Chris

It was raining on the way home, I wish I drove to school today or at least checked the weather so I wouldn't be getting soaked. I was afraid I'd slip and fall because of my heels but ran anyway. I miraculously didn't fall on my face. Once I was out of the rain, and in front of my apartment, I wrung my shirt out.

"It's been raining every day lately." A familiar voice commented. I turned to see Miguel sitting in front of my door, just as soaked as I was. He cut his hair, it now barely hung past his ears. It had been days since I heard his voice, or looked into his golden eyes. I had no defenses up and it was clear he was my weakness, by how intensely my heart was racing,

"Miguel.." I muttered out his name weakly, his glasses were tucked into his shirt pocket so it was much easier to see his eyes squint slightly when he smiled at me,

"Hey, Lemon." I felt my face and squeezed my cheeks to make sure I wasn't dreaming. "I'm... going to be away for 3 weeks." He announced suddenly... hasn't he been away long enough?! "I have some... family matters to attend to and, I got an invitation to a game show." I sat beside him on the concrete, with only a foot of space between us,

"That... sounds exciting," I answered. I am nervous and I don't know what else to say. It feels like he could disappear at any moment,

"It's a cooking competition and if I make it to the finale, I can invite a guest. I want that to be you." I gasped and looked up at him, "I need your email to send the invite."

"I'll give it to you! I'll give you anything you need." Even though my body was shaking from the rain I felt warm and happy, I never wanted to go inside if we could sit together like this. I don't care if I get sick. This is just like before, my heart racing as I sit beside him shivering. He handed me his phone and I input my email and number in my contact info.

"That's all I wanted to say." I lived with him long enough to know he was lying, but what does it matter, I can't force him to say more.

"Okay... You're definitely going to make it to the finals, I'll be there to cheer you on... and if it comes on TV months from now... I... want to watch it together!" I blurted out the words as fast as possible, so I wouldn't chicken out and Miguel smiled and leaned over to kiss my forehead.

"Yeah..." Then he got up and walked away, back into the rain without an umbrella or anything. I waited till he was completely out of sight before going inside and taking a hot shower. As soon as I was out I saw I had a notification for an email... part of me still couldn't believe it, the email basically stated that I might be receiving a follow-up email in 2 weeks if the contestant who invited me reached the finals, also a warning that accepting the invite is a consent to appear on TV. Miguel confuses me, I thought if he saw me again there would be animosity because of how we parted but, all I sensed from him was sadness. I guess we're the same.

It had become my routine to walk through the music department dorms during my free period, I actually wasn't expecting anything anymore but today, FINALLY, I saw the person I'd been looking for, Chris! Now to get definitive answers, he was sitting on a bench and I rushed over to him, so glad I had practice running in heels.

"Christopher!" I shouted, to get his attention.

"No one calls me that." He remarked, then he looked at me and stood up. "It's you... what could you possibly want from me?" He started walking away and I followed him,

"Wait! I feel like only you could give me the answers I need... I met Miguel earlier this year and," He stopped walking and turned to me with a face so scary I feared he might hit me,

"What do you mean you met him this year?" The tone was testy so I tried to be careful with what I said next,

"He introduced himself to me!" That didn't seem to calm him down so I continued "I used to date Jack."

"I know... we've met." I was shocked, was everyone in my life forgotten when I was with him? Chris definitely doesn't blend into a normal mold and even still I can't remember him. "It was only briefly, it's okay if you forgot."

"I'm sorry."

"Miguel and Jack aren't friends anymore, what more could you want?" The way he said that implied it was my fault they were no longer talking.

"Miguel mentioned liking a girl when I was with Jack... and he... told me he wants me to figure it out, pretty much... can you help me?" Chris's stoney face broke and he said,

"Wow, you're dumb... like extreme levels of density. I like you. We can be friends." He smiled and said, "You and Miguel chose a silly game to play. I won't ruin it though by giving you the answer." I felt disappointed but... There were enough clues in his statement that it's finally clear... I think I know exactly who Miguel was in love with, the girl in that picture and I don't know how to handle it.

"Are you... coming to Miguel's cooking competition?" I asked. In order to change the subject,

"Yeah of course! Even his parents are coming, they'll be sitting in the audience... did he invite you too?" I nodded. At that moment Chris seemed to truly relax. He was maybe 2 inches taller than me but in these heels, I hovered over him. "Oh then maybe we should meet up at the airport together, it's safer to travel in a group."

"That sounds good, I wish the show was airing right now... I won't know how far he's gotten for weeks." I complained a bit. Chris nudged me and said,

"Have you eaten his food? He's going to win... and they'll grant him a cookbook deal and there's no telling what else... so I'm guessing you're his girlfriend, right?" I blushed and muttered,

"He didn't say anything to you?"

"Duh! That's why I'm asking." I felt more embarrassed by his response, then I said,

"Yeah, I'm his girlfriend." Chris squealed happily and said,

"I'm happy for you two! Took you long enough!"

Days passed, and I kept checking my email and text messages for something from Miguel. It feels too lonely not hearing from him or seeing him when I used to wake up to him floating around my room or jumping out the walls and scaring me... I need to speak to him, but he's not even in town and I don't want to distract him right now. I re-read the rules of the competition, he can win 25 thousand dollars and a cookbook deal. Miguel was in school to be a chef, but I never asked him if he wanted to open a restaurant or work for some fancy place, or even be a private chef... I realize now that he wasn't wrong when he called me selfish... because the only thing I cared about was keeping him at my side, I had plenty of time to get to know him better.