Defying Love | Teen Ink

Defying Love MAG

May 24, 2009
By awesomeaugust GOLD, Boston, Massachusetts
awesomeaugust GOLD, Boston, Massachusetts
10 articles 0 photos 176 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground"
~Theordore Roosevelt


I didn't want to like him. He was just so charming.

This might sound like every other love story, and it may be, but it may not. If you don't read on, you'll never know.

My name is Emily Brown, which I've always been quite happy with. I think it makes me sound pleasant but ordinary, and I prefer to blend in. Now, I suppose it's only polite to tell you a bit about myself before I jump into my story. I am five feet, two inches, have brown hair that comes to my shoulders, and I am not talented in any special way. These are the basic facts of me, and I think these are all I ought to tell you.

His name was Andrew Rivers and he was perfectly wonderful in every way. When he first came to my school in twelfth grade, he was a bit eccentric and didn't fit in right away. He was into music and played the drums and the guitar, although he wasn't good at either. What he was good at was singing, and when he did, you wanted to cry and laugh and sing along with him all at once.

My name is Emily Brown and his was Andrew Rivers and I loved him.

About two months into my last year of high school, Andrew asked me out. I was surprised since I had hardly ever talked to him, but I didn't have a boyfriend, and I didn't know how to say no.

It may help you to know that at my school there were couples that were simply together for the name, and some that were together only to have a date for dances and for kissing and other such things. When Andrew asked me out I had no idea what his intentions were, and I didn't like having no idea. I'm by no means a confrontational person, but I was starting to feel offended that after I had said that I would date him, he hadn't said another word to me. So I went up to him and we had a little talk.

Me: “Hey, Andrew.”

Andrew: “Hey.”

Me: “So …”

Andrew: (annoyingly, nothing)

Me: “You asked me out.”

Andrew: (nothing again)

Me: “Why?”

Andrew: “Why'd I ask you out?”

Me: “Right.”

Andrew: “I felt like it.”

Me: (irritated) “You felt like it?”

Andrew: “That's what I said, isn't it?”

Me: (infuriated) “I'm sorry. Actually I'm not. I didn't realize you were such a jerk, and I don't want to go out with you anymore.” (I'd never dumped someone before, okay?)

Andrew: “Are you dumping me?”

Me: “What do you think?”

Andrew: “Why?”

Me: “I feel like it.”

Andrew: (smiling) “Do you like Chinese food?”

Me: “I hate it.”

Andrew: “You've never had it.”

Me: “How do you know?”

Andrew: (laughing) “I'm good at reading people.”

Me: “Well, obviously you suck, because I've had Chinese food a million times and I hated it every time.”

Andrew: “Would you like to go out with me tonight?”

Me: “You're asking me on a date?”

Andrew: “Yes.”

Me: “Read my answer.”

Andrew: “Wonderful! I'll see you tonight. Be ready by six. Ish. Sixish.”

I hated this strange boy who I'd only really talked to twice. He made me infuriated. The only problem was, I couldn't figure out if I liked that or not.

That night at sixish sharp, Andrew showed up at my doorstep. My parents have never been into meeting my boyfriends, but as I was stepping out, he stepped in. He walked right into the living room where my parents sat watching the baseball game.

When he came back out I asked, “What'd you say?”

“I told them I'd have you back by eight.”

“Ish?”

He laughed. “Nope. Just eight.”

We didn't talk much on the car ride. He had a CD playing that sounded kind of like Bob Marley, but I'd never heard the song before. It wasn't until we got there that I realized I didn't know where we were going. A small sign stood in front of the building but the name was too peeled away for me to be able to read it. What I could read was the sign beneath where the name should be, and it said, “The best Chinese cuisine for miles.”

“Chinese, huh?”

He smirked.

We walked inside and it was only then that I realized exactly how small the building was. There were little tables in the center of the room, about five of them, and a couch against one wall for sitting while you waited. As if. There was no waiting; we were the only customers. A sign read “PLEASE SEAT YOURSELF,” but I guess because of the lack of business, a waiter came over to seat us. He tried to show us to a table, but Andrew said, “Oh, no, thank you. We'll be sitting down here.”

He strolled over to the couch and at first I thought he wanted us to sit there, but then he grabbed two pillows and placed them on the ground a little way away from the tables.

I looked at him, baffled.

“Authenticity,” he said, smiling. He was always smiling.

I, personally, couldn't see how sitting on the floor was authentic.

***

There were many other dates, all very unusual. I was used to dances and movies, but with Andrew I got sunsets and local concerts. Once he took me to a bingo night that his aunt was hosting. Oddly enough, that was the night we first kissed.

I remember so clearly the day of graduation, the day I realized that Andrew and I wouldn't always be together. After we threw our hats and got our diplomas, he found me.

“End of high school, huh?” he said.

“Yeah.”

“What do you want to do, Emily?”

“With my life?”

“Sure.”

“Be with you.”

He didn't smile like I wanted him to.

“Don't you want to go to college?”

I sighed. “Want to, or have to?”

Now he smiled. “You choose.”

“I should. Go to college, I mean. I found one that'll accept me.”

There was a long pause before I said, “Andrew, what about you?”

“What about me?”

“What are you gonna do?”

“I dunno. Do what I do best, I guess. Play my music.”

“Oh. Yeah. That's cool. See you later?”

“When would I see you?”

“I see what you mean.”

“Bye, Emily.”

“Bye.”

Thinking back, I wish I had said something better than bye. I wish I had told him that I loved him more than words could describe and that when he sang to me I felt like I was all that mattered in the world. I wanted to tell him that if he had just asked, I wouldn't have gone to college. I would have played his music with him.

I'm sitting at my computer right now, looking at a name on the screen on a website called “peoplefinder.” I want to call him and hear his voice, but I'm afraid. I'm afraid that he won't be my same Andrew.

I get a glass of cold water and sit on my couch. I picture myself having one last conversation with him.

Me: “Hey, Andrew.” (I say it so casually, just like old times.)

Andrew: “Hey, Emily.”

Me: “Why are you wearing a tie?”

Andrew: “Why shouldn't I be?”

Me: “I don't know.”

Andrew: “I have a job.”

Me: “Good.”

Andrew: “I'm a lawyer, Emily.”

Me: “That's great.”

Andrew: “You don't sound like that's great.”

Me: “Don't I?”

Andrew: “I live in an apartment in the city. I talk on the phone with other businesspeople.”

Me: “I'm proud of you.”

Andrew: “I have a diploma hanging up on the wall of my office. My office.”

Me: “Do you play music anymore, Andrew?”

Andrew: “Music.”

He looks at me as if he doesn't remember the word.

Andrew: “No, I don't play my music anymore.”

Me: “Oh.”

Me: “I loved you, Andrew.”

Andrew: “Loved? Past tense?”

Me: “I think so.”

Andrew: “I love you.”

Me: “Why'd you ask me out?”

Andrew: “I thought you were beautiful and smart, and I loved how shiny your dark brown hair was. I liked how you weren't too loud, and you didn't wear low-cut shirts like most other girls.”

Me: “I wish you'd said, ‘Because I felt like it.'”

Andrew: “Sorry.”

Me: “Me too.”

Andrew: “I have to be going.”

Me: “Yeah.”

Me: “Wait!”

Andrew: “Yes?”

Me: “I'd never had Chinese food before.”



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This article has 542 comments.


paige.xo said...
on Dec. 11 2010 at 4:36 am
paige.xo, Auckland, Other
0 articles 0 photos 15 comments

Favorite Quote:
“First things first, I’m surrealist.” — Salvador Dali

Aw! I loved that! It is so... ,I don't really know the right words to describe it, but. . . You are an  amazing writer!!

on Dec. 2 2010 at 5:52 pm
kelliejo19 GOLD, Cannon Falls, Minnesota
19 articles 7 photos 48 comments

awwwwww! this is great!!!! loved it!

 


on Nov. 19 2010 at 10:32 pm
CallMeSunshine GOLD, Lehi, Utah
15 articles 0 photos 36 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Creativity takes courage."

wah! it made me cry! whats with that?! :P i'm such a sucker for love stories.... :) but i'm also a sucker for happy endings.... but even though this wasn't my usual love story, it was wonderful :) it seemed realistic... and very... in touch ? is that the word? :) i dont know. i don't really know why i'm writing this either, i guess just to say i loved it..... :)

on Nov. 19 2010 at 9:25 pm
springdance BRONZE, Hebron, New Hampshire
2 articles 0 photos 23 comments

Favorite Quote:
Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish.
Albert Einstein

I LOVED it! It was great. He didn't sweep her off her feet like a princess. She just kind of fell in love. The story seemed natural. Please write more!

on Nov. 19 2010 at 7:56 pm
EmilyNicole BRONZE, Pensacola, Florida
2 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
The biggest misktake you can make is being too afraid to make one.

I totally love this! I love how it was so simplistic, it was just like 'Well. there you go. This is what happened, like it or not.' But I LOVED it! Youre an amazing author!

on Nov. 19 2010 at 5:49 pm
XxMPbabeMpxX SILVER, Fulton, Missouri
7 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"Twenty years from now you'll be more dissapointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

in dont normally read the stories on here. i read the poetry...that's about it. but i clicked on it to see what it was and it was too enticing to stop. thank you for writing it.

on Nov. 19 2010 at 11:41 am
nburenheide BRONZE, Olpe, Kansas
3 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
~There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.~Every man is afraid of something. That's how you know he's in love with you; when he is afraid of losing you

You are an amazing writer and i this piece held my interest. It was so intreaging.

on Nov. 12 2010 at 7:19 pm
Overachiever BRONZE, Falls Church, Virginia
1 article 0 photos 8 comments
I really liked it! It was soo deep and completely absorbed me!

on Nov. 8 2010 at 3:20 pm
secrets_of_silence GOLD, Gisborne, Other
12 articles 0 photos 439 comments

Favorite Quote:
life had i loved the more
had it but passed away
as quietly as the day
ebbs from the darkening star.


-emanuel litvinoff

its amazing and sad and happy and

i honestly dont  have the words i guess iits really emotive


on Nov. 8 2010 at 10:00 am
COURTNEEEEY. BRONZE, Limerick, Maine
3 articles 0 photos 12 comments

Favorite Quote:
"There ain't no troubles that we can't rise above, with a handful of faith and a heartful of love."- Tim McGraw, Carry On.

that was like the best thing ive read! amazing.

 


on Nov. 8 2010 at 9:40 am
Mango777 BRONZE, Glenns Ferry, Idaho
3 articles 0 photos 16 comments

Favorite Quote:
\\\"Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It is not self seeking. . .. . It always protects. Always hopes. Always trusts, and always perseveres.\\\" 1 Corinthians 13

I absolutely loved it.  It was beautiful, but it made me sad too. You're a great writer, and I can definitely see your own voice in it.  Keep it up. :)

on Nov. 3 2010 at 11:07 pm
UniquelyCreativelyMe BRONZE, Westminster, Colorado
1 article 0 photos 5 comments
THAT WAS GREAT!!! THE ENDING WAS THE BEST I'VE EVER READ! Keep writting your great at it!

on Nov. 2 2010 at 6:36 pm
ideaspazz BRONZE, New York, New York
2 articles 0 photos 10 comments

Favorite Quote:
There may already be a billion-trillion stars in the sky, but one can always shine brighter than another...

--Grace B.

That was the best thing I have every read.  I'm not kidding.  Please tell me that you got this published.  That was the perfect ending and I got chills.  Wow.  I cannot even describe how flawless that was.  PLEASE WRITE MORE!  :)  Great job and good luck.

on Oct. 29 2010 at 11:26 am
Hello to awesomeaugust! I am looking for contributors on my site - please email me at creativexconduit *at* yahoo

on Oct. 29 2010 at 7:59 am
TessaOhhh BRONZE, Funchester,, Virginia
2 articles 3 photos 13 comments

Favorite Quote:
"We will all be the greatest, we will all be degraded." -John O'Callaghan

Flawless, absolutely flawless. I loved it.

on Oct. 28 2010 at 8:23 pm
Spilt_Ink BRONZE, Westfield, New Jersey
2 articles 9 photos 4 comments
This was amazing! I loved the ending... I read it twice out of amazed-ness. 

on Oct. 28 2010 at 8:22 pm
Chiconey BRONZE, Boise, Idaho
3 articles 0 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Life...is Chess, just because you begin the game as a pawn, doesn't mean you can't finish it as a king"~Ethan Allen Hawk

Aww is this true? If it is...i bet you will bump into him someday :) its fate and there is a song that says "this was meant for you" this entails that no matter what....you were meant to leave his side for a lil bit but i just knw u will see him again....why would fate not bring u two back together? I hope u see him again and remember no matter what you will be rewarded!!

on Oct. 28 2010 at 8:17 pm
Perfectly.Imperfect BRONZE, Mitchell, Other
2 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
- life without love is like trees without blossums of fruit.

wow this was amazing. Honest. I was dissapointed when i saw the end of the page. goodjob:)

Aginger GOLD said...
on Oct. 28 2010 at 6:54 pm
Aginger GOLD, Bingen, Washington
11 articles 0 photos 46 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Why are you so busy trying to fit in when you were born to stand out?"

I love this. It is very unique in the sense that it doesn't really follow the whole happily ever after pattern that most love stories turn too. Andrew is a very intriguing character. Nice job!

on Oct. 28 2010 at 6:38 pm
IamtheshyStargirl PLATINUM, Lothlorien, Utah
44 articles 16 photos 2206 comments

Favorite Quote:
Boredom instigates extreme creativity.
~Amoniel

"Bowing gratefully to all of my subjects, 'thank you. Thank you. The pleasure is mine." Nah, I'm just kidding. We're all kings together.'"
~Thesilentraven

This is so sweet, and, I too, loved the ending.

Write on, sister, write on.