You're the One

Specs looked at the tranquil scene around him and wondered how his life had become such a wreck. He was in a secluded spot in Central Park, a spot he liked to think of as his own. It was about half a mile off the main path, hidden by a dense patch of forest. A narrow stream trickled into a shallow rock bed, forming a small pond. Since he was young, Specs would come here to think whenever something bothered him. It was his personal hideaway from the world. No one knew about it except Devyn, his best friend. Their fathers were best friends in Ireland and they’d been close since they were three. When Specs’ parents died, Devyn’s family offered to take him in, but he’d already become accustomed to life on his own. About a year ago, Specs realized the feelings he had for Devyn had developed into love. He came here often to try and figure out what to do about it. He didn’t want to risk their friendship over this and she could have any guy she wanted. When his feelings became too strong to contain, Specs completely alienated himself from her, hoping his heart could forget. Of course, it never worked. He’d sit here and stew for hours, but all he could think about was how blue her eyes were, and how the shampoo she used made her hair smell like an orchard. One day, Devyn followed him here and confronted him about it. “Dev, what are you doing here?” “We have to talk.” “Alright.” “What did I do? Why are you so angry with me?” “What do you mean?” “You’ve done everything you can to avoid me and I want to know why. I’m supposed to be your best friend, but you won’t talk to me anymore. If you want me out of your life, fine, but I deserve to know why.” “You wouldn’t understand.” “I would if you told me.” He turned his back on her. “Dammit, Aidan, what do you want from me?” Her eyes glistened with tears. Specs looked at her and sighed. It was time to tell her the truth. “Your love.” Devyn’s expression softened as she approached him. “My love?” She held his hands in hers. “But you’ve always had it.” As their lips touched for the first time, Specs couldn’t help but wonder how he thought he could live his life without Devyn. Everything he’d ever wanted or needed was in his arms and he had no intention of ever letting go. That was just six months ago, but it seemed like forever. Specs smiled at the memory. He thought they’d be together forever until Jared came along. A month earlier, Devyn failed an algebra test. She’d never been particularly good at math, but she’d never failed before either. Her teacher arranged for her to have a math tutor, Jared Thomas. Jared attended the university and came from a wealthy family. He had dark hair, green eyes and a muscular build. Jared and Devyn studied together five nights a week. Specs was a little hurt because they couldn’t spend much time together, but understood that this was more important. Saturday night became their special night, the one time a week they could really be together. One Friday night, Devyn came to the Lodging House to see Specs. She could hear his footfall coming down the stairs and couldn’t help smiling as she saw him. He was so handsome and when she looked into his eyes all she could see or feel was his love for her. She hoped Specs wouldn’t be too hurt when she told him her news. He gave her a hug and kissed her. “Hey,what are you doing here?” “I have to ask you something, but you won’t like it.” “What is it?” “Well, “Carmen” is playing at Carnegie Hall Saturday night. Jared has an extra ticket and asked me to go with him.” “Oh.” “Do you mind?” “Of course not. You should go and have a great time.” Specs did his best to smile genuinely. Devyn threw her arms around him. “Thank you. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” When Specs walked back into the bunkroom, Dutchy waved him over. There was a map of some kind on the floor in front of him. “Ok, to sneak in to Carnegie…” “Forget it, Dutch, we’re not going.” “I thought you wanted to surprise Devyn.” “I did, but a friend of hers has an extra ticket, so she’s going with him. It’s her favorite opera, she’d have more fun actually sitting in the audience instead of backstage on the catwalk.” That’s how it started. Devyn started breaking their dates to have extra study time, and Specs never let on how much it bothered him. This was important to Devyn and he’d do whatever it took to make her happy. Jared, on the other hand, was a different story.  Specs only met Jared once and they disliked each other on sight. Specs had just arrived at the school, where Devyn was finishing her lesson. Her face lit up when she saw him coming. “Aidan!” She stood up and ran into his arms for a hug. “Aidan, this is Jared, my tutor. Jared, this is Aidan.” Jared looked at Specs as if he were poison, but shook his hand with a false smile. “Aidan, I left my sweater in the other room, I’ll be right back.”  As soon as Devyn was gone, Jared stared at Specs as if he were conducting an inspection. “What are you doing?” “Trying to figure out what Devyn sees in an urchin like you.” Specs smiled. “I don’t know, but I thank God for it everyday.”  Specs knew from the look of jealousy in Jared’s eyes that he was after Devyn. He wanted to say something about it then and there, but decided against it. Devyn seemed oblivious to Jared’s feelings and her math test was only a week away, so he would be out of their lives soon enough. Specs just kept his feelings bottled up inside and waited for it all to pass.