The Path Untaken: A Story of Lost Love

By Haris Malik

Alistair Montgomery grew up in an emotionally distant household. All he has ever wanted in life has been love, true love. For two long years, he lived thinking he had found his true love with Ashley, a lovely girl as emotionally damaged as he is, in his quaint little hometown. His entire mindset is changed when he is exiled from his hometown to a private school by his overbearing mother. At this new school, Alistair meets the lovely Alexandra, a new and exciting girl that makes him question whether he's really in love with Ashley. To acquire the storybook romance that he's always desired, he must make choices involving his two loves and an ensemble of zany characters that make and break classic stereotypes. The only real question in this novel is if Alistair will ever get the happily ever after hes fought for his entire life or will he ruin his life along with the lives of those around him in pursuit of an empty dream?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Feb 26, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491868089

Haris Malik

Haris Malik is a determined young writer trying to find a foothold in the literary world by diving right in the deep end. His youth allows him to see the world from a different perspective than adult writers since he has yet to solidify his style as they have. Because of his youth, he can still grow and evolve as a writer to pass through different niches and learn from the firsthand experience of each of the different styles he will experiment with before settling on a final niche. This flexibility of style allows for a pleasant variability in his writings that shows glimmers of a promising future as a novelist.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Story of my Life

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May 24 was one of those days, one of those days when you get a feeling that something special is going to happen. Most times this happens the feeling is fake and it’s just another simply boring day. Sometimes, that feeling is genuine. I always thought that feeling was Lady Luck’s way of saying she was bringing something special my way. In a way, I was right. Something special did happen, I was just wrong by thinking it would be the good kind of special.

It started in the morning when I woke up and saw the most amazing sunrise I’d ever seen. This sunrise wasn’t the mundane red and orange mix you see on some random day. It was a gorgeous mixture of pink, violet, orange, yellow and red. This sunrise was amazing, so amazing in fact that I never wanted it to end, I just kept staring in wonder. It looked like a painting I saw in a museum when I was a kid, every color was precisely layered and yet they randomly curved and blended. I was mystified and looked deeply at every detail and blend. Soon the light began to hurt my eyes but even then I kept them open until my eyes started to water. I blinked fast to clear them then resumed my staring despite my eyes, desperately pleading to stop. I ignored their cries because I was far too intrigued to care about my eyes. I felt a tranquility burn within me. I was at peace.

BANG, BANG, BANG!

WAKE UP! My father shouted through the door.

I glanced toward the clock, seeing I still had plenty until the school started but I always woke up early anyway. The reason I woke up early in the morning is that each morning I went for a jog with my friends before getting ready for school. The school that I attended was right behind my house meaning I could be there and back in a few minutes.

I tried to pull the curtain down over the sunrise because I knew it would distract me from my morning warm up but I couldn’t bring myself to do it; this sunrise was too beautiful to ignore. I looked at myself in the mirror and laughed. I looked like a complete mess with my wacky bedhead. I was tall, a little less than 6 feet, and athletic with medium length oak brown hair that would never do what I wanted. I would constantly adjust and comb but it was insanely wavy and curly. With a lot of work and even a few bottles of gel, I could make it look decent.

I looked over at the clock, I need to quit getting distracted.

I rushed over to my closet to retrieve my dumbbells. I started to do my warm-up with two sets of dumbbell curls followed by squats and pushups. As I started my mind slowly started to drift. These warm ups had become robotic. I rarely had to think while doing them.

I didn’t understand how my room avoided giving off a cramped feeling. The room was tiny; I’d sooner expect a tiny little elf to live here than myself. I suppose my room was comfortable because it felt like my safe haven where I could let it all out and not have to hold my true emotions in. I remember how every time I had a bad day, I would trudge in through the house with a painted smile then come into my room and let it all out. I would drop my book bag at the door and slump into my chair then break down crying or cursing, more often cursing than crying.

My room had a twin bed pushed against the corner furthest from the door and a computer area just parallel to it. On the computer desk I had many unorganized papers and off to the corner, a small photo of my girlfriend, Ashley, and me together in a homemade frame. That frame was special to me because Ashley made it with her own two hands. Leaning against the side of the computer, were my guitar and my old soccer ball, both worn down from years of abuse.

After my exercise, I turned on my phone and opened up my weather app. It was going to turn into a foggy morning. I quietly muttered, Perfect zombie weather.

I rushed out of the room but grabbed the door and pulled myself back in; I never forgot my favorite black cap when I jogged. I snacked on a little juice and an apple in the kitchen before rushing out the back door. As I left, I took a second to glance inside, seeing my fat father watching T.V nauseatingly underdressed. The sight was absolutely revolting; I regretted the fact that I had just eaten.

The old man called in a husky voice weighted down by an Italian accent, Where are you going.

I cursed myself for waiting the extra half second before leaving. I called, I’m going to go jogging like I do every morning.

I kept one foot out the door. I tried not to imagine turning into him when I got older. The thought was too revolting to dwell on. The old man belched then scratched his bald head. From two rooms away I could still smell him, With who?

Just Raymond. Why? My father knew that I went jogging with Raymond. I didn’t mention Ashley being there because my parents weren’t too approving of Ashley after a scandal involving Ashley’s mother. Somehow I think he still knew I was going to see her.

I don’t like you being around that Ashley girl. She is a bad influence on you. He didn’t actually care that much that I dated her. Really, he just wanted my mother to be happy because she wore the pants in their marriage. My mother said Ashley would ruin my studies and jeopardize my future.

Ashley is really sweet, you just need to get to know her. I reasoned.

She is bad news. Listen to me carefully son. Love is the biggest waste of time and money that was ever created. You younger generations prattle on and on about it. Love is nothing. It won’t put food on your table or clothes on your back. He tried to bring me down the same wayward path he was on.

I got serious pretty fast, Dad, you should give her a chance. We’ve been together for almost two years. She’s here to stay no matter what you think but… I really want you to accept her.

I kept telling them how amazing and perfect she was while they turned a deaf ear to my praise. Somehow they picked up all the minor flaws then exaggerate them. They also kept bringing up her mother’s affair whenever I was within earshot. I left him to his mind numbing idiot box.

It was an excellent day, one rich with natural beauty. A hazy mist of fog blanketed the world. Perfect zombie weather. I squinted and saw through the fog to see that the lovely sunrise had faded back to its normal appearance. I frowned in disappointment and wondered if I would ever see such a beautiful sunrise ever again.

Alastair! my friend Raymond called out to me as he and Ashley raced past my house.

The second I saw them, I dashed in hot pursuit behind them; Raymond and I had been best friends ever since we were kids and always competed in every possible subject. Every day we would see if I managed to catch up to them and every time I would follow closely behind until Raymond decided to take pity and slow down a little. It was weird that I was always second best to him when he had those short, stubby legs.

Today I felt lucky and really pushed myself forward, Here we go! Today is my day Raymond! I’m not going to lose. Not today! I thought confidently.

The wind smacked at my face trying to stop me from reaching them but the sign from heaven I received that morning gave me confidence that today luck on my side. My breaths came out in fast pants as I pumped every muscle in my body to strive forward. I raced through a cloud of fog and lost track of them. I forced myself to look past the haze but it was far too thick. When I passed through the haze, I saw that I had moved in right between Raymond and Ashley.

They were shocked and stopped running to congratulate me, Whoa Alastair you finally did it! Ashley said as she gave me a hug and quick peck on the cheek. I only smelled a faint cherry aroma swirl around me, lost in the thick fog.

She let go of me and I examined her attire. She was wearing an unzipped green sweatshirt over a sweat stained white t-shirt. I stared at her pretty face which haunted my daydreams, her curly blonde hair that flowed free over her shoulders, her bright emerald eyes filled me with amazement and her finely tanned skin that made my knees go weak. She was the perfect picture of beauty. Her skin was absolutely lovely, smoother than marble and just as hard. She was very athletic, more on the toned side than the muscular side. She was extremely conscious of her one and only flaw, her crooked front teeth. They were a minor human flaw that she hid by smiling with a closed mouth. I didn’t mind her front teeth very much. The uniqueness of her teeth was actually a nice quirkiness added to her usual perfect nature.

Raymond was getting really impatient and said, You two can get a room later! Come on lets jog, I have to go home and eat later! Raymond was a good guy but he tended to be grouchy sometimes. I didn’t know why though. Sometimes he would randomly act out around me and Ashley.

We ran in a V-formation with Raymond at the head and us as his wings. His dark chocolate skin was highlighted by his grey beater and white basketball shorts. He was short but really fast and athletic. He was around 5 foot 6 inches so I referred to him as my midget friend sometimes. We played soccer for the same team so we spent a lot of time running and practicing together. Ashley played for the girls’ team so she practiced with us but we held back when we played so we wouldn’t knock her down. Both of us cared about her a lot.

Raymond, you should get a girlfriend. Ashley said, staring straight ahead as we came around a bend.

I thought you went with Maya to that restaurant last week for a quote unquote extraordinary evening. I said, looking at Raymond’s expression. I couldn’t be sure but he may have been blushing.

Raymond cleared his throat, Nah things didn’t really work out.

Work out or work out in bed? I asked teasingly.

Raymond taunted, Don’t be like that. You’re a virgin for god’s sake.

Virgin by choice. My girlfriend’s choice. I accused defending my pride by letting her take the blame.

I told you I’m not ready yet. Ashley brooded. I knew why she wasn’t ready but was sworn to secrecy. I became the only member of the trio that wasn’t completely crabby, although my happiness was fleeing fast because of their parasitic attitudes.

We were going fast as we raced past houses and lapped around the school a couple of times. We all had reasons to run each morning. Ashley ran from her past, Raymond ran to spend alone time with his best friend and best friend’s girlfriend, last but not least I ran to keep pace with Raymond. I was constantly trying to be equal to him and his amazing athleticism.

I was in a good mood this morning. I said, pumping both my arms and legs like pistons.

So? What does that have to do with us? Ashley said. She was sweating lightly. It looked like a fine mist had been spread straight across her forehead.

You guys are depressing me! Ashley got dragged down when I mentioned sex and Raymond is always grumpy. He’s like the guy from the angry black man rants except he’s shorter and isn’t funny, at all. Ever. I said the word ever near Raymond’s ear. He swatted me away and moved closer to Ashley’s side.

Alistair, stop throwing your problems on us. Ashley was the type of girl that’s incredibly bipolar. Sometimes she would be sickly sweet in an angelic manner. The rest of the time she was the completely insane.

What I said was that you guys are depressed. That is fact. I was happy, also a fact. All I said was two facts. Can you hate a guy for telling the truth? I twisted my words into a pretty little bow, stylish with no purpose for existing.

My angry pint sized friend said sarcastically, I can easily hate someone for telling the truth.

The truth can ruin lives. It’s better to keep your mouth shut. Ashley’s bitter statement locked my mouth. Talking about the truth and secrets or anything along those lines touched at memories that people tend to bury under heaps of other memories. Ashley had an ugly past.

Ashley pulled ahead of the rest of us, leaving Raymond and me to give each other different looks. Raymond was accusing me as being the one responsible for hurting Ashely. Ashley didn’t even trust Raymond with that truth. I was giving a guilty look. As her boyfriend, my job was to keep her happy not give pain.

Then we stopped running and each of us went home to finish getting ready. I calmly walked up stairs and went into the bathroom. The bathroom was pure white; everything from the paint to the sink was pure white but as expected small pieces of dirt permanently stained the room in random places. Nothing on the planet was perfect. The bathroom followed the same universal logic. I threw off my clothes and ran into the shower. At least one thing in the house would be clean.

After my shower, I was back in my sanctuary, ready for school. I stood in a comatose like state for several minutes trying to remember if I had forgotten something. I was usually paranoid enough to obsess over every little detail of my life. After confirming I had everything I needed, I climbed down the stairs full speed then turned into the kitchen to see my parents making breakfast.

My parents weren’t your typical couple; they were odd to say the least. They had married almost twenty years earlier but their marriage wasn’t one of love and passion. It was decided by their parents, a fact that I find rather absurd. My grandparents were criminals, mobsters to be exact. My mom was the daughter of a hitman working for my dad’s parents. It sounds really, really cool and there are probably some cool stories there but my grandparents and all their associates are either dead or in jail so the days of those adventures were over years ago. The marriage was a contract between my grandparents, nothing more than paperwork. Before my parents had married, they hadn’t even met a single time! It was a dry and loveless marriage supported only by financial need and routine. It was so loveless that I had never seen either of them express a single act of love. Not a single hug, not a single rose, not a single kiss. Their marriage disgusted me to the point where my older brother and I had taken an oath to marry for love, not our parents’ wishes, when we were kids. Moreover, they were antisocial to say the least. They had practically no friends and rarely saw the ones they had. Unlike traditional parents, they set examples of how I shouldn’t lead my life.

My brother Johnson sleepily stumbled down the stairs to the kitchen. Johnson didn’t like his name and said he preferred to be called Johnny. There was another name he went by, one my parents didn’t know about. My brother was following in the footsteps of our grandparents into crime. He was in a boxer, as a hobby, that went by the name Nice Ice. He chose that name because of his icy cold blue eyes; with those eyes he could produce a glare so menacing that would it freeze people with fear. I had no proof but I’m pretty sure he did work with loan sharks to collect payments from people that had fallen behind. We looked a lot like each other, although he was 3 years older and had a more flashy style. Though alike in appearance we were very different people with almost nothing in common. He was pretty good at fighting which made him even scarier than the average brother.

All four of us moved throughout the kitchen silently. Each of us barely took notice that the others were present and walked around from pantry to pantry collecting our breakfasts. Not a single word was spoken. We all floated to and fro until eventually meeting at the table. We sat at our respective seats at the table and ate. Not a single person looked up from their food except me. We weren’t a family not then, not ever. We were loosely knit, connected solely by blood lines and nothing else.

My brother was the first to finish. He got up tossed his bowl in the sink and started to leave. He was probably going to a friend’s house or something. I didn’t know where he was going and didn’t care. Everyone in our household was like a tenant there, only concerned with their business and paying no heed to the other tenants. The only difference was that the elder two tenants always fought with the younger two tenants for stupid reasons, the younger two fought each other for no reason, and the elder two fought because the female was insane.

Johnny, you actually came home late last night. Quite a change from the usual. My mom accused as he started to walk away.

So what? He challenged. The bastard was hot headed. A hot headed brother plus an overbearing control freak mom calls for endless trouble. They argued all day every day.

She shook her head, You are getting mixed up in dangerous things like your grandparents. You’ll regret it just like they did.

I have fun and enjoy my life. I don’t care about danger. He huffed texting his friend by the door.

Use your time more productively! She ordered. I finished next and left for school. These arguments were a daily occurrence I lost interest in.

As I made the short walk to school, I wondered what it would be like to live in a real family. I had always secretly wished for a family more like my friends’ families. One of the biggest goals of my life was to one day end up with the perfect family, a gorgeous wife, a loving mother in law, a firm but caring father in law and maybe a brother/sister in law. That’s all I ever wanted and that soul desire is what ruined my life.

Chapter 2

Out of the Frying Pan

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I felt a sudden soft darkness cover my eyes and grinned in amusement. A light weight delicately rested itself upon my shoulder. Following the weight closely, curly wisps tickled my neck as they slowly swung this way and that like a pendulum.

A soft and voice rang from the darkness like an angel sent to save me from perdition, Hi.

I knew this voice well and echoed, Hi.

Raymond, sitting to my right, mocked us, Hi.

Ashley laughed lightly at Raymond’s mocking voice. I felt her shift to look at him, probably smiling with those cute, crooked teeth, then turned back my way and whispered softly into my ear, Do you know me?

We always had a little romantic back and forth dialogue that made people around us sick to their stomachs, I do.

She mused, Who am I?

I flirted, I’d say an angel. Am I right?

Try and be a little more specific. Ashley urged playfully. She lightly planted a kiss on the side of my head.

I decided to play along, You’re Ashley Simmons. Ashley Simmons, the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. Ashley Simmons, the second best soccer player in the school, after me of course-

Hey! What about me? I’m better than both of you. Raymond interrupted, partially ruining the moment.

I concluded with a sappy ending, Ashley Montgomery, my future wife.

Ashley squealed in delight at my romantic way with words. She lowered her hands from my eyes to my chest in an embrace from behind; my right hand reached up and patted her head resting on my shoulder. That is one of my most cherished moments from my life. The worth of the beautiful simplicity of that moment was unmatchable by almost anything I had ever experienced. Nothing in my life would ever be simple again.

Raymond threatened us, Oh so now you guys are just going to ignore me huh? Well then, with my next girlfriend I’m going to act all stupid and ignore you guys too, how about that?

Ashley sat to my left then coaxed, Come on Raymond you know we still love you. It’s just that we need some time to just for each other, I mean isn’t that why people date?

He muttered grudgingly, I guess.

I went back to eating my pizza and started making plans with Raymond to hang out after school to play video games. All of a sudden, I felt someone hit me on the back of the head. My face hit my empty foam tray. I already knew who had done this without looking, but I looked anyway. Devon stood behind me laughing.

Everyone knows that one kid, the kid that’s an obnoxious loudmouth pest, thinking he’s the greatest thing that ever happened to the planet. Devon was that kid, and he hated me because I was a better athlete than he was. I made team captain for soccer this year since Raymond was ineligible to play the season; he had an E in Chinese. Since I made team captain, Devon had hated me and would often push me towards a fight but Ashley and Raymond always held me back saying he wasn’t worth getting suspended over.

Hey Alistair, how was your weekend buddy? He taunted, sarcasm weighing heavily on his words.

Buzz off, I was in a good mood Devon. I replied, getting out of my seat to face him. I was taller than him but he was bulkier. I had imagined a fight between us would be pretty even based on our sizes. Raymond also stood up and moved to my side.

Come on buddy I just wanted to chat. Devon said as he violently pushed me back. I was ready to push back but Raymond put his hand against my chest and held me back.

Raymond challenged him, Devon why do you hate Alistair, is it because he’s better than you at soccer without cheating?

Devon snarled, Back off shorty, Alastair doesn’t need you to fight his battles for him.

Shorty! Oh hell no! Raymond exclaimed comically. He knew saying something silly would calm me down right away.

Other students began to take notice of the tension between Devon and me and, assuming a fight was brewing, they gathered around us. Devon walked by me toward Ashley and said, Alistair, I hate you but even I admit you deserve better than her. He jerked his thumb in Ashley’s direction, She’s so immature and stupid that I’d think she was a 5 year old. Her teeth are like my little niece’s. Oh and don’t even get me started about how that face. Most ugly girls got a hella chest. Not her, she is one ugly little bi-

Devon didn’t get to finish his sentence; my fist had ended it for him. He staggered back confused. Blood slowly found its way from his nose to roll over his upper lip. His confusion fled fast to pave way for anger. Devon lunged at me for revenge. He head butted me in the stomach then pushed me to the floor. My head hit the ground and started throbbing but my anger and adrenaline numbed my pain. Every fiber in my body screamed at me to break every single one of his bones. I quickly rolled aside just in time to dodge his incoming fist, which hit the ground instead of me. I barely avoided it. While he was focused on the surging pain in his hand, I hit him hard in the head. My blood boiled and my heart raced as he recovered. I tackled him to the ground then started to furiously pound his ugly face into an uglier one. He didn’t even have time to react before I began my brutal assault. Before I managed to kill him, I was thwarted. A teacher and Raymond had grabbed me and pulled me away from Devon.

LET GO OF ME! I’LL KILL THAT BASTARD! I shouted. My voice had become an animal growl so strange that even I couldn’t recognize it.

I was dragged through the crowd of people and as that happened I closed my eyes and thought about what just happened. I refused to regret that I had beaten up Devon. My regret was not doing it sooner. Soon, I was outside the cafeteria, and then I was released. I didn’t know the teacher that had grabbed me but he seemed like the strict philistine type that hated everything, just like my mommy dearest.

He barked at Raymond, Leave us! Then turned towards me, What you just did was completely unacceptable! I had thought you were above these uncivilized vulgar barbarian animals Alistair but it seems I was mistaken. You’re just another big shot high school student that can’t wait to show off his muscles! And another thing, you could have seriously harmed that boy! Then where would the school stand? Probably facing a lawsuit! Did you think of that? No of course you didn’t you conceded, egotistical, little brat!

He droned on and on for several minutes but I didn’t care, I knew what I had done. I had done the right thing. Plus, I had been read the riot act by my mother so many times that it barely even fazed me anymore. Eventually he ran out of insults and ordered me to walk with him to the principal’s office. While we were walking down the hallway, my hands began to slowly crawl up my legs to hide in my pockets, a childhood habit of nervousness.

When we entered the office I was instructed to sit down in the chair by the door of the principal’s office and to stay there. I sat back and slumped down as low into the chair as I possibly could, I wished I could disappear. I didn’t know why though. I didn’t regret what I had done and I was ready to pay for it. So why did I feel so afraid? Why did it feel like something was wrong? A cold chill ran through my entire body causing me to grip the arms of my chair as tight as humanly possible. I sat in the chair for around ten minutes before Ashley, Raymond and two students I didn’t recognize were led into the office by the same philistine that had yelled at me earlier. My eyes met Ashley’s for a lone moment.

In that moment her eyes had asked me, Why? Why did you have to fight him?

My eyes replied hastily, Because I love you.

Ashley was bipolar and carried baggage but that didn’t change things. She was mine. Ashley averted her eyes; I knew why. She was scared I was going to be expelled. Honestly I think I may have been even more afraid than she was. The kids filed into the office to talk about god-knows-what while I just sat there. My hands still aching from hitting Devon in the face so many times. I massaged then softly; the numbed pain I had ignored in the fight was returning to me all at once.

If I got expelled then I doubt that I would be accepted into Dartmouth and then I would never become a psychiatrist and help those with mental issues or obscene obsessions. I started to feel like I had made a big mistake, as soon as I started feeling like that, I remembered Devon’s gargoyle face insulting Ashley. All my doubts disappeared, making me absolutely sure that no matter what other people would say I was going to stick by my decision. After what seemed like an eternity, Ashley and the others left and I was called in. Inside the room sat Manny Philips, our principle. I shuffled forward nervously and sat down. I felt like a prisoner about to receive the death sentence.

Mr. Philips exhaled then said without a hint of emotion or sympathy, I should expel you for that fight.

Uh… should? I asked confused. There was a big difference between should and will.

Should. As in I called several witnesses down from the lunchroom. They all said that he started the fight then you were defending yourself. While fighting is frowned upon in all scenarios, the school board can put in some wiggle room since it was self-defense and no one is seriously injured. He explained. Mr. Philips’s face started to relax.

And this has nothing to do with the fact that you’re trying to marry my sister? I teased. I thanked god silently that my sister Mary had met my principle and that they fell in love. He had deliberately asked my friends’ opinions so they would side with me.

Manny blushed, Mr. Montgomery that is my personal life and has nothing to do with my decision. He insisted then winked, I will have to call your parents and give you detention after school for two weeks, the remainder of the school year. Also a two page long essay is expected on why violence is bad.

What! Why? The witnesses! They said that . . ! And then you said . . ! I stumbled through words frantically as he seemingly contradicted himself.

Whether you started the fight or not you participated in it. If I let you off the hook completely then the student body, teachers, and not to mention parents would be all over me. Sorry Alistair that’s all I can do. Wait a second. Why am I apologizing? I’m breaking a lot of rules for you, risking my job for your measly high school record. You should be showing me some gratitude!

I grunted, Fine! Thanks Manny. It’s better than being suspended at least.

Mr. Philips. he corrected.

Okay Manny. I said flatly in a playfully mocking way.

My future brother in law caved, Just don’t call me Manny in front of teachers and faculty alright?

I’ll consider it. I smirked.

By the way you can handle yourself in a fight pretty well. I’m shocked. I really am. I’ll have to think twice before I cheat on your sister won’t I? Manny joked. Manny was lankly and incredibly thin, if I compares him to something, it would be a pool noodle. I could easily take him without effort.

Yeah you will, won’t you? A devious smile crossed my lips. I got my