CHAPTER 25

The week before I was scheduled to leave, I got my information packet in the mail with everything I needed to know about the campus. I had my dorm room, my book list, a training schedule, a list of available tutors and so on. I was scheduled to arrive on campus early Friday morning where I would be greeted by an athletic assistant who would help me settle in. I was in the best shape of my life, my weight was 289.9 lbs, my strength was up in every exercise across the board and I was running a 4.99 forty yard dash.

Since I was completely packed and ready to go, I decided on Wednesday night to go out one last time and see whomever was out. I went to the local diner and saw a few people from school. I hung out there for about an hour shooting the bull, everyone talking about their future plans. I was just getting ready to leave when Courtney walked through the front door, alone. This was the last thing I needed, just days before I was to get out of this town. I continued talking to the people in our booth, hoping as always, she would avoid me. She sat down at the far end of the counter, closest to the door and placed her order. Since there was no way out, I would either have to wait until she left or walk past her to leave.

Maybe ten minutes later the group I was with decided to go down to the lake and make out, or watch the "The Submarine Races" as we called it. I had no choice but to head home when they got up, since I had no date. I paid my bill and was walking toward the door when Courtney looked up and smiled at me. I smiled back and continued to walk towards the door until she called out.

"Hey Brian, can I talk to you for a second ?", she asked sweetly.

I really wanted no part of a conversation with Court, I didn't need any drama this close to leaving town.

"I guess so.", I answered, "You want to get a table ?"

"No, not here, outside if that's ok ?", she asked.

I shrugged my shoulders and walked out the door with Courtney behind me to the tables that were under the awning. But this time the place was packed and there was very little privacy to talk. She looked around and saw my truck parked on the far end of the lot.

"Can we talk in your truck ?", she asked, pointing to the vehicle.

"Court, I don't think that's a good idea….. I mean…. I don't want to fight with you.", I responded.

"I promise, no fighting Brian, just talking, I swear.", she whispered.

Against better judgment, I nodded my head and we walked toward the end of the parking lot. I unlocked the doors and we both climbed in, closing the doors behind us. For about thirty seconds there was an awkward pause, then Courtney spoke up.

"Brian, I don't know where to begin, or even how to say it. I have screwed up so many things lately, it seems like a nightmare I can't wake up from." she started.

"All I am sure of is that since I let you go, I have been absolutely miserable. You treated me like a lady, like I was someone special. I didn't realize that until I dated others.", she continued.

"I cannot undo what I have done. But I want you to know I still love you, I always have. I know I have no right to ask you to forgive me, but if you would give me another chance, I swear I will never hurt you again.", she ended.

I just sat there kind of stunned, this was not what I expected to hear. I had cared for Courtney very much when we were dating, I thought the world of her parents. But to throw all of this at me, two days before I was leaving town was too much to handle.

"Court, I really don't know what to say. Honestly, I never really understood why you pushed me away in the first place.", I said softly.

"That night, the night I wanted to make love to you, you rejected me. It hurt like hell. I thought you just didn't care about me as much as I did you.", she quietly said, hesitating several times.

"Court, it had nothing to do with that, I told you that.", I answered.

"I know Brian, you were thinking of our future, I wasn't.", she said.

"Then I started hanging around with Darren and his friends, all they did was drink and I got caught up in it. I am in so much trouble with my parents right now. I have lost all of their trust and respect, I feel so lost.", she added.

"Court, your parents are good people, they may be upset right now, but they will come around. But if you want my opinion, dump Darren now, he is going to be trouble. And if you stay with him, he will drag you down as well.", I warned.

"We broke up a few weeks ago, my Dad made sure of that.", she answered.

She went on to tell me about the restrictions her parents had placed on her and how bad things were at home. I felt bad for Courtney, deep down she was a very good girl, she just got mixed up with the wrong crowd. Thankfully she got out before she got into any serious trouble.

"When do you leave for school Brian ?", she asked.

"Day after tomorrow, early in the morning.", I answered.

Can I ask you a personal question, without you getting upset with

me ?", she asked ,with some hesitation in her voice.

"I guess so Courtney, what's on your mind ?", I responded.

"How serious are you and Jasmine? Do you... love her ? ", she stuttered.

"Jasmin is back together with Elton, has been for a couple of weeks.", I told her.

I could tell by the look on her face, she had no idea. I'm not sure if she seemed happy or perhaps relieved, it was hard to tell.

"Oh, I didn't know. I am so sorry Brian, what happened ?", she asked.

"Nothing happened, Jasmin and I are good friends that's it. We went out a few times, nothing else." I stated.

"Wow, I heard you two were really serious about each.", she said, fishing for information.

"Serious ? I don't know who told you that, but nothing serious happened between the two of us.", I said.

I could tell by the way she was squirming in her seat, she still had several things on her mind that she wanted to talk about. I was ready to go home, I was tired of forty questions.

"Brian, do you think you could ever feel anything for me again, you know, like it was before I screwed things up.", she asked, shyly.

"I don't know Court, I mean so much has happened, it's really hard to think that far ahead right now. And I am leaving the day after tomorrow, who knows what will happen.", I said slowly.

"Brian, I want you to know I did not sleep with Darren, that is the truth.", she replied.

"Court, you don't owe me anything at all. It's your business what you do.", I answered.

"I know, but I still wanted you to know, that's all. ", she shot back.