Mismatched Compatibility (22)

Dana:

“I absolutely don't know what to say.”

“Say I'm not being naive,” I begged my best friend, Faith.

I updated her with everything that happened yesterday, talking on the phone while I tried to pack lightly. It wasn't going very well. Hence, it took me longer than I expected to get ready.

“You're not,” she assured me from the other end of the line.

I sighed in relief.

“You're being reckless – in a good way.”

I frowned. “How is being reckless any good?”

“For one, you're finally going out there and living your life. You're out of your comfort zone. You're finally taking risks, Dana!”

“Ethan helped me a great deal,” I reminded her.

I couldn't take all the credit.

“Don't stop, then.”

I don't think I can stop even if I wanted to.

“Faith,” I started, taking a deep breath, “I think I'm falling for him.”

She didn't respond.

I thought that it was about time that I accepted it. I've been getting signals from my inner self here and there, but I didn't think it was quite possible to actually fall for someone I've only known for a few days.

Whirlwind romances only took place in films and novels. There was no chance that it could happen in real life. Or at least, there was no chance it would survive for long in reality. Because something that happened just as fast could end just as fast.

Perhaps Ethan was wrong. Maybe we weren't soul mates.

What if we were Fate's mistake, after all?

I zipped up my beige carry on Gucci luggage and looked around the room to check if I've forgotten something, while I waited for my best friend's response. When she still haven't, I looked at my phone to see if the line ended. It didn't.

“Faith?”

“Yes, I'm here,” she automatically said, as though waking up from a trance. “Just – I just – What? You've only known him for two days!”

“Three,” I corrected a-matter-of-factly.

“Still!”

“I know, I know,” I admitted shamefully, picking up my shoulder bag, the small luggage I packed for today, and sunglasses.

“I'm speechless,” said Faith.

I sighed as I walked out of the room and closed the door behind me. I climbed down the stairs in silence. Neither of us spoke. Just as I reached the bottom step, I heard a beep from outside.

“I have to go,” I told Faith. “He's waiting for me.”

“All right,” she replied. “Just . . . make the best of today.”

“Okay.”

I opened the front door, and saw Ethan's car out in the driveway. For a moment, I grew excited of what today had in store for us. I would forget all my worries and just enjoy my time with him.

My feet started to move towards the car, then Faith added something.

“But you have to go back to reality tomorrow.”

I immediately stopped walking.

“You mean, go back to the City?” I asked carefully.

“Yes,” she confirmed, “before your feelings get any deeper. You can't honestly think this will work out in the future, do you?”

I didn't speak.

“You have different lives, different worlds. You'll have to go back to Yale in the fall. I'm sorry to be such a downer but based on what you said, he doesn't sound like the type who'll survive in a long distance relationship, assuming he'll even commit.”

I reminded myself that this was Faith I was talking to. She wouldn't be my best friend for nothing. She had been by my side for years, through my ups and downs, and still she had stayed with me. I knew she only wanted what was best for me and didn't want me to hurt.

However, it did hurt.

It hurt hearing her say those things. It's as though she's confirming every thought I've been dreading. Most of all, it hurt so much because I know they're the truth.

“I'm sorry, Dana,” she said quietly.

“No, I needed to hear it.” I really did.

“Don't let that thought hold you back from enjoying today, though.”

I made a face, shaking my head.

“You are as confusing as ever.”

She laughed. I could already imagine her wearing a sheepish smile.

“Well,” she began, “since you're going back to reality tomorrow, might as well go all out today. This is your chance to do anything you want without anyone judging your every action. Imagine today is your last day in dreamland, so live it how you want it.”

“That last part makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time,” I commented, my eyes watching Ethan get out of his car and walk towards me. “I really have to go.”

“All right. Live today to the fullest, you hear?”

This being the last day I'll be with Ethan? I just might.

“See you soon. Bye!” I hung up just as Ethan neared where I was.

“Fifteen minutes, my ass,” he grunted. “Felt more like thirty minutes.”

“Try being a girl for a day and let's see how you do it,” I challenged him.

“Babe,” he smirked. “If I was a girl, I'd stare at the mirror all day naked, doing things your innocent little mind couldn't begin to handle.”

“Don't underestimate me,” I warned, smiling smugly. “I just might surprise you, Ethan Xavier Tyler.”

He groaned. “Not the full name.” He grabbed the luggage from me.

“I don't understand why you hate it so much. It's a great name.”

I wouldn't mention out loud the fact that he just took my beg from me, acting like the gentleman that he tried so hard not to be. I was afraid I might jinx it.

My stomach was going in knots, though.

“It's too fancy for my liking,” he grumbled, walking to his car.

“I think it suits you, sort of badass,” I shrugged, following after him.

He grinned, glancing over his shoulder. “You think I'm badass?”

I rolled my eyes, but I smiled despite myself.

“Get in the car,” he laughed.

“Stop ordering me around,” I muttered, obeying anyway.

After putting my luggage at the backseat, he climbed in the driver's seat and started the engine. In no time, we were on our way to wherever it was we were going.

“So who were you talking to on the phone?” asked Ethan casually.

“My best friend.”

“The faggot?” he snorted.

“No, my girl best friend,” I emphasized. “She was the reason why I got stuck in the seat next to you in the plane.”

“Oh.” He paused, his face unreadable as he focused on the road. “Thank her for me, then,” he added as though it wasn't a big deal for him to thank someone he didn't even know for something he didn't even want in the first place.

I wonder if he will still thank her tomorrow.

More than an hour in the road, and after a lot of arguing about which radio station we should listen to, my phone rings again. I reached for it inside the bag that carried my essentials and looked at the Caller ID.

Karl.

My eyes widened in pleasant surprise and I immediately answered it.

“Karl!” I exclaimed, not quite capable of containing my enthusiasm.

“Hey, Dani!” he greeted from the other end of the line.

He was the only who called me that anymore, because he didn't want to let go of my old nickname.

“I heard you're in New Jersey with your boyfriend.”

Well, he certainly didn't waste time getting to the point.

“News travels fast,” I said dully.

“It does when you're known to be the careful one,” he stated, with a hint of disapproving tone. “Out of nowhere, you're in the suburbs staying with your boyfriend, whom we never met before. We didn't even know he existed!”

Karl was always so expressive, whether through his facial expressions or the way he talked. It was a little bit childish of him, but that was one of his traits that I adored.

“Peter met him last Thursday,” I informed him a-matter-of-factly.

Ethan glanced at me sideways, clearly understanding that he was the topic of conversation. Thank goodness he was driving so he couldn't fully stare at me while he was eavesdropping. On his defense, he had no choice but to listen.

“I wanted to hear it from you,” said Karl, his voice heavy with sadness.

Now I feel bad.

“Sorry I didn't get to call,” I sighed. “I'll tell you all about it when I get back.”

“I didn't even get to judge him before you dated him,” he muttered.

I giggled, imagining his pout.

“Maybe next time,” I lied.

By the time I get back to the City, this thing I had with Ethan would be long over. Hence, there was honestly no point in telling Karl 'all about it.' I'd bet he couldn't even handle any more heartbreaks around him.

Ever since he and Jen – his first love from high school – ended things several years ago, he was quite sympathetic whenever couples that he personally knew broke up. Because then he would be reminded of his own heartbreak.

“I'll hold on to your word,” warned Karl.

I rolled my eyes.

No doubt he would forget about it the minute our call ended. There were so many things going on in his mind that sometimes even he couldn't keep up with himself. At least he was busy and happy now.

“Listen, I have to go,” I told him. “I'm with him right now.”

“Can I talk to him?” asked Karl hopefully.

“No.”

“Please?”

“No,” I said firmly. “Goodbye, Karl!”

After the last word, I hung up rapidly.

“Looks like I'm the talk of the city elites,” remarked Ethan smugly. I could swear I also heard a little mockery in his voice. “Can't say that's new to me.”

I stared at him with an astonished look. “I'm honestly amazed how your head stayed intact despite your obese ego.”

He burst out laughing. “I'm amazed you're still not used to it.”

“I can't be used to something very new to me.”

“Yeah, right. You're telling me those people you hang out with or met during charity events, or whatever the heck it is you go to, aren't stuck up?”

I pursed my lips, considering it.

“They're discreet,” I finally said.

“They say one thing, but means another. Yeah, very discreet.”

The thing about the wealthy people from the east coast is that we don't quite talk about our money, unlike in the west who tend to be more showy. However, if you listen well enough in the conversations, you'll sense the air of arrogance.

This was exactly why I said 'discreet.'

I studied Ethan. “You seem to know an awful lot about it, yet you pretend you have no idea what kind of parties I attend. It's quite clear you've attended your fair share of it.”

He didn't deny it. He had on an innocent look as he kept on driving.

“Just out of curiosity,” I started. “When did you stop going?”

“The moment I entered a public high school,” he replied.

If truth be told, I thought he wasn't going to acknowledge my question. It slightly shocked me that Ethan was opening up to me more and more. At the same time, it thrilled me because that somehow proved that we were really connecting.

“I was always a pain to my folks, anyway,” he shrugged nonchalantly. Then, he let out a humorless laugh. “Seriously, I think I did my mom a favor when I stood my ground and didn't show up that first time.”

The way he said it indicated that it was supposed to be taken lightly. It was clear that he didn't care. However, it still sounded sad to my ears.

“You know what's funny?” he continued. “The people I met in that school have more class than those in society dinners who just act like they do.”

I nodded. I couldn't agree more.

Not everyone is like that, of course. I do know some great and grounded people. They're not fake, like most are.

“You should meet my friends, then,” I blurted out, before I could stop myself.

We were both quiet as the words I uttered sunk in. I wasn't implying anything. It was an honest mistake. I was trying to prove a point that he just didn't know enough good people from that world. I didn't mean – Ugh.

But what shocked me the most was Ethan's response.

“Nah,” he said, as if meeting them would be a waste of time.

I was distraught. These were people I knew all my life! How dare he? He knew nothing about them, yet he was judging them already?

I opened my mouth to say something, but he beat me to it.

“If you had such great friends, you wouldn't have ran away from them.”

“I didn't run away from them,” I clarified. “I ran away from that world.”

“Exactly,” he said, making a right turn. “Aren't friends supposed to make you want to stay there? Or make it bearable, at least?”

The windows were down. I could already smell the sea. I was so into our conversation that I didn't even realize we entered a coastal town probably a few minutes ago.

“They do make it bearable,” I replied after a moment. “I guess I'm at my limit and took the first opportunity that knocked on my door – or bumped into me.”

He shook his head. “You run from that world, you run from your friends that are in that world. Isn't that why you kissed me in front of that faggot? You wanted them to change their opinions on you. If they're really your friends, you wouldn't have to.”

He made a left while I still struggled for words to say.

No! I didn't want Ethan to be right. He didn't understand my position. I couldn't explain to him how wrong he was.

But the more I attempted to form a sentence to defend my friends, the more I come up blank – the more I got into thinking.

He's right, in a way.

They were my friends, of course. They were good people. But if that was so, why did I still have to watch my actions every time I was with them? I was comfortable, but not entirely comfortable. Not like when I was with Faith . . . or Ethan.

They weren't once fake with me, but what if I was the one being fake? What if I was the one who didn't trust them enough to show the real me?

No.

No, I wasn't being fake. Otherwise, I wouldn't have pulled off this escapade. I kissed Ethan to show Peter, and the rest of the gang, that I wasn't the delicate little flower they've known me to be.

I ran away from that world to prove a point, a point I've been making ever since I realized that being good all the time wasn't doing me any better. I known when to be at my best behavior, of course. That didn't mean I had to do it all the time.

I turned to Ethan, finally knowing what to say.

“Maybe I want to change their opinions for them to see the real me,” I said.

Ethan looked skeptical. “What kind of friends are they if they didn't see it from the start?”

“Because I changed.”

At that, he glanced at me.

“And even more so now,” I added in a whisper.

Because of you.

Every moment I spent with Ethan, I felt like a new belief was being engraved in me. It was as though a new bulb turned on in my brain every time he sprouted wise words without him realizing it.

“I have you to thank for that,” I admitted to him truthfully, smiling.

He shot a look at me, probably to see if I was joking. When he saw I wasn't, I could swear I saw him smile briefly before he groaned.

“Oh, no,” he said, as though he was hurt. “I think my ego just got fatter! It's your fault because you keep feeding it with shit like that, you know.”

I couldn't help it. I laughed.

“I think you should go on a diet,” I told him, trying to keep a serious voice. “Too much compliment is not healthy for the mind.”

“Good thing we're here, then,” he declared, as he made another turn to a parking lot right in front of a yellow beach house where the ground immediately turned into gravel. “Away from people giving praises to my awesomeness.”

“Feeding yourself isn't any better, Ethan,” I said pitifully, patting him on the shoulder in mock.

He laughed as he parked the car. Then, he fully faced me.

“You ready to swim?” he asked me, his eyes glinting with excitement and quite possibly mischief.

I giggled. “Let's go!”

It's time to stop worrying.

It's time to start living.

_____________

Took longer than I expected. I had to add their convo near the end about friendship and changing at the last minute, so I think it might be a little off as to I didn't have time to edit. Hehe.

*Karl is a character from Realize (my other work), for the others who didn't know. :)

Sooo, do you think Dana should follow Faith's advice?