Chapter 3: Two options

Bart sat on a couch, across from a man. The man was dressed in a red shirt with a black tux on top. He poured glasses of wine for both him and Bart. They were in a bar that looked very classy. The type only rich people could afford.

After what seemed like forever Bart broke the silence.

"Why'd you call me?,I'm guessing it's not because you needed a drinking buddy,Simon?"

He laughed.

"I did need a drinking buddy but yes,that isn't the actual reason. I think you're well aware of why i wanted to meet you."

Bart was silent, almost like he had lost his ability to speak.

"You've hurt Katelyn so much,i don't know why she hurts herself over useless trash like you!."

Suddenly Simon's tone went from soft to raging.

"You heartless piece of shit. Five years, you've been hurting my sister for the past five years. Will you only stop when you totally destroy her?"

".... I'm sorry,i.. don't know what to say"

Bart said softly. Simon's anger increased.

"Of course you have nothing to say. My sister...my sister put you first,she put you first in everything. Heck she cut our father off because he didn't accept you!"

His voice calmed like an engine totally out of gas.

"Why'd you leave her at the altar Bart.... why'd you do it?. I liked you yunno, I thought it'd be really cool if we became family. I thought you'd make her happy. Was she not good enough for you?"

Bart's eyes saddened.

"She was perfect, she was great...i could see how much she loved me everytime i looked into her eyes."

"Then why..."

"Simon... there's someone else. This person makes me smile,makes me happy, and the thought of losing her makes me sad. Although this person doesn't see me as anything more than a friend but I'm okay with that. As long as i get to see her everyday,then that's enough-"

He paused for a bit,then continued.

"I couldn't hurt Katelyn by being with her and thinking about someone else. I couldn't bring myself to betray her like that."

"So you abandoned her instead and made her life miserable?,truly generous." 

The level of sarcasm Simon used would've been obvious to even a child.

"I'm sorry,i truly am.

Bart's voice had sadness all over it. Simon stood up and started towards the door.

"Bart, if you ever cared about Katelyn,if you ever loved her, i beg you-"

He placed both his palms against each other.

"I beg you, please stay away from her, please. I'm begging you as a brother who is concerned about his sister's deteriorating mental health."

"She... said she wanted to stay friends."

"This friendship after lovers thing, it's not working for her, she's still hung up on the past. Katelyn is still waiting, hoping that one day you'll walk back into her life. She hasn't moved on."

Bart tried to speak but he had nothing to say. He knew this was true,he knew he has been holding Katelyn back. He knew he still had feelings for her.

"You can't have your eat your cake and have it Bart. You have to make a choice. You can either be with this other woman,or you can be with Katelyn. If you ending up picking the former,i beg you, please never contact my sister again, and please do not see her. You need to allow her move on."

Simon walked out of the door and shut it behind him. Bart sat alone in the classy bar, completely speechless and frozen like he had been asked to make a choice between life and death.

After thinking for an awfully long time,Bart took out his phone and called Katelyn.

"Hey"

*Hi Barry*

"I told you i didn't like being called Barry"

He let out a brief laugh filled with bitterness.

*Ok ok I'll stop. What's up?, you aren't the type to call late at night*

".... Katelyn"

*Yeah, what's up?*

He took in a deep breath before he spoke.

"Let's stop hanging out."

*What- what are you saying?*

Her voice shook

*We agreed to put everything behind us and just be friends did we not?*

Bart felt like he had murdered someone,the guilt was something he'd have to live his whole life with.

"Katelyn,i never want to see you again, and I'd like it if- if you didn't contact me"

*Bartholomew!*

Katelyn called out over the phone,she was crying and it felt almost like Bart could hear the tears dripping down her face.

"Goodbye Katelyn."

He ended the call and put down the phone.

Bart sat on a bench in the park till early hours of the morning. He didn't get a wink of sleep.

"I should probably call Lola,her hangover yesterday was pretty bad."

He took out his phone and called Lola.

"Helloooo Sleepy head."

He tried to sound as lively as he could.

*Hey Bart.*

"Slept well?"

*No,no i did not,last night was hell. Why'd you let me drink again?!*

Lola lamented.

"I'm sorry I'm sorry,i tried to warn you but you never listen."

Bart laughed while talking.

*You at home?, We should binge watch something together since we're basically jobless now.*

"Err, I'm a bit occupied at the moment, you should go, I'll meet you at home, there's pasta in the fridge but don't eat all of it!"

*Yes yes sir.*

He disconnected the call and slipped the phone in his pocket.

"I should probably go before she burns down my house with the microwave."

He said as he walked down the road to catch a bus home.

As Lola sat down to eat her pasta,she heard the door click.

"what took you so long to get here,you kept me wai-"

When Bart came through the door,as she saw his facial expression, she stood up. The look on Bart's face was one she knew too well.

"Lo-"

she put the plate down and rushed to hug him. Lola embraced Bart tightly, non of them said a word. They stood still, hugging each other for what seemed like a minute,then Lola let go and pulled him to sit next to her on the couch.

Lola sat on the couch next to Bart and guided his head onto her bare thighs that weren't fully covered by the jean shorts she wore. He laid his head on her thighs and she stroked his hair continuously.

"Lola, do you think I'm a horrible person?"

Bart spoke very softly.

"did someone say somet- no actually, you aren't horrible in the slightest"

she spoke softly as well.

"I hurt every woman that comes into my life,i hurt them and I don't know why I'm so horrible."

Lola sighed.

"Bart, I'm not one to talk, I've had a bunch of shitty relationships too,i guess we're just unlucky. One thing's for sure though, Bart, you're like the best thing in my life right now, you've always being. I don't know about you being horrible or not,i love you Bart"

this made Bart feel a suddenly shock throughout his body, his eyes widened. Lola continued.

"You'll always be my best friend Bart, even after i get married, I'm very sure my kids will love uncle Bart."

suddenly all the energy in Bart's body left him,he felt like he had been stabbed. His stomach growled aggressively.

"You hungry?"

Lola asked as she helped him sit upright.

"Yeah- probably, haven't had anything since lunch yesterday."

he laughed nervously.

"Tch,you need to eat more yunno,a healthy body results in a healthy mind"

Lola got an extra fork from the kitchen for Bart. As they sat to eat Lola exclaimed.

"Eureka!"

"Huh?"

Bart was puzzled

"I have the solution!"

"What are you saying Lo?"

"Let's go,on a date!"

she grinned

"What?"

Bart felt more confused than he had ever been in his life.