It often appeared in Brittney's mind that if she had a little more courage, she could have made things different.

For example, she thought, if she had raised her hand to play the lead role in the musical in third grade, she could've won the prize. If she could have explained it to Ms. Martina that she was not the one cheating in the class test in her freshman year, she would not have to suffer a whole week's detention.

If she was brave enough, she could've given those chocolates to Michael on the Valentine's Day four years ago.

He could have been hers.

They could have been together.

They could have been sitting in his messy room; applying for colleges together and discussing which one was better and why. All she had tried her entire life was not to become a trouble in anyone's way.

After one of her longest sighs, Brittney came to a stop in front of a candy shop, Katherine's Confectionary. The shop was at the end of their town and people rarely visited the place.

The owner of the shop must have been another reason why the place was not so crowded as the coffee shop, Cappuccino across the street. Katherine Mathers, an old lady in her late sixties, ran the shop and was in no way as attractive as the waiters of Cappuccino.

Though Brittney always felt that this lady sold the most colorful and tasty candies and sweets in town, the shop was not running well. And whenever she would come here, Katherine would express how she wished to close the shop and move to Australia instead.

But one of the very few reasons why she had not done so, as the old lady would say, was the eighteen year old girl, Brittney Marie Claire herself.

Brittney always came here once or twice a week, and ordered a box of M&Ms and a regular Kit-Kat bar, and something more as well if there was any special occasion.

While the rest of the teenagers her age would be busy drinking or socializing on a weekend, she would still come here and give Katherine some company.

They'd talk for hours at a stretch. And for an old, lonely person like Katherine, whose own relatives had forgotten her first name - and called her 'Mrs. Mathers' all the time - there wasn't more she could ask for.

"Hello Katherine." Brittney greeted her sweetly. But a hint of tension was clear in her voice. She had a special purpose today, and she had to do it under any condition.

"Hey Brittney," said Mrs. Mathers, "Would you like something different today or the same?"

"No." Her heart raced in her chest. "Actually I have to make a phone call."

"Oh." Mrs. Mathers' tone held surprise by the sudden demand. "Anything wrong, dear?"

"It's.." Brittney searched for a suitable excuse. "It's just that my phone's battery has gone dead. I need to make a call." And with a little hesitation she added, "urgent."

"Of course, please come in. The phone's inside—"

She knew exactly where it was. She had been coming here for fourteen years!

Walking past the counter, she entered Katherine’s room, finding it unsurprisingly neat. The house phone was right where she’d always seen it, sitting beside the mahogany book shelf. Picking up the handset with a trembling hand, she dialed the number, fingers slipping across the buttons.

It started ringing, but no one picked up for long. She wiped her sweaty palm on her blue denims, her heartbeat was taking a furious speed now.

Almost after the eighth ring, when she was about to disconnect the line, someone picked up.

"Hello?" The voice was deep and husky, and more like a whisper.

At first Brittney hesitated, then gaining as much courage as she could, she finally spoke up.

"Hello, umm...Mic..Michael?" She stumbled over her words.

"Yeah, who's this?"

Brittney took a long, deep breath. She had to do this. She could not risk not doing it; ever.

"I.."

Suddenly she could not form another word in her throat. But she had to; she had to be courageous this time.

"Ilovedyou," she spit out hastily at first and then tried to slow down a little. "I loved you. I loved you so bad. And I thought..." Pausing a little, she added, "You loved me too."

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Please don't forget to vote, comment and share this if you like it. I'd like to tell you that I cannot make the other chapters as long as this one. The first chapter is lengthy because I want to give you a better insight into the story.

Cover above is by TrilliumAngel

The dedication goes to one of my all time fav wattpad authors.. HSH_DeathStar