Chapter Forty-Eight: Where Do We Go from Here:

Julia and Wallace didn’t speak at first. He pressed his lips together.

“What exactly are we?” he asked. She looked him in the eye.

“What do you mean?” she asked. Wallace’s eyes shifted in the dark.

“Are we dating?” he asked. Julia tried not to laugh. The country boy looked down puzzled. He would be lying if he said that he hadn’t expected to hear that.

“What was that?” he asked.

“I’m so sorry,” Julia said. Wallace gave her an odd look.

“Why did you laugh?” he asked.

“Oh Wallace,” she said. She drew little circles on his chest.

“I don’t date,” Julia said. The country boy gave her a blank stare.

“What does that mean?” he asked. Julia rolled over on top of him. Her hair gently caressed his cheek.

“I don’t want to be attached to one guy,” she said. “I don’t believe in the one girl and one boy relationship.” Wallace still looked confused.

“Why?” he asked. Julia just shrugged.

“That’s just how I am,” she said. The country boy wrinkled his nose. This wasn’t the Julia he had known. Did he really know her at all? There were cracks in his images of her.

“But what about me?” the country boy asked. Julia raised her eyebrow.

“What about you?” she asked. Wallace struggled to speak but no words came out. He lowered his eyes.

“I just thought…” he said.

“What?” Julia asked. The country boy looked away. He mumbled something under his breath.

“Hm?” she asked.

“I really do like you,” Wallace said.

“Aw, I like you too,” Julia said.

“No! I really like you!” he said. “I wanted to date you. I have always liked you.” Julia gave him a little pout as she playfully slapped him on the cheek.

“Aw,” she said. “You really are sweet.” I shoved away her hand.

“Stop,” he said. Julia frowned at him.

“What’s the matter?” she asked. Wallace frowned as he made a face.

“This is wrong!” he said. “It’s all wrong!” The country boy sat up. Julia pouted at him.

“What are you talking about?” she asked. She tried to lean again but Wallace pushed her off.

“It’s all wrong,” he said. “You can’t be doing this.”

“Sure I can,” Julia said.

“Well… stop it!” Wallace said.

“Why?” she asked. The country boy blinked at her as his face turned bright red.

“Because… I love you!” he shouted. “I love you and I want you to be with me!”

“And I will,” Julia said. Wallace shook his head.

“Only me!” he shouted. The country boy shook his head.

“I… I just can’t,” he said. Wallace leapt out of bed. Now it was Julia’s turn to look confused.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. Wallace walked around the room, looking for his clothes. He couldn’t even bear to look at her anymore. The fantasy was dead.

“Wallace?” Julia asked. The country boy didn’t talk as he got dressed. This wasn’t what he wanted. His dream girl didn’t exist anymore.

“Wallace? Where are you going?” Julia asked.

“Out,” was all the country boy said when he got dressed. He walked out of his own room and closed the door behind him. Julia was left sitting in his bed. Wallace cursed himself as he walked out of the apartment. He didn’t know what he was going to do now.