I slowed, apprehensive, and walked over to him. “What’s wrong?” I asked, disturbed by the sudden gnawing in my gut.

“Sam, we need to talk.” The gloom in his voice agitated my nerves. I glanced down, trying to brace myself for whatever he had to say.
“Okay—talk.” I did not want to hear this. I knew it couldn’t be good.

“I’ve been thinking about us a lot lately.”
I glimpsed up to catch his eye.

He stared over my head, refusing to look at me. “I think we should date other people. You need to go out with guys your own age. It will be better for you in the long run.”

“Is Paw-pa making you do this? Don’t… You love me.…” My heart ripped in agony.

“That was hormones. You are extremely hot. I mean look at you.” He looked me up and down. “You’re beautiful. But I just don’t think this is going to work out.”

“Do I get any say in this?” My lips trembled. I bit them, trying to control the pain.

“No. The decision’s been made. I have to do this for you.” He unfastened the watch I’d given him.

“Don’t.” The floodgates opened. “Andrew, please don’t do this. You love me…. You promised. We can be good if that’s what this is about. Is this because of Uktena? We don’t even know if it’s me. Please. You said no matter what—you love me.” I sank to the ground. “Please.” Tears streamed down my face as I touched the hem of his jeans.

“Sam, I have to. I still have feelings for you, but I think they’re more hormones than anything. I just wanted you physically. You have a gravitational pull over me that will ruin us both.”

The Break Up

Setting: A neighborhood coffee shop close to where both characters live. The tables are nearly empty as it is the middle of the morning during the week. They are sitting in a corner in wing-backed upholstered chairs with a small table between them. The chairs are slightly angled so they can easily face each other without turning their bodies. Steve is in jeans and a black t-shirt. He is wearing a green baseball cap backwards that covers his short light brown hair. He is average in height and weight. Kate is also in jeans and her favorite rock band pink t-shirt. Her long blonde hair is tied back in a scrunchie. She is curvy and slightly overweight approximately 5’5” in height. Kate takes a sip of her coffee and looks at Steve expectantly.

Steve: I’m trying to get a handle on how to define us right now, Kate.

Kate: You broke up with me and we’ve agreed to be friends, right?

Steve: Right and are you really okay with the friends part?

Kate: When we took our relationship beyond friends, we said we were friends first and the benefits were secondary.

Steve: Don’t you think it is going to be hard to go back to being just friends?

Kate: We were friends before and we can be now. We just won’t be sleeping together.

Steve: Right.

Kate: Is that why you wanted to meet me for coffee this morning?

(Steve nods as he takes a sip of his coffee. He looks around to see if others are eavesdropping.)

Steve: I started thinking about it last night and thought this could get uncomfortable.

Kate: What could get uncomfortable…..Why?

Steve: Well, if we started seeing other people.

Kate: You don’t need my permission to date, Steve.

Steve: But last night I was going through so many what ifs and I felt like….. um….when we ended this….whatever we want to call it….Well, that we did not really define what we are now.

Kate: We are friends and nothing more.

Steve: What if you and I are on a double-date and I see that you are really into this guy?

Kate: How about we worry about that when we get there.

Steve: I can see us getting a bit drunk and something from our past slipping out.

Kate: I get it. But, right now, I don’t know. I just don’t know.

(Kate looks away and then at the coffee in her cup.)

The lights dim on the scene.

* * *

Blake hung up the phone with a sinking feeling in his stomach.

What could Alexis want? Last night she blew me off, and now she wants to talk?

He paced around his bedroom, staring at the masses of band posters plastered on every wall. When it seemed as if he couldn’t wait any longer, Blake heard a knock on the door. It slowly opened, and Alexis stood there, cautiously peeking her head in the room.

“Hey, you. Your mom let me in. Is that alright?” She had a slight smile on her face.

“Yeah, yeah. Sure. Whatever. Come sit down and shut the door.” Blake was both angry and elated at the sight of Alexis. His girlfriend was so beautiful. Practically perfect. Every time he even thought of her, he couldn’t believe how lucky he was. So why am I always picking fights with her? What’s wrong with me?

Alexis wandered over to Blake’s bed, then seemed to think better of it, and chose the director’s chair by the stereo instead. She plopped down in the seat and sighed deeply. After looking at her feet for a minute, she lifted her head and met Blake’s eyes. He had stopped pacing and stood waiting for her to move, to speak–anything.

The look on Alexis’ face was unbearable. Her eyes broke Blake’s heart the instant they left her worn-out sandals.

Please. No. Don’t leave me. I love you more than you know! he thought.

“Please. Don’t do this, babe. We can make this work,” is what he said.

Alexis kept her mouth shut, looking intently at her beau, while he futilely hoped she would forever stay silent. He knew he could change. She just needed to give him the chance….