3smallwords

Three Small Words

By: Kiwi

    Brooke Warren sat alone on the train. She was on her way to college and she wasn’t ready to leave. Kentville was all she had known. She was born and raised there and thought she would never leave but a full-ride scholarship to Berkley was awaiting her on the other side of the country.

     Just minutes ago she was forced to say goodbye to her mom, whom she had sworn she’d never leave. Brooke’s father had died when she was only three years old. Although she doesn’t remember mush of him, she promised herself she’d take care of her mother. But that pesky scholarship snuck up on her and she couldn’t pass it up. Brooke and her mother have gone on and off of welfare since her father died and without this scholarship there would be no way Brooke could afford schooling for engineering.
     She stared out the window and watched the trees pass by.

~A While Later~
     “Incoming freshmen and transfers!” A man yelled through the chaos. “Sign in and get your schedules!” Another said standing next to him. Brooke picked up her bags and walked towards the table where the two men announced they were to direct incoming freshmen.
     “Brooke Warren.” She said stepping up to the table. “Here you are schedule, dorm assignment, book list, and sign here.” The man said all in one breathe. He looked up and was stunned by the sight in front of him. “Here you are… AJ.” Brook said handing back the clipboard and getting his name off of the tag pinned to his shirt. “See ya around.” He said with a huge grin on his face. Brooke responded with a sly, half-smile and a nod.
     AJ was a junior studying International relations and political science. His reputation on campus was, and still is, ‘McLean, ladies man.’ Although he told himself this year would be different.

~Two Weeks Later~
     “Call her man! You have to!” AJ’s friend, Nick handed him the phone. “But, I got her number from the school records, that’s just not right.” “Trust me, she won’t care, just call!” Nick shoved the phone into AJ’s hand.
     “Hello? This is Brooke.” She answered the phone. “Uh, hi Brooke. I don’t know if you remember me, but this is AJ.” He was cut off by Brooke saying, “Yeah, the registration guy, how’d you get my number?” “Um, a friend of your roommate.” AJ said nervously. “Yeah, okay, I don’t have a roommate…” Brooke said confused. “That’s not the point. I was wondering if you wanted to come with me to the Lit concert on Friday.” AJ blurted out quickly. “Sure, I’m in the Ewing Building, meet you in the lobby at 8.” Brooke said ending the phone call and hanging up.

~Friday Night~
     “Hi.” Brooke greeted AJ as he came into the Ewing Building. Once again, he was taken back by her appearance. He could tell Brooke was low-maintenance by how she dressed. She simply wore a pair of low-rise jeans and a tank-top. “Ready?” Brooke said interrupting AJ’s thoughts.
     They arrived at the concert and Brooke was amazed by the seats that AJ had gotten. They were in the third row just to the right of the stage. The opening band was Handsome Devil, a band from the Orange County area. As soon as Lit took the stage, AJ immediately noticed Brooke’s face light up with excitement. “How’d you know they’re my favorite?” Brooke yelled to AJ over the loud guitar solo in the middle of the song ‘Miserable’. “Lucky guess!” AJ said smiling back.
     After the concert, the two waited a little while before they left. “Did you have fun?” AJ asked trying to make small talk. “Of course I did,” Brooke smiled, “Thanks.” She added placing a kiss on AJ’s cheek.

For the next few months Brooke and AJ dated steadily but for Brooke nothing seemed quite right. The age difference between them bothered her the most. AJ was 24, she was only 18. Although it was only a six year difference, there were always small complications that came between them. Brooke was more focused on her studying and AJ was more into having fun. Brooke had heard from a sophomore she met about AJ’s previous reputation, which made her even more cautious about getting too involved
and letting him have too much of her heart.
     Brooke was taking a structural engineering class on Wednesday mornings, she had met a few friends and they made it a weekly ritual to hand out on Thursday s when none of them had a class. AJ’s friend, Nick was one of those students that Brooke would get together with.
     Meanwhile even though Brooke and AJ still dated occasionally, Brooke was drifting away from AJ and closer to Nick. She obviously had more in common with Nick, not only their major in college but also the age gap was much less, with Nick only being 20.
     Slowly, Brooke’s phone calls to AJ became more sparing. But this gave him time to think about his feelings towards her. He had now known this girl for six months and there was something inside him that told him he loved her. Little did he know, Nick’s conscious was telling him the same thing.
     The next Thursday came and AJ knew he had to talk to Brooke and tell her his feelings. Nick and Brooke were to meet at Java Rama, the campus coffee house at four o’clock pm, Nick arrived early in hopes he could talk with Brooke before the rest of their friends arrived.
     “Brooke, can I talk to you?” Nick ran up to her as soon as she walked through the door. “Sure Nick, what’s up?” Nick led Brooke to a corner booth in the back of the café. “Brooke, I’ve got something to tell you…” Nick trailed off nervously. “I, uh, I love you.” He said looking up and locking eyes with Brooke. “Oh Nick, I love you too. I felt an instant connection the first time we met!” Brooke said smiling. “What a relief! I was so worried you’d run out of here screaming!” Nick laughed with a sigh. “But I must tell you, I had feelings for AJ too, but the only reason I didn’t act on them was because of you.” Brooke said resting her head in her hands. “Remember his status as a player… you could never fully trust him…” Nick reminded her of AJ’s past. Brooke simply nodded in agreement. She knew that was the main reason she always pulled herself away from AJ. She wouldn’t have been able to take the heart break.
     “Brooke! I gotta talk to ya!” AJ ran into the coffee shop out of breath. Brooke stood up from the booth and turned around face to face with AJ. “I’ve gotta say, I’m in love with you.” AJ said quickly. Brooke stood in complete silence, as did Nick. “I said, I love you.” AJ repeated. “I’m sorry AJ but those three small words cam way to late.” Brooke said sincerely. “You should’ve thought about that a long time ago. Age and loyalty got in our way.” She explained. “But I…” AJ started but was cut off. “I’m sorry.” Brooke said taking Nick’s hand and walking away from the dazed AJ.
     AJ stood in the coffee house confused. He’d actually said those three small words to a girl for the first time in his life, and he was rejected. This crushed his ego, he sat down in the booth to think about what had just happened to him and figure out how he was to win her heart.

That's it! End of story! Send feedback please... or leave it in the guestbook.

THE SEQUEL TO "3 SMALL WORDS" IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING WRITTEN, CHECK BACK SHORTLY. IT IS TITLED "TORN BETWEEN FRIENDS"