Chapter 17

Brian was speechless.  He couldn't believe what just happened.  He couldn't believe what he just said.  He couldn't believe what Angela just said.  He looked around the club to see everyone staring at him.
   

 On impulse, he turned to run after Angela, but was stopped.  "Let me do it," Krista said.  "She's not gonna want to see you right now."
    

"Yeah.  Good idea.  I think I might have a way to get her to forgive me anyway."
  

 Krista ran to find her best friend.  She knew this talk wasn't going to be pretty, but it had to be done.  The parking lot was filled with cars; Angela could be anywhere.  Krista decided to check Brian's jeep first.  The
most obvious spot.  No luck.
   

"OK," she thought.  "Angela can't be too far.  She doesn't know this area that well.  If I was her, where would I hide?"
      

She scanned the area around the club again.  To the right of the club was the ocean.  Even though Angela hated the ocean and the beach, Krista somehow had a feeling that her best friend would be there.
      

Slowly, she followed the worn ground that led to the beach.  Again, she scanned what she saw and found an outline of a person laying down in the sand.  She made her way over, and sure enough, it was Angela.  She had her coat behind her heed as a pillow and she was crying slow, painful tears.
   

"It's pretty peaceful out here," she said as she sat down.
     

"Yeah," Angela replied.
  

"Nice night to come out and think by yourself."
   

 "Just cut to the chase," Angela interrupted.
    

"OK then.  Brian didn't mean what he said.  You should have seen the look on his face when you ran out.  He was just caught up in the moment. That's all."
   

"That's all?  How so I know he's not cheating on me?  He may have said he loved me, but he called me by another girl's name," Angela felt her tears become more painful.
    

"Come on Angela.  He loves you.  I think you slapped him in the face when you handed him the necklace.  What possessed you to take it off anyway?" Krista wondered.
      

"I think at that point I gave up all hope.  Before we got back together, I had hoped that we would meet up again someday.  It was like a symbol or something.  But after tonight, the hope had died and the necklace
went with it," Angela poured out.
        

Krista studied her and knew she was lying.  The way Angela was looking at her and the way she was choosing her words was not like her.  "I don't believe you," Krista finally said.
   

 "And why not?"
       

"You're just gonna throw this all away?  You know you've wanted this forever.  Here it is!  You can't just sit here and tell me that you're gonna give it all up."
        

"Maybe I am."
     

"OK then.  At least come back inside.  It's cold out here," Krista shivered.
  

 "Yeah, I'm getting kinda cold.  But this doesn't mean that I'm gonna talk to him."
   

Krista rolled her eyes and helped Angela up.  They slowly walked back to the club.  The music and laughter of the kids having a good time could be heard from outside.  Angela wanted to be carefree like those kids, but she was carrying too heavy of a heart to be in a light mood.
       

Once they got back inside, they were blinded by a bright light.   "This isn't good," Angela thought.  The spotlight remained on both of them.
      

"Which one of you is Angela?" the DJ roared into the microphone.
      

Not sure what to expect, Angela slowly raised her hand.  She could feel everyone's eyes on her.
   

"Alrighty then!!" the DJ continued.  "We have your boyfriend, Brian, here."
   

 "Ex-boyfriend," she thought.

Brian peered around from behind the DJ to see Angela, who didn't look too happy.
   

"He wants to apologize himself and then he has a little surprise for you."
    

Angela looked to Krista for help, but she had backed off.  Angela sighed as she realized she was alone on this one.
  

 "Angela," Brian said with the microphone as he started walking toward her.  "I am begging for your forgiveness.  I can't live without you.   You're my world.  You're my all."  He stopped in front of her and dropped to his knees.
    

 She wanted so much to forgive him on the spot, but he was wrong and she was hurt.  So she just didn't say anything.
       

"Alright," he said, getting up.  "Maybe this will change your mind."
       

This was the DJ's cue to play their 'song.'  KC and Jojo's "All My Life" filtered through the air.  Memories of high school came flooding back to Angela.
  

 She was crushed though.  He was trying so hard, and yet she wasn't sure if she wanted to forgive him.
   

Brian extended his hand toward her for a dance.  He beckoned for her to accept his apology and let everything be OK with this dance.
   

"No!" she said suddenly.  "No, I can't accept this apology.  I'm sorry."  Once again, she took off, but this time she started for home.
     

Brian sank down to his knees where he stood and started crying, which was something Krista hadn't see him do in a long time.