Chapter Two:
The Flashback:
The Chapter In Which She Thinks Back To A Few Months Before
Friday October 6th 2008
Flashback to Friday February 10th 2006

Libby woke up early the next morning, desperately hoping that what had happened last night did not really happen, that it had all been a dream. She knew however, that she could not have even dreamed for that to happen, it had to be reality. She was camping with her family that weekend, and they started getting ready to go really early in the day so she did not really have much time to think about anything. Her dad took her to McDonalds for breakfast, she loved McDonald’s breakfast, but she hardly ate a thing. She hadn’t told her family yet that Gabriel and her had broken up again, she just could not bring herself to say the words out loud, she couldn‘t have them making jokes again like last, she just did not think she could take it if they joked about it again.

She sent text messages to all of her friends, they sent love and support back, and she talked to Gabriel all day through text messages. He had spent the year before camping with them, and she wished he was there then, but knew she probably would not be able to hold it all together if he was.

Libby’s thoughts that day drifted back to the first time her and Gabriel had broken up, she had been at school, it was four days before Valentines Day, and her friend said they could not visit his school at lunch. Libby and Gabriel attended different schools, but often visited each other at lunch; it was just a short walk between schools. After lunch was over, Libby was waiting for her friend Nicole. She had been talking to two other friends, and one of them had said something that made her suspicious, she had told her that the valentines present was a bad idea for Gabriel, and Libby wanted to know why, but her friend would not say. Libby continued waiting for Nicole as the other girls walked away.

“Is it bad?” Libby heard one of her friends ask the other as they walked away. The other girl just nodded, and Libby knew something was wrong.

As soon as her friend Nicole met her, Libby said she needed to talk to her about something. Nicole could tell by the look on Libby’s face that something was wrong, so the two of them headed to the girls washroom to talk.
“I think… I think he’s going to break up with me,” Libby said, tears starting to fill up her eyes.

“I think I need to tell you something, but I don‘t know if I should or not” Nicole said, worrying about what would happen if she did tell Libby, and what would happen if she didn’t.

“What is it?” Libby asked, knowing something was definitely wrong.

“Well, I was talking to Laura… after Gabriel talked to her. He… he said he’s going to break up with you,” Nicole said softly, and then added, “I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you as soon as Laura told me, but she told me not to tell you”

“Oh…” was all Libby could say. Both girls were upset and decided they didn’t want to go to their next classes, they also decided they didn’t want to go to Laura’s party the next day, for some reason, they blamed this on her, even though they knew it wasn’t her fault.

Libby and Nicole went to guidance, and talked to one of the nice guidance counsellors, she told them that she would talk to their teachers, and say they were in guidance. She took them to a room inside the office so they could talk, and spend the period together. They had just the two of them, a box of Kleenex, and the amusement of whatever they could find in the room to keep them distracted. They tried talking to each other, about what was going to happen, but neither of them was sure just what was to come. They did however know one thing, no matter what; they would always be there for each other, as was learned that night.

Libby went home and was very upset. She told her mom she was not going to go to Laura’s party, and she went in her room and cried. Her mom came down later to ask about the party.

“Well, why aren’t you going? Did you have a fight with Laura?” she asked.

“No,” Libby replied, “I don’t want to talk about it”

“Libby, what’s wrong? Why don’t you want to go?” Her mom asked, now walking into her room.

“Because if I go Gabriel is going to break up with me,” she yelled through her tears.

“Well then why don’t you just get it over with and break up with him first?” her mom replied.

“I can’t” Libby said. It just wasn’t that easy. You can’t just break up with someone you are in love with because they are going to break up with you. Libby thought to herself. Her mom left the room, and she tried calling Gabriel, but she got no answer, so she called another friend instead, and told him what she thought was happening. He told her to try calling Gabriel again, and to talk about it. So that is just what she did.

“Hello?” he answered.

“Hi, it’s me” she said. “How… how are you?” she said, determined not to cry.

“I’m okay thanks, how are you?”

“I’m…” and with that she started to cry, but tried as hard as she could to keep it hidden from him. “I’m not good”

“What’s wrong?”

“Someone…. Someone told me something today, and I don’t want it to be true”

“What did they tell you?” he asked.

“They told me that…” she started to say, but did not know how to finish.

“They told you what?” he tried again.

“That you’re going to break up with me.” she waited for a minute for an answer, but did not want to know anymore about it.

“Oh…” he said, “Well, who told you that?”

“Well… the person who told me… was told by Laura, but I can’t tell you who told me”

They talked for a few more minutes, not really knowing what to say, Libby couldn’t really remember what had been said, but she did remember his way of getting off the phone with her that day.

“Ummm, Libby, I have to go, before I get upset on the phone, but we can talk later?”

“Okay” she said, while thinking Him get upset on the phone? Does he not realize I’m sitting alone in my basement crying over him while on the phone with him? I guess not. “I’ll talk to you later then, bye”

“Bye” he said, and just like last night, she had waited until he hung up, and then she whispered, “I love you” to no one.

As soon as she hung up on her end, she dialled Nicole’s number.

“Hello?” Nicole’s mom said, picking up the phone.

“Hi, is Nicole there please?”  Libby asked.

“Just one minute” Nicole’s mom said, and went to find Nicole.

“Hello?” Nicole answered.

“Hi…” was all Libby could get out before she broke down in to tears. Nicole could tell Libby was crying, and she wanted to be supportive.

“It’s going to be okay,” Nicole said, “I’m here for you, I promise”   
“Th- thanks” Libby replied.

They talked on the phone for awhile, Libby getting more and more cheered up, yet still upset at the same time. She even went outside, because it was snowing, with out a coat, and made a snow angel. She couldn’t feel the cold, all she felt was numb. She could however make herself sound happier than she was.

Eventually they had to get off of the phone, and Libby went upstairs and to the computer. She was talking to Gabriel on msn, and he decided to email her the letter he had written. It was telling her that he had started to see girlfriend things more as just friend things, and maybe they should just be friends. As Libby read it, she started to cry. She couldn’t move, and she couldn’t stop the tears. This was the first time she had cried in front of her family in a very long time, her dad even sat down next to her and hugged her, but it just made her cry more.

Libby couldn’t have that happen again. She wasn’t going to let her family know this time. She didn’t want them to see her so hurt and upset. She didn’t plan on every crying in front of her family again, she had to prove she was strong some how. She couldn’t keep it from her family for too long, she ended up telling them, but she did it without tears this time.

“Don't take your love away from me
Don't you leave my heart in misery
If you go then I'll be blue
'Cause breaking up his hard to do

Remember when you held me tight
And you kissed me all through the night
Think of all that we've been through
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

They say that breaking up is hard to do
Now I know, I know that it's true
Don't say that this is the end
Instead of breaking up I wish that we were making up again

I beg of you, don't say goodbye
Can't we give our love another try
Come on baby, let's start a new
'Cause breaking up is hard to do”
- Breaking Up Is Hard To Do by Neil Sedaka