Thirty-Two.

“What are you doing home?” Rose asked me when I walked into the apartment.

“We broke up.”

“Nuh huh.”

“yeah, its over.” I said plopping down on the couch.

“what happened?! Are you okay?!”

“He wanted me to meet his parents. I just wasn’t ready for it.” I said.

“Are you okay?”

“I guess. I mean I don’t know. I didn’t love him right now but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t ever. I just.. we are just in two different places.” I said.

“So now what?”

“I don’t know. I guess we are starting off the year as single girls.” I said.

“are you going to tell Sidney?”

“No. Why? If I tell him its like saying I want him back.”

“But you do.”

“No, he still slept with someone else. Nothing will change that.”

“But you still like him.”

“Yeah, but time will change that.”

“You can do whatever you want, but I think you should tell him.”

“I’m not telling him, Rose. He doesn’t need to know.”

“Whatever you say. You know he comes home in like two weeks.”

“really?”

“Yeah, Liam was just on the phone with Max.”

“Great.”

“I know you want him back.”

“I don’t.”

“I can tell. I’m your best friend.”

“Sidney and I didn’t work the last time.”

“Because he left.”

“Yeah he left and you weren’t giving him a chance. You are always saying fate fate fate. Well, Grace, maybe its fate that you and James broke up. Maybe it was fate that you met Sidney the way you did.”

“I just don’t know if I’m ready for a relationship with him.”

“Well no one is saying you have to marry him. Just talk to him.”

“We do talk.”

“Barely.”

“Can’t we focus on your love life instead?”

“I have no love life.”

“That’s why we should be focusing on it.”

“I don’t have guys lining up at my door.”

“I don’t either. Plus, you could. You have just had a boyfriend for like ever.”

“ I don’t know. And I agree about Maggie.”

“Annoying, right?”

“So annoying! And she looks at me like I want to jump in his bed.”

“Yeah, she looks at me like that too.”

“Well maybe that’s understandable, but not me.”

“I don’t want in Liam’s pants.” I said and she just gave me a look.

“you think I want Liam?”

“I don’t think you want Liam necessarily, I just think you will always want him. Its not like you want him now more than any other time, its just.. its Liam.” She said.

“I know its Liam. I also know that I don’t want in his bed.”

“Right now.”

“No, like ever.”

“That’s such a lie. You and Liam are forever linked. You two will never just be friends. I’m surprised Sidney and James could put up with it.”

“Liam is my best friend.”

“I know that. I also know that you use to be madly in love with him. I know the sound of your voice right after you kissed Liam for the first time. I remember the conversation after Liam said I love you for the first time. You loved him in a way that just doesn’t go away.”

“But it did.”

“I don’t know.” She said and then Liam walked in. Thus, the conversation was changed.

“Hey, I’m going out.” Rose said.

“What? With who?”

“Some people from school.” She said.

“Okay, have fun.”

“I didn’t think you would be home, so I made plans.”

“Oh its cool.” I said and she left.

“Why are you home?” Liam asked walking into my room.

“James and I broke up.”

“Oh wow.”

“Don’t sound so surprised.”

“I knew it was coming.”

“Yeah, whatever. Where is Maggie?”

“I was going to meet her, but I will stay with you.”

“you don’t have too.”

“I know, but I want too.” He said sitting on the bed with me.

“What are you doing anyways?” He asked.

“I was just looking at old photo albums.” I said.

“Oh my gosh! Look how stupid we look!” Liam said pointing to a picture.

“I know, its embarrassing that I looked like that in front of you.” I said looking at a different picture.

“I thought you were beautiful. It didn’t matter what you looked like, I was completely in love with you.” He said.

“Do you think we will ever find a love that is as pure as what we had?” I asked.

“I don’t know. In some ways I think we will because that’s how love should be, but then sometimes I think that maybe that was our one time.” He said.

“It was just so easy. It felt so good.” I said.

“I know. Remember this?” He asked pointing to a picture where he was holding his guitar.

“Yeah, that was the first time you played a song for me.” I said. Then he left the room.

“Where are you going?” I called to him. He came back holding his guitar.

“I think its about time for me to play it again.” He said looking at me.