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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JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 542 comments.


eMiLyP GOLD said...
on Feb. 1 2010 at 4:34 pm
eMiLyP GOLD, Jeannette, Pennsylvania
13 articles 6 photos 127 comments

Favorite Quote:
Life is short; speak your mind, say what ya wanna say, and do what ya wanna do (as long as you don't get caught!).

This is so cute. Good job!

on Feb. 1 2010 at 3:05 pm
I loved this story I just can't help wondering what happened to them after this.........

on Feb. 1 2010 at 2:55 pm
iloveryoualot BRONZE, Fonda, New York
4 articles 4 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
Life is like a box of chocolates.~ Forest Gump

This was very well written. I loved it soooo much

writerL said...
on Jan. 29 2010 at 3:56 pm
writerL, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
0 articles 0 photos 8 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Behold the turtle...he makes great progress only when he sticks his neck out."

very well written....i thoroughly enjoyed how realistic this story was. it was sad but it was also great how you can see that not everything has a happy ending...if it was a novel I would def. get it and i have a feeling it would become one of my favorites VERY quickly...do u have more?? if not you should def. write more :-)

on Jan. 29 2010 at 3:54 pm
AmazingGrace88 GOLD, Lake Oswego, Oregon
13 articles 0 photos 25 comments

Favorite Quote:
No boys are worth your tears,
and the ones who are wont make you cry.

omg i love it!!!!! so sweet so real it was great keep it up!!!!!

on Jan. 28 2010 at 5:18 pm
SilverLuna SILVER, _________, Washington
8 articles 0 photos 229 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Come fairies take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame.".... W.B. Yeats.
"Flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss." - Douglas Adams

Wow, this was...i don't know. I think this is a thought that scares most high schoolers when they're in that first relationship. What will happen after we leave this place of commonality? I think this was a great piece. It was wonderfully and originally written. Keep writing!

on Jan. 28 2010 at 4:22 pm
FlamingTaco1479 SILVER, Spring Mills, Pennsylvania
8 articles 8 photos 19 comments

Favorite Quote:
"When life gives you lemons, hold onto them. They're free lemons!"

This was so grounded in reality it was painful. I've read many stories with endings I hated or didn't agree with, and as I read through these comments, this is one of those stories for many people. But I thought it ended as it should have. It reminds me of my first love.

You are phenominal. Never stop writing.

on Jan. 26 2010 at 4:49 pm
lily1411 BRONZE, Fargo, North Dakota
2 articles 0 photos 69 comments

Favorite Quote:
Absence sharpens love, presence strengthens it.

--Benjamin Franklin

I loved the truth behind it:) was it a true story...?

on Jan. 26 2010 at 11:05 am
jordan<3 BRONZE, Trout Run, Pennsylvania
2 articles 0 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
"And the mockingbird told me, I change with the seasons and so she was leaving town in a few days now." - chase coy<3

ugh, I disliked the ending. What a jerk. :/

but, this was a really good story. (:

Great Job and Keep Writing!

-jordan<3

Flouter GOLD said...
on Jan. 25 2010 at 6:09 pm
Flouter GOLD, Chicago, Illinois
16 articles 0 photos 34 comments
Wow, that's so sad! It reminds me of my sister's old bf

on Jan. 25 2010 at 5:09 pm
Alpha-Lyrae GOLD, Toronto, ON, Other
13 articles 3 photos 37 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I've loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night." -Galileo Galilei
"In the Beginning, the universe was created. This made a lot of people angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move." -Douglas Adams

Wow, that's so....wow. Somewhat upsetting. Really well written. Good job.

on Jan. 9 2010 at 2:13 pm
kiwi12 PLATINUM, Austin, Texas
28 articles 10 photos 365 comments
yes. I guess it depends on the story, or whatever kind of writing it is.

on Jan. 9 2010 at 1:05 pm
Dancing_Shadows SILVER, Franklin, New Hampshire
5 articles 0 photos 17 comments
I agree that you need dialouge to connect, but you also need to balance it out. If you have too much dialouge sometimes it could just be really boring, but if you don't have any dialouge then I agree it is hard to comprehend and recieve feeling from the writing piece.

But, it's always better to have the happy middle.

on Jan. 8 2010 at 5:57 pm
kiwi12 PLATINUM, Austin, Texas
28 articles 10 photos 365 comments
I disagree. without dialouge in a story, it's hard to connect with it. you know?

on Jan. 8 2010 at 5:55 pm
kiwi12 PLATINUM, Austin, Texas
28 articles 10 photos 365 comments
this makes me sad!!!! aw, poor emily! Very touching story. oh andrew, why did he have to change!

on Dec. 9 2009 at 10:54 am
Mylifeforpoetry BRONZE, Burlingame, California
1 article 0 photos 16 comments

Favorite Quote:
" Learning how to fly is jumping and missing the ground"

That was really moving. You should of called him! The piece is very well written. It's one of my favorites on teenink

on Nov. 10 2009 at 10:39 pm
-JustDance- PLATINUM, Medford, Oregon
23 articles 0 photos 28 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The manner in which we live and that in which we ought to live are things so wide asunder that he who quits the one to betake himself in the other is more likely to destroy than to save himself." ~Niccolo Machiavelli

So let us find the balance.

that was beautiful... I wanted to cry, but I was in the middle of a conversation so it was a little difficult... ;)

on Nov. 10 2009 at 8:57 pm
koolkat101love SILVER, Palm Bay, Florida
7 articles 0 photos 15 comments

Favorite Quote:
"My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations."

OMG, that was really moving. I agree with dancing_shadows. At the end, I wanted to cry.

on Nov. 10 2009 at 7:20 pm
Dancing_Shadows SILVER, Franklin, New Hampshire
5 articles 0 photos 17 comments
This was moving. Normally, having a lot of dialouge would mess up a writing, but this was perfect =]

on Sep. 8 2009 at 4:24 pm
wordweaver96 PLATINUM, Winchester, Kentucky
37 articles 2 photos 254 comments

Favorite Quote:
" It is not our abilities but our choices that show who we truly are. "
Albus Dumbledore


See, we really DON'T have anything to fear but fear itself!

i luv this. it's such a good story. i've read it twice & just love it!