Confliction (An Original Fiction)

Sitting in the most beautiful restaurant in New York City, Jackie felt quite exuberant. With a chandelier hanging right overhead and a live band playing right next to her table nothing could ruin this evening. Originally she was so fearful of leaving for college. It was so much more. She felt so free. Studying journalism, Jackie was already set up for an internship next semester.

“Can you think of anything that would make this a better evening?” Anthony asked her after they finished their delectable meals. He raised his glass of Merlot. “Here’s to first dates.”

“I can’t think of anything else,” Jackie said, clinking her glass with his. The first semester of college had almost concluded. She met Anthony on the first day of Journalism class. Luckily, the teacher paired them together to work on articles. For some reason, it took a while for Anthony to ask her out on a date.

Paying for the meal, they decided to take a walk under the moonlight. Jackie breathed in the fresh air. “I wish this evening didn’t have to end. For once I feel so positive.”

“Jackie,” he caught her attention, holding her hand. Jackie looked down at his hand and then into his eyes. “I really like you. I know it’s only been the first date - but,” despite how good at he was in being so charming, Jackie could tell how nervous he looked. “Would you like to be my girlfriend?’

Jackie was star-struck, but it wasn’t from excitement. Instead, the hand holding hers triggered a memory.

“What?” Jackie asked again at the sudden question.

“I said do you want to be my girlfriend?”

Her head was swirling at the question. When she tried to leave the room her hand was pulled back. A soft hand was touching her face.

“Cassie, everything’s going too fast,” Jackie said to her best friend since childhood.

Cassie was telling her it was okay to have these feelings, but all Jackie was thinking about was her parents. She knew she was getting away from them in a few months to attend a college that was hours away. Then she’d be free to explore her own mind. But this felt wrong. She didn’t want to accept herself this way.

“Can we just forget about this?” Jackie asked guilt surrounding her voice.

Cassie looked hurt. She never said anything so cruel to her best friend. “I thought you said you liked the kiss.”

“I did.”

Her parents were proud of her getting accepted to a college in New York. Their jobs made them so busy that they hardly knew what was going on in her life. They didn’t even know she wanted to be a journalist. They did say they were hoping that she’d become a lawyer, like them. That was just it. She didn’t want to be like them. Jackie wanted to go far away to be different.

Jackie didn’t understand why she couldn’t face her true feelings at that point. She knew she was different for a long time. It may have been because her parents said they were proud of her.

Cassie looked into her eyes. Cassie was the one who always believed in her knowing she could be so much more. “Nothing about this is wrong.”

Tears welled in her eyes. Jackie let an I am sorry out. She asked to be forgiven, but Cassie was out the door never to be seen again.

“Jackie?”

“What?”

“I asked if you’d like to be my girlfriend,” Anthony asked her. He was staring at her with that worried look like Cassie.

Jackie had everything she wanted. Didn’t she?