fleeting and flying

Bree felt like throwing her Candy Striper apron in the bin and walking out into the freezing rain.

Yeah, her new year was that bad.

How could that be? Everything felt perfect with Connor before Christmas. After all, she did know what happiness felt like and now, she wanted to rewind and relive it all over. That moment with him when school let out for the holidays.

It was bliss. So simple and true. Just how did it mess up?

1. He went to his grandparents for the holidays. Last minute. She thought he would be with her. Forever. Evidently.

2. He forgot to call. The texts weren't so much.

3. She saw him with a girl, and they were laughing at school. And he didn't even know Bree was there waiting for him.

Oh, she was a total mess now, and she didn't mean to be so bitter and vile. She was pretty sure she could spit venom on her next victim.

"Hey." Someone tapped her on the shoulder. "Can we talk?" For a second, she thought it might be Connor, but of course it wasn't. It was Cody.

"What do you want?" She scowled. "I'm suppose to play kiss and make up, with you?" She was in a huff.

"What are you talking about?" He winced as if he had a brain freeze.

"Never mind." She hugged herself hard. "I know..you..you were never my boyfriend." She spilled. Then swelled  a frown. "Its just..you know, I-I wished..you were..and..yeah, I let myself believe it for a day or two." She felt herself flush with tears. She turned from him then. "NEVER MIND." She winced bitter with tears.

Why did she still believe in fairy-tales? They didn't exist.

"Bree? What's the matter?" Cody wanted to know as he walked with her.

She shook her head, no. What good did it do to let anyone in? They'd be gone sooner or later.

"Come on, let me buy, you, some hot chocolate, OK?" Cody asked

Bree turned to him with a swelled frown.

"I'm sorry if I let you, down." Cody told Bree once he got her settled down at the hospital cafeteria with a hot chocolate and a packaged LITTLE DEBBIE.  "So what happened with Connor?"

She was still upset, but she broke the gooey oatmeal cookie in two and took a bite of the marshmallow goodness.

"I know..I've been a bad friend. I didn't know ..I'd hurt you.." He felt a little numb. Yet, he felt he was having a practice conversation with Bree that he would use later with Ruby. He didn't know what to expect from her after the holidays. "Its just..well, Sawyer..he told me..I should find somebody..my own age." He practically winked, wishing he'd never taken Sawyer's advice. He wouldn't be so worried about his sporadic sex life. He knew if he'd stayed with Bree they would just be friends. It was a heart-felt feeling that he didn't really have with Ruby.

"You..you didn't hurt me." She snapped. "I'm fine. I get it. I'm OK. I don't mean to be hanging out with high schoolers. Its just the guys my age are into farting and seeing how hard they can hit your arm." She bit her bottom lip.

Cody thought her remark was funny. He couldn't help but chuckle.

"I knew the day would come, when..when Connor would find someone. But..but its kind of like..I don't exist, you know." Her straight lip made Cody sad.

"Hang in there." He stirred his hot chocolate. "I'll come over and I'll play video games with you."

Her sunny smile was back, and at the moment Cody felt safe. Still, he didn't know what to do about Ruby.