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.


on Jan. 11 2012 at 3:34 pm
lexophile12 SILVER, San Luis Obispo, California
6 articles 5 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
"We dissect nature along lines laid down by our native language." - Benjamin Whorf

I enjoyed the end of this story much more than the beginning. The first couple paragraphs were very awkward (you don't need to introduce your character that way) and the conversations were unrealistic, but I loved the ambiguity at the end and the subtle irony of the situation. Although the "romance" of this story is never satisfied, it has a certain humor that illuminates the characters' traits and makes this worth reading.

on Jan. 11 2012 at 1:36 pm
bennyB PLATINUM, Memphis, Tennessee
26 articles 0 photos 63 comments
I think it started out as a good story and it was very hart warming, but I felt that Andrew was such a bland character and the resolution to the story was rather bland and i think there should be more action and detail, but it has great principles

on Jan. 11 2012 at 10:20 am
truthlovehurts, North Vernon, Indiana
0 articles 0 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
Falling in love is like jumping off a really tall building, your brain tells you its not a good idea, but your heart tells you, you can fly.

This is really cute and sweet. I loved it

on Jan. 11 2012 at 9:43 am
poet.lover PLATINUM, Pineville, Pennsylvania
20 articles 0 photos 29 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Never part without loving words to think of during your absence. It may be that you will not meet again in this life."

wow! if i met someone like that, i would not hesitate to call him upeven if it is years later. this story is amazing. i wish i could write like that. that was so heartwarming yet sad at the same time. amazing piece, don't stop writing :)

pkattubadi said...
on Jan. 11 2012 at 7:12 am
pkattubadi, Columbus, New Jersey
0 articles 0 photos 5 comments
This article was too cute and I think that these two were really meant to be and im glad that they realized that.

on Dec. 30 2011 at 9:56 am
UnwantedNinja GOLD, Pretoria, Other
17 articles 0 photos 70 comments

Favorite Quote:
All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
Walt Disney

AMAZING !!! Loved every word of it !!!!

on Dec. 30 2011 at 1:07 am
Odile,OhOdile SILVER, Mumbai, Other
7 articles 5 photos 28 comments

Favorite Quote:
forgiveness is the scent the rose leaves on the heel that crushes it

this. is. just. so. awesome!!!!! I love it... i would never have thought of something like this. it's candid, fresh, and so.... realistic!!!!! great work.... i was smiling through out!!!!!! very nice

on Dec. 23 2011 at 10:53 pm
alwaysemilymarie, Beaverton, Oregon
0 articles 0 photos 5 comments
I love how this was realistic in the way that it could really happen to someone, but unique at the same time :) good job!

on Dec. 20 2011 at 11:21 pm
awensman95 SILVER, Alexandria, Minnesota
7 articles 0 photos 21 comments

Favorite Quote:
"All dreams come true if we have the courage to pursue them." - Walt Disney

Aww... This is so cute! Keep writing :)

 


on Dec. 20 2011 at 9:40 pm
ShelbyMarie SILVER, Norwalk, Iowa
8 articles 0 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Let us read and let us dance - two amusements that will never do any harm to the world." Voltaire

<3 it. Absolutely amazing. Make's me want to smile, sing, cry, laugh and throw things all at the same time.

Laurat981 said...
on Dec. 20 2011 at 8:50 pm
Laurat981, Staten Island, New York
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments
amazing.great work.

on Dec. 20 2011 at 8:46 pm
otherpoet SILVER, Wayland, Massachusetts
6 articles 9 photos 254 comments

Favorite Quote:
"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." - Audrey Hepburn

This made me sad, happy and want to laugh and cry at the same time! How did you manage to put so much emotion into one, fairly compact peice? I love it!

shariccie said...
on Dec. 20 2011 at 3:28 pm
I love this story! great job!

raagini BRONZE said...
on Dec. 20 2011 at 12:39 pm
raagini BRONZE, Troy, Michigan
4 articles 0 photos 2 comments
beautiful.

on Dec. 20 2011 at 8:17 am
whaaaaat BRONZE, Gone, Other
1 article 0 photos 4 comments
Although the ending made my heart hurt, I loved it. This was beautiful.

on Dec. 20 2011 at 1:07 am
Wildflower30 SILVER, Kolkata, Other
8 articles 0 photos 88 comments

Favorite Quote:
Create your own sayings, for only then do they make sense most. ---- Me

Awww! It's so beautiful!! 

on Dec. 18 2011 at 11:27 am
muna.najihah PLATINUM, Malacca, Other
25 articles 14 photos 26 comments

Favorite Quote:
if life was given two choices, to become a writer or a character, I will choose to become a writer.
I have the power to decide what my life should be.

the piece of work is certainly different from the usual. so, I LOVE IT!

on Dec. 17 2011 at 9:57 am
theycallherkaush BRONZE, Edison, New Jersey
3 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It's not brave if you're not scared."

I liked the fact that the ending was different - her just picturing the conversation instead of actually having it with him. 

purpleink GOLD said...
on Dec. 15 2011 at 4:51 pm
purpleink GOLD, Pendleton, Oregon
17 articles 0 photos 32 comments

Favorite Quote:
The early bird gets the worm but the second rat gets the cheese.

There is more to life besides increasing its speed.

enjoyed reading this-thank u for writing it!

B..... GOLD said...
on Dec. 14 2011 at 11:00 am
B..... GOLD, Dallas Center, Iowa
10 articles 2 photos 8 comments

Favorite Quote:
sooooo bored

I loved it but why didn't she just call him