Paramore's new single "Still Into You" struck a love chord for this author of naughty novels. What happens when one person decides it's over? How does the party left behind feel? After crying for a week, the rejected individual faces a choice: Keep crying about someone who isn't into you, or move your ass forward. I vote for the latter. There are plenty of fish in the sea. As cliché as that sentiment is, it's no less true. And walking away doesn't mean you can't look back once in a while.
"You're married...please stop." Ouch. My character gets that text and her world falls apart. The thing she prayed for, hoped for, wished for, and dreamed of, dies in the span of a few words. It was crushing. After a week of getting her all sauced up, her potential lover dumps a load of moral garbage on her plate. But she knows it's a lie. The real reason for the break up? He was scared. So was she. But she's older. Knows that their synergy isn't something that happens every day. She gives it a few weeks but hears nothing. Now, the ball is finally back in her court--not because she can run into his arms, at last--but because she can choose to move forward. Or, she can keep wondering, "What if...?" But my girl is tough, strong. She's a survivor, even if she doesn't know it yet....
The fact is, she was really into her potential lover. That doesn't go away for her. Like the Paramore song says: "Yeah, after all this time, I'm still into you." So even though she decides to move on, if her guy got over himself at some point--maybe took a cue from the movies and showed up all-romantic-like at her place of employment with a rose--she'd still be into him. Like, I-want-you-now kind of into him. And if he never shows up again? For her, that unique connection is truly unique. She'll always be a little sad. But she'll make new connections in the absence of the one that seemed to magically find her, and just as quickly, disappear. Brief, but poignant--the experience woke her from her social coma. The power in that relationship--the quick intensity--terrified her, but at the same time, she understood how amazing that was. How rare. But she has a good ten years on her lover. His youth evident in the quickness with which he made his decision. Young men are always quick on the draw. But they have little-to-no recovery time, so my character isn't giving up on that potential. Or, her own. If her gorgeous young man wanted and needed her, other gorgeous young men will feel the same way. She now knows her value--thanks to him.
The night her potential lover rekindled their friendship, another less-forward young man gave her his number. She programmed it into her phone but never used it. Now that her potential lover refused to back up his promises, she has to. She is still into the guy she was willing to do absolutely insane things for...but unless he shows up again, she's got to put one foot in front of the other and move on. Here's how I imagine her doing that in my book:
"Goodbye...I know you're not really here, but have to say it anyway. I wanted you, too. Needed you--still do. Should have said so when I had the chance. Should have said many things. Like the fact that I'm free. I was scared you'd take advantage if you thought otherwise. But you can't hear me anymore. And I can't keep waiting to hear from you."
As she finishes saying goodbye to her potential lover, now invisible, she picks up her phone and composes a text to the second young man--the one who gave her his number too many weeks ago to pretend she'd forgotten about it. Tentatively, she takes her first step forward:
"Sorry for not getting in touch sooner. Still up for lunch/dinner? Hoping you're free Friday...."
After only about 60 seconds, she gets a familiar buzz on her phone that she hasn't heard in nearly two weeks:
"Hey there! Friday is great! Looking forward to seeing you then!"
In my books, LOVE always wins. In real life, it should be that way, too...don't you think??? ;)
"You're married...please stop." Ouch. My character gets that text and her world falls apart. The thing she prayed for, hoped for, wished for, and dreamed of, dies in the span of a few words. It was crushing. After a week of getting her all sauced up, her potential lover dumps a load of moral garbage on her plate. But she knows it's a lie. The real reason for the break up? He was scared. So was she. But she's older. Knows that their synergy isn't something that happens every day. She gives it a few weeks but hears nothing. Now, the ball is finally back in her court--not because she can run into his arms, at last--but because she can choose to move forward. Or, she can keep wondering, "What if...?" But my girl is tough, strong. She's a survivor, even if she doesn't know it yet....
The fact is, she was really into her potential lover. That doesn't go away for her. Like the Paramore song says: "Yeah, after all this time, I'm still into you." So even though she decides to move on, if her guy got over himself at some point--maybe took a cue from the movies and showed up all-romantic-like at her place of employment with a rose--she'd still be into him. Like, I-want-you-now kind of into him. And if he never shows up again? For her, that unique connection is truly unique. She'll always be a little sad. But she'll make new connections in the absence of the one that seemed to magically find her, and just as quickly, disappear. Brief, but poignant--the experience woke her from her social coma. The power in that relationship--the quick intensity--terrified her, but at the same time, she understood how amazing that was. How rare. But she has a good ten years on her lover. His youth evident in the quickness with which he made his decision. Young men are always quick on the draw. But they have little-to-no recovery time, so my character isn't giving up on that potential. Or, her own. If her gorgeous young man wanted and needed her, other gorgeous young men will feel the same way. She now knows her value--thanks to him.
The night her potential lover rekindled their friendship, another less-forward young man gave her his number. She programmed it into her phone but never used it. Now that her potential lover refused to back up his promises, she has to. She is still into the guy she was willing to do absolutely insane things for...but unless he shows up again, she's got to put one foot in front of the other and move on. Here's how I imagine her doing that in my book:
"Goodbye...I know you're not really here, but have to say it anyway. I wanted you, too. Needed you--still do. Should have said so when I had the chance. Should have said many things. Like the fact that I'm free. I was scared you'd take advantage if you thought otherwise. But you can't hear me anymore. And I can't keep waiting to hear from you."
As she finishes saying goodbye to her potential lover, now invisible, she picks up her phone and composes a text to the second young man--the one who gave her his number too many weeks ago to pretend she'd forgotten about it. Tentatively, she takes her first step forward:
"Sorry for not getting in touch sooner. Still up for lunch/dinner? Hoping you're free Friday...."
After only about 60 seconds, she gets a familiar buzz on her phone that she hasn't heard in nearly two weeks:
"Hey there! Friday is great! Looking forward to seeing you then!"
In my books, LOVE always wins. In real life, it should be that way, too...don't you think??? ;)
RSS Feed