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STACY The end. I closed my book and turned in bed, laying on my back. The bed above me was empty and so was the room I shared with Lisa. I dropped my hands above my head and sighed. If I tried to pay attention, I would be able to hear their voices through the walls. Before Lisa left the room this morning, she asked me if I wanted to join them. She said Karen had some new clothes she was trying out, and Nella, Karen’s roommate, had some spicy gist to spill. We’d been in this school for a week and I still didn’t feel like I was completely settled. When I wasn’t thinking about Mom, I was thinking about Jerome and when it wasn’t about Jerome, it was about the other Jerome. I sat up and my legs gripped the floor. Maintaining as much silence as I could, I tried to listen for their voices. It was surprising that I didn’t hear them. Maybe I wasn’t quiet enough, maybe it was impossible to hear through all the other rooms and their noise. I could go join them. I thought of joining them si
JEROME Lisa and Stacy appeared in front of me as I was paying for my drink. Lisa tapped my shoulders and plastered a smile on her face when I turned. Stacy was just joining us. “You found me,” I said. “Yeah, we found you. No biggie.” Lisa stared ahead of me. “Did you get something for us?” “Do you guys want something?” Lisa gave me an out-of-mind stare, like her answer to that wasn’t so obvious. It was. But person I wanted to hear from was Stacy. Her face was bare, brows matted with little droplets of sweat, thanks to the humid temperature of the day. As soon as she walked in, she was easily the person I had looked at the most in the last five seconds and when she casually glanced up, she tried to smile. I knew she was trying because she failed terribly at it. Perhaps she wasn’t even trying, only wanted to look like she was trying to be okay. She must have a lot she wanted to say. She always looked that way and the only time I can say we’ve had a proper conversation, one that
STACY“You keep things bottled in. It’s not good,” Jerome said.I wanted to laugh and tell him what he was saying didn’t make sense but it did and I was in no rush to bring our conversation to an end. It was going so well.I was actually having fun in his house and not lurking in a dark corner alone and dejected.“I don’t want to keep them in.” That was my explanation.“But you do,” Jerome insisted.I was lying on my stomach, facing him as he sat on the floor, knees bent in front of him.After he spoke, he leaned his head back into the wall behind me, partly staring up at the ceiling.He wasn’t done talking as he picked off from where he left.I didn’t mind. I didn’t have a pack of answers tucked away somewhere that I was going to pull out and hand to him as my excuses so I welcomed his words before they even left his lips.“When you bottle things in, it never goes well for you. I’ll show you the circle you’re throwing yourself into.” For this part, Jerome dropped his chin and counted
STACYFirst day of school. I could totally do it. I only had to act like I was confident and not be afraid to talk my shit. One thing that would really help me face this day properly would be running into Jerome.The chances were low and it was very unlikely, I think Lisa even mentioned that he had something to get to outside of school.I wasn’t going to run into him. He was nowhere in the flood of bodies that swarmed through the halls and pathways. He wasn’t the boy who skated past me and blew a ‘sorry’ my way when he whipped through my right. He wasn’t the girl with two swinging braids who bumped into me when she was calling to her friend. He wasn’t the group of guys whose laughter managed to be the loudest and the one distinct sound that existed at the moment.My bag was strapped around my shoulders and I held onto the strap, needing something to be with me as I faced the day. It was something to hold, something that didn’t make me feel alone.Why did Lisa’s faculty have to be away
JEROMEI spent five minutes early this morning, staring at my bike at the garage.I should go out on it. I mean, I got the bike for a reason. I didn’t use it when Stacy and Lisa were around because I couldn’t possibly pick them up or drop them on the bike. I didn’t use it a few days before because I didn’t think I was in the right frame of mind to be riding it.The silver shiny metal, chunk of engine and tyres had a way of bringing out the demon in me so I left it to avoid getting myself in an accident.Today was different, right? I wasn’t sad or angry, I didn’t feel negative emotions and this was because I didn’t see the reason to have them. Not today, not when I had lunch with Miles.He was the director who was in charge of bringing the script to life, my script hopefully if he likes it.I had never met Miles but we had spoken over the phone as well as through some Zoom meetings. He had fat cheeks which were a contrast to his thinly frame. In all his pictures, there was always a base
JEROMENattie was the first person that called me when I was just opening my front door. Never had anybody been on such perfect timing but then again, who was I kidding? We had a connection like that.“Mr. Jeremy, my favorite teacher.”I didn’t realize I rolled my eyes until I did. Unable to hold the laughter from spluttering out of my lips, I stopped trying.“Your favorite teacher?” I asked.Nattie made a sound low in her throat and the blood shot down to my stomach. I almost forgot how good she sounded and I wanted to fault myself, to look at me with pity for getting turned on just by a mere sound.I would have done that if I didn’t know that what she did was intended to get to me in that way. Why else would she just moan unprovoked, into my fucking ears.I pushed my door open. “What do you want, Nattie?”She started to laugh, light soft giggles that reminded me of a million nights.I wasnt proud of the relationship we had, of all the things we had done to each other, on each other,
STACYMAX: I look forward to Mondays now.STACY: Nobody looks forward to Mondays.MAX: Because they don’t get to sit with you on Mondays.I bit my bottom lip, desperately trying to end the blush that was creeping up my fac. It spread from my neck to my cheek and strained till it even neared my forehead. This much redness wasn’t what I was used to so I slipped my phone into my pants pocket and bit my lip again before pushing my dorm door open.I was also trying to trace how and when we got to this point, Max and I. After our class last week, he followed me around campus until I agreed to give him my number, then he walked away when I was ordering a cup of coffee.I remembered feeling some type of way, like he didn’t really like me, like him getting my number successfully was just a way to massage his ego. Because why else would he leave me when we could finally sit down and have a conversation? But I’ll tell you this, we’ve been talking nonstop since then. At first, I didn’t reply to hi
JEROMENattie’s house smelt like roses and citrus. The familiar scent of the place washed over me as soon as I stepped in and just like that, I had lost to the thoughts. I had forgotten to stop my mind from crossing the dangerous waters, from tethering on the edge of what we used to be, what we weren’t meant to be anymore.Nattie walked around her center table and stuck something on her bookshelf. It was a setup that housed more photos than books.Natalie took a lot of trips during the summer break and she lived to take pictures of the scenery she faced. It didn’t matter if it was a simple beach photo, something as magical as seashells or something as haphazard as her load before she stuffed them into the blue box. She always captured them in ways that made you stop and stare.There were about five of them, pictures. Two were on the lowest shelf level, one on the middle and the remaining at the edges of the highest shelf level. Nattie turned on her television. A sitcom was playing and
STACY The contractions started to roll in by noon. One after another, getting stronger with time. The day had finally arrived, a day I had both anticipated and dreaded. Labor. As I sat on the edge of the bed, a wave of excitement surged through me, mingled with a healthy dose of apprehension. It was surreal to think that soon I would hold my baby girl in my arms. She would be ours, a tangible result of the love Jerome and I had nurtured over the years. I had taken classes about this and I didn’t want to worry my husband for nothing, but when it got stronger and harder to ignore, I called for him. “Jerome!” He came rushing into the room, his hair tousled and his face slightly flushed. He must have been napping, and the worried look on his face made my heart race. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?” “I think it’s time,” I said, a nervous smile breaking through. His eyes widened as he processed my words. “Really? Like, right now?” He sounded both ecstatic and terrified. “Yeah,
JEROMETwo years later. Dark lashes fanned against her skin, the sun was soft against her flesh, her body slowly moving upward and downward, her breathing muffled on her pillow. That was the sight I had woken up to. I was the luckiest person on earth right now. I stayed perched on the edge of the bed, watching as the soft morning light took away sleep from my eyes. The sight before me was captivating: Stacy, my beautiful Stacy, lost in a peaceful slumber, her dark hair fanned out across the pillow like a halo. I couldn’t help but smile as I took in the serenity of the moment. We had come a long way since that first date, a day marked by confusion, heartache, and a beautiful, unguarded honesty that had laid the foundation for everything that followed. The journey hadn’t always been easy; there were still challenges to face and moments of vulnerability that left us both shaken. But together, we had built something extraordinary—a life filled with love, laughter, and mutual support.
STACY I still couldn’t believe I had agreed to this. A joint date with Lisa? Lisa and Kiera. The thought swirled in my mind as I stood in front of my mirror, staring at my reflection. My fingers traced the hem of the dress I had picked out—simple, yet flattering enough for what felt like one of the strangest nights of my life. Lisa had convinced me, somehow, to go along with this. I wasn’t even sure how it all happened. One minute, we were awkwardly avoiding each other, and the next, we were laughing about how ridiculous it was that we were going on this double date. I heard a knock on the door and glanced at my phone—Lisa, of course, right on time. “Come in!” I called, still fussing with my hair. The door swung open, and Lisa waltzed in, her usual confidence trailing behind her. “Are you *still* getting ready?” she teased, flopping onto my bed. “You’re not gonna outshine me, no matter how hard you try.” I rolled my eyes, turning to face her. “It’s called looking presenta
STACY I woke up slowly, the warmth of the blankets making it hard to tell where the bed ended and my body began. The sunlight trickled in through the thin curtains, casting soft streaks of light across the room. For a moment, everything felt serene, like I could stay in this cocoon of warmth and silence forever. Then I realized Jerome wasn’t next to me. I rolled over, blinking sleep from my eyes, and saw the space where he should have been. The sheets were crumpled on his side, still warm. I heard the faint sound of water running and figured he must be in the shower. I lay there for a minute, listening to the sound of the water and feeling a strange sense of distance. It was odd, waking up without him beside me. We’d spent the night together, but it hadn’t felt as close as it usually did. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and padded across the cool floor, feeling the chill against my bare feet. The bathroom door was slightly ajar, letting out a cloud of steam. I peeked ins
JEROME Shooting that day had been intense. We were working on one of the final scenes, the kind that was supposed to be raw and emotional, but instead of saving it for later in the production schedule, the producers wanted to get it done early for promotional material. It was all part of the business. We had to sell the movie, and nothing sold better than a sneak peek of a climactic moment. The set was buzzing with activity. Lights were being adjusted, makeup artists hovered nearby, and the crew moved around, setting up equipment and whispering about the next shot. I felt the pressure building, but I was used to it by now. This wasn’t my first film, and it definitely wouldn’t be my last. Chase called for a break, and I seized the opportunity to step away for a bit. I’d been on set all day, and I needed a breather before getting back into the set. Besides, I had something else on my mind. I was supposed to meet up with Stacy after we wrapped up for the day. We had plans to see my
STACY Lisa had been gushing for weeks about how she was excited to introduce Jerome to Kiera. The way she talked about Kiera, with that glimmer in her eyes, made it impossible not to be happy for her. Everything was going to go fine today, I could already sense it. I was on shift that afternoon, taking orders and serving trays like usual. The restaurant wasn’t too packed, which gave me time to glance around and keep an eye on the door. Part of me was hoping they’d pick another spot, or maybe decide at the last minute that a fancy café was better suited for a first meeting like this. But, of course, that wasn’t Lisa’s style. She loved the casual vibe of Burger Trio, and it was one of the few places where she and Jerome could relax. The good thing was I missed my friends and wanted to see them, the bad thing was I missed my friends and wanted to see them. They made working hard and pleasurable. I was behind the counter when I saw them enter. Lisa was all energy, waving at m
JEROME Stacy had been extra busy this period because she signed up for a few part-time jobs. I hated how busy she got most of the time but I was also glad for her that she was taking a responsible step towards her finances. That evening, after a game of snooker, I slipped into Burger’s Trio in hopes that I was early enough for her shift. Stacy had been extra busy this period because she signed up for a few part-time jobs. I hated how busy she was most of the time, but I was also glad for her. It was a responsible step toward her finances, even if it meant we had less time together. That evening, after a long day at work and a quick game of snooker with some friends, I decided to drop by Burger’s Trio, where Stacy worked one of her shifts. I’d been by a couple of times before, usually sneaking in to see her just as her shift ended. Tonight, I hoped I was early enough to catch her in action. As I walked through the door, the warm smell of grilled burgers and fries hit me. The
JEROME I knew I had to talk to Stacy when I was ten minutes into the lecture. The urge was so primal, so hungry that there was no escaping it. The class had ended in a rush of students gathering their belongings and shuffling out of their seats. I stood at the front, gathering my notes and trying to maintain my composure. I was watching her pack her stuff, watching her move quickly with her hands. “Mr. Jerome!” one of the guys called out. “Do you have the syllabus handy? I think I missed a few details.” He was one of my students, blonde curly hair, a portion of it swooped across his forehead. “Of course,” I replied, pushing my thoughts of Stacy aside. I had to focus. “Here’s a copy for you.” I handed it to him. “Also, can you clarify what we’ll be covering in the first unit?” another student asked, a girl with bright green nails and a head full of curls. I wished they picked another time to talk to me because I needed to catch up with Stacy. I nodded, rushing through my words
STACY The morning sun filtered through the curtain and pulled me out of my sleep. I stretched my arms above my head, blinking the sleep from my eyes as the day was about to start. Lisa was already up, rummaging through her drawers, her usual energy evident in the way she moved about. I could hear the faint sound of her humming to herself, a tune that was familiar but not quite memorable. “Morning,” I mumbled, pushing myself up and running a hand through my hair. Lisa turned around, her face lighting up with a smile. “Morning, sleepyhead! We’ve got to get a move on. First day back, remember?” I groaned softly, not quite ready to face the world just yet. The holiday had been a mix of relaxation and catching up on things we’d neglected during the semester, but the thought of diving back into classes already felt a bit overwhelming. Lisa, on the other hand, who was not an early riser, was rather up early. She tossed a hoodie onto the bed for me, and I caught it mid-air. “