Rushing Valley (657 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.67 on 21 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Seralena (View user info) at 2004-10-28 21:35:36 EDT
Brett could feel herself blushing, but she tried to convince herself she wasn't. How could Colin, of all people, be saying this to her?
"I'm sorry, Brett... I mean, I didn't mean... Well, I'm sorry... You've just been giving me... um... mixed signals?... lately..."
Brett had thought, that if she didn't say anything to Colin, he'd never realize she had fallen in love with him. She'd always known that he didn't feel the same way, but had never guessed that he'd see through her feelings as easily as she had through his. 'Why is he doing this?'
"Colin, I didn't mean to give you mixed signals. I know we're just friends. I'll talk to you later, okay?" Brett spat all three sentences out on the same breath, and walked away. Not once since he started talking had she looked at his face.
She flew through the door to the building, and walked as far as she could. By the time she stopped, sitting on the far side of a couple bushes from the English building, she was sobbing. It felt like her chest was being squeezed: she couldn't get a full breath, just kept choking out sobs. In the back of her mind, she knew people walking by probably thought she was crazy, but for once, she didn't care what anyone else thought. It just didn't matter to her anymore.
'How could this happen?' She was ashamed at her reaction, for not being able to stay strong, and act like everything was normal. For a few seconds, when Colin told her they needed to talk, she had an overwhelming hope that maybe, despite her depressing observations, he felt the same way about her. That's why she couldn't control herself. He had taken her to the edge of the greatest happiness she'd ever had, and then forced her into this despair.
'It's not supposed to be like this,' she thought miserably. College was supposed to be different from high school. No more backstabbing, no more silence. She was going to be open, and admit her feelings. In one sense, she had. There had been none of the backstabbing and lying that had characterized her clique in high school. Of course not. She hadn't formed a group of friends here; she'd only shared her life with Colin.
When her thoughts had progressed that far, she suddenly stopped crying. 'What have I been doing to myself?' Questions ran through her head, as she realized that she had abandoned the hope of making friends for the sake of a man who'd just shot her down. And everyone thought Colin was so shy, and innocent. How could he have managed this?
She squashed the thought. It didn't matter. She was going to build her life the way it was supposed to be. Brett stood up, dried off her face on her sleeve, and marched back to her apartment. 'I'm going to have fun. No more Colin.'
---
Later that night, Brett walked in the door of the frat house, and immediately felt like she'd done the right thing. This was her element, not shy guys who couldn't see what she had to offer, but a crowded party. Accepting a drink from a man she didn't recognize, she began to wander the building, talking to anyone who wasn't too drunk to respond, and generally having a good time.
She was sitting on a couch, talking to some guy, whose name she hadn't caught. They were having an inane conversation about some class, she wasn't sure which. Actually, she wasn't sure of much at that point. She vaguely wondered what she'd been drinking, when she noticed that the guy's arm was around her. He had stopped talking, and leaned forward to kiss her.
She kissed him back, of course, trying not to think of her former hopes that she'd be in this position with Colin. When she realized she was thinking of Colin, rather than this guy who was kissing her, she pulled back. As she did, a familiar face caught her eye. 'Colin...' she thought, not quite believing it. She saw Colin, his arm around some gorgeous girl. She instantly stood up, but stopped before she walked over. She couldn't do anything now anyway. The guy on the couch was looking at her strange. Brett glanced down at him, and with fiery eyes, asked, "It's crowded here... Can we find somewhere more private?"
She couldn't see that Colin had recognized her, that he was staring as she walked upstairs, holding a guy's hand.
---
Brett woke up with a slight headache, and looked around. She vaguely remembered how she had ended up in this room, and the guy lying passed out next to her. 'Oh my god,' she thought to herself, as she realized what must have happened. This was why she had wanted Colin. To get away from this, from the feeling of waking up next to someone she barely knew, to escape the flood of emotions that came from realizing that, yet again, she had given it up to someone she didn't know. She had wanted her chance at salvation. It looked like salvation had fled.
--
Sitting in her bedroom, Brett couldn't understand how this happened to her again. She was staring blankly at the wall, when the doorbell rang. Continuing to stare at the wall, she almost didn't hear the second ring. The third snapped her into reality. She walked to the door, not thinking about how she looked like shit, and how she hadn't changed since pulling on her clothes at the frat house.
Colin was standing at the door. Brett nearly cried. 'Why won't he leave me alone? Let me get over him! Please...' Still, she opened the door, and Colin came in, starting to hug her, but pulling back when she flinched.
"I'm sorry, Brett. I can't tell you anything more."
He stared at her, probably expecting an answer, but she just stared back, her eyes red but emotionless in her pale face.
"I still want to be friends with you..." He trailed off, still not getting a response.
Suddenly, some emotion lit up Brett's eyes. "Really, Colin? And you're not just saying that?"
"Really. I saw you last night, and... well, I don't want to see you like that... I can guess what happened, and I'm sorry it did."
"You are?" Brett's eyes got feverishly bright, to the point where Colin was actually scared.
"Well, yes, of course I am. I don't want you hurt."
"Let's go for a drive," she replied, not acknowledging the last statement.
---
Brett pulled the car onto one of the country roads that led to the mountains a couple miles out of town. For a while, she was silent, and Colin stared out the windshield, wondering why she had decided to go on this car ride, if she wasn't going to say anything.
"Colin..." she finally started. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course, you know you can." The car got marginally darker, as they entered the trees, and began climbing upwards.
"Who was the girl? At the party?" Realizing how this sounded, she quickly said, "Not that I have anything against her or anything, I just want to know."
Colin smiled lightly at this. She was obviously trying to make him feel better, and show that she was over it. Still, he didn't want to see her hurt more as he knew she would be, so he looked out the passenger side window, staring over the steep drop into the valley below him. He could hurt her more, but he just couldn't bear to watch it.
"Kelly's in my English class. I asked her out about a week ago. The night I told you I had to study... I actually went out with her."
"You really care about her?" Brett asked in a completely neutral tone.
He couldn't help but grin. "Brett, she's amazing."
Brett didn't respond.
"Brett?" Colin gave in and glanced at her, and watched a single tear roll down her cheek.
That's why he didn't see the car go over the edge of the valley. He only saw the trees rushing up to meet them.
---
It hurt so much to wake up, but it had to be done. The eyes had to open. There was no clear reason why, but when they did, the family members standing around the bed were an instant reminder to the 'accident'.
"Not... dead...? Tell me..."
It was a nurse who simply said, "I'm sorry. It was painless... On impact."
And one more heart broke under guilt and pain.
User Reviews
Submitted by Kre8rix (user info) at 2004-11-22 23:18:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I like...
Submitted by kai070169 (user info) at 2004-11-10 18:53:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Typical girl post. You can do better.
Submitted by Seralena (user info) at 2004-11-08 21:47:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Yes, I attempted to kill myself and a thwarted love.
I'm just that disturbed.
Submitted by BambiAmbi (user info) at 2004-11-08 21:31:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Wow. Such drama...is this from personal experience? Hmmm?
Submitted by Istaros (user info) at 2004-10-30 00:02:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
ehhhhh...
Submitted by 1Point21Gigawatts (user info) at 2004-10-29 10:59:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Fuck Sepsis
Submitted by TigerLilly (user info) at 2004-10-29 09:48:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I really enjoyed reading this.
Well done!!
Submitted by Lechuga (user info) at 2004-10-29 04:12:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
For Sepsis' dumbass remarks, and because this story rocked out.
Submitted by Seralena (user info) at 2004-10-29 01:30:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Thanks for sharing.
Luckily for me, my roommate is sweet, single, and skinny.
Wait. That makes me feel fat. Damn.
Submitted by GodChicken (user info) at 2004-10-29 01:19:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by AsshOly (user info) at 2004-10-29 01:16:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Not here though, theyre in her room. She has a single-person suite.
She's really a beast. FAt
Submitted by AsshOly (user info) at 2004-10-29 01:15:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
My roommate is having sex with a fat girl RIGHT NOW.
Submitted by AsshOly (user info) at 2004-10-29 01:14:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
get that score back up
Submitted by Seralena (user info) at 2004-10-29 01:04:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Thanks for the implied compliment, Sepsis.
Submitted by Sepsis (user info) at 2004-10-29 00:08:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
didn't even read it.
It had all +2's, so it was probably really good. Oh well.
Submitted by 10c7c (user info) at 2004-10-29 00:01:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I really loved this story, i think most people have been through this at some stage, and you captured the powerful emotions involved
i have to say though that i wasnt a big fan of the ending, i kind of felt that as a story it didnt such a big dramatic conclusion. try watching the last episode of undergrads hehe
Submitted by will72 (user info) at 2004-10-28 22:59:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
amazingly amazing +10
Submitted by Seralena (user info) at 2004-10-28 22:26:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Sorry for the confusing end... I didn't want to specify who it was, and it's hard writing a paragraph with no pronouns!
Thanks, though.
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2004-10-28 22:23:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Cool story, but the end was rather confusing.
Submitted by AsshOly (user info) at 2004-10-28 22:12:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Have another.
Submitted by AsshOly (user info) at 2004-10-28 22:11:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Fucking fabulous. This was extremely well-written and probably the best overall story I have read on ubersite.