C is for Chrissa

I had two choices.
The first was to sit here in my room and play Angry Birds on my iPod like I had been all Summer.
The second was to face up to the facts and go to Matt's house and apologize.

And since I have a conscience, I chose going to the Riden residence.

I walked slowly up their driveway. With every step I took, another caterpillar underwent metamorphosis and turned into a butterfly in my stomach.

When I got to their door, I stared at the light brown wooden door, then - without realizing it - I knocked.

"Oh no.." I whispered, grabbing my hand.

Before I could run away, a smiling woman was hugging me and exclaiming “CHRISSA MAXWELL? OH, IT’S BEEN SO LONG!”

I was hugging her back and smiling too – Mrs. Riden has one of those contagious smiles.

“It has been, Mrs. Riden.” I giggled.

”Are you here to see Matt?” She asked, raising and eyebrow.

I nodded.

“Oh, well his room is the second door on the left.” She tilted her head in the direction of a hallway and I was on my way.


My feet took me to a door with some blue tack on it. I toyed with it nervously, then the door opened suddenly.


“Chrissa? Oh gosh, your eye…” He trailed off, noticing my black eye. I really hope his mother hadn’t noticed it too.

“Can we talk?” I asked, ignoring his statement.

“Like old times?” He asked.

“Like old times.” I confirmed.


He went and sat on his bed and patted the spot next to him, which I took.

“What happened with us?” I asked.

“Well, on New Year’s Eve, I thought I had it all figured out. I was going to tell you how I feel, you were going to feel the same way, then we were going to run out in the snow and kiss like they do in those sappy romantic movies that my mom watches. I told you, and you felt the same way. I was so excited. Then, we didn’t talk about it for weeks. You tried to bring it up, but I didn’t want to talk about it. I was scared. I told you because I had – what I will now call – ‘New Year’s Courage.’ Then, when you did ask, I blew up. I was so confused, and I had a feeling in my heart that you would never feel the same way.” He trailed off. I nodded, which told him that I was listening and then I gave him the okay to go on.

“Then, on Valentine’s Day, I was excited because I took it as another chance at happiness with you. I didn’t tell you in person, but that didn’t make it any less true. Then, I made the same mistake of not talking it out with you until it probably was a bad time.” He sighed.

“What about Beth?” I asked, remembering his one time fling with Beth Landers.

“We were Science partners. We were hanging out, and then I went to talk to you and she followed me, and you looked so happy without me. So I told you that she was my girlfriend, when she really wasn’t. I got a C on the project we were partners on, but I don’t mind. A C is actually really good. A C is the third letter in the alphabet, and I would really like a third chance at your heart. Also, C stands for Chrissa.” He smiled a little at the end. I smiled too.

“You’re not going to make a joke of this?” I asked. Almost immediately, he shook his head.

”I’m not dreaming?” I asked.

“If you were dreaming would you feel this?” He asked, then kissed me softly.

I pulled back and blushed.

”So, I guess Mattrissa’s on then?”

“What in the name is that?” He chuckled.

“Our couple name.” I giggled.

“Yeah, Mattrissa’s on.” He kissed my cheek and we laughed.


**--Chrissa