Hey people...Below is a short story that I have written. Am gonna post it in chapters.

Tell me what you think alright?

Dilemma



I have tried my best to make our relationship work. But no matter how hard I tried, or how spontaneous I become, things between us just isn’t the same anymore. It’s not that we had a fight, we seldom do. But after two years, the fire between the two of us just seemed to have cooled off. The excitement of first falling in love wasn’t around anymore. The times we spent together, getting to know each other, the flirting and the fun dates that we used to go on. All that just isn’t there anymore. We have grown to know each other well, too well in fact. She still looks like the girl I fall in love with two years ago. That same cute face, that same silky blond hair and that same hourglass figure that would put most models to shame but somehow, it just doesn’t feel right anymore. But there’s just one tiny problem though…

She still thinks I’m in love with her.

“Ryan, there you are. I’ve been looking all over for you,” June sat down beside me in the dining room. Students were streaming around, making tons of noise as they babbled on about their day, while eating their lunch. Lunch in Kingsway High is the only thing that every student looks forward to during school hours. Not because there’s anything interesting happening during lunch but more because the lessons are just not that interesting. Sometimes, even a toilet break is welcome relief to the students.

June was dressed in a simple, lavender dress that barely reached her knees, showing off that golden brown tan and a matching cardigan over it. She had her hair tied in a ponytail and had her glasses on. She was in full nerd mode. And I loved it. Or at least I did. It used to drive me wild seeing her dress like this.
“What’s up?” I asked, looking up from my notes. Ok, it wasn’t mine. I didn’t pay attention in my last class and had borrowed them from a friend to catch up.
“It’s this essay that I have to submit. You know how bad I am at this grammar stuff. Do you think you could help me scan through this?” she asked, handing me a wad of papers. That had always been our arrangement. I would help her with her language subjects and she would be teaching me Math and Science. June’s always been a whiz in Math and Science and the arrangement worked great.
“No problem,” I smiled, as I read her essay.
“You’re a lifesaver!” she gave me a kiss on the cheeks and got up.
“Hot chocolate, right?”
“Do you even have to ask?” I winked. After two years together, we’ve grown to know each others' likes and dislikes and even complete each other’s sentences.


June Green is basically the best girlfriend any guy could ever hope for. She’s smart, beautiful and understanding. She wants nothing but the best for me and had been faithfully attending my football games when she obviously had better things to do. She was always there when I needed her and I could rely on her for anything.

So why are my feelings for her fading?

We met a couple of years ago at the library. I know, of all places, a library. But then again, love can happen anywhere. I was rushing for an assignment and needed a book badly. I searched high and low for it and when I finally found it, I reached out to grab it, only to find myself grabbing thin air. I turned and found the book sitting snugly in the arms of the most beautiful girl I’ve laid my eyes on. I still remember what she was wearing that day. A V-necked blouse that showed a hint of cleavage and a short, black skirt. She had let her hair down that day and her beautiful hazel eyes twinkled mischievously behind her glasses.


“Could I please have that book?” I begged, sounding desperate, which I was.
“But I need it too,” she argued.
“You have to do to report on metamorphic rocks too?” my eyes opened wide. I had never seen her before in class.
“Yes. And my English isn’t that good. So I really need this book to help me out with a few descriptions,” she explained.
“How about this? You let me use the book for an hour to take down all the important points that I need and then I’ll help you with your assignment,” I suggested out of desperation. I could not afford another late submission.
“Fair enough,” she agreed with a smile that literally knocked me off my feet.

Needless to say, the rest is history. The attraction between us was mutual and both of us went on to become the school’s most recognizable couple. I was the leading striker for Kingsway High and she blossomed into one of the hottest girls in school. People thought that it was only natural that the two of us hooked up. Their exact words were, ‘Ryan and June are perfect for each other’. That was in a time when I agreed with them.

“So, any mistakes?” she asked, when she returned to the table with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate. Like me, she has this huge affection for anything chocolate.
“Apart from a few grammatical errors, this is a very good essay,” I praised.
“Serious? You’re kidding, right?”
“Nope. I meant it. You’re improved a lot,”
“I have a great teacher,” she winked. Just then, Eric and Dawn walked over.
“So what are you two lovebirds talking about?” Eric asked, sitting down opposite me.

Lovebirds…

Eric and Dawn are two of my best friends. They’re also the hottest couple in Kingsway. Eric is easily the most handsome guy around with his silky blond hair, strong, firm jaw and a lean, muscular body from all those time spent on the football field. And Dawn, I just can’t describe her. No wait, actually, I can. Her perfect honey blond hair always stays in prefect waves. Her emerald green eyes glittered every time she smiles and she has a body made for sin. I mean, really… she is that hot. But I shouldn’t be talking about my friend like that. She’s been a confidante and a counselor whenever I have problems that I couldn’t share with June, or problems with June. It doesn’t hurt either that she’s also June’s best friend.

“Just checking out June’s essay,” I replied, without looking up.
“Ready for Wednesday’s game?” Eric asked, sipping his coffee.
“More than ever,” I replied. We had lost to Parrs Wood High the last time we met and it’s time for revenge. Furthermore, a win would send us to the quarter-finals.
“The match is all he’s been thinking about this week,” Dawn complained.
“That’s just them being guys. They don’t think of anything else but football,” June commented.
“But I do think of you,” Eric argued his case.
“When you’re not thinking about football,” Dawn said.
“Right,” Eric grinned, receiving a playful slap on the back from Dawn.
“Oh guys, speaking of Wednesday, I won’t be able to make it,” June announced. The three of us stared at her in shock. Like I said before, she had never missed any of my games before. And I mean, never. This would be the first time she wouldn’t be sitting at the stands, cheering me on.

Why am I feeling disappointed that she’s not coming when I don’t love her anymore?

“You’ve got plans?” I asked.
“Miss Anderson got me to help her paint the background for the school’s summer play,” June explained.
“The one that the two of you are starring in?” Dawn asked. June and I had auditioned for the school’s summer play, Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’. We got the leading roles as Petruchio and Katharine respectively. And now, Miss Anderson wants June to paint the background set.
“The leading actress has to paint the backgrounds? Don’t they have the crew people for that kind of work?” Eric looked at her skeptically. I had my doubts too but I also knew that there isn’t a finer artist than June in Kingsway.
“What are you trying to say?” June looked annoyed.
“That you’re multi-talented,” I butted in before Eric could say a word.
“It’s ok, dear. You’ve already promised Miss Anderson, so go ahead,” I diffused the situation.
“Thanks for understanding,” she smiled warmly.
“Anyway, I have to go and hand this in. See you guys later,” she got up and gave me a quick peck before leaving.

“What’s up with that?” Eric asked when June was out of earshot.
“I don’t know,” I shrugged my shoulders casually.
“But she always come to your games,” Dawn said.
“But she’s not obligated to. She’s free to do her own thing,”
“Whatever man. But I feel that something’s up,” Eric said.
“I’ll try to check it out,” Dawn added.
“Don’t. Please…I mean, what’s wrong with her not coming to one of my games?” I pleaded.
“That’s what I intend to find out,” Dawn replied.


And I hope, deep inside, that she finds out soon.


___________________________________________________________________

“You ready, bro?” Eric came over. I was sitting down at a corner of the changing room alone. It’s always been a ritual for me before every game to clear my thoughts.
“Yeah. Just give me a minute,”
“You do know that June is not out there, right?”
“She said she had that background painting thing, right?”
“Yeah, that’s what she said. But I thought she was kidding,”
“That’s not like June,”
“Alright man. Coach is giving some last minute instructions. Hurry up, yeah?”
“No problem. In a minute,”


We walked out onto the field to rapturous applause. Here in Manchester, England, football is the number one sport and even high school games generate a lot of interest among the students and also their families. And even more so if it’s an inter-school tournament.
I scanned the stands and my eyes immediately fell to the spot where June would sit faithfully during each game. Only today, she wasn’t there. Being so used to seeing her there, I felt something missing as I ran onto the pitch with the others.

Is painting backgrounds really more important than me?

I had no more time to think about it as the game was about to start. I looked at the opposition and found Thomas. He’s their captain and best centre-back. He sneered when he saw me looking his way.
“Today’s gonna be one bruising day,” I sighed, as the referee blew his whistle, signaling the kickoff.

The first few minutes started of slowly with both teams feeling each other out. The ball was just passed around and neither wanted to make that first mistake.
“Ryan!” Eric shouted, sending a long ball over the defence. I sprinted after it, with Thomas close behind. I trapped the ball with my right foot and was immediately bundled off the ball by Thomas.
“Foul, ref!” I shouted. The referee shook his head.
“Stop complaining. You may be sharing the same first name as Giggs, but you’re nowhere near as skilful,” Thomas taunted after he had cleared the ball. I just gritted my teeth and walked away. A few minutes later, we got a corner. Adam, our left winger, sent a beautiful curling cross into the penalty area and when I jumped to head it, someone came in with an elbow to my chest.
“Argh…” I fell to the ground.
“Get up, number nine,” the referee ordered.
“What? That was an elbow!” I argued and saw Thomas sniggering a few feet away. Immediately I knew that it was his elbow that had knocked me down. I picked myself up again and play resumed. The game then picked up in pace, with both sides throwing caution to the wind and started attacking. Matt, our goalie, was in outstanding form today. He managed to make some crucial saves that would have otherwise led to goals. After their corner, which Andy, our centre-back cleared, Eric brought the ball upfield. He spread the play to Damien on the right flank and being a speed demon, he sprinted away with the ball. He left a defender for dead and cut inside. He played a square pass to me and a crunching tackle from behind came as soon as I touched the ball.
“What the hell?” I heard Eric ran up. I was writhing in pain on the ground, holding my ankle. He had planted his studs square on my ankles. I saw Eric moving into Thomas’s face, with the referee trying to break them up. Coach was already on the way with a medical kit and I was brought off the field a minute later, with the help of my teammates. I then saw the referee showing Thomas the yellow card, much to the crowd’s disappointment. After some treatment, I got on the field only for the referee to blow for halftime. I got some ice on my ankles as I sat by the side of the field.

“All of you are not playing to my instructions,” I heard Coach reprimanding the team. I looked around the stands and found Dawn. But June was nowhere near her. I bit my lower lip and shook my head in disappointment.
“Is your leg hurting?” I heard someone asked. I turned and found Katie standing behind me. Katie Dean is a sweet girl from my Math class. We have chatted a few times before but I’ve always regarded her more as a casual friend than anything else.
“It’s not that bad,” I smiled, as she sat down beside me and hugged her knees.
“Well, you’d better take care of yourself out there. You look like you’ve been in the wars,”
“I know. Been trying to do that for the whole forty-five minutes,” I quipped.
“Try doing some dummies and feinting so that he doesn’t read your moves. For example, if you’re thinking of going right, switch to left instead,” she suggested. My mouth gaped in shock as my admiration for her grew in an instant. Not only is this girl cute, she knows her football too! And that’s totally sexy to me.
“That’s sound advice. Maybe I’ll try it,” I nodded.
“I’ll be watching,” she grinned, as she got up and left.

The second half started with Parrs Wood confining us to our own half. We kept sticking to the long ball tactics but with Thomas around, those passes were cleared almost instantly.
“Come on guys! Keep the ball on the ground!” I urged in frustration. Eric finally got the ball to his feet and strode upfield. He released a pass towards me which I let run between my legs. I could feel Thomas’s breath behind me. I immediately spun and left him dazed. The move had caught him off guard, with the ball traveling at pace. I sprinted after it and bore down on goal. I looked up and saw their goalie coming off his line. I planted a delicate chip over the goalie and watched the ball sail into the goal. A roar came from the crowd as the ball went in and I was swamped by my teammates , congratulating me.
“One-nil Thomas, one-nil,” I taunted him, as I walked back to my half.
“You’re just lucky,”
“Whatever,” I replied cheerfully. No way was I going to be intimidated by him now. The game wore on for another ten minutes before I got my second goal. I received the ball from Damien and beat one defender before coming face-to-face with Thomas. A stepover and a change of direction allowed me to beat him and I was left all alone again. I wasn’t going to miss the chance with only the goalie to beat and calmly slotted the ball home.

I held my arms up in victory, turning back to my team, who celebrated the goal wildly. We ran out two-nil winners in the end, with Thomas getting a red card in the last few minutes for another late tackle on me.
“Great game, Smith!” I heard someone shout from the stands. I looked up and smiled. A banner with the words, ‘Kingsway Rules!!’ was proudly displayed. We had won, I had scored both goals and Thomas had gotten a red card. So why am I still feeling so rotten? Why wasn’t I even slightly happy? Then I realized the reason…

My happiest moments aren’t complete without June by my side.



I took one last glance around and she really wasn’t around. Disappointed, I trudged heavily to the changing room.

Why am I feeling like this?

I thought I didn’t love her anymore. I thought I was past caring about what June does or whether she’s around me. I guess, it’s because we’re still officially together. Maybe that’s why all these feelings are here. Or maybe, I still love her. A part of me still wants to hang on to what we have. June is the longest relationship I’ve had since well…erm…since two years ago. Maybe two years is too long a time to be in a single relationship. I have known all I need to know about June and maybe that’s why I feel my love for her is fading. Our relationship had become too…urm…routine. Maybe I should spice things up a little. Maybe I should be a little more spontaneous. But that’s too many maybes for now…