"When you're walking downtown, Do you wish I was there
Do you wish it was me, With the windows clear and the mannequins eyes, Do they all look like mine..." -- Ryan Adams 'Come Pick Me Up'
12
They didn't get much sleep that night; They stayed up until four in the morning just talking and telling each other about their lives. She told him everything that had happened to her prior to moving to New York, as well as everything in New York. Everything else he pretty much new.
He confessed to her why he hadn't picked up his guitar in over two years.
"I was dating this girl, Samantha. We dated for seven years." He laughed. "We were each other's first everything; Serious relationship, date, kiss... everything. So on our seventh anniversary, I think we were, like, nineteen - anyway, I wanted to propose. So I asked Will's wife, Heather to help me decorate a corner of the deck with roses and candles, I took her out to dinner, suggested we rent a movie and watch it back at my house.
"So we get back and its not quite dark yet, and the sun's just barely under the horizon, and I told her I just wanted to sit out there for a while before we watched the movie. So we got out there and she immediately starts crying. She knew what was coming I guess, so she stopped me before I even got to say anything. She confessed that she had been seeing this other guy, Michael something-or-other, and she had been trying to find a way to break it off with me for weeks.
"I was crushed. I gave her the ring anyway. I didn't want it, didn't have any use for it. I told her to do whatever she wanted with it, because I didn't want it."
"Thats got to be the most heartbreaking moment of your life." She stated, rhetorically.
"I became depressed. I lost, like, thirty pounds because I slept most of the time. I was in a band with Jess and Ben, and they actually had to cancel shows because I didn't show up and I was the lead singer, and those guys couldn't carry a tune in a bucket," he laughed. "They've said so their selves so I'm just quoting. But one day I was just like, I'm pathetic. So I the next few months were like I was a puppet. I was eating, and talking and everything, I even applied for college. Then when I got into college I realized I had to stop living in a fog, and I did. I was in college for a year before I could actually even listen to my old music again. Then I met you and I was able to play again."
She wasn't sure how she felt about being his muse, and he must've read it in her face, "Don't worry, I knew it was time, I just figured the perfect moment would be playing something for you, since its kind of the only way I know how to express my romantic feelings."
She felt relieved. "And I thought a miscarriage of a baby you didn't even know you were carrying was depressing," she joked. "I'm sorry about what happened to you."
"Its ok. Its over now. I'm over it, over her, and better." He smiled at her and changed the subject. "You want some ice cream?"
"You know me so well," she laughed as they put on their shoes and went to her car. "Is there any place actually open this late?"
"We can get some from Wal-Mart."
She nodded as she climbed in her car. "Oh, Layne and I got gifts for you." She handed the bags to her and he smiled.
"That girl's nuts," he laughed as he pulled out the pink shiny pens. "I borrow these from her everyday."
"Now you don't have to. Open mine." She had changed her mind about his gift at the last minute.
"Oh wow." He smiled as he stared at a black frame with the picture of them from the park. The one where they were looking at each other over their shoulders. "Best present of the year. Thank you."
"You're welcome," she smiled as she pulled into Wal-Mart and they got out of the car to walk in, hand-in-hand.
- - - - -
Teddy walked down the streets of California with Camilla's little Pomeranian yipping at anything that moved. "Shut up, Lulu." He hated the dog. Mostly because she refused to leave it alone, which meant when she wasn't home, he had to take it everywhere he went.
He was supposed to be meeting her at a fancy restaurant for lunch. He spotted her sitting at a sidewalk table, and took a seat across from her.
"There's my little baby." She baby-talked and rubbed her nose against the dog's, babbling incoherently.
Teddy rolled his eyes as he propped his arms on the table and interlocked his fingers.
"So what did you do today?" Teddy tried to make decent conversation.
"Shot some scenes for the new movie, shopping with Dani." She told him as she continued to play with that stupid dog. Becca never would've acted like such an idiot over such a stupid dog. The dog didn't even know her food from her potty-pad. "What did you do?"
"Watched the dog. Tried to work on some music, but she pee'd on the paper when I wasn't looking, oh and then I had to throw it all away and start all over."
"Ted, don't be like this, she can't help it." Camilla tried to defend her pet.
"All I'm saying is, maybe she needs a little obedience school," he said, and surprisingly she agreed.
"Ok, but only for a month," Camilla said and Teddy smiled. For once he had gotten her to understand his side of the story.
Her cell phone rang out with the latest Fergie song, to which Teddy cringed as she answered it. "Oh my gosh! Hey! No I'm at dinner with Ted. Of course that sounds awesome! We'll see you then, ok buh-bye."
"Who was that?"
"Dani. We're going out with them tonight." She told him.
"We?"
"Yes. You and me. After you change, of course. That shirt isn't good for the club." She told him and he rolled his eyes as the waiter brought them their food.
'This marriage was probably the most ridiculous idea ever,' Teddy thought to himself as he sulked over his food, not getting a chance to enjoy a single bite.
Suddenly, he missed Becca more than he had ever missed her. Lately, everything he saw or did reminded him of her. He even dreamed about her, dreaming he had never been so stupid.
He knew he was at fault for their falling-out, but he was too proud to admit he was wrong.
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Its a little shorter than the last couple of chapters, but I hope you like it!
Let me know what you think!
Teddy and camilla finally divorced