He was so comforting that my eyes began to droop, and I fell asleep with Kent's reassuring presence behind me. Although I didn't perform at my best on that test, I was fairly confident that I could at least manage a B. My dreams, however, were filled with the night I had spent with Kent. It had been a while since we'd shared a bed, so instead of dwelling on crucial details, I found myself thinking about how much I enjoyed sleeping beside him. When I emerged from the auditorium, I felt exhausted but mostly relieved that the ordeal was over. All I wanted was to rush back to my room and take the longest nap imaginable. What I didn't anticipate was seeing Kent waiting outside, leaning against the wall. I blinked and raised an eyebrow. For a moment, I wondered if it was a product of sleep deprivation, but his smirk assured me it was real. He looked particularly good today, his hair tousled atop his head, and his dimples on display. I smiled, causing my eyebrows to raise, and he chuckled
"When we got back, we told them when exams would be over. We had too much going on, and I wanted to focus on my studies. But we agreed to inform both of you tonight, just that... I'm really exhausted, and my mind feels like mush. This was supposed to be a private matter, and we didn't want you to find out this way, but we did want you to be the first to know." I take a deep breath and move slowly across the floor to Kent, who looks vulnerable and open. I quietly slip my hand into his, ignoring the disapproving glances. "I want you to understand something," I insist, tightening my grip on his hand. "I can make my own decisions about this, and Kent's part in it is just as significant as mine. Please don't portray it otherwise." I nod, trying to gauge their reactions, but they both still appear pretty firm in their stances. "I get that this is difficult and will take time. But don't direct your anger toward Kent because we both made this choice." "And don't take it out on Juls either,
"Boyfriend." When I think that to myself, it feels both incredibly scary and thrilling. I had a restful night's sleep after finishing my exams, so I spent the night in my own room. Kent seemed to understand my request from yesterday, and he appeared content with it. I'm still a bit groggy when I wake up, but I'm well-rested. Hearing a knock on my door, I sit up and stretch, realizing that I'm only wearing a t-shirt. I quickly pull the covers up over my chest. "Come in!" As the door opens, I'm met with a pair of vibrant green eyes. He looks so handsome! "Good morning, honey," he grins. "Oh, it's just you," I say with a deep breath, lowering the covers. He enters and closes the door behind him. "How are you?" "What are you up to right now?" he asks, making me smile. "I'm going home when my mom finishes work tonight," I inform him. He smiles and sits down next to me on the bed. "Why?" "I thought I might take you out before then," he casually suggests, causing my heart to race in
"I'd like to know what's on your mind right now," he laughs, pulling me from my thoughts and making my cheeks even redder. "Do you think we'll have some alone time today?" I ask while looking at our entwined hands. I can't help the shy smile tugging at the corners of my mouth, but I try to suppress it. "And why, Julianna, would you want to be alone?" He inquires in a hushed tone. I shrug my shoulders, attempting to conceal my shyness. "N-no reason," I whisper, and he chuckles. I keep glancing around to see if anyone is eavesdropping, but thankfully, there's no one nearby. "You don't need to feel self-conscious," he brings up, and I just shrug. I hadn't been as sexually active as Kent, and discussing it made me feel uneasy, particularly right now. I was somewhat reserved about getting intimate with people, but I had taken that step with Kent, which was a significant milestone for me. "I'm just teasing," he whispers as if he's noticed how reticent I've become. "Trust me, I was also
"Maybe starting to date someone new was a mistake. Kent has been gone for nearly a week. During this time, I've been stuck at home, incredibly bored, and worrying all the time. I'm concerned about the impact on my roommate and the fact that none of my friends know about it yet. I'm anxious about the newness of this relationship and the distance between us. Every day we're apart, I miss him, and it scares me. I've never felt this way before, and I don't want to appear too needy or clingy. But I always want to talk to him, and it saddens me when we hang up. How did I end up in this situation? I've been dating my roommate for about a month and a half, even though I thought she despised me. Now that we're together, what does it mean? I guess nothing about us really makes sense, but it works, and our connection feels unique. "Hi there," my mom says as she gently knocks on my bedroom door. I'm in the middle of my bed, surrounded by empty Lindor truffle wrappers. She leans against the do
"It looks like she made it from a colorful rainbow yarn ball, as if she took the skins off all The Muppets and stitched them into one sweater. The black collar and cuffs make it even more vibrant, and it seems about four sizes too big for me." "I should've made it smaller; I forgot you've lost so much weight," she chatters. "I finished putting it together last night. Let's see!" From across the living room, my dad and Jesse are trying not to laugh, and I offer her a forced smile. "Thanks, Abuela, it's really nice." "Well, it's so cold here that I thought you could use a warm sweater." I cautiously say, "Yes," and take the sweater from her. Mom smiles from the kitchen, and I know my family finds this amusing. I pull it over my head, and the scents of mothballs, Ivory soap, and her perfume that makes me feel like I'm suffocating hit me. It's so oversized that it nearly reaches my knees, and the sleeves are longer than my fingers. It's huge and slightly scratchy. "Oh, that's perfec
"I can't believe you're here," I mutter, astonished. "I wanted to see you, and getting from the Hamptons to here isn't a big deal," he whispers as he cups my face with his hands. "I was tired of seeing you only through a screen, and I didn't need to be home anymore, so... I decided to surprise you and spend some extra time together. Cut the distance in half." "Why didn't you tell me?" "You like surprises, don't you?" he asks, making me smile. "I do." "I figured, 'Well, I've got your Christmas gift, if that's okay.'" "Oh, shoot! I didn't know we were exchanging gifts," I shake my head and sigh. "Yours isn't ready." "That's okay, I'll get it after you open yours," he says, reaching into his jeans pocket and pulling out a white envelope. He whispers. I raise my eyebrows, and he hands it to me with a smile. I open the envelope and pull out a few sheets of paper. Among them is a boarding pass for LaGuardia Airport. "For New Year's, I thought I'd take you to New York," he says quietl
"I don't know why you're so anxious," my mom leans against my door and says, and I sigh. "Mom, I don't have a Christmas gift for him." I mutter to myself as I repack my bag. For my trip with Kent, I had to visit my apartment, do laundry, prepare a new bag, and head to the airport. It wasn't the packing that made my stomach churn, but the pressure I placed on myself. "So? He said he didn't want one, didn't he?" she asks. "But he's taking me to New York," I say quietly. "Isn't that reason enough to at least try?" "Just give him something that feels like it's from you, something that's genuine," she whispers as she walks into my room and gives me a tight hug. "Juls, have a great time. I love you." "I love you too," I smile, and she returns the smile before stepping away. I grab my bags and pile my things in the living room. Kent mentioned he'd be going to the gym this morning but would return to pick me up. A smile spreads across my face when I see his black car pull up outside. "