Celeste We were on the road for a while, the town’s lights slowly fading behind us, and the rhythmic hum of the car was almost hypnotizing.I found myself glancing at Matt every so often, catching his profile in the dim glow of the dashboard. I could sense an easiness about him, a calm that made me feel comfortable.
Celeste My eyes widened at Matt’s question, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. The candlelit dinner had been going wonderfully until he had asked why I always wore my mask. I knew the question was inevitable, but that didn't make it any easier to answer.“I… Um…” I stammered, struggling to come up with a response.
CelesteMy heart was still pounding from the emotional dinner as Matt looked down at me. I told myself I needed to leave, that I shouldn't prolong the inevitable. The connection between us was more than I had ever felt before, but the secret I was keeping would ultimately drive us apart.“I really should go home, Matt,” I said, my voice filled with uncertainty. “It’s late, and I don't want to impose.”“Just one more thing, Rose,” he urged, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “Trust me; you'll love it.”I shook my head, feeling a sense of unease settle into my stomach. “I won’t take off my mask. Please stop trying to make me do it.”Matt looked a little hurt by my harsh words. “I’m not trying to force you to do anything, Rose,” he said. “If you want to keep your mask on, that’s your right. I was only saying that my next plan is going to be a lot of fun, and you might feel more comfortable around me. I’m sorry if it came across another way.”I felt my face blanch a little. Fun? Comforta
Matt I couldn't shake the feeling that something had gone wrong, that I'd made a mistake somehow.The mystery girl’s sudden change of mood had caught me off guard, and her silence during the drive back to town had been deafening. It was as if she had suddenly retreated into herself, and I was left trying to figure out what had happened.
Celeste That night, as I walked back to Fiona’s house in the dark, my heart was filled with the butterflies from my date with Matt.It had been magical to say the least, and yet I knew that it was something I couldn’t pursue.I wouldn’t see him again, especially not after how close I had
Celeste “Of course. Let’s chat later and make a plan.” Matt’s response came within minutes after I sent it. I felt my heart swell with an almost sickening combination of anticipation and dread; while it was incredibly exciting to see Matt again, there was always the looming dark cloud of the lies I had been threading throughout our short-lived relationship.
Celeste The day began as uneventful, a routine blur of classes and conversations with friends. But then, as I walked out of my history class, my heart stopped when I saw Sabrina waiting outside the door.“Oh, Celeste,” she called, her sing-song voice dripping with false sweetness. “I have a little errand for you to run. Come by my dorm after class, would you?”
Matt “Dude, you don’t get it,” Jack said. “Celeste should know better. But to hell with it; if she wants to scrub floors, she can do that. I won’t be giving her money anymore.”Without another word, Jack walked into the living room and sank down on the couch. I watched in horror as he casually picked up his video game controller and began to play. Following him, I stood in front of the TV, my arms folded tightly across my chest.