleasure?” Bethany asked.
“What am I supposed to tell him? That I fucked with him and he threw me away when he was done with me? That every time I step on the court I think about how much it hurt? That every time Morgan’s on the court with me all I can see is Cain? How do you think that’s going to go over?” I snapped at her.
“So this is about Cain?” Bethany said coldly after she took a moment to be surprised.
“No,” I answered.
“Ashe... you have to understand that just because a guy can play basketball, doesn’t mean he’s gunna be ANYTHING like Cain Gable. Morgan LOVES you... I can see it in his smile whenever he sees you, it’s in the way he watches you when he doesn’t think anybody’s looking,” Bethany tried to comfort me.
“If he loves me so much then how come he was ready to go all the way with you?” I shouted at her.
“He had a physical reaction to a physical situation; he would have acted that way if any girl had pushed him into that spot. I didn’t mean to push things as far as I did, but Morgan is a great guy... I don’t want to see him get hurt. Especially not the way that Cain hurt you, because that’s exactly what you’re doing... you’re doing to Morgan what Cain did to you,” Bethany tried to placate me. I was crying at this point, because I didn’t want to believe what she was telling me, but I also knew she was right.
“He told me he loves me the other day,” I told her through the tears.
“What did you say?” Bethany asked.
“I told him I know... here he is, this awesome guy, he tells me he loves me and all I can say is ‘I know’... what the hell is wrong with me?” I asked Bethany.
“Nothing sweetie... you’ve just had a bad experience and it’s going to take some time to move on, but sweetheart... I’ve never seen you so happy as you were Friday night... not even after your first kiss with Cain, you’re getting there, and I think Morgan can help you get over this,” Bethany told me as she pulled me into a hug.
“You’re right... of course you’re right... I have to tell him. He deserves to know what he’s working with,” I admitted to her.
“You do have to tell him, but you don’t have to tell him right now, and as long as you don’t let him find out on his own... I don’t think he’ll care,” Bethany whispered into my ear. “Now... let’s go shopping and forget about boys for a while,” she told with a smile. It took me a few minutes to stop crying, but when I did I couldn’t help but smile... I really was starting to move on.
